Social Current

Child Welfare’s 21st-Century Research Agenda: An Anti-Racist Approach to Child Neglect Investigations
2022-12-06 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
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This webinar will provide an historical and contemporary overview of child neglect and its link to structural racism in child welfare. Then, the presenter will engage the audience in variations of child neglect definitions and the nuanced interpretations in child neglect investigations. The presentation will conclude with strategies to address and combat racial bias in child neglect reporting and in the substantiation of these investigations.
The 21st-century research agenda for child welfare calls for addressing research gaps in the quality of child protective services (CPS) investigations. Specifically, we need to understand more about how child welfare is responding to allegations of neglect and how improvements can be made.

About the Webinar Series
This webinar is one session in Social Current’s five-part learning series on the 21st-century research agenda for child welfare.

Cutting through the Chaos by Reframing Childhood Adversity
Oct. 11 from Noon-1 p.m. ET
How Monthly Cash Gifts Are Fostering Infant Brain Development
Oct. 13 from 2-3 p.m. ET
Supporting Safe and Effective Investigations through Training Labs
Nov. 29 from 3-4:30 p.m. ET
Building Protective Factors through Family Resource Centers
Dec. 1 from 3-4:30 p.m. ET
An Anti-Racist Approach to Child Neglect Investigations
Dec. 6 from 3-4 p.m. ET

The Annie E. Casey Foundation, Casey Family Programs and the William T. Grant Foundation are leading an initiative, along with many partners, to identify research gaps related to community-based family support, child protective services, out-of-home care, and post-permanency services. The initiative is now working to conduct research, rooted in equity and co-designed by people with lived experience, to address these gaps and answer key questions, as well as increase the use of this research in decision making. Learn more about the 21st-century research agenda for child welfare online.
Takeaways

Historical overview of child neglect, poverty, and structural racism in child welfare
Variations of child neglect definitions in child welfare
How to address racial disparities in child welfare investigative policies/practices
Mandated reporting requirements
Recommendations/strategies to combat race bias in child neglect investigations

Who Should Participate

Social workers
Child welfare professionals
Law enforcement
Child welfare academic scholars
Individuals with lived experiences in child welfare system involvement

Presenter

Sherri Y. Simmons-Horton, Ph.D., LMSW

Assistant Professor
University of New Hampshire, Department of Social Work

Biography

Sherri Y. Simmons-Horton, Ph.D., LMSW
Assistant Professor
University of New Hampshire, Department of Social Work

Sherri Simmons-Horton is an assistant professor of social work at the University of New Hampshire. She has over 25 years of practice experience in the child welfare system, with a focus on addressing racial disparities present for Black children, youth, and families.
Simmons-Horton’s practice experience ranges from case management to supervision and consulting with private child-placing agencies in Texas. Her research focuses on youth involved in the juvenile justice and foster care systems (dual-status youth), systemic race inequities in the child welfare system, and resilience of Black youth and families. Simmons-Horton is an advisory board member with the Black Administrators in Child Welfare and a staunch child, family, and youth advocate, with a strong interest in practice and policy strategies to dismantle racial inequities oppressive practices in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems.

Child Welfare’s 21st-Century Research Agenda: Building Protective Factors through Family Resource Centers
2022-12-01 15:00 - 16:30 (America/New_York)
Register

During this webinar, participants will learn about Family Resource Centers (FRCs), a key community-based prevention strategy utilized in 37 states and the District of Columbia. Presenters, including members of Hartford, Connecticut’s Parent Engagement Group, will introduce the framework and protective factors that FRCs help families build and discuss the role protective factors can play in parents’ lives.
The 21st-century research agenda for child welfare identifies the importance of community-based prevention strategies and the building of protective factors to reduce child maltreatment. The overall agenda calls for advancing equity and underscores that true transformation will only happen with meaningful engagement of those with lived expertise to inform and interpret research findings.
About the Webinar Series
This webinar is one session in Social Current’s five-part learning series on the 21st-century research agenda for child welfare.

Cutting through the Chaos by Reframing Childhood Adversity
Oct. 11 from Noon-1 p.m. ET
How Monthly Cash Gifts Are Fostering Infant Brain Development
Oct. 13 from 2-3 p.m. ET
Supporting Safe and Effective Investigations through Training Labs
Nov. 29 from 3-4:30 p.m. ET
Building Protective Factors through Family Resource Centers
Dec. 1 from 3-4:30 p.m. ET
An Anti-Racist Approach to Child Neglect Investigations
Dec. 6 from 3-4 p.m. ET

The Annie E. Casey Foundation, Casey Family Programs and the William T. Grant Foundation are leading an initiative, along with many partners, to identify research gaps related to community-based family support, child protective services, out-of-home care, and post-permanency services. The initiative is now working to conduct research, rooted in equity and co-designed by people with lived experience, to address these gaps and answer key questions, as well as increase the use of this research in decision making. Learn more about the 21st-century research agenda for child welfare online.
Takeaways

Gain insight into Family Resource Centers as community-based prevention strategies
Reflect on how the protective factors framework can enhance your work
Learn about what role you can play in carrying out a 21st-century research agenda

Who Should Participate

Child welfare professionals including caseworkers, investigators, managers, researchers, and other social sector professionals who interact with the child welfare system

Presenter

Andrew Russo

Co-Founder & Director
National Family Support Network
University of Kentucky

Biography

Andrew Russo
Co-Founder & Director
National Family Support Network
University of Kentucky

Andrew Russo co-founded the National Family Support Network in 2011 and served as its co-chair until 2015, when he was hired as its director and relocated to Washington, D.C. He has worked and volunteered in the nonprofit social service sector at the direct service, management, and network levels for more than 25 years in Boston, New York, Chicago, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Taiwan.
In those roles, he co-authored landmark documents in the family support field including the San Francisco Family Support Standards, San Francisco Family Support Network Policy Platform on Family Economic Success, and nationally adopted Standards of Quality for Family Strengthening & Support.
Russo earned his bachelor’s in East Asian languages and cultures from Columbia University and his master’s in pastoral counseling from Loyola University Chicago.

Delmarys Serrano

Lead Parent
Parent Engagement Group
Hartford, Connecticut, Child Safety Forward Site

Biography

Delmarys Serrano
Lead Parent
Parent Engagement Group
Hartford, Connecticut, Child Safety Forward Site

Delmarys Serrano is a lead parent for the Parent Engagement Work Group of the Hartford, Connecticut, Child Safety Forward demonstration project. Serrano brings over two decades of community activism and organizing, as well as lived experience to this project. She serves on the boards of directors of Hartford Parent University (HPU) and Charter Oak Cultural Center. Serrano has also been a Girl Scout leader and delegate for the last several years. Serrano is a certified Triple P Facilitator, holds a certification on People Empowering People through the University of Connecticut, and participated in a Family Development Credentials Training. Finally, Serrano earned an associate degree at Charter Oak State College.
A primary motivation for her dedicated work is that her cousin, known throughout the Connecticut Child Welfare system as “Baby Emily Hernandez,” was raped and murdered by her stepfather when she was nine months old, following several failed attempts by family members to get authorities to respond properly. Serrano has and continues to blaze trails in memory of Baby Emily.

Kayla Waters

Member
Parent Engagement Group
Hartford, Connecticut, Child Safety Forward Site

Biography

Kayla Waters
Member
Parent Engagement Group
Hartford, Connecticut, Child Safety Forward Site

Kayla Waters is a member of the Parent Engagement Work Group of the Hartford, Connecticut, site of the Child Safety Forward demonstration project. She is a mother who is a strong advocate for her daughter’s education as well as for children in her community. Waters works as a personal care assistant, helping people with disabilities. She has been involved in several community-based groups in Hartford. She has worked from the ground up, helping to start a local nonprofit. She is a familiar face to city and state policymakers and department administrators, consistently and compassionately speaking truth to power. Waters is an example of working pain into power and healing, having lost her seven-month-old son in 2021.

The Elephant in the Room: Addressing Trauma in Your Organization
2022-11-30 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
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The expression “the elephant in the room” is a metaphor for a problem that everyone acknowledges is there, but no one is sure exactly what it is or what to do. In every organization, trauma is an elephant.
This webinar will highlight the work of Children & Families First (CFF). This multi-service organization has been supporting children and families across Delaware for decades, forging strong relationships with schools and other community partners to offer a wide array of services. Learn how CCF is applying brain science and trauma-informed leadership practices to build resilience within their organization and community partners.
The presenters will review the tools and resources CFF has developed to help community partners learn and apply brain science concepts in their work. Webinar participants will also learn about CFF’s “LeadU” training curriculum, which is focused on applying brain science principles to best practices in staff supervision and development.
Takeaways

Learn about Children & Families First, and how their expertise in trauma-informed approaches is the foundation for partnerships across the state
How the organization is supporting community leaders, organizations, and schools in embedding key brain science concepts in their work
Key components of their LeadU training
How the CFF team can support your work

Who Should Participate
Stakeholders in the Social Current network who are contributing to educational success in their communities by supporting students, families, and schools.

