SPEAKERS BY DAY MONDAY

Clinton Lasley, Deputy Commissioner of Alaska Department of Health and Social Services

Serena Wieder, PhD, is the Clinical Director and a founding member of the Profectum Foundation, dedicated to advancing the development and infant mental health of all children, including children, adolescents and adults with autism and other special needs through training and educational programs. She also co-founded the Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders with the late Stanley Greenspan. Dr. Wieder was a Board Member of Zero to Three for twenty-four years and serves on advisory boards to various programs serving infant mental health and other special needs. She established DIR-Israel and provides consultation and training to international and national programs, including Profectum Certificate Programs in Argentina, Singapore and Brazil.

As a clinical psychologist, Dr. Wieder has pioneered important approaches to diagnosing and treating infants and toddlers with infant mental health and developmental disorders. She co-developed the DIR model with Stanley Greenspan, edited two diagnostic manuals for infants and young children, and created models for interdisciplinary post-graduate case based training and work with parents. She has co-chaired and organized national and international conferences integrating development, neuroscience and intervention approaches. Dr. Wieder also developed approaches to integrate visual-spatial knowledge to advance emotional and cognitive development. Her research interests concern follow up of children on the autism spectrum who have received DIR model comprehensive interventions and the evaluation of training and educational programs. Dr. Serena Wieder co-authored Engaging Autism, The Child With Special Needs and Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health with Stanley Greenspan, M.D. They also co-edited Infants in Multi-Risk Families as well as the ICDL Diagnostic Manual for Infants and Young Children (DMIC) and the original Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood (DC 0-3). Most recently, Dr. Wieder co-authored Visual Spatial Portals to Thinking, Feeling, and Movement with Harry Wachs, O.D. She has published numerous journal and book chapters and presents at multiple conferences nationally and internationally. At this time, Dr. Serena Wieder has a private practice in NYC for diagnosis, treatment and consultation regarding complex developmental and mental health challenges.

Ira J. Chasnoff, MD, Ira J. Chasnoff, M.D., an award-winning author, researcher and lecturer, is president of NTI Upstream and a Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago. He is one of the nation's leading researchers in the field of child development and the effects of environmental factors on the developmental trajectory of children and adolescents. Dr. Chasnoff’s work encompasses community approaches to the integration of behavioral health services into primary health care, the schools, and the other multiple systems that serve children and families. Dr. Chasnoff has served several U.S. presidential administrations on committees and commissions

dedicated to organizing and coordinating services for children and families across the nation and developing policies and procedures for addressing the needs of children at risk from prenatal and postnatal trauma. He also has worked with a wide range of States across the nation and internationally in developing universal outreach and early intervention programs for children and families affected by trauma or substance abuse. Dr. Chasnoff received his medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, which in 1991 awarded him its first Distinguished Alumnus Award. He is the author of numerous research articles regarding the long-term cognitive, behavioral, and learning outcomes of high-risk children, and his article on racial and social class bias in the health care system has been cited as a landmark study by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Dr. Chasnoff has authored twelve books, which have received numerous awards and one of which has been recognized by The Hague International Court. Dr. Chasnoff’s books explore the biological and environmental factors that impact the ultimate development of high-risk children and presents practical strategies for helping children reach their full potential at home and in the classroom. His newest book, FASD and the Online World, examines the scientific basis of risk children and teens face in their interactions on the Internet. Dr. Chasnoff is a regular contributor to Psychology Today, writing about high-risk children and their families. The recipient of several awards for his work with women, children, and families, Dr. Chasnoff for several years has been selected by a poll of physicians across the nation for listing in America’s Best Doctors, cited for his ability to translate complex medical and psychosocial issues into relevant policy that guides the delivery of quality services. Dr. Chasnoff has been active in establishing comprehensive family intervention programs for children in Australia, Denmark, Portugal, Canada, Vietnam, the former Soviet Union, and across the United States and has lectured on this topic around the world.

