The Georgia Conference on Children & Families is the largest annual
interdisciplinary event in Georgia designed to convene the community that serves children and families.
With the theme of “Pathways to Progress" GCCF 2024 will feature specialized tracks, training/CE
opportunities, and keynote speakers with the goal of improving outcomes for the children and families
that we serve.
GCCF Participants represent the full spectrum of disciplines and
organizations serving Georgia’s children and families which includes child advocacy, behavioral
health, juvenile justice, social service, education, legal counsel and the faith-based community. The
conference provides a forum to improve competencies, learn from experts in the field and network with
other professionals who have a wealth of experience.
We have four key focus areas for the conference:
OPENING KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Antonio Grate
Antonio Grate is a Social and Emotional Strategist, professional speaker, author, minister, husband, and father of four. Antonio has 7+ years experience in public speaking and mentoring. He has delivered engaging and informative talks at National and State Child Welfare Conferences, various child welfare agencies, universities and schools nationwide.
His willingness and strong desire to pour into the lives of youth service workers, those in the foster care system, title 1 school students, juvenile detention youth, and church youth groups, stems from his passion to serve this generation and the next. His sole mission to equip them with the tools needed to become academically successful and increase emotional stability while becoming the best version of themselves is what sets Antonio apart.
CLOSING KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Michael Berrian, Jr.
Michael Berrian Jr. is a music educator with the Department of Juvenile Justice School System. Michael will share his impactful story of his experience as a youth in juvenile to becoming a recording artist and musical educator in the very system he was once a part of.
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
1:00 PM - 2:15 PM
2:30 PM - 4:00 PM
4:15 PM - 5:45 PM
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM
8:30 AM - 10:00 AM
10:15 AM - 11:45 AM
11:45 AM - 1:15 PM
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
3:15 PM - 4:45 PM
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM
8:30 AM - 10:00 AM
10:15 AM - 11:45 AM
A01
A common challenge for foster and adoptive parents is separating the "Can't versus Won't" behaviors in their children. This workshop will explore the origins of trauma-based executive functioning challenges in children. The material presented will help clinicians to identify the "nature/nurture" and brain science bases of executive functioning challenges in order to more effectively help parents and caregivers.
Dr. Mark Andrews,
Founder/Director, Adoptive Family Resources, Inc.
A02
Discover one of Covenant House Georgia's innovative service delivery model focused on strategic partnerships, team building, and holistic therapies. Our workshop covers Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Community Resilience Model (CRM), trial by choice low/high ropes courses, and recreation therapy, designed to empower youth through collaboration, skill-building, and experiential learning.
Todd Wilcher MA
CTRS Director of Outreach and Strategic Partnerships, Covenant House Georgia
Lamitria Blake
Covenant House Georgia
A03
We work with individuals and families that are traumatized many with a list of failed interventions, lack of resources, and numerous systems barriers and challenges. Crisis and chaos are often learned behaviors to seek and obtain help. What if we could use crises as means to positively change outcomes ?
Dr Anne Cornell
CHRIS 180
A04
In the pursuit of improving outcomes across various child & family disciplines, evidence-based principles stand as guiding beacons, illuminating the path toward effective and sustainable solutions. This workshop will seek to harness the power of evidence-based principles to drive positive change and elevate outcomes for children and families served.
Kevin Freeman
PhD, Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer, ncgCARE
Tim Jones
Grace Harbour
A05
Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health-Georgia will highlight treatment and supports for trafficked/exploited youth throughout the continuum of care including services at the PRTF residential level, Grace's Place (CCI level), and Specialty Foster Care. Programming/services at all levels of care will be presented including treatment approach, challenges, and opportunities for collaboration and partnership.
Amy Waldron, LPC, BCBA
Devereux Advanced Behaviorial Health
Chikyla Coleman
Program Director, Devereux Advanced Behaviorial Health
Grace's Place
Program Manage, Devereux Advanced Behaviorial Health
Kari Haning
Program Manage, Devereux Advanced Behaviorial Health
A06
Applied Behavior Analysis has long been associated with Autism but did you know its roots are in Mental Health? Did you know that ABA is being used in factories, hospitals, online gaming, and even childbirth? Join me in an exploration of the myths and controversies surrounding ABA and learn how it can be effective with both behavior reduction and skill-building for our foster youth.
Courtney Norris
BCBA, SOAR Program Directorr, Creative Community Services
A07
Orange Duffel Bag Initiative (ODBI) and The nsoro Education Foundation (nsoro) share an exciting new collaboration, nsoroWORKS, built to provide Georgia’s Youth in Foster Care (ages 16-26) with workforce related workshops to connect them to trade careers and credentials for employment success. In addition to workforce development, this collaboration provides a proven coaching model that lays a relevant foundation for financial literacy and employment readiness of youth aging out of foster care. Attendees will learn how together collaboration techniques, coaching strategies, workforce partners, and outcome measurement positively impact youth success.