Executive and senior leaders in strategic partnerships, HR/leadership development, and innovation
Management and supervisory staff
Program directors
Educators
School partners

Presenters

Kiera McGillivray, LMFT

Chief Program Officer of School-Based Initiatives
Children & Families First

Biography

Kiera McGillivray, LMFT
Chief Program Officer of School-Based Initiatives
Children & Families First

Kiera McGillivray is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and the chief program officer for school-based initiatives with Children & Families First (CFF). She is trained in several trauma-focused modalities including Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Trauma-Informed Yoga, Trauma Focused Expressive Arts Therapy, and Child-Centered Play Therapy with Neurorelational Emphasis. McGillivray has more than eight years of experience working with children and families in settings ranging from couple and family outpatient therapy to school-based counseling.
McGillivray earned her master’s in marriage and family therapy from University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she later served as an adjunct instructor teaching undergraduate students on Contemporary Families. She is published in internationally peer-reviewed journals on the topics of trauma and children, and has presented to military personnel, clinicians, educators, law enforcement, and victim service professionals on trauma, children, EDI, resilience, and ethics. McGillivray is also a clinical supervisor, advisor to the LeadU and Workforce Resilience initiatives at CCF, and co-chair of the Brain Science Training Institute at CCF.

Shannon Fisch, LCSW

Compliance & Accreditation Manager
Children & Families First

Biography

Shannon Fisch, LCSW
Compliance & Accreditation Manager
Children & Families First

Shannon Fisch is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Delaware and is the compliance & accreditation manager for Children & Families First. Fisch received her post graduate certification in trauma from Widener University and her nonprofit management certification from University of Delaware. Fisch is certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and several other trauma-informed treatment models.
Fisch has presented to clinicians, educators, public defenders, and human services personnel on the topic of trauma, adverse childhood experiences, and resilience. She is also a trainer for multiple evidence-based treatment and case management models. Fisch is an avid volunteer in her profession, currently serving as secretary and previously serving as the treasurer and president for the National Association of Social Workers – Delaware Chapter. Fisch is also a clinical supervisor and co-chair of the Brain Science Training Institute.

Building a Resilient Workforce: Embed Brain Science
2022-11-29 15:00 - 16:30 (America/New_York)
Register

Organizations that Have an Enterprise Engagement Package and/or Achieved COA Accreditation:

$50 per session

Other Organizations:

$65 per session
$235 for the entire series (use discount BUNDLE25 – series must be purchased in one transaction to obtain the discount)

The human services field has made strides in raising awareness around the urgency of building healthy brains in new babies and young children. Early childhood resilience strategies such as “serve and return” are now commonly built into trainings and practice. However, the field has been slow to translate emerging brain science into learnings and practices with adults and our workforce.
To be well at work, especially in complex and stressful settings, we need to understand basic brain concepts and embrace practices and behaviors that support optimal brain functioning. Stress, distress, and trauma interrupt our ability to access our “thinking brain” and, without intervention, keep us in our survival or lower brain, where we struggle to think, problem solve, focus, or manage conflict.
Regulation, a basic strategy for calming our lower brain, is integral to a health workforce. Practicing brain-based interventions, such as Dr. Bruce Perry’s sequence of engagement – regulate, relate, reason (3 Rs), helps us achieve better outcomes. Our staff will experience increased trust, stronger relationships, candid conversations, and more accountability.
This webinar, the first session in the Workforce Well-Being and Resilience learning series, focuses on the importance of embracing brain science awareness in our work settings. We explore the neurobiology of stress, distress and trauma, the arousal continuum, and strategies for practicing daily regulation activities at work and building a brain friendly culture that leads to resilience and success.
About the Webinar Series
As workforce challenges continue to hinder human services organizations, leaders are searching for concrete action steps to support staff who are emotionally and physically exhausted. Though staff often enter the field excited to make a difference, it can be difficult to keep them connected to the vision and mission of the organization.
This four-part webinar series will delve into core strategies and tactics for supporting staff, such as increasing accountability, managing conflict, nurturing relationships, embracing equity, and achieving excellence. Sessions in this series:

Embed Brain Science: Feb. 21 from 2-3 p.m. ET
Foster Candidness through Psychological Safety: March 21 from 2-3 p.m. ET
Create Culture around Shared Values: April 27 from 2-3 p.m. ET
Integrate Connection and Community: May 16 from 2-3 p.m. ET

Takeaways

Brain science concepts and strategies to increase resilience in the workplace
State dependent functioning and the arousal continuum, and their application to daily work
Practical tools and strategies for increasing regulation
Strategies for building a brain friendly culture that enhances our optimal functioning at work

Who Should Participate

Executive and senior leaders
Middle managers
Human resource staff
Staff with responsibility for EDI

Individuals who are champions for strengthening the workforce culture, regardless of their title, will benefit. This guidance is relevant for all workforces across the human services ecosystem, including at the community, systems, government, and policy levels.

Presenter

Karen Johnson

Senior Director, Change in Mind Insitute
Social Current

Kelly Martin

Director, Practice Excellence
Social Current

Child Welfare’s 21st-Century Research Agenda: Supporting Safe and Effective Investigations through Training Labs
2022-11-29 15:00 - 16:30 (America/New_York)
Register

Child protective services (CPS) can become more effective by investing in a safety culture, where mistakes made by child welfare workers are seen as opportunities to learn and improve. This webinar will discuss efforts to advance safety culture in child protection, including the University of Illinois Springfield’s simulation lab for training investigators. The two training labs, including a mock courtroom, are designed to offer a supportive and safe environment for training students, investigators, law enforcement, and other first responders to identify and respond in cases of child maltreatment.
Webinar participants also will learn about Cook County’s Project CHILD, national demonstration initiative to reduce child abuse and neglect fatalities and injuries through a collaborative, community-based approach. It is funded by the Department of Justice, with technical assistance led by Social Current. In addition, a professional with lived experience will address the importance of well-trained CPS staff.
Effective CPS investigations and contact with families is a component of the 21st-century research agenda for child welfare. It also focuses on equity and the value of lived experience in informing and interpreting research findings.
About the Webinar Series
This webinar is one session in Social Current’s five-part learning series on the 21st-century research agenda for child welfare.

Cutting through the Chaos by Reframing Childhood Adversity
Oct. 11 from Noon-1 p.m. ET
How Monthly Cash Gifts Are Fostering Infant Brain Development
Oct. 13 from 2-3 p.m. ET
Supporting Safe and Effective Investigations through Training Labs
Nov. 29 from 3-4:30 p.m. ET
Building Protective Factors through Family Resource Centers
Dec. 1 from 3-4:30 p.m. ET
An Anti-Racist Approach to Child Neglect Investigations
Dec. 6 from 3-4 p.m. ET

The Annie E. Casey Foundation, Casey Family Programs and the William T. Grant Foundation are leading an initiative, along with many partners, to identify research gaps related to community-based family support, child protective services, out-of-home care, and post-permanency services. The initiative is now working to conduct research, rooted in equity and co-designed by people with lived experience, to address these gaps and answer key questions, as well as increase the use of this research in decision making. Learn more about the 21st-century research agenda for child welfare online.
Takeaways

Gain insight into safety culture in child protection
Reflect on strategies such as simulation labs to improve investigations
Learn about what role you can play in carrying out a 21st-century research agenda

Who Should Participate

Child welfare professionals including caseworkers, investigators, managers, researchers, and other social sector professionals who interact with the child welfare system

Presenter

Michael Cull

Associate Professor of Health Management and Policy
College of Public Health
University of Kentucky

Biography

Michael Cull
Associate Professor of Health Management and Policy
College of Public Health
University of Kentucky

Michael Cull is the associate professor of Health Management and Policy in the College of Public Health at the University of Kentucky. He is also an associate director in the Center for Innovation in Population Health. Cull’s work focuses on quality improvement and system reform efforts in child welfare jurisdictions. He has specific expertise in applying safety science to improve safety, reliability, and effectiveness in organizations. His approach leverages tools like organizational assessment and systems analysis of critical incidents, including deaths and near deaths, to build team culture and help systems learn and get better.

Verleaner R. Lane

Project Director
Project CHILD

Biography

Verleaner R. Lane
Project Director
Project CHILD

Verleaner R. Lane is the project director for Project CHILD as a visiting project specialist and contracted employee within the Institute for Legal, Legislative, and Policy Studies (ILLAPS) at the University of Illinois at Springfield. Lane has over 32 years of child welfare experience, working with children and families.
Lane is the author of Why Didn’t He See the Beauty in Me? In 2018, she started her own motivational speaking company Pour into V’s Vessel Inc. Lane is a dedicated member of St. John Missionary Baptist Church, “a church where everybody is somebody.” She is a proud alumnus of Lane Technical High School where she continues to work with the Black Alumni raising monies for scholarships.
Lane completed her undergraduate work at Northern Illinois University, where she obtained a bachelor’s in sociology/criminology. While at NIU she was the president of Northern Black Choir. She attended graduate studies at Governor State University with a master’s in early childhood education.

Gaelin Elmore

Professional Speaker
Gaelin Speaks

Biography

Gaelin Elmore
Professional Speaker
Gaelin Speaks

From spending more than 10 years of his life in the foster care system to playing college football and eventually signing an NFL contract, Gaelin Elmore was driven by one singular thing—the need and desire to belong. That same desire fuels and drives his work today as a national speaker, facilitator, lived experience expert, consultant, and belonging champion. Only now, he is driven for the belonging of others! Through his unique perspective, Elmore has already inspired tens of thousands of people across the country to think differently about the work they do and its long-term impact. Elmore currently lives in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, where he gets to live out his dream as husband to his wife, Micaela, and #GirlDad to their two daughters, Laniah and Tatum.