Christina Hulquist is a Program Coordinator II with the State of Alaska Child Care Program Office. Christina has a Bachelors’ in Communications and 16 years of experience in the early childhood field. Christina’s focus is supporting early learning programs increase their capacity for providing high quality care, and to help improve coordination of the early childhood system. Christina works closely with Learn & Grow, Alaska’s Quality Recognition and Improvement System, engaging child care programs in continuous quality improvement. She also works closely with the System for Early Education Development (SEED) supporting the early childhood workforce. Christina participates in the planning, development, and implementation of the Child Care Development Fund state plan, and oversees the grant for the Child Care Resource and Referral Agency. She is dedicated to strengthening Alaska’s early childhood system.

Jimael Johnson, MPH is a program officer with the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority. Among other priority investment areas, she works to increase the Trust’s opportunities for advocacy and partnership related to infant and early childhood mental health. This work supports the Trust’s mandate to promote early intervention and prevention strategies on behalf of its beneficiaries. Jimael has a background in child and family systems development with the State of Alaska. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Human Services and a Master of Public Health with an emphasis in maternal child health.

Maureen Harwood, MA, currently serves as the Part C coordinator for Alaska's Early Intervention/Infant Learning Program. She lives and works in Fairbanks. She is a long time state employee, former special education teacher and family service coordinator.

Tamar Ben-Yosef, BS is the executive director for the All Alaska Pediatric Partnership (AAPP), a non-profit organization dedicated to improving health and wellness outcomes for kids through partnerships, education, programs and more. Through her work with AAPP, Tamar has maintained a robust network of statewide partners that has resulted in numerous collaborations including the implementation and adoption of Help Me Grow Alaska - a screening, resource and referral network recently launched to connect children and families to the resources, services and supports needed. Tamar graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a BS in communication studies and has experience working in both journalism, small business management and public relations prior to joining AAPP.

Jeanine Jeffers-Woolf, LMFT, IMH-E®(III), is an early childhood mental health clinician in Fairbanks, Alaska. She has lived in Fairbanks for over thirty years and has had the great good fortune of working as an early childhood mental health consultant to many programs in Fairbanks and the Interior over the last twenty years. Jeanine was a NEAR@Home Facilitator under the 2017-2019 Region X Innovation Grant, supporting home visiting programs across the State of Alaska with NEAR@Home implementation.

Michelle Harvey, MSW, CSWA, IMH-E®(III), is a social worker with 14 years of experience in early childhood home visiting under Oregon Relief Nursery, Healthy Families America, and Early Head Start models. She currently works as an early childhood program manager, infant mental health consultant, and trauma therapist certified in Child-Parent Psychotherapy. Michelle was a NEAR@Home Facilitator under the 2017-2019 Region X Innovation Grant, supporting MIECHV-funded home visiting programs across the state of Oregon with NEAR@Home implementation.

TUESDAY

Serena Wieder, PhD, is the Clinical Director and a founding member of the Profectum Foundation, dedicated to advancing the development and infant mental health of all children, including children, adolescents and adults with autism and other special needs through training and educational programs. She also co-founded the Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders with the late Stanley Greenspan. Dr. Wieder was a Board Member of Zero to Three for twenty-four years and serves on advisory boards to various programs serving infant mental health and other special needs. She established DIR-Israel and provides consultation and training to international and national programs, including Profectum Certificate Programs in Argentina, Singapore and Brazil.

As a clinical psychologist, Dr. Wieder has pioneered important approaches to diagnosing and treating infants and toddlers with infant mental health and developmental disorders. She co-developed the DIR model with Stanley Greenspan, edited two diagnostic manuals for infants and young children, and created models for interdisciplinary post-graduate case based training and work with parents. She has co-chaired and organized national and international conferences integrating development, neuroscience and intervention approaches. Dr. Wieder also developed approaches to integrate visual-spatial knowledge to advance emotional and cognitive development. Her research interests concern follow up of children on the autism spectrum who have received DIR model comprehensive interventions and the evaluation of training and educational programs. Dr. Serena Wieder co-authored Engaging Autism, The Child With Special Needs and Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health with Stanley Greenspan, M.D. They also co-edited Infants in Multi-Risk Families as well as the ICDL Diagnostic Manual for Infants and Young Children (DMIC) and the original Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood (DC 0-3). Most recently, Dr. Wieder co-authored Visual Spatial Portals to Thinking, Feeling, and Movement with Harry Wachs, O.D. She has published numerous journal and book chapters and presents at multiple conferences nationally and internationally. At this time, Dr. Serena Wieder has a private practice in NYC for diagnosis, treatment and consultation regarding complex developmental and mental health challenges.

Ira J. Chasnoff, MD, Ira J. Chasnoff, M.D., an award-winning author, researcher and lecturer, is president of NTI Upstream and a Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago. He is one of the nation's leading researchers in the field of child development and the effects of environmental factors on the developmental trajectory of children and adolescents. Dr. Chasnoff’s work encompasses community approaches to the integration of behavioral health services into primary health care, the schools, and the other multiple systems that serve children and families. Dr. Chasnoff has served several U.S. presidential administrations on committees and commissions dedicated to organizing and coordinating services for children and families across

the nation and developing policies and procedures for addressing the needs of children at risk from prenatal and postnatal trauma. He also has worked with a wide range of States across the nation and internationally in developing universal outreach and early intervention programs for children and families affected by trauma or substance abuse.

Dr. Chasnoff received his medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, which in 1991 awarded him its first Distinguished Alumnus Award. He is the author of numerous research articles regarding the long-term cognitive, behavioral, and learning outcomes of high-risk children, and his article on racial and social class bias in the health care system has been cited as a landmark study by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Dr. Chasnoff has authored twelve books, which have received numerous awards and one of which has been recognized by The Hague International Court. Dr. Chasnoff’s books explore the biological and environmental factors that impact the ultimate development of high-risk children and presents practical strategies for helping children reach their full potential at home and in the classroom. His newest book, FASD and the Online World, examines the scientific basis of risk children and teens face in their interactions on the Internet. Dr. Chasnoff is a regular contributor to Psychology Today, writing about high-risk children and their families. The recipient of several awards for his work with women, children, and families, Dr. Chasnoff for several years has been selected by a poll of physicians across the nation for listing in America’s Best Doctors, cited for his ability to translate complex medical and psychosocial issues into relevant policy that guides the delivery of quality services. Dr. Chasnoff has been active in establishing comprehensive family intervention programs for children in Australia, Denmark, Portugal, Canada, Vietnam, the former Soviet Union, and across the United States and has lectured on this topic around the world.

Jacqui Van Horn, MPH, IMH-E® (IMHM-C), provides reflective supervision/consultation and specialized infant mental health training to practitioners who work with infants, young children, and their families in a wide variety of work settings. She has worked for over 35 years providing infant family services (IDEA, Part C), as well as training and consultation to families, practitioners, programs and systems in New Mexico, throughout the US, and internationally. Jacqui established the Parent-Infant Study Center in Albuquerque, NM in 2009 to create a community where high quality, relationship-based learning experiences are provided both in person and through distance technology for professionals who work with infants/young children and their families.

Jacqui’s special areas of interest and expertise are: • The early social and emotional development that occurs in the context of the parent-young child

relationship; and • The development of reflective capacity in young children, parents, and practitioners who work in early

care and education, home visiting, early intervention, Head Start, and mental health settings.

Maria L. Quintanilla, MSW, LCSW, is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Latino Family Institute, Inc. (LFI). LFI specializes in providing adoption, kinship care, foster care services and family support services to the Latino community in Southern California. Maria obtained her Master’s in Social Welfare Degree from University of California, Berkeley and also studied Social Welfare and Public Health at Universidad de Guadalajara, Mexico. Maria is endorsed as an Infant-Family and Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist and Reflective Practice Facilitator II. Maria is a Child Trauma Academy Fellow, completing Dr. Bruce D. Perry’s, one-year trauma informed Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT) Certification.

Maria is a recognized leader in the field of Latino child welfare issues. She has developed a culturally based practice model of service delivery for Latinos and has conducted trainings on this model statewide, nationally, internationally in Canada through her work as a trainer for the National Resource Center for Adoption and the National Resource Center for Diligent Recruitment. Maria is a board member of the

Adoption Exchange Association (AEA) since 2001 and serves as Board Secretary. AEA operates the AdoptUSKids with the US Children’s Bureau since 2002. Maria has been interviewed on radio, local and national television and various media outlets regarding Latino child welfare issues. In 2017 she was awarded the Dr. Bruce D. Perry “Spirit of the Child Award” for her work. Maria was recently awarded an Adoptions Excellence Award from the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for her “extraordinary contributions in supporting efforts to improve adoption and other permanency outcomes for children in foster care”. WEDNESDAY

Brita Bishop, MSW, works for the Alaska Division of Behavioral Health as the Administrator of the Treatment and Recovery Services Section. In this role she oversees behavioral health treatment and recovery grants, contracts and provider agreements and works on system development and program improvement. She has a MSW from Colorado State University and is a licensed clinical social worker in Alaska. Brita has worked for the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services on behavioral health program management, planning, and system development since

2000. Prior to coming to DHSS, she worked with individuals who experienced behavioral health and developmental disabilities as a clinician and a clinical associate. Brita was born and raised in Southeast Alaska.