Monica Pontoja
The nsoro Education Foundation
Michael Daly
President, The Orange Duffel Bag Initiative
B02
This workshop will discuss the laws and policies that govern representing extending foster care clients. The resources that are available to this foster care population, and under what circumstances do certain benefits come into place. Best practices on ensuring those clients are aware of how to qualify for extended foster care services. Housing options for those that are signed into extended foster care in Georgia, and the options when those placements get disrupted. The workshop will further explore medical insurance and educational options when clients participate in extended foster care.
Nigel A. Davis
Esq. Child Attorney II Fulton County Office of the Child Attorney
B03
Come catch up since last year’s conference experience and get current with GA leaders with lived experience in foster care! Gain awareness of the goals they are advancing, exposure to the priorities they are centering in educating their communities, and change they are creating in innovative ways! Consider this your invitation as a community champion to come partner more closely with change agents across Georgia!
MAAC EmpowerMEnt
Young Adults
B04
This workshop explores how young adults aging out of foster care navigate this critical period. Learn about brain development, challenges, and strategies for successful transition.
Ebony Harris
CEO Youth Empowerment Success Services
B05
Join legislative experts as they discuss the impacts of the 2024 legislative session on child welfare as well as provide Q&A opportunity.
Polly McKinney
Advocacy Director, Voices for Georgia’s Children;
Stan Jones
Partner, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, LLC;
Helen Sloat
Legislative Consultant
Nelson Mullins Riley
Scarborough, LLC
B07
Participants will learn about the impact of trauma on helping professionals, including the signs of secondary traumatic stress. Participants will explore ways to manage reactions to trauma exposure and engage in a self-assessment of their self-care practices. Specific strategies for managing the effects of trauma exposure will be shared and practiced.
Darrell Green
Training Specialst, Georgia State University Professional Excellence Program, Child Welfare Traning Collaborative
C01
This training will provide a definition of domestic violence, with components exploring the cycle of violence, the power and control wheel and the continuum of violence. Also, it will explore the impact on a child’s development and the effects of on children who witness domestic violence. The training will provide knowledge about the intergenerational nature of domestic violence and how to stop the cycle of abuse in families. Participants will learn strategies to treat children who have been exposed to domestic violence.
Rita Mathis
Clinical Supervisor, CHRIS 180
C02
Effective organizational compliance practices are influenced by a variety of factors. For the successful implementation of a robust compliance program that yields positive outcomes for children and families, all stakeholders must be involved. Come join this interactive session that will outline effective foster care compliance practices and how to implement those systems and practices in your organization.
Chris Hempfling
VP - Services Excellence and Stakeholder Relations, BrightSpring Health Services
C03
Learn how one organization managed the strategy and mindset shift to family preservation and implemented a new continuum of care which includes three evidence-based, data driven models designed to keep families from being separated in the first place.
Mary Vincent
LCSW - Senior Vice President, Programs, Wellroot Family Services
Allison Ashe
Wellroot Family Services
C05
How can we leverage our collective resources and make meaningful improvements in outcomes for children and families? Understanding the root causes of observed outcomes can lead to rethinking our organizational policies and practices. This workshop will ask participants to analyze current performance data on child safety, permanency, and well-being to help develop actionable solutions.
Intended Outcomes:
Arleymah Gray
DFCS Federal Plans Director
Christine Barbery-Chambers
DFCS Federal Plans Specialist
C07
Michael Daly, President of The Orange Duffel Bag Initiative (ODB), is excited to 1) provide an overview of ODBI’s Coaching Certification, a Professional Development Program, created to certify educators and child welfare professionals to bring ODBI’s coaching model and curriculum to their students in a group home or school setting; 2) share results and outcomes of ODBI’s recent coaching program serving DJJ youth at Twin Cedars and KBW Homes.
Michael Daly
President, The Orange Duffel Bag Initiative
D01
This workshop references ACA Codes of Ethics Guidelines.
Dr. Jeffery D. Lawrence
VP of Programs, The Methodist Home
D02
Strategic community partnerships offer the opportunity to foster positive change at the ground level. This presentation will discuss activating local partners to address the mental well-being of youth across Georgia, creating a network of trusted adults using data-driven programs. Keynote speaker: Tamlin Hall, Founder of Hope Givers, an EMMY-award-winning nonprofit.
Tamlin Hall
Executive Director and Founder, Hope Givers
Adam Kowalczyk
Richmond County School System
D03
The program is designed to enhance the quality, accessibility, and continuity of mental health services. This initiative aims to integrate various healthcare disciplines to provide comprehensive, patient/family-centered care that addresses the multifaceted needs of individuals with behavioral and mental health conditions.
Inglish Wilson
BSN, RN Community Care Navigator Nurse, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
Chartia Byrdsong
Flowers Community Care Navigator LCSW , Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
D04
Join us for an in-depth look at evidence-based strategies to assess and mitigate burnout among foster parents and foster care staff. This presentation will examine Maslach’s Burnout Inventory as a strategic tool for assessing burnout and Hope Theory as a foundation for implementing interventions in a foster care setting.
Pamella Talley
MPA, Director of Foster Care and Prevention Services, Bloom Our Youth
Dr. Katie New
EdD, LMSW, RN, Clinical Director, Bloom Our Youth
D05
Having a child protection policy is essential, but it's hard to know where to start. Many expensive programs don't work well for every organization and having a policy that doesn't work for you is worse than no policy at all. This workshop will help administrators learn how to develop workable policies for their particular program within an achievable timeline. At the end of the workshop, you will have principles and worksheets to evaluate and improve your program’s child protection policy.