Betsy Goulet

Clinical Assistant Professor
University of Illinois Springfield

Coordinator
UIS Child Advocacy Studies Program (CAST)

Biography

Betsy Goulet
Clinical Assistant Professor
University of Illinois Springfield

Coordinator
UIS Child Advocacy Studies Program (CAST)

Betsy Goulet is a clinical assistant professor at the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS), Coordinator of the UIS Child Advocacy Studies Program (CAST), the academic program lead for the human services graduate program in the School of Public Management and Policy, where she has taught for 10 years.
For over 30 years, Goulet has worked in child protection, serving as the founding director of the Sangamon County Child Advocacy Center and working as the children’s policy advisor to the Illinois attorney general. Through a contract with the Illinois Department of Child and Family Services, Goulet developed a new model for child protection training that emphasizes experiential learning and the use of a residential simulation lab and mock courtroom on the UIS campus.
In 2020, the Capacity Building Center for States, part of the Children’s Bureau, created a new website for simulation training, featuring the UIS Training Academy. Goulet also serves as the principal investigator for an OVC Grant with Cook County Public Health focused on reducing childhood fatalities.

Live at the Virtual Barbershop: Misconceptions, Stereotypes and Truths of Black Fatherhood
2022-11-18 14:00 - 15:30 (America/New_York)
Register

Join us at the virtual barbershop as we talk about life … REAL life. Being Black in America means many things, but one of the most prevalent issues is experiencing racism daily on multiple fronts. From standard microaggressions on up to direct confrontations, the men who’ll be waiting on their haircuts at our barbershop have experienced it all.
Parenthood through the Lens of the Black Dad: The Misconceptions, Stereotypes, and Truths of Black Fatherhood
We must consider how culture has shaped fatherhood in families and name the misconceptions and stereotypes. These misconceptions and stereotypes often create barriers for fathers in need, especially in communities of color.
For centuries, there have been institutional barriers facing fathers, as well as common beliefs that family only includes mother and child, and that the father is just a “provider.” The importance of Black fathers is often overlooked and minimized.
In addition to discussing the these challenges this virtual barbershop will discuss the positive traits of Black fathers that often get ignored or misperceived. For example, the narrative of the “absent Black father” continues to live in the minds of most, like many other racial stereotypes.
Join African American male leaders from the sector as they dive into the value of Black fathers and discuss the long-lasting effects of systemic oppression, roles and norms of fatherhood, and the challenges of being a Black father. They will also discuss the joys, stories, and lessons learned from personal experiences and how community-based organizations can rethink strategies around supporting Black fathers and their families.
About the Virtual Barbershop
The barbershop is the one of the few safe places where Black men feel very comfortable in having candid conversations on just about anything. All over America, the barbershop continues to serve as a second home and place of refuge, healing, and compassion for Black men.
This virtual space will feature several Black male executives from around the country, sharing their experiences and recommendations for advancing anti-racist leadership and championing equity-focused action in human services organizations. Just like in any barbershop, anyone is welcome to drop in at any time based on their availability and interest.
Catch Up with the Barbers on Previous Visits

Black Men in Leadership—From Conversation to Sustainable Action
Leading Positive Change amid Social and Political Unrest
Black Male Executives on COVID-19
Addressing COVID-19 Disparities and the Vaccine Rollout
Building Family Resilience by Supporting Black Fathers
Supporting Black Students in the Classroom

Takeaways

Separating the stereotypes and truths of Black fathers
The importance of supporting fathers through family supporting services
How the current systems affect Black fathers today
Strategies to advocate, support, and give voice to Black fathers
Recognizing the strength and protective factors in Black fathers

Who Should Participate

Executives
Directors
Program managers
Human resources staff
Board members

The Barbers

Undraye P. Howard

Senior Director and Special Advisor to the CEO for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Social Current

Romero Davis

Senior Program Manager for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Engagement
Social Current

Waiting on a Haircut

Raphael Holloway

CEO
Gateway Center in Atlanta

Claude A. Robinson Jr.

Executive Vice President of External Affairs and Diversity
UCAN in Chicago

George Winn

COO
The Children’s Center in Detroit

Jesse McLean

Executive Director of Western Pennsylvania and Northeast Ohio
Pressley Ridge in Pittsburgh

Jonathan Palmer

Executive Director
Hallie Q. Brown Community Center in St. Paul, Minnesota

Julius Mullen Sr.

Executive Director
BASSE in Georgetown, Delaware

Reyahd D.J. Kazmi

Director of Business and Government Strategies
National Youth Advocate Program in Columbus, Ohio

Introduction to COA Accreditation
2022-11-17 15:00 - 15:30, 2022-10-19 13:00 - 13:30, 2022-09-22 15:00 - 15:30, 2022-08-24 15:00 - 15:30 (America/New_York)
Register

This free 30-minute webinar provides an introduction to Social Current and COA Accreditation. It is perfect for anyone seeking accreditation for the first time, interested in what is required to become accredited, or mandated to become accredited by state or federal legislation.
Participants will gain an understanding of the key concepts that define COA Accreditation, the steps toward becoming accredited, and the benefits of accreditation. There will also be a Q&A portion for us to answer any questions you might have.

Presenter

Joe Perrow

Network Growth Manager
Social Current

Living a Meaningful Life: Focusing on You and Your Future
2022-11-14 11:00 - 12:30 (America/New_York)
Register

Because those in human services spend so much of their lives helping others and trying to have a positive impact on their communities, it is important to also practice self-awareness and be in tune with your own core values. This is challenging work, so we must try to identify and gravitate toward tasks, roles, and opportunities that give us energy. It is never too early to begin the process of designing a life beyond your current full-time work commitments. For leaders, particularly those beginning to think about retiring, this webinar will offer dedicated time and support in identifying and focusing on your values and priorities. As you look ahead and wonder what’s next, the question of what your life will look like and how to get there doesn’t need to feel daunting.
Through a short exercise that participants will complete before the webinar and with personalized guidance from presenter Harry Muir, you will begin to gain new perspective on your “work view” and “life view.” With this knowledge and skills used by design engineers to solve complex problems, you’ll learn how to envision a life’s work that aligns with your core values and gives you energy and meaning.
This webinar and 2023 online course start with the premise that we all need to take time to examine our lives, identify what is important to us, and consider how best to align our gifts and talents with the work we are doing and lives we are living. They also encourage us to consider that, with our many gifts, talents, experiences, and interests, there are multiple ways to continue to serve—possibly in ways we have never imagined.
This webinar is a precursor to a six-part online course that will start in early 2023. Participants will begin building foundations for a fulfilling career or second acts path. This webinar is offered through Social Current’s Executive Leadership Institute (ELI).
Takeaways

Outline your personal core values
Identify the work tasks that give you energy
How to align these elements with a meaningful work and life path beyond your current work
Create a personal “work life vision” plan for the next three to five years or your Second Act
Learn about the Second Acts: Designing My Life online course and complete the first course component if you choose to enroll

Who Should Participate
Anyone could benefit from this webinar, as participants will identify their core values and how their work and life views integrate, as well as draft a vision statement for the next three to five years.
However, the target audience is formal and informal leaders in human services who are asking themselves any of the following questions:

Is this all there is (in terms of their work and life relationships)?
Is my life/work making a difference?
Will I ever be able to do anything outside of or different from what my resume suggests?
What does the next three to five years of my life look like?
What am I going to do once my full-time work is done, or in my postretirement stage of life?
How could I better utilize my gifts and talents?
How can I live a well-lived, joyful life?

Presenters

Harry Muir

Encore Fellow
Lad Lake

Biography

Harry Muir
Encore Fellow
Lad Lake

Harry Muir teaches the Second Acts course for Social Current’s Executive Leadership Institute (ELI). Most recently, he taught a Second Acts life design course to 10 ELI mentors who, in turn, were able to share basic tenets of the course with their mentees. With a background in teaching educational leadership at the graduate level and providing staff development training in intergenerational communication, Muir brings over 20 years of teaching leadership development courses at the graduate and undergraduate levels.
After working in higher education for 40 years, he retired in January 2018. Two months later, he was engaged in his “Second Act,” promoting sustainable culture change at Lad Lake. In this role, he coordinated their intergenerational volunteer and college/university internship programs. Lad Lake is an organization that utilizes the talents of five generations within its workforce to achieve its mission.
While working at a community college in Tucson, Arizona, Muir helped to create a curriculum for a workforce development program, which trained encore-aged adults looking to re-enter the workforce. The biggest components were intergenerational communication and how to build positive relationships in the workplace. Most recently, Muir helped to create and teach a faith-based curriculum designed to equip adults age 50+ as they prepare for a meaningful post-career life.
Muir, he earned his Ph.D. in higher education administration with an emphasis in community education at Kansas State University.

Media Engagement and Crisis Communications Training: Shifting to More Proactive Strategies
2022-11-09 12:00 - 13:30 (America/New_York)
Register

This training webinar will first explore basic media engagement techniques, including responding to media inquiries, moving to a more proactive approach to media engagement, understanding media terminology, and engaging in social media platforms.
The second half will focus on crisis communications for communications strategies geared toward child welfare organizations. It will cover common types of crises, how to prepare ahead of time, and tips for activating your crisis plan.
Takeaways

How to effectively respond to media inquiries
How to engage in more proactive media engagement activities with a goal of shaping media messages
A strong understanding of the processes that guide media engagement
A set of processes for managing crisis communications
A set of tools that enable media engagement

Who Should Participate

Communications directors and executives and public information officers who are tasked with responding to media inquiries and developing and implementing media strategies for their organizations, agencies, and jurisdictions.

