BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Social Current - ECPv6.15.20//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://www.social-current.org X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Social Current REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/New_York BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20240310T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20241103T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20250309T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20251102T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20260308T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20261101T060000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250902T000000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250902T235959 DTSTAMP:20260411T021042 CREATED:20250523T212515Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250528T172526Z UID:10000495-1756771200-1756857599@www.social-current.org SUMMARY:On the Road: 2025 California Child and Family Services Conference DESCRIPTION:Stronger Together \n \n See You in Anaheim \nJoin us in Anaheim Sept. 21-27.  \nAre you attending this event? \nMake sure to meet Rachael Rucker\, manager of network engagement and growth\, at our exhibit booth to learn all about Social Current’s complete range of solutions.  \nDon’t forget to attend the workshop “Stronger Together: Communities United for Child and family Wellbeing\,” presented by our own Romero Davis\, director of practice excellence\, and Kimberly Heard\, senior program manager. Come to this session to discuss experiences\, best practices\, and innovative solutions with Social Current’s experts dedicated to improving the lives of children and families.  \n\n\n\n\n\n\nAbout the Event\nThe California Child and Family Services Conference connects professionals in child welfare\, juvenile justice\, mental health\, and education for cross-sectional discussions about the field of child and family services. Gain new insights\, earn CEUs\, and leave with the tools and connections to create real change in your community.  URL:https://www.social-current.org/event/on-the-road-california-alliance-for-children-and-families/ CATEGORIES:On the Road ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.social-current.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/On-the-Road.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250916T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250916T143000 DTSTAMP:20260411T021042 CREATED:20250822T194143Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250825T151108Z UID:10000518-1758027600-1758033000@www.social-current.org SUMMARY:September Grassroots Convening DESCRIPTION:Register \n \n Human and social services professionals are invited to join Social Current’s monthly Grassroots Advocacy Network Convening. We will lead an interactive session to assist nonprofits in developing effective values-based messages that connect across ideological divides and resonate with diverse viewpoints. Through an interactive session\, participants will collaboratively develop language that captures attention\, builds bridges\, and motivates action. \nJoin the grassroots advocacy network online. \nSocial Current’s grassroots advocacy network is a rapid-response team for urgent policy and legislative issues that offers opportunities to exchange ideas\, share solutions\, and build lasting connections across the sector. By joining\, you’ll receive alerts\, advocacy opportunities\, and access to workshops and training to sharpen your strategies and tools. \nTakeaways\n\nOpportunities to work alongside likeminded advocates to develop a messaging framework that resonates across diverse audiences\nTechniques for values-based communication\nPractice in refining messages for stakeholders representing unique populations\n\nWho Should Attend\n\nMembers of the Social Current Grassroots Advocacy Network: Join online\nExecutive Directors and Senior Management: Leaders responsible for setting organizational strategy and engaging with policymakers and stakeholders\nAdvocacy and Policy Directors: Individuals who develop and implement advocacy strategies and engage in policy analysis and outreach\nCommunications and Public Relations Managers: Professionals focused on crafting and disseminating the organization’s message to the public and media\nProgram Managers and Coordinators: Staff who oversee program implementation and need to align program goals with advocacy efforts\n\n \n\n \n\n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Blair Abelle-Kiser\, PhD\n \n Senior Director of Government Affairs\nSocial Current \n \n Biography\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Blair Abelle-Kiser\, PhD\n Senior Director of Government Affairs\nSocial Current \n \n Blair Kiser\, Ph.D.\, joined Social Current in 2022 after working in health policy on Capitol Hill\, the non-profit sector\, and as a biomedical researcher. Most recently\, Blair served as Director of Government Relations & Advocacy for NephCure Kidney International. \nDuring their time in public service\, they served as a Professional Staff Member of the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis. They led a corporate investigation regarding insider trading and financial improprieties\, conflicts of interest associated with Operation Warp Speed’s leadership\, and scientific information politicization. Prior to joining the Select Subcommittee\, they worked for Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH)\, where they served as a Health Policy Fellow. In Senator Brown’s office\, they led a range of legislative and oversight efforts involving public health and healthcare. During the COVID-19 pandemic\, they worked with several community hospice advocacy organizations and a Republican office to help craft the bipartisan COVID-19 Hospice Respite Care Relief Act of 2020. \nPrior to public service\, Blair spent several years as a medical research scientist on several industry and NIH-funded projects. Their work focused on developing research projects and clinical trials to improve the lives of African Americans with Sickle Cell Disease. They earned a doctorate in Biomedical Science from Morehouse School of Medicine in 2017 and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Kentucky in 2011. URL:https://www.social-current.org/event/september-grassroots-convening/ CATEGORIES:Policy ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.social-current.