Deborah A. Ausburn
J.D, YSO Academy
D06
Join the Georgia Statewide Afterschool Network and Voices for Georgia’s Children for a workshop on youth behavioral health in Georgia. We’ll introduce the Free Your Feels campaign, share resources, explore existing programs, and discuss prevention strategies. Insights from youth and ways to support them will be highlighted. Let’s empower practitioners, educators, and advocates to champion youth mental health!
Maria Ramos
Sr. Program Specialist, Voices for Georgia's Children
Uzma Azhar
Georgia Statewide Afterschool Network
E01
This workshop references ACA Codes of Ethics Guidelines.
Dr. Jeffery D. Lawrence
VP of Programs, The Methodist Home
E03
This interactive workshop aims to explore the HOPE (Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences) framework and its application in anti-racism efforts. Participants will engage in activities that highlight the importance of fostering positive experiences to counteract the impacts of racism and promote equity, inclusion, and resilience in communities.
Samanthia M. Valentine
Moore, Valentine & Associates, Alliance National Parent Partnership Council Parent Leader
E04
This workshop will focus the inclusion work done at the MAAC which led to the
development of a SOGIE committee that works on going to support an affirming
placement/home environment for LGBTQ+ young people. We will offer practical steps
for talking with young people and others about SOGIE.
The presenters are
staff members of the Multi-Agency Alliance for Children (MAAC) who function as part
of the REI/SOGIE training team. The presentation has been developed to help others
understand SOGIE and navigate some of the challenges the young people we work with
face.
Sandra Corbin
MAAC
E05
Taking time to play is essential for everyone, not just children and families. Play enhances cognitive, physical, and emotional well-being, fosters creativity, reduces stress, and strengthens social bonds. My upcoming workshop focuses on the importance of play, demonstrating its benefits and providing strategies to incorporate play into daily life for all ages.
Amber Stewart
Chief Culture and Strategy Officer, Wellspring Living
E06
Families 4 Families began in 2017, since the beginning we have opened 8 offices and placed over 1000 children. One of the most difficult challenges all agencies face is the challnge to grow and maintain a culture that attracts new talent while keeping the people you have and not loosing the culture and passion as complexity challenges the small agency feel that everyone loves.
Wayne Naugle Founder
Families 4 Families
Brette Safadi
Families 4 Families
E07
Grandparents often step in to care for their grandchildren when parents can’t but may experience uncertainties in their new role. This workshop uses grandparents' experiences to focus on the unique challenges of these caregivers and strategies for partnering and connecting these families to resources and services to support well-being.
Patricia Lawrence
PhD, RN, CPNP-AC/PC, Director of Project Healthy Grandparents at Georgia State University
Benasha Shine-Berry,
LMSW Assistant Director, Project Healthy Grandparents Georgia State University
F01
This workshop references ACA Codes of Ethics Guidelines.
Dr. Jeffery D. Lawrence,
VP of Programs, The Methodist Home
F02
Adolescence is a time of opportunity! In this workshop, attendees will learn a strength-based integrative model that equips youth-serving professionals with skills to address various behavioral risks and mental health issues, so they can be the caring-person that youth deserve. -Positive Youth Development, Resilience Building Strategies, Trauma-sensitive and Restorative Practices
Betsy Wiley
LCSW, Coordinator of Training, Wellroot Family Services
F03
Learn about CareerReady ATL's vision to provide youth with apprenticeship opportunities. Discover how this initiative aims to create economic mobility, support personal well-being, and disrupt intergenerational poverty. Gain insights into the youth-centered support model and explore how you can contribute to building a strong support network for transition-age youth.
Michele Jacobs
Associate Vice President, College & Career Ready, United Way of Greater Atlanta
Angela Sparks
United Way of Greater Atlanta
F04
The Community Resiliency Model (CRM) is a dynamic and innovative approach to understanding and managing the nervous system. Our bodies are designed to protect us from danger-learning these processes and harnessing their power can reduce stress and increase resiliency in our lives, our work, and our communities!
Molly Abrokwah
LMFT, Amerigroup
Chanda Floyd-Bryant
Amerigroup
F06
Home in 5 was the first public/private partnership in the state established to recruit, train and support more Region 5 families and serve Region 5 kids closer to home. The collective has evolved over the years and has a lot to share about what is happening.
Lexie Fowler
Family Intervention Coach at Uniting Hope and Director of Home in 5
Hailee Lyles
Foster Care Director at Uniting Hope and Director of Home in 5
Megan Ward
Director of The Five Hive and Home in 5
F07
This presentation will explore Georgia's eight Recovery Support Clubhouses, which engage adolescents and families in recovery. It will cover the program's whole-child approach, implementation strategies, and evaluation findings. Key outcomes include reduced substance use, improved social functioning, school performance, and strengthened family relationships.
Brittany Taylor
Senior Research Associate, Georgia Health Policy Center
Colleen Smith
Georgia Health Policy Center