Presenters

Jennifer Devlin

Communications Consultant
Social Current

Biography

Jennifer Devlin
Communications Consultant
Social Current

Jennifer Devlin is a communications consultant with more than 30 years of experience in strategic planning, communications, writing, and media relations. She specializes in communications strategies for child welfare and social sector organizations. She served as media specialist to the Commission to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities, a role she held for more than two years in support of the commission’s efforts to issue a report to the president and Congress to reduce child abuse and neglect deaths. She currently serves as the technical assistance coordinator for communications for the Child Safety Forward initiative, a Department of Justice-funded demonstration initiative aimed at reducing child abuse and neglect fatalities and the National Partnership for Child Safety, a Casey Family Programs initiative. Previously she served in the White House as director of communications to Tipper Gore and press secretary to the Gore family.
Devlin currently serves as a member of the U.S. State Department’s American Speakers Bureau, providing communications training for American allies abroad. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in speech communications and radio, television and motion pictures. She is listed in Who’s Who in Industry and Finance and Who’s Who of American Women.

Kasey Iranon

Senior Account Executive
RALLY

Biography

Kasey Iranon
Senior Account Executive
RALLY

Kasey Iranon (she/her) is a seasoned communications strategist who enjoys employing her experience in campaign management, research synthesis, and message development to advance social justice causes. Born and raised near Seattle, she is inspired every day by her clients who advocate for a more equitable and just Washington state. Iranon has worked on a wide range of projects and campaigns, including ones specific to racial and gender equity, fighting for reproductive justice, and finding solutions to homelessness. As a proud Asian-American and the granddaughter of immigrants, she believes in the transformative power of storytelling to uplift the strength and resilience of diverse communities.

Jared Robinson

Account Executive
RALLY

Biography

Jared Robinson
Account Executive
RALLY

Jared Robinson is a communications strategist using his experience in storytelling, coalition management, event planning, and project management to fight for progress. Born and raised in Olympia, Washington, Robinson has worked in partnership with Washington-based organizations on issues ranging from education equity and child welfare to global environmental conservation. Inspired by his time working alongside nonprofits, schools, governments, and foundations, Robinson brings a tailored, community-based approach to his work and understands the value of uplifting diverse voices when advocating for change. In his free time, you’ll find Jared playing strategy games, enjoying local breweries, and exploring the Pacific Northwest.

Advancing EDI for a More Perfect Union (November Session)
2022-11-01 12:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Register: November Session

Register: IDI

Session Dates: Nov. 1, 8, 15 from Noon-4 p.m. ET

Workshop: $650
Intercultural Development Inventory® (IDI®): $288

Given the continued emergence of an interconnected society, an ever-evolving pandemic, calls for racial and social justice along with heightened polarization across many fronts, building organizational capacity for advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion is more critical than ever. The need for leaders across sectors, and especially within the social sector, to understand and engage the current environment is essential in building an equitable society for all.
This journey begins by ensuring all people feel valued at work. It mandates the co-creation of an inclusive workforce that can foster the development of a healthy, productive, and peaceful society in which all people can participate and reach their full potential. The journey continues with building a culture that supports equity for long-term sustainable change and engaging the inequitable systems, which marginalizes, disconnects, and dismisses individuals from having access and full participation in reaching economic mobility and prosperity.
During this three-part virtual workshop presented by Social Current, participants will explore their relationships with equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in a safe environment and make progress on developing an EDI action plan for their organizations.
Because advancing EDI requires more than just basic knowledge and the will to improve, presenters will help participants understand their own biases and the role of historical discrimination, non-inclusive behavioral actions, and culture in creating an unjust society.
The workshop will include presentations of valuable information, facilitated discussions, reflection opportunities, and dedicated planning time. In addition to learning about core concepts, participants will put ideas into action with facilitated planning time. Everyone will begin developing action plans for their organizations or build on existing plans. Organizations are encouraged to send multiple employees to build or work on current EDI plans for advancement.
About the Intercultural Development Inventory® (IDI®)
To be equipped to advance equity within your community, organization, and beyond, it is essential to also understand and advance your personal journey. Enhance your participation in this workshop with the Intercultural Development Inventory® (IDI®), which provides valuable and actionable information about your own mindset/skillset toward cultural difference and commonality. The IDI®, a 50-item online questionnaire, has been developed and tested using rigorous cross-culturally validated psychometric protocols with over 220,000 respondents from a wide range of cultural groups and countries.
Add this assessment to your workshop registration to receive practical and in-depth information. Individuals will receive a customized IDI® Individual Profile Report and participate in a 60-minute one-on-one debrief session with Social Current Director of Evaluation and Research Phyllis Richards to discuss their results and develop a plan to meet their personal intercultural development goals. Richards is a qualified administrator of the IDI® and has more than a decade of experience in working collaboratively to address systemic racism and improve cultural competency.
Workshop Goals

How EDI has changed over time within the U.S. as a result of legislation
Understand the skills needed to advance your EDI personal journey
How biases, racism, and incivility are barriers to building an EDI-enriched workplace culture
Understand their organization’s phase of EDI maturity, and how to move to the next phase
A multi-faceted approach for co-creating an organizational culture that fosters EDI
Options for addressing critical current issues
How to structure an organizational plan to advance EDI using results-based strategies
Create the skeleton plan with facilitator support

Who Should Participate

Staff responsible for diversity, equity, and inclusion
Human resources professionals
Organizational development professionals
Executives
Board members
Executive search firms

Presenters

Undraye Howard, PhD

Senior Director and Special Advisor to the CEO for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Engagement
Social Current

Jerica Broeckling, M.A.

Engagement Partner

Sheryl White, PhD

Vice President of Training and Organizational Development
Neighborhood House Association

Phyllis Richards, M.A., M.S.

Director of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Research
Social Current

Black Women in Leadership Affinity Group Presents: Changing the Narrative from Angry to Phenomenal
2022-10-28 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
Register

This webinar is the third in a three-part series presented by the Black Women in Leadership Affinity Group that will explore the many dimensions of the Black woman in the workplace.

These dynamic discussions will navigate the negative perceptions of the Black woman, the impact of our commitment to resilience, and how we use our influence to elevate our communities.

Part 1: The Angry Phenomenal Black Woman (April 22)
Part 2: It’s All Good … But It’s Not! (July 20)
Part 3: Changing the Narrative from Angry to Phenomenal (Oct. 28)

During this webinar, the final session in this three-part series, presenters will synthesize prior discussions and demonstrate that Black women are not angry; we are rewriting the narrative—we are phenomenal! The panelists will discuss how we can leverage our voices to advocate for others, get seats at the table, and encourage others to advance our collective agenda.

About the Black Women in Leadership Affinity Group
We are a courageous group of Black woman leaders who support one another to nurture and live our power, bolster engagement in personal and professional development, and leverage our network to be a catalyst for positive change in our communities. Given the impact of historical and existing structural racism that we must surmount, the affinity group aims to engage authentically, bringing our talent and vulnerability together to transcend societal norms. Through trainings, conversations, topical education, tools, and other resources, Black women leaders will learn and practice the teaching principles and habits of EDI-focused adaptive leadership skills.
The Social Current Leadership Through Affinity groups support leaders with shared cultural backgrounds as they build relationships, develop professional networks, and engage in training.
Current* groups include:

Black Women in Leadership Affinity Group
Latinx Leadership Affinity Group
Allies for Equity, Justice & Inclusion
Black Men’s Barbershop Affinity Group

Through the work of the affinity groups, emerging and senior leaders will develop solutions and address barriers that keep persons of color from advancing at rates equal to their counterparts. These leaders will have access to trainings that include adaptive leadership, psychological safety, and revolutionary leadership. Leaders will also receive mentoring from EDI cohort leaders.
* These four affinity groups are the result of a grant-supported inaugural project, but they are just the beginning. We recognize that there are marginalized groups not represented here and we hope to expand to other racial, ethnic, or cultural backgrounds, including, but not limited to, LGBTQ+, those with disabilities, and those considered Second Acts. Interested in forming a new leadership affinity group? Please contact Deb Smith to learn more.
Learning Objectives

Navigating the negative perceptions of the Black woman
Using the influence of Black women to elevate communities
Self-care strategies that use an EDI lens to build personal and professional strength and resilience
Solutions for supporting and advancing women of color in leadership roles
Concepts of EDI, including psychological safety and implicit bias

Who Should Participate

Focus on managers and supervisors
Emerging and senior leaders
Executives

Presenters

Dr. Robin Beavers

Vice President of Philanthropy & DEI Initiatives
Trillium Family Services

Biography

Dr. Robin Beavers
Vice President of Philanthropy & DEI Initiatives
Trillium Family Services

Dr. Robin Beavers is a community engagement and outreach specialist dedicated to developing and managing programs that promote the wellness, equity, and inclusion of all people in our society. For over 20 years she has served as a higher education and career development professional. In recent years, she has moved into the world of philanthropy, hoping to inspire others to invest time and finances to help all communities thrive. She currently serves as the vice president of philanthropy & DEI initiatives at Trillium Family Services located in Oregon.

LaTasha Roberson-Guifarro

Associate Vice President of Child Welfare, Strategy & Organizational Excellence and Privacy Officer
Lutheran Child & Family Services

Biography

LaTasha Roberson-Guifarro
Associate Vice President of Child Welfare, Strategy & Organizational Excellence and Privacy Officer
Lutheran Child & Family Services

LaTasha Roberson-Guifarro is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker that believes all should aspire to make an indelible impact of excellence in our world. She has committed to being a thought leader and executor of achieving systemic results in human service and technology sectors through learning, creating, and implementing solutions in collaboration with children, families, communities, and institutions. She has held direct service and progressing levels of leadership roles in child welfare, clinical services, training, policy development, advocacy, program and risk management, strategic planning, and continuous quality improvement (CQI). Roberson-Guifarro currently serves as the associate vice president of child welfare, strategy & organizational excellence, privacy officer at one of the largest child welfare and adoption agencies in Illinois, Lutheran Child & Family Services. She describes her role within her organization as a call to inspire, challenge, and equip stakeholders to consistently ask, answer, and respond to: How are we doing? How do we know? How do we prove and/or improve our efforts and strategically achieve desired social impact results? Roberson-Guifarro earned her master’s in social work from Washington University in St. Louis. She serves as a COA Accreditation peer reviewer, and she is the leader/member of various agency, state, and national advisory boards geared toward resource and systems transformation, children and family advancement, workforce professional development and stability, race and LGBTQI+ equity and affirming care, social justice, and innovation. Roberson-Guifarro shares her ultimate aim is to electrify sustainable, collective power and capacity for evolving our tomorrows.