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Policy-Advocacy_4.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250922T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250922T150000 DTSTAMP:20260411T021042 CREATED:20250828T172319Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250902T151904Z UID:10000528-1758549600-1758553200@www.social-current.org SUMMARY:Kinship Care in Transition: Navigating through Changes and Centering Families  DESCRIPTION:Register \n \n Kinship care continues to be a vital part of the child and family well-being system\, offering children safety\, stability\, and the comfort of familiar relationships. As federal policies evolve to better support kinship families\, agencies and organizations must adapt to shifting standards while maintaining their commitment to equity\, family voice\, and culturally responsive care. This webinar is designed to help participants understand recent federal rule changes impacting kinship care and relevant updates to COA Accreditation standards and how to translate those changes into meaningful\, family-centered practice.  \nThis interactive webinar will also provide practical tools and strategies for engaging and valuing kinship caregivers as true partners in the system. Whether you’re a frontline worker\, administrator\, or advocate\, you’ll leave with takeaways to strengthen kinship placements and elevate the voices of those caring for their own.  \nThe session will clarify what’s changing\, what remains consistent\, and how organizations can remain compliant while also honoring the lived experience of kinship families. Participants will have a clearer understanding of recent federal rule changes\, practical steps for organizational alignment\, and approaches to supporting and empowering kinship families across diverse communities.  \n  \nTakeaways\n\nParticipants will gain an understanding of federal rule changes to kinship care and the impacts.\nAttendees will gain clarity on updates to COA Accreditation standards and compliance expectations for agencies working with kinship families.\nParticipants will learn practical strategies organizations can use to adapt to the new regulations while remaining family-centered and culturally responsive.\nAttendees will identify actionable ways to engage\, support\, and value kinship caregivers as key partners in the care system.\n\nWho Should Attend\n\nCommunity-based organization staff\nCourt-appointed advocates and GALs\nFoster care and kinship care trainers\nKinship navigators and family support workers\nChild welfare agency staff and supervisors\n\n \n\n \n\n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Romero Davis\n \n Senior Director of Child & Family Well-Being \n \n Biography\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Romero Davis\n Senior Director of Child & Family Well-Being \n \n Romero Davis is the senior director of child and family well-being at Social Current. A mentor for professional development and community justice champion\, Davis has worked nationally with agencies in areas such as poly-victimization; trauma in families; equity\, diversity\, and inclusion; juvenile justice; and domestic violence. He is a member of the technical assistance team for Child Safety Forward. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Jordan Reinwald\, LCSW\n \n Practice Excellence Standards Specialist \n \n Biography\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Jordan Reinwald\, LCSW\n Practice Excellence Standards Specialist \n \n Jordan Reinwald\, LCSW is a Practice Excellence Standards Specialist with Social Current providing research\, development\, and ongoing technical assistance and maintenance of the COA Accreditation Standards. Jordan brings a mix of direct practice and policy development experience in child welfare to her work in standards research.  Jordan has worked as a foster care social worker in Alabama and as a Clinical Specialist in the Massachusetts Office of the Child Advocate\, where she conducted reviews of critical incidents and recommended practice and policy changes to improve outcomes for children in foster care. She is passionate about promoting best practices in child welfare and human services to enhance the well-being of children and families. Jordan resides in West Hartford\, CT. URL:https://www.social-current.org/event/kinship-care-in-transition-navigating-through-changes-and-centering-families/ CATEGORIES:Child and Family Well-Being,Policy ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.social-current.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Safety-Resilience_1.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250923T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250923T150000 DTSTAMP:20260411T021042 CREATED:20250822T194458Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250825T150822Z UID:10000525-1758636000-1758639600@www.social-current.org SUMMARY:Fostering a Culture of Advocacy: Building Policy Competence Across Your Organization  DESCRIPTION:Register \n \n Sustainable\, transformative advocacy requires policy engagement to be woven into the culture of an organization—not just housed in one department. This webinar will explore how to build advocacy knowledge and readiness at all levels of your organization\, from front–line staff to executive leadership. Through practical examples and implementation tips\, we’ll help you transform policy fluency from a siloed skill into a shared value.  \nTakeaways\n\nWhat policy competence looks like at all organizational levels\nStrategies for embedding advocacy into daily operations\nModels of organization-wide training and internal communication\nLeadership’s role in advocacy culture\nHow to distribute advocacy capacity and readiness\n\nWho Should Attend\n\nMembers of the Social Current Grassroots Advocacy Network: Join online\nExecutive Directors and Senior Management: Leaders responsible for setting organizational strategy and engaging with policymakers and stakeholders\nAdvocacy and Policy Directors: Individuals who develop and implement advocacy strategies and engage in policy analysis and outreach\nCommunications and Public Relations Managers: Professionals focused on crafting and disseminating the organization’s message to the public and media\nProgram Managers and Coordinators: Staff who oversee program implementation and need to align program goals with advocacy efforts\n\n \n\n \n\n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Blair Abelle-Kiser\, PhD\n \n Senior Director of Government Affairs\nSocial Current \n \n Biography\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Blair Abelle-Kiser\, PhD\n Senior Director of Government Affairs\nSocial Current \n \n Blair Kiser\, Ph.D.\, joined Social Current in 2022 after working in health policy on Capitol Hill\, the non-profit sector\, and as a biomedical researcher. Most recently\, Blair served as Director of Government Relations & Advocacy for NephCure Kidney International. \nDuring their time in public service\, they served as a Professional Staff Member of the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis. They led a corporate investigation regarding insider trading and financial improprieties\, conflicts of interest associated with Operation Warp Speed’s leadership\, and scientific information politicization. Prior to joining the Select Subcommittee\, they worked for Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH)\, where they served as a Health Policy Fellow. In Senator Brown’s office\, they led a range of legislative and oversight efforts involving public health and healthcare. During the COVID-19 pandemic\, they worked with several community hospice advocacy organizations and a Republican office to help craft the bipartisan COVID-19 Hospice Respite Care Relief Act of 2020. \nPrior to public service\, Blair spent several years as a medical research scientist on several industry and NIH-funded projects. Their work focused on developing research projects and clinical trials to improve the lives of African Americans with Sickle Cell Disease. They earned a doctorate in Biomedical Science from Morehouse School of Medicine in 2017 and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Kentucky in 2011. URL:https://www.social-current.org/event/fostering-a-culture-of-advocacy-building-policy-competence-across-your-organization/ CATEGORIES:Policy ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.social-current.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Policy-Advocacy_4.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250924T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250924T140000 DTSTAMP:20260411T021042 CREATED:20250811T162658Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250904T190949Z UID:10000514-1758718800-1758722400@www.social-current.org SUMMARY:Strengthening Connections Between Federally Qualified Health Centers and Child Welfare DESCRIPTION:Register \n \n This webinar with Social Current Strategic Industry Partner Sellers Dorsey will explore how Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) can collaborate more effectively with the child welfare system and other community partners to improve health outcomes for children and families. This session will highlight promising practices\, policy opportunities\, and actionable strategies for integrating FQHCs into child welfare at the community and systems levels. We will also discuss recent federal shifts that impact FQHCs. \nTakeaways\n\nThe role FQHCs can play in improving outcomes for children and families involved with or at risk of involvement with the child welfare system\nHow to identify and partner with FQHCs\nOpportunities to establish a bi-directional referral stream between child welfare agencies and FQHCs\nFQHCs’ full scope of offerings for Medicaid-eligible foster populations and others\nOpportunities to build stronger networks at the family\, community\, and state levels\n\nWho Should Participate\n\nStaff providing care coordination or direct services to children\, adults\, and families such as child welfare\, behavioral health\, school-based services\, and/or community health\nStaff responsible for developing local resource networks\, provider networks\, or referral sources\nStaff responsible for community engagement strategy and relationship development\n\n \n\n \n\n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n Presenters\n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rachel Marsh (Facilitator)\n \n Associate Director\nSellers Dorsey \n \n Biography\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Rachel Marsh (Facilitator)\n Associate Director\nSellers Dorsey \n \n An attorney and social worker with more than 24 years of experience serving children and families\, Rachel joins Sellers Dorsey from the Children’s Alliance of Kansas where she served as CEO. In this role\, she worked to transform child and family well-being systems in Kansas. Under her leadership\, the organization achieved multiple public policy accomplishments\, impacting workforce retention\, prevention of foster care\, kinship caregivers\, and youth with complex behavioral health care needs. Prior to her public policy work\, Rachel served as a child in need of care attorney with a community-based child welfare provider for 14 years. She supported case managers and judicial partners in resolving complex child welfare matters\, developed trainings for case managers\, attorneys\, and judges\, and supported community and policymaker engagement in multiple states. In her early career\, Rachel worked in research and social work education in Kathmandu\, Nepal. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Charles Barron Jr.\, MD\n \n FQHC Chief Medical Officer \n \n Biography\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Charles Barron Jr.