2012 Conference (course information and tentative schedule)

7:30 – 8:00am                   Registration

8:00 – 8:30am                   Opening Session:    Marc Fomby  -Team Building-the importance of working together                                          

8:40 – 10:10am                 Session 1 (1.5 hours)

• Sharon Owens – Why Race Matters: Weaving the Principles of Disproportionality Into Day to Day Practice. African American and Native American children and families are overrepresented in the child welfare and numerous other systems across Texas and the United States. Disparity exists for these groups.
• Justin Mazzeo – Drug Endangered Children This presentation will focus on the issue of Drug Endangered Children in Texas, including the direct and indirect impacts of caregiver drug use, manufacturing, cultivation and distribution on children, the roles that multiple disciplines and community resources play when intervening on their behalf, and the importance of collaboration between community resources in order to effectively stop the cycle of addiction.
• Regina Sobieski – Effects and Characteristics of Gang Victimization Participants will learn the dynamics of being involved in crime and experiences with victimization, gang memberships victimization, and gang member conduct and how it effects the victim.
  

10:10 – 10:25am               Break                                                                             

10:30 – 11:30am               Session 2 (1 hour)

• Dr. Gregory Williams – Psychiatrist at DAFB  “Appropriate use of Psychotropic Medications with Children and Adolescents”
• Regina Sobieski – Effects of Hate Crimes on the Victims Participants will review what is known about interpersonal violence and its effect on victims. You will learn the debilitating effect on victims of hate crime including members of family, neighborhoods, etc.
• ASK -ASK ABOUT SUICIDE :  To Save A Life- The Texas Suicide Prevention Council is a group of local suicide prevention coalitions and statewide agencies that have joined together to implement the Texas Suicide Prevention Plan.
• Vicki Magee & Diane Dotson- CASA:  Texas Court Appointed Special Advocates® -- When home is no longer safe for a child, and the child must enter the foster care system, a judge may appoint a committed volunteer called a CASA or Court Appointed Special Advocate^®. The volunteer’s focus is on that child, giving hope and help in guiding the child to a safe, permanent home. Overview of program and how it benefits local communities. 

11:45 – 1:30pm                 Luncheon – Keynote Speaker, Music, Awards

• Marc Fomby – Message in the Music  Understanding Hip Hop  This informative, fun,  interactive, and educational session will introduce you to the world of Hip Hop and explore the lyrical content of music played over the radio today. We explore current trends by examining the messages that are openly displayed and sometimes hidden in rap. Be prepared for discovery through exploration as this workshop incorporates music from the 1970’s through today and its lyrical content.
• Craig Middle School Orchestra under the direction of Debbie McKelvey, won a national contest through Shar Music. The Craig Middle School Orchestra was the only Texas winner of the competition. The award for winning the competition is a guest performance by the internationally acclaimed violinist, Mark O'Connor.
• Awards: recognition of Champions for Children in our community.

1:45 – 4:45pm                   Session 3 (one 3 hour session or two 1.5 hour sessions)

• Melissa Rosales & Lyndsay Mathews  - HSU Student Research on Transitional Youth in Abilene (1.5 Hour) Melissa & Lyndsay will present findings of their local research. The presentation will be followed by facilitated discussion with panel members from a variety of related agencies in Abilene.
• Regina Sobieski – Victim Behaviors (3 hours) The workshop will discuss how the cycle of violence effects the behaviors of victims (i.e. children, family members, extended family members and the impact of violence on family: effect of violence on children and potential risk of cycle of violence. Discovery of warning signs or red flags that may not be easily identified upon initial interview by law enforcements, forensic interviewers, caseworkers, etc. There will discussion of common behaviors of the children and family members impacted by violence which m ay reflect in school, community and home behavior.
• Marc Fomby- Games Children Play- Youth Suicide Awareness and Adolescent Female Issues (1.5  Hour) This workshop focuses on prevention by attempting to re-direct those opportunities for females to explode (being hijacked by anger) into opportunities for them to choose wisely.   The workshop also emphasizes the importance of making positive choices and considering consequences of each choice.  Subject matter also includes discussion on messages in the media and music that sends negative rather than positive messages.  Discussion is centered on presenting participants with real scenarios and offering alternatives to daily destructive decisions.  Instead of focusing on what is “wrong,” we help give females the tools to discover what is “right.”  Participants are engaged in the thought process – we don’t tell them what to think; we just encourage them to think!        
• Special Agents with Homeland Security – Human Trafficking (1.5 hour) By the end of the presentation, participants will have: knowledge and tools to identify indicators of human trafficking. There will be examples of situations that allow you to be able to identify a situation involving human trafficking versus human smuggling. Most importantly you will be able know whom to call for assistance should a human trafficking case arise.

On Line Registration 

                                                                                                      
Credit card or online check only.
Purchase order registrations must be made by mail.

Other registration and payment options:
Pay by check made out to Champion for Children and send check and registration form to:

Champion for Children
2438 Industrial PMB #178
Abilene, Texas 79605

Payment with check at registration with reservation previously confirmed.