Dr. Natasha Watson Mack

Senior Administrator
Child Protective Services

Biography

Dr. Natasha Watson Mack
Senior Administrator
Child Protective Services

Dr. Natasha Watson Mack has over 20 years of human service experience as a certified domestic violence and sexual assault counselor working with men who have been physically, emotionally, sexually, psychologically, and economically abusive to their partners, and as crisis intervention counselor at an agency for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. She does extensive work with teens in the area of sexual dating violence and safer sex practices. She served as COO of a nonprofit men’s program for seven years. She currently serves as a senior administrator in child protective services supervising directors who work primarily with child survivors of sexual assault. Mack’s core expertise is in counseling, education, program management, and operations.
She attended City University of New York for her undergraduate education. She then attended Lincoln University, where she studied human services and earned a master’s degree. At Widener University, she studied human sexuality earning her second master’s degree. She also obtained her doctorate in human sexuality at Widener University. At Cornell university, Mack earned a certification in Diversity and Inclusion. She has also established her own professional relationship and sexuality coaching, counseling, and educating business. She does individual sessions as well as groups, workshops, seminars, and professional presentations. She created a series of seminars titled “Developing Healthy Sexuality through Sisterhood,” which were designed to empower women to live sex-positive lives and has most recently developed a “Healing Space” for women to discuss trauma around sex and relationships. In addition, she does sexual harassment trainings for private businesses and corporations.
At present, Mack is a member of The National Association of Forensic Counselors, The Alliance of Black Social Workers, The Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality, The American Association of Sex Educators Counselors and Therapists, Pi Gamma Mu International Honor Society in the Social Sciences, Gamma Eta Rho National Honor Society in Human Sexuality, Iota Iota Iota National Honor Society in Women’s and Gender Studies, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. She brings a tremendous amount of insight to services, reflected in the success stories of the populations she serves.

Maximize Your Social Current Engagement: Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
2022-10-20 15:30 - 16:15 (America/New_York)
Register

It is clear that advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion is important for the social sector. However, it can be difficult to know where to start. It also can be daunting as to how to ensure the changes gain momentum and have lasting impact for the organization and community. Social Current’s approach to EDI positions organizations for success by focusing on organizational culture and addressing equity at multiple levels.
Join this session to learn more about Social Current’s approach to EDI, which is based on years of experience in partnering with community-based organizations to help them set and reach their equity goals. Participant will also gain tips for how to be successful in advancing equity at your organization.
Takeaways

About Social Current’s approach to embedding equity at the person, organizational, and systems levels
Essential element for success in advancing EDI
Social Current resources for advancing EDI

2022 Social Current Engagement Webinar Series
Join us to learn how your organization’s team can benefit from a Social Current engagement package and the exciting opportunities that connect you with colleagues across the network. All staff at organizations with 2022 Social Current Engagement Packages—and those interested in learning more—are encouraged to participate in this webinar.
In addition to delving into the month’s featured topic, we will preview any new or soon-to-be-released products, services, tools, and engagement opportunities. This webinar will include ample time for Q&A, as you explore ways to maximize the engagement experience for your organization and colleagues.

Register for upcoming webinars or download the recordings of past sessions.

Jan. 21 at 4 p.m. ET — Social Current Hub preview
Feb. 8 at 11 a.m. ET — Launch of the SPARK Exchanges
March 16 at 3:30 p.m. ET—Knowledge and Insights Center
April 21 at 12:30 p.m. ET — Public Policy Advocacy
May 20 2 p.m. ET — Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion offering
June 14 at 11:30 a.m. ET — Social Current Online HUB Demo
July 26 at 3 p.m. ET — Knowledge and Insights Center
Aug. 17 at 1 p.m. ET — SPARK Exchanges
Oct. 20 at 3:30 p.m. ET — Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion offering
Dec. 7 at 10 a.m. ET — Knowledge and Insights Center

Who Should Participate

Any staff at organizations that have Social Current Engagement Packages
Any staff at organizations interested in Social Current Engagement Packages

Presenters

Romero Davis

Senior Program Manager
Social Current

Linda Freeman

Director of Network Engagement
Social Current

Child Welfare’s 21st-Century Research Agenda: How Monthly Cash Gifts Are Fostering Infant Brain Development
2022-10-13 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Register

Baby’s First Years is the first causal study to test the connections between poverty reduction and brain development among very young children. During this webinar, participants will hear from two researchers behind the study, Sonya Troller-Renfree and Greg Duncan, about the impact of monthly cash support for low-income mothers on the brain development of their infant children.
Baby’s First Years is a pathbreaking study of the causal impact of monthly, unconditional cash gifts to low-income mothers and their children in the first four years of the child’s life. After one year, infants of mothers in low-income households receiving $333 in monthly cash support were more likely to show faster brain activity, in a pattern associated with learning and development at later ages.
How economic and concrete supports can be used promote child and family well-being and prevent child maltreatment is one component of the 21st-century research agenda for child welfare. Understanding the existing research and research gaps in this area is critical as we design better economic stability programs for families and upstream community-based family supports.
About the Webinar Series
This webinar is one session in Social Current’s five-part learning series on the 21st-century research agenda for child welfare.

Cutting through the Chaos by Reframing Childhood Adversity
Oct. 11 from Noon-1 p.m. ET
How Monthly Cash Gifts Are Fostering Infant Brain Development
Oct. 13 from 2-3 p.m. ET
Supporting Safe and Effective Investigations through Training Labs
Nov. 29 from 3-4:30 p.m. ET
Building Protective Factors through Family Resource Centers
Dec. 1 from 3-4:30 p.m. ET
An Anti-Racist Approach to Child Neglect Investigations
Dec. 6 from 3-4 p.m. ET

The Annie E. Casey Foundation, Casey Family Programs and the William T. Grant Foundation are leading an initiative, along with many partners, to identify research gaps related to community-based family support, child protective services, out-of-home care, and post-permanency services. The initiative is now working to conduct research, rooted in equity and co-designed by people with lived experience, to address these gaps and answer key questions, as well as increase the use of this research in decision making. Learn more about the 21st-century research agenda for child welfare online.
Takeaways

Learn about the connections between poverty reduction and brain development among young children
Reflect on ways that economic and concrete supports can bolster well-being
Gain insight into the 21st-century research agenda

Who Should Participate

Child welfare professionals including caseworkers, investigators, managers, researchers, and other social sector professionals who interact with the child welfare system

Presenter

Greg Duncan, Ph. D.

Distinguished Professor of Education
University of California, Irvine

Biography

Greg Duncan, Ph. D.
Distinguished Professor of Education
University of California, Irvine

Greg Duncan holds the title of Distinguished Professor in the School of Education at the University of California, Irvine. Duncan received his bachelor’s in economics from Grinnell College in 1970 and his doctorate in economics in 1974 from the University of Michigan. He has also held academic appointments at the University of Michigan and Northwestern University. Duncan’s recent work has focused on the effects of increasing income inequality on schools and children’s life chances.
Duncan was elected president of the Society for Research in Child Development between 2009 and 2011, was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2010, and received SRCD’s Award for Distinguished Contributions to Public Policy and Practice in Child Development in 2015.

Sonya Troller-Renfree

Assistant Professor
Teachers College, Columbia University

Biography

Sonya Troller-Renfree
Assistant Professor
Teachers College, Columbia University

Dr. Sonya Troller-Renfree is an assistant professor at Teachers College, Columbia University. Troller-Renfree is an expert in infant electroencephalogram (EEG) data collection and analysis. Troller-Renfree’s research examines the impacts of maternal stress on infant brain development using innovative EEG analytic techniques. Troller-Renfree also has expertise in mobile and in-home infant EEG data collection and analysis.