\, MD\n FQHC Chief Medical Officer \n \n Dr. Charles Barron’s unwavering commitment to education has led to him becoming a board-certified family practice physician and a well-respected chief medical officer in the Federally Qualified Health Center and community health sectors locally and nationally. Raised in Friars Point\, Mississippi\, Dr. Barron received an associate’s degree in biology from Coahoma Junior College in Clarksdale\, Mississippi\, and a bachelor’s degree in biology pre-medicine from Alcorn State University in Lorman\, Mississippi\, both of which are among the ranks of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). He received his medical degree from the University of Iowa School of Medicine. \nFollowing completion of his family practice residency at Mt. Sinai Hospital in Chicago\, Dr. Barron became employed as an attending physician under the residency program and the associate medical director of Access Southwest Family Health Center. Recognizing the importance of merging his vast medical background with advanced business acumen in the ever-changing healthcare industry\, Dr. Barron pursued and received a master’s in business administration from Olivet Nazarene University\, Bourbonnais\, Illinois. Having the insight to enhance his qualifications was a major influence in Dr. Barron’s appointment as regional medical director of the Southwest 1 Region for Access Community Health Network. It is noteworthy to mention that Access is one of the nation’s largest private provider of federally qualified health care\, providing a primary care medical home for over 200\,000 patients annually. Dr. Barron’s commitment to lifelong learning is also demonstrated by obtaining a certification as a physician executive from the American Association for Physician Leadership\, a Post-Masters Certification in Health Care Informatics from the University of Illinois at Chicago\, and a graduate of UCLA/Johnson & Johnson Health Care Executive Program. \nMarried to Dawn\, Dr. Barron is the proud father of Charles III and Dalyn BarLo. He is a devoted member of Salem Baptist Church of Chicago and an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. Dr. Barron is committed to demonstrating and implementing the traditions of integrity\, compassion\, empathy\, and interpersonal skills as he continues to be an integral part of the community. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Imani Lewis\n \n Director\nSellers Dorsey \n \n Biography\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Imani Lewis\n Director\nSellers Dorsey \n \n Imani R. Lewis is a seasoned health care leader with extensive expertise across provider and managed care organizations. Currently serving as director of managed care business at Sellers Dorsey\, she provides strategic and tactical guidance to managed care organizations (MCOs)\, provider-led entities (PLEs)\, and community-based organizations nationally. Imani also serves as adjunct professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health\, where she teaches the graduate-level course Socio-cultural Dimensions of Health Disparities Research. The course focuses on defining health disparities\, health equity\, and social/structural determinants of health; exploring models and techniques for planning\, implementing\, and evaluating health disparities research; and applying these concepts to real-world challenges. \nImani’s leadership journey includes serving as chief strategy officer for a prominent network of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) in Chicago. In this role\, she spearheaded initiatives to address health disparities\, enhance access to medical\, dental\, and behavioral health services\, and improve the nutritional and social outcomes for underserved communities. Previously\, as vice president of quality improvement for Illinois’s largest Medicaid health plan\, she oversaw accreditation\, regulatory processes\, and quality performance for over one million members across Medicaid\, Medicare\, Foster Care\, and Marketplace products. Her career also includes leadership roles in FQHCs and hospital systems in Illinois\, where she excelled in clinical operations\, data strategy\, practice transformation\, and quality improvement. \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Brittany McAllister\n \n Associate Director\nSellers Dorsey \n \n Biography\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Brittany McAllister\n Associate Director\nSellers Dorsey \n \n Brittany McAllister is an accomplished health and human services policy and government affairs professional with extensive experience advancing Medicaid and other health and human services public policy initiatives. Before joining Sellers Dorsey\, Brittany served as senior government affairs manager for The National Service Office for Nurse-Family Partnership and Child First. There\, she helped states create continuums of care–from prevention to positive permanency—to support families in or at risk of involvement with the child welfare system. Brittany has experience designing Medicaid reimbursement structures to support clinicians delivering home visiting\, nutrition\, and nursing services. She possesses expertise in developing coalitions and partnerships to promote systems change across early childhood services\, maternal and child health\, child welfare\, and more. \nShe has worked in most states across the country\, bringing a national perspective to her work and a deep understanding of the diverse policy landscapes that shape health and human services. Brittany has also led federal and state Legislative and Regulatory Affairs for the American Nutrition Association\, worked in state policy at The American Association of Nurse Practitioners\, and conducted Medicaid policy research at The George Washington University. Brittany is passionate about promoting family stability and healthy child development. She has lived experience in kinship care and adoption and as a Medicaid recipient. At Sellers Dorsey\, Brittany helps child and family well-being clients navigate challenges and opportunities related to public funding and partnerships. She translates policy changes and funding mechanisms into actionable strategies that drive sustainable impact. URL:https://www.social-current.org/event/strengthening-connections-between-federally-qualified-health-centers-and-child-welfare/ CATEGORIES:Child and Family Well-Being ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.social-current.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Safety-Resilience_2.png END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR