Speakers
The Kansas Child Welfare Summit agenda includes speakers and activities that focus on practical steps child welfare partners can take to prevent unnecessary involvement in the child welfare system, improve the current permanency process, and empower Kansas families, youth, and young adults involved in state custody.
Learn about who will present at the summit:
April 15 speakers
April 16 speakers
Continuing education
Continuing education and continuing legal education units are approved for the summit. It includes 9.5 hours of continuing education plus 2 hours of legal ethics.
Continuing education credit is awarded by session. Virtual participants must participate by videoconference for the entire session and answer poll questions. You do not earn credit if you connect only by audio.
Summit resources
Visit our Tools, Presentations, and Resources page for tools to use before and during the summit, speaker presentations, and other helpful materials. Feel free to print presentations and resources before or after the summit. Hard copies will not be included in your resource materials at the summit.
Agenda
Monday, April 15
7:30 to 8:30 a.m.
Registration
8:30 to 9 a.m.
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Justice Melissa Standridge
Chief Justice Marla Luckert
Senator Ty Masterson, President of the Senate
Representative Dan Hawkins, Speaker of the House of Representatives
Secretary Laura Howard, Department for Children and Families
Register for Welcome and Opening Remarks
9 to 9:50 a.m.
Effective Collaboration Between Child Welfare Partners
Moderator: Heather Kestian, Capacity Building Center for the Courts
Panelists:
3rd Judicial District
District Judge Penny Moylan
Morgan Hall, senior deputy district attorney
Jennifer Martin Smith, guardian ad litem
Janay Kent, parent’s attorney
Nicole Harris Meerpohl, attorney
Jerilyn Smith, KVC Kansas
Ashley Lang, Department for Children and Families
15th Judicial District
Chief Judge Kevin Berens
Bret Mangan, county attorney
Justin Barrett, parent’s attorney
Heather Alwin, guardian ad litem
Tanya Becker, Department for Children and Families
Jake Hess, investigator, Colby Police Department
Ivy Wendt, reintegration supervisor, St. Francis Ministries
Register for Effective Collaboration Between Child Welfare Partners
9:50 to 10:05 a.m.
Break
10:05 to 11:20 a.m.
Improving the Kansas Permanency Process
Chief Judge Amy Harth, 6th Judicial District
Rebecca Gerhardt, director of permanency, Departmetn for Children and Families
Lori Ross, executive director, Foster Adopt Connect
Register for Improving the Kansas Permanency Process
11:20 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Lunch provided for all in-person attendes.
Judicial district teams will meet over lunch.
1 to 2:15 p.m.
Safety vs. Risk
Rob Wyman, consultant, Judicial and National Engagement Team, Casey Family Programs
Register for Safety vs. Risk
2:15 to 3:05 p.m.
Disproportionality, Disparities, and Inequities in Kansas Child Welfare
Shanelle Dupree, executive director, Racial Equity Collaborative
Dr. Pegah Naemi-Jimenez, associate researcher, University of Kansas
Register for Disproportionality, Disparities, and Inequities in Kansas Child Welfare
3:05 to 3:20 p.m.
Break
3:20 to 4:10 p.m.
Empowering Families Involved in the Child Welfare System
Moderator: Nina Shaw-Woody, executive director, Kansas Family Advisory Network
Lived expertise panelists:
Ashley (Richey) Grippando
Sean Grippando
Sierra Jones
Billy Shadden
Register for Empowering Families Involved in the Child Welfare System
4:10 to 5 p.m.
Judicial district team meetings
Tuesday, April 16
8:30 to 9:20 a.m.
Authentic Engagement and Collaboration with Children, Youth, and Young Adults Impacted by the Child Welfare System
Moderator: Kayla Powell, national consultant on youth with lived expertise
Lived expertise panelists:
Sophia Bond
Yusef Presley
Marquan Teetz
Alexandria Ware
Register for Authentic Engagement and Collaboration with Children, Youth, and Young Adults Impacted by the Child Welfare System
9:20 to 10:10 a.m.
Well-being of Child Welfare Partners
Moderator: Danielle Hall, chief of professionalism and outreach, Office of Judicial Administration
Panelists:
District Magistrate Judge Doug Jones, 5th Judicial District
Rachel Miller, assistant district attorney, Shawnee County
Sarah Heeke, guardian ad litem and parent’s attorney
Katie Wolf, foster parent
Paige Shifflet, permanency specialist, St. Francis Ministries
Register for Well-being of Child Welfare Partners
10:10 to 10:25 a.m.
Break
10:25 to 11:15 a.m.
Mental Health in Kansas Child Welfare
Sheamekah Williams, president, Evolution Foundation
Andy Brown, deputy secretary, Department for Aging and Disability Services
Register for Mental Health in Kansas Child Welfare
11:15 to 12 p.m.
District team meetings
12 to 12:30 p.m.
Takeaways, Low-Hanging Fruit, Short-Term and Long-Term Goals
Justice Melissa Standridge, Kansas Supreme Court
Register for Takeaways, Low-Hanging Fruit, Short-Term and Long-Term Goals
12:30 to 2 p.m.
Lunch on your own
Optional
2 to 2:50 p.m.
Ethical Issues in Child Welfare (part 1)
Chief Judge Kevin Berens, 15th Judicial District
Heather Alwin, guardian ad litem, 15th Judicial District
Morgan Hall, senior deputy district attorney, 3rd Judicial District
Grant Brazill, parent’s attorney, 18th Judicial District
Julia Hart, deputy disciplinary administrator, Office of the Disciplinary Administrator
Register for Ethical Issues in Child Welfare (part 1)
2:50 to 3:05 pm.
Break
3:05 to 3:55 p.m.
Ethical Issues in Child Welfare (part 2)
District Judge Penny Moylan, 3rd Judicial District
Heather Alwin, guardian ad litem, 15th Judicial District
Morgan Hall, senior deputy district attorney, 3rd Judicial District
Grant Brazill, parent’s attorney, 18th Judicial District
Julia Hart, deputy disciplinary administrator, Office of the Disciplinary Administrator
Register for Ethical Issues in Child Welfare (part 2)