Preparing CBOs to Partner with Health Plans—New Procedures and Payment
2022-10-13 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
Register

The services and supports being offered through health and human service community-based organizations (CBOs) are increasingly included in health plans (MCOs, commercial insurance). These services and supports address many factors that contribute to a person’s overall well-being—including and beyond physical health. It is important that CBOs are seen as vital partners by health plans for their ability to help design, coordinate, and deliver services, as well as ensure the individuals in their communities receive holistic care that addresses the individual’s overall health and well-being.
Today, most CBOs need to work with health plans and the designated MCOs in their areas as part of their service delivery network. This webinar is designed to provide an executive overview of the changing role of health plans in the health and human service sector, so CBOs are better equipped to understand the landscape and their own role. It also will cover the organizational competencies needed to partner and participate with managed care and in the changing health plan reimbursement models.
This session is part of Social Current and OPEN MINDS’ collaboration on organizational value-based reimbursement competency assessment and preparedness.
Takeaways

The changing role of health plans in the health and human service sector
Organizational competencies important for partnering with health plans
Opportunities through Social Current and OPEN MINDS to support your preparation

Who Should Participate

Executives
Program directors
Quality managers

Presenter

Monica E. Oss

CEO
OPEN MINDS

Biography

Monica E. Oss
CEO
OPEN MINDS

Monica E. Oss, M.S., is the founder of OPEN MINDS and serves as its CEO, executive editor of its publications and websites, and executive lead of its consulting engagements. For the past three decades, Oss has led the OPEN MINDS team and its research on health and human service market trends and its national consulting practice. She is well known for her numerous books and articles focused on the strategic and marketing implications of the evolving health and human service field—and its focus on the verticals of the field serving consumers with chronic conditions and complex support needs.
Oss has extensive experience in developing and implementing growth strategies for a wide array of organizations in the field. She has expertise in industry trend analysis, reimbursement and rate setting, and creating actionable plans for market success. In her role, she has led numerous engagements with state Medicaid plans, county governments, private insurers and health plans, service provider organizations, technology vendors, neurotechnology and pharmaceutical organizations, and investment banking firms—with a focus on the implications of financing changes on delivery system design.
Prior to founding OPEN MINDS, Oss served as an executive with a national managed behavioral health organization, with responsibility for market development and actuarial analysis and capitation-based rate setting. She also held a position as vice president of the U.S. risk management and underwriting division of an international insurance company.
Oss has been the keynote speaker at the conferences of dozens of national associations and has been published in a wide range of professional journals and trade publications. She has provided congressional and state legislative testimony on issues as diverse as the financial impact of parity and payer medication access policies.
Oss has led a range of industry research and consultation initiatives, serving as principal investigator on research projects that include examination of national managed care enrollment and service patterns; development of provider rate structures for government entities; creation of return-on-investment models for technology investments; design of performance-based compensation models within public and private health plans; and analysis of the economic impact of changes in benefit design, adoption of evidence-based practices, and new technologies.

Kimberly Bond

Executive Vice President
OPEN MINDS

Biography

Kimberly Bond
Executive Vice President
OPEN MINDS

Kimberly Bond, MS, LMFT, brings over 30 years of experience providing behavioral health treatment in the public and community settings to the OPEN MINDS team. She currently serves as the executive vice president, payer/provider market. In this role, Bond provides executive oversight and leadership to all Provider and Payer client engagements for OPEN MINDS.
Prior to joining OPEN MINDS, Bond served concurrently as a program coordinator III and clinical manager of adult services and a program coordinator II and clinical manager of recovery services for the Ozark Guidance Center. In these roles, she was responsible for the administrative and clinical oversight of the adult outpatient and adult intensive mental health services on the Springdale campus, as well as the adult recovery/co-occurring services, including domestic violence and anger management treatment.
Prior, Bond served as the executive vice president of Center Point Inc., a large substance abuse provider agency in California. In this role, she was responsible for the clinical and administrative supervision of all community-based programs as well as the women and children’s residential programs. In addition, Bond also managed budgets, interacted with funding agencies, and built positive relationships with all stakeholders. She was also in charge of proposal and grant writing, staff management, and training, facilities’ licensing and certifications renewals. Additionally, she prepared and submitted monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual reports to various funders.
Previously, Bond served as the president and CEO of Mental Health Systems Inc. She was very instrumental in growing the agency from $12 million in annual revenue to over $100 million and becoming one of the largest providers of behavioral health services in California. In this role, Bond was responsible for the strategic, clinical, financial, and administrative health of the organization, including direct supervision of senior executive staff. In addition, she ensured contract compliance of the organization’s 125 different contracts across federal and state agencies and eight counties.
Bond received her bachelor’s in psychology, with honors, and her master’s in counseling education from San Diego State University. She is licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist in both California and Arkansas.

Child Welfare’s 21st-Century Research Agenda: Cutting through the Chaos by Reframing Childhood Adversity
2022-10-11 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)

Fundraising, Marketing, and Communications: Successes and Challenges in 2022
2022-10-05 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)

Advancing EDI for a More Perfect Union (September Session)
2022-09-20 12:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Register: September Session

Register: IDI

Workshop: $650
Intercultural Development Inventory® (IDI®): $288

Workshop Sessions
Choose one of four opportunities to participate in this workshop in 2022:
March Session: March 1, 8, 15
June Session: June 9, 16, 23
September/October Session: Sept. 20, Sept. 27, Oct. 4
November Session: Nov. 1, 8, 15
Given the continued emergence of an interconnected society, an ever-evolving pandemic, calls for racial and social justice along with heightened polarization across many fronts, building organizational capacity for advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion is more critical than ever. The need for leaders across sectors, and especially within the social sector, to understand and engage the current environment is essential in building an equitable society for all.
This journey begins by ensuring all people feel valued at work. It mandates the co-creation of an inclusive workforce that can foster the development of a healthy, productive, and peaceful society in which all people can participate and reach their full potential. The journey continues with building a culture that supports equity for long-term sustainable change and engaging the inequitable systems, which marginalizes, disconnects, and dismisses individuals from having access and full participation in reaching economic mobility and prosperity.
During this three-part virtual workshop presented by Social Current, participants will explore their relationships with equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in a safe environment and make progress on developing an EDI action plan for their organizations.
Because advancing EDI requires more than just basic knowledge and the will to improve, presenters will help participants understand their own biases and the role of historical discrimination, non-inclusive behavioral actions, and culture in creating an unjust society.
The workshop will include presentations of valuable information, facilitated discussions, reflection opportunities, and dedicated planning time. In addition to learning about core concepts, participants will put ideas into action with facilitated planning time. Everyone will begin developing action plans for their organizations or build on existing plans. Organizations are encouraged to send multiple employees to build or work on current EDI plans for advancement.
About the Intercultural Development Inventory® (IDI®)
To be equipped to advance equity within your community, organization, and beyond, it is essential to also understand and advance your personal journey. Enhance your participation in this workshop with the Intercultural Development Inventory® (IDI®), which provides valuable and actionable information about your own mindset/skillset toward cultural difference and commonality. The IDI®, a 50-item online questionnaire, has been developed and tested using rigorous cross-culturally validated psychometric protocols with over 220,000 respondents from a wide range of cultural groups and countries.
Add this assessment to your workshop registration to receive practical and in-depth information. Individuals will receive a customized IDI® Individual Profile Report and participate in a 60-minute one-on-one debrief session with Social Current Director of Evaluation and Research Phyllis Richards to discuss their results and develop a plan to meet their personal intercultural development goals. Richards is a qualified administrator of the IDI® and has more than a decade of experience in working collaboratively to address systemic racism and improve cultural competency.
Workshop Goals

How EDI has changed over time within the U.S. as a result of legislation
Understand the skills needed to advance your EDI personal journey
How biases, racism, and incivility are barriers to building an EDI-enriched workplace culture
Understand their organization’s phase of EDI maturity, and how to move to the next phase
A multi-faceted approach for co-creating an organizational culture that fosters EDI
Options for addressing critical current issues
How to structure an organizational plan to advance EDI using results-based strategies
Create the skeleton plan with facilitator support

Who Should Participate

Staff responsible for diversity, equity, and inclusion
Human resources professionals
Organizational development professionals
Executives
Board members
Executive search firms

Presenters

Undraye Howard, PhD

Senior Director and Special Advisor to the CEO for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Engagement
Social Current

Jerica Broeckling, M.A.

Engagement Partner

Sheryl White, PhD

Vice President of Training and Organizational Development
Neighborhood House Association

Phyllis Richards, M.A., M.S.

Director of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Research
Social Current

Intensive Accreditation Training (IAT)
2022-09-15 08:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor, 401 West Pratt St., Baltimore, MD, 21201, United States
This workshop is a post-conference session of the SPARK 2022 conference.
The Intensive Accreditation Training (IAT) is designed to prepare organizations to get the most out of their COA Accreditation experience. Topics discussed in this training include:

An in-depth overview of the COA Accreditation process, including key milestones
An overview of accreditation standards and the relationship between standards, evidence, and the rating indicators
How ratings are assigned by the volunteer review team and insight on the accreditation decision-making process
Tips on how to get organized and manage the work
How to prepare for the site visit

Learn more about COA Accreditation, a service of Social Current, and how to get started online.
2022 Intensive Accreditation Trainings
This training will be offered five times in 2022. Register now for any session:

Feb. 28
April 25
June 27
Sept. 15 in Baltimore as a post-conference session of SPARK 2022
Dec. 12

Who Should Participate

Organization primary contacts
Senior leaders at organizations seeking COA Accreditation
Other staff involved in an organization’s accreditation process

SPARK 2022
2022-09-13 08:00 - 2022-09-14 17:00 UTC | Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor, 401 West Pratt St., Baltimore, MD, 21201, United States
About SPARK 2022

Pre- & Post-Conference Sessions

Keynotes

Workshops

Sponsors

About SPARK 2022

SPARK 2022 Recap!

About SPARK 2022
SPARK 2022 registration is now closed.
SPARK 2022 showcased sector insight and expertise to drive toward greater impact so all people can thrive. This in-person event convened leaders from across the human services ecosystem and focused on topics that are critical for organizational excellence and our sector’s impact:

Brain Science
Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Organizational and Service Delivery Innovations
Workforce Resilience and Leadership

Fueled by a commitment to advance equity and improve the well-being of all people, we elevated important conversations around our most vexing challenges. Together, we shared inspiration and practical tools for implementing innovative practice, policy, and research.
The SPARK 2022 program is approved by the National Association of Social Workers for 10.5 continuing education contact hours.

Registration & Pricing

Social Current has extended the early bird registration rate to Sept. 8. This is also the deadline to register for the event.
Organizations that Have an Enterprise Engagement Package and/or Achieved COA Accreditation
Early Bird Registration $550
Regular Registration $700
Other Organizations
Early Bird Registration $650
Regular Registration $800
Multiperson Registration Discount
Register five (5) full conference participants from the same organization and receive $50 off all subsequent full conference registrations from the same organization. Only one discount per person; no other discounts apply. Once all five full conference participants are registered, contact Social Current to receive the discount code for all subsequent full conference registrations.
Cancellation by Participant
All cancellation requests must be made in writing. Conference cancellations are subject to a $100 processing fee. Cancellation requests received after Sept. 1 will not be refunded. Credit toward future Social Current events is not currently possible. Participants unable to attend the conference may send an alternate participant. Exceptions to this cancellation policy may be made for those who have or suspect they have COVID-19. Notice of written cancellation or alternate participant requests must be emailed directly to Social Current.
Cancellation by Social Current
If Social Current cancels this conference, all registration fees will be refunded in full.

COVID-19

Social Current will require SPARK 2022 participants, including Social Current staff, to provide proof of vaccination. Anyone not providing proof of vaccination by the time of the event will be denied access. If participants have a religious or medical exemption, they can complete an attestation form when checking in at the conference.
Additionally, Social Current will implement health and safety protocols in accordance with the public health circumstances at the time of the conference and follow protocols and guidelines set forth by the CDC, the state of Maryland, the city of Baltimore, and the Hilton Hotel venue.
During registration, all participants will be asked to agree to the following:
COVID-19 Disclaimer: By checking this box, I understand that travel and gathering involves risk of illness. I (and on behalf of my guest(s)) waive and release Social Current and its sponsors and exhibitors, and their employees and agents, from and against claims, liabilities, and expenses arising from injury, sickness, or death from contraction or spread of COVID-19 or other communicable disease due to travel to or attendance at an event sponsored by Social Current. I agree to provide proof of vaccination and not attend any Social Current event if I feel ill, exhibit any symptoms, or test positive for the COVID-19 virus prior to the event. This waiver and release is binding on me and my heirs and successors.

Location & Lodging

Location
Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor
401 West Pratt St.
Baltimore, MD 21201
Hotel Reservations
Social Current has arranged a special room rate of $220 for single or double occupancy, plus applicable taxes. Reserve your room online or by calling the hotel at 443-573-8700 by Aug. 26 and mentioning the group name Social Current SPARK 2022 to receive the discounted rate. This rate is available for stays up to three days prior to and after the conference, but it is subject to availability at the time of booking.
BWI Marshall Airport (10 mi.)
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) offers several ground transportation options:

Light Rail: BWI Marshall Airport Light Rail Station is located immediately outside the lower level of the terminal building, adjacent to Concourse E. The Hilton Baltimore official stop is Pratt St Light Rail Station.
Uber and Lyft: Pickup is located at the terminal curbs on the Upper Level/Departures.

Schedule

Monday, Sept. 12

11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Registration/Info Desk

1-5 p.m.
Pre-Conference Sessions

Tuesday, Sept. 13

7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Registration/Info Desk

8-9 a.m.
Breakfast with Exhibitors

9-10:30 a.m.
General Session

10:30-11 a.m.
Break with Exhibitors

11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Session A Workshops

12:45-1:45 p.m.
Networking Lunch

2-3:30 p.m.
Session B Workshops

4:30-5:30 p.m.
Networking Reception

Wednesday, Sept. 14

7:45 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Registration/Info Desk

8-9 a.m.
Breakfast with Exhibitors
SPARK Exchanges Roundtable Discussions

9-10:30 a.m.
Session C Workshops

10:30-11 a.m.
Break with Exhibitors

11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Session D Workshops

12:45-1:45 p.m.
Networking Lunch

2-3:30 p.m.
Session E Workshops

3:45-5 p.m.
General Session

Thursday, Sept. 15

7:45-9 a.m.
Registration/Info Desk

8 a.m.-Noon
Post-Conference Sessions

Advisory Council

Elizabeth Carey
President and CEO
Starr Commonwealth in Albion, Michigan
Joseph R. Everett
President & CEO
The Opportunity Alliance in South Portland, Maine
Louis E. GrowMiller, MSW, LSW
Senior Director, Family Services
Turning Points for Children, a PHMC affiliate in Philadelphia
Patricia Hillis-Clark, Psy.D.
Executive Director, Pennsylvania Children’s Behavioral Health Services
Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health in Malvern, Pennsylvania
Lynn D. Kyle, MS, LCSW
Executive Director
Lampion Center in Evansville, Indiana
Kim Peterson, MA
Vice President of Change Management
Aviva Family and Children’s Services in Los Angeles
Marlena Torres, CPA, MBA
COO
Children’s Home Society of Washington in Seattle

Sponsor and Exhibit at SPARK 2022
Social Current’s robust network of organizations and individuals across the country provides a unique opportunity for sponsors to reach C-suite decisionmakers in their target demographics. Simultaneously, sponsorship will allow brands to assess challenges unique to the sector, collaborate, and access network expertise.
Through our network, we can reach more than 12,000 human services professionals representing more than 1,800 organizations that serve nearly 70 million individuals.
For more information about the scale and influence of our network, as well as our sponsorship and exhibitor packages view our prospectus. Reserve your spot by emailing Joe Perrow of Social Current.

Pre- & Post-Conference Sessions

Pre-Conference Sessions
Volunteer Appreciation Reception
Sept. 12 from Noon-4 p.m. ET
Room Location: Key 9
We could not do what we do without our COA Accreditation volunteers. All active COA Accreditation volunteers are invited to join us as we gather and celebrate all that you do. Catch up with colleagues, share site visit stories from the road, and get ready for the start of SPARK 2022. There will be food, prizes, and a host of swag – so you will not want to miss this event.
Implicit Bias Workshop
Sept. 12 from 1-5 p.m. ET
Room Location: Key 10
This interactive workshop will help participants build their understanding of how implicit bias operates at the individual and organizational levels, along with a variety of strategies for addressing bias and building inclusive habits and practices.
Building Workforce Resilience: Core Concepts and Strategies to Partner with Staff
Sept. 12 from 1-5 p.m. ET
Room Location: Key 11
This pre-conference session will help leaders in all stages of their careers create positive staff cultures that promote excellence and compassion resilience. Participants will explore foundational concepts and strategies for building a workforce that can stay well and healthy while working in constantly changing environments and partnering with people who are experiencing complex challenges in their lives.
Social Current’s Federal Policy Agenda: Advocacy Workshop and Opportunities for Impact
Sept. 12 from 1-5 p.m. ET
Room Location: Key 12
In this highly engaging pre-conference session, participants will discuss the powerful role that the social sector plays in the federal public policy space and engage in workshops to enhance their advocacy skills.
Post-Conference Sessions
Intensive Accreditation Training (IAT)
Sept. 15 from 8 a.m.-Noon
Room Location: Key 10
The Intensive Accreditation Training (IAT) is designed to prepare organizations to get the most out of their COA Accreditation experience. It provides an overview of the COA Accreditation process and standards, tips on how to manage the work, and advice for preparing for the site visit.

Keynotes

Opening Keynote
Empathy is a Verb: Lessons for Success in the Digital Age
What can we learn from the latest science on empathy? Plenty, especially in today’s plugged-in world of virtual workplaces, electronic communications, and increasing personal disconnection. Michele Borba points out that we’re all born hard-wired to care, but like all human qualities, empathy must be constantly activated. The habits that achieve this also make us more effective leaders, insightful managers, collaborative colleagues, and compassionate community members. Drawing from her inspiring TEDx talk, Borba will show us how to use the “Empathy Advantage” to build valuable social capital within our organizations and with clients, colleagues, and donors. Her motivating presentation will remind us that being more empathetic makes our workforce stronger, our communities more stable, our stakeholders more engaged and all of our relationships longer lasting.

Michele Borba
Educational Psychologist and Author
Dr. Michele Borba, Ed.D. is an internationally renowned educator, award-winning author, and parenting child expert recognized for her solution-based strategies to strengthen children’s character, resilience, and reduce peer cruelty. A sought-after motivational speaker, she has spoken in 19 countries and five continents, and served as a consultant to hundreds of schools and corporations. Clients include Sesame Street, Harvard, U.S. Air Force Academy, 18 US Army Bases in Europe and the Asian-Pacific, H.R.H. the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. and a TEDx Talk: “Empathy Is a Verb.” She offers realistic, research-based advice culled from a career working with over one million parents and educators worldwide.
Her awards include the National Educator Award (presented by the National Council of Self-Esteem), National Child Safety Award of 2016 by Child Safety Network, Santa Clara University’s Outstanding Alumna Award, Outstanding Contribution to the Educational Profession by the Bureau of Education and Research, and a 2016 SHORTY nominee for “Best Social Media Influencer in Parenting.” She was named Honorary Chairperson for Self-Esteem in Hong Kong, consultant for the Character Education and Civic Engagement for the U.S. Dept of Education, Disney Influencer, and Goodwill Ambassador for M.I.T.’s One Laptop per Child project. Board memberships include Parents, Character.org, Child Safety Network, Boys & Girls Club of America, USTA Sportsmanship Committee. Her proposal: “Ending School Violence and Bullying” (SB1667) was signed into California law in 2002.
Dr. Borba is a former classroom and special education teacher with a wide range of teaching experience, including work in a private practice with children with learning and emotional disabilities. She received a doctorate in educational psychology and counseling from the University of San Francisco, a master’s in learning disabilities, a bachelor’s from the University of Santa Clara, and a Life Teaching Credential from San Jose State University. She lives in Palm Springs, California, with her husband and has three grown sons.
Closing Keynote
Diversity and Inclusion: How to Build a Culture of Belonging
During the closing keynote Heather Younger will draw on her personal experiences as the only child of an interfaith and interracial marriage. She’ll inspire leaders to flex their empathy muscles and master the art of active listening to ensure every employee feels valued, respected, and supported.
Participants will take away:

A practical method to elicit feedback and unlock change and growth
Greater understanding of the role they play in creating belonging in the workplace
Inspiration to show up each workday as their most authentic selves

This keynote is perfect for leaders looking to build cultures of belonging at work, honor their colleagues’ diverse experiences and perspectives, and educate themselves about others’ challenges.

Heather R. Younger
Founder and CEO
Employee Fanatix
Heather R. Younger is the founder and CEO of Employee Fanatix, a leading employee engagement and consulting firm. She is a sought-after keynote speaker who brings revealing insights to the stage from over 25,000 employee experiences. A diversity, equity, and inclusion strategist, and the world’s leading expert on listening at work, she is the host of the Leadership with Heart Podcast. Heather is a regular contributor to Forbes and Fast Company and is the best-selling author of The 7 Intuitive Laws of Employee Loyalty, which hit the top of the “Forbes Must-Read List for HR Professionals.” Her latest best-selling book, The Art of Caring Leadership, teaches the radical power of caring support in leadership and in the workplace.
A former attorney who worked for years in corporate America, what is most important to know about Heather is that she brings a breadth of experience—extensive quantitative and qualitative research—and a truly deep passion for advocacy, resilience, human relations, and connection to every audience, every workshop, every consultation.
When not working, she is a mother of four and a self-proclaimed “soccer mom” who eats tons of chocolate for self-preservation.

Workshops

The SPARK 2022 program is approved by the National Association of Social Workers for 10.5 continuing education contact hours.

Sort By:
Session Groups
Area of Focus

A (11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.)
B (2-3:30 p.m.)
C (8:30-10 a.m.)
D (10:30 a.m.-Noon p.m.)

Sponsors

Social Current’s Federal Policy Agenda: Advocacy Workshop and Opportunities for Impact
2022-09-12 13:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor, 401 West Pratt St., Baltimore, MD, 21201, United States
This workshop is a post-conference session of the SPARK 2022 conference.
The Intensive Accreditation Training (IAT) is designed to prepare organizations to get the most out of their COA Accreditation experience. Topics discussed in this training include:

An in-depth overview of the COA Accreditation process, including key milestones
An overview of accreditation standards and the relationship between standards, evidence, and the rating indicators
How ratings are assigned by the volunteer review team and insight on the accreditation decision-making process
Tips on how to get organized and manage the work
How to prepare for the site visit

Learn more about COA Accreditation, a service of Social Current, and how to get started online.
2022 Intensive Accreditation Trainings
This training will be offered five times in 2022. Register now for any session:

Feb. 28
April 25
June 27
Sept. 15 in Baltimore as a post-conference session of SPARK 2022
Dec. 12

Who Should Participate

Organization primary contacts
Senior leaders at organizations seeking COA Accreditation
Other staff involved in an organization’s accreditation process

Presenters

Building Workforce Resilience: Core Concepts and Strategies to Partner with Staff
2022-09-12 13:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor, 401 West Pratt St., Baltimore, MD, 21201, United States

Implicit Bias Workshop
2022-09-12 13:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor, 401 West Pratt St., Baltimore, MD, 21201, United States

Volunteer Appreciation Reception
2022-09-12 12:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor, 401 West Pratt St., Baltimore, MD, 21201, United States

Health Equity Series: Health Access for Special Populations
2022-09-07 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)

Live at the Virtual Barbershop: Black August, The Legacy of Freedom Fighters, Past, Present & Future
2022-08-26 14:00 - 15:30 (America/New_York)
Register

Join us at the virtual barbershop as we talk about life … REAL life. Being Black in America means many things, but one of the most prevalent issues is experiencing racism daily on multiple fronts. From standard microaggressions on up to direct confrontations, the men who’ll be waiting on their haircuts at our barbershop have experienced it all.
Black August, The Legacy of Freedom Fighters, Past, Present & Today
Black August, observed each year in the month of August, honors the countless organizers, activists, and freedom fighters who sacrificed their freedom and lives in the struggle for Black liberation.
In addition to commemorating the fallen freedom fighters of the Black Liberation Movement, Black August is a time to call for the release of political prisoners in the U.S., to condemn the oppressive conditions of U.S. prisons, and to emphasize the continued importance of the struggle for Black Liberation. This annual observance was created in the 1970s by Black freedom fighters who wanted to honor the lives and deaths of Black political prisoners killed by the state, bring awareness to prison conditions, and to honor the radical tradition of Black resistance against anti-Black state violence and systemic oppression.
Join African American male leaders from the sector as they dive into the historical value of Black August and discuss the long-lasting effects of systemic oppression we see today in communities. Discuss the challenges and opportunities for freedom and equity in communities of color that support voices that call for justice.
About the Virtual Barbershop
The barbershop is the one of the few safe places where Black men feel very comfortable in having candid conversations on just about anything. All over America, the barbershop continues to serve as a second home and place of refuge, healing, and compassion for Black men.
This virtual space will feature several Black male executives from around the country, sharing their experiences and recommendations for advancing anti-racist leadership and championing equity-focused action in human services organizations. Just like in any barbershop, anyone is welcome to drop in at any time based on their availability and interest.
Catch Up with the Barbers on Previous Visits

Leading Positive Change amid Social and Political Unrest
Black Male Executives on COVID-19
Addressing COVID-19 Disparities and the Vaccine Rollout
Building Family Resilience by Supporting Black Fathers
Supporting Black Students in the Classroom

Takeaways

What separates Black August from Black History Month
How the Black Liberation Movement was affected by racism and violence
How the current prison system affects communities of color today
Strategies to advocate and assist in reform responsive to communities that have been harmed

Who Should Participate

Executives
Directors
Program managers
Human resources staff
Board members

The Barbers

Undraye P. Howard

Senior Director and Special Advisor to the CEO for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Social Current

Romero Davis

Senior Program Manager for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Engagement
Social Current

Waiting on a Haircut

Raphael Holloway

CEO
Gateway Center in Atlanta

Claude A. Robinson Jr.

Executive Vice President of External Affairs and Diversity
UCAN in Chicago

George Winn

COO
The Children’s Center in Detroit

Jesse McLean

Executive Director of Western Pennsylvania and Northeast Ohio
Pressley Ridge in Pittsburgh

Jonathan Palmer

Executive Director
Hallie Q. Brown Community Center in St. Paul, Minnesota

Julius Mullen Sr.

Executive Director
BASSE in Georgetown, Delaware

Reyahd D.J. Kazmi

Director of Business and Government Strategies
National Youth Advocate Program in Columbus, Ohio

Maximize Social Current Engagement: SPARK Exchanges (Formerly APEX Groups)
2022-08-17 13:00 - 13:45 (America/New_York)
Register

This webinar will introduce Social Current’s SPARK Exchanges, formerly Alliance Peer Exchange (APEX) groups. Through Social Current, SPARK Exchanges unite social sector professionals around functional roles and key issue areas to collaborate, share and/or access resources and solutions, discuss emerging trends, and receive policy updates and action opportunities. Facilitated by staff at Social Current, SPARK Exchanges provide specialized advice from peers throughout the country, as well as rich, timely content delivered through conference calls, webinars, discussion boards, and in-person and virtual networking events.
In addition to an overview, this webinar will feature the perspectives individuals who have been active in these groups and a demo of the Social Current Hub. This dynamic online portal is designed to help you get the support you need, connect with colleagues and resources, and take advantage of all that Social Current offers. Join this webinar to learn more about the SPARK Exchanges, see a sneak peek at the online hub, and join one of our current groups:

Advancing Equity
CEO
CFO
Transforming Child Welfare
Education Success
Fundraising, Marketing, and Communications
Health and Mental Well-Being
Human Resources
Performance Excellence

SPARK Exchanges are offered as a key benefit of Social Current’s engagement package. All staff at organizations that have purchased or are interested in an engagement package are encouraged to participate in this webinar.
2022 Social Current Engagement Webinar Series
Join us to learn how your organization’s team can benefit from a Social Current engagement package and the exciting opportunities that connect you with colleagues across the network. All staff at organizations with 2022 Social Current Engagement Packages—and those interested in learning more—are encouraged to participate in this webinar.
In addition to delving into the month’s featured topic, we will preview any new or soon-to-be-released products, services, tools, and engagement opportunities. This webinar will include ample time for Q&A, as you explore ways to maximize the engagement experience for your organization and colleagues.
Register for upcoming webinars or download the recordings of past sessions.

Jan. 21 at 4 p.m. ET — Social Current Hub preview
Feb. 8 at 11 a.m. ET — Launch of the SPARK Exchanges
March 16 at 3:30 p.m. ET—Knowledge and Insights Center
April 21 at 12:30 p.m. ET — Public Policy Advocacy
May 20 2 p.m. ET — Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion offering
June 14 at 11:30 a.m. ET — Social Current Online HUB Demo
July 26 at 3 p.m. ET — Knowledge and Insights Center
Aug. 17 at 1 p.m. ET — SPARK Exchanges
Oct. 20 at 3:30 p.m. ET — Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion offering
Dec. 7 at 10 a.m. ET — Knowledge and Insights Center

Takeaways

Benefits of SPARK Exchanges
Experiences of current group members
Preview of the Social Current online hub

Who Should Participate

Anyone interested in the Social Current SPARK Exchanges

Presenters

Linda Freeman

Director of Network Engagement
Social Current

Ruby Goyal-Carkeek

Senior Vice President of Programs and Services,
Social Current

Challenging the Indian Child Welfare Act and Tribal Sovereignty
2022-08-11 14:00 - 15:30 (America/New_York)