Jared Parrish, PhD, received his doctorate in Epidemiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is currently the senior Maternal and Child Health epidemiologist at the Alaska Division of Public Health. He co-chairs the Alaska Statewide Violence and Injury Prevention Partnership, holds an adjunct faculty position at the University of Alaska Anchorage, and also initiated and chairs the Alaska R Users group. His research focuses on quantifying the influence of systematic error on effect estimates, data integration, and incorporating novel methods for applied surveillance with an emphasis on improving timeliness, efficacy, and utility of data that lead to prevention.

Shannon Peake, PhD, is a research associate with the Stress Neurobiology and Prevention (SNAP) Laboratory and the Center for Translational Neuroscience at the University of Oregon. His research examines the combined influence of social factors and early adversity on behavior in children. These perspectives then inform the development and implementation of interventions to support parents and caregivers and to improve outcomes for children. Current research projects include randomized trials and rapid-cycle testing of the FIND (Filming Interaction to Nurture

Development) video coaching program for parents and other caregivers of children in challenging contexts, including economic uncertainty, homelessness, and substance/mental health issues. Trials and ongoing program implementation are underway in Oregon (Head Start families), Washington (center- and home-based child care), New York (homeless shelters), Texas (pediatric primary care serving low-income Latinx

families), and Victoria Australia (low-income community services families with or without child protective services involvement).

Lyndal Yada, MEd, is Program Manager in the Fisher Stress Neurobiology and Prevention (SNAP) Laboratory at the Center for Translational Neuroscience at the University of Oregon. Research in the SNAP Lab focuses on the impact of early adversity on the brain, developing targeted interventions to improve outcomes for high-risk families, and using research to impact policy and practices towards vulnerable families. Kyndal is a core member of the team that has developed Filming Interactions to Nurture Development (FIND), a video coaching program for caregivers of high-risk children. As a Senior FIND Consultant, Kyndal partners with community organizations to launch new FIND implementations, and provides training and support to FIND consultants, coaches and video editors. She received her master’s

degree in Prevention Science at the University of Oregon and has experience implementing manualized, family-based interventions for high-risk families.

Elizabeth Manley, MSW, is a Clinical Instructor for Health and Behavioral Health Policy at the Institute for Innovation and Implementation at the University of Maryland School of Social Work. In this capacity, Ms. Manley provides technical assistance to states and communities specific to children’s behavioral health innovations with a specific focus on policy and financing of systems of care. Ms. Manley is the former Assistant Commissioner for NJ's Children's System of Care. In this capacity, Ms. Manley led transformation and implementation of system innovations including integrating individuals with developmental/intellectual

disabilities, substance use and integration of physical health into the Children’s System of Care. She had direct oversight of the statewide child behavioral health, substance use and development/intellectual disabilities systems. This includes a wide range of community-based services and residential treatment centers. Ms. Manley was the DCF representative on the NJ Board of Social Work Examiners and the Governor's Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse; the Principal Investigator on NJ's Promising Path to Success, a SAMHSA System of Care Expansion Grant with the focus on improving care for youth in need of an out of home intervention; Vice Chair of the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD); and has presented at several national conferences. Prior to joining DCF Ms. Manley was the CEO of Caring Partners of Morris/Sussex, Inc., a Care Management Organization (CMO) specializing in working with youth with complex behavioral health challenges. Ms. Manley worked for Capitol County Children's Collaboration, the Mercer County CMO, as the Director of Operations, at the time of its inception in 2002. She came to that position after spending 15 years at SERV Behavioral Health, in various positions with her final position at SERV as the Director of Children's Services for SERV Behavioral Health. MS. Manley earned a B.S. degree in Health Education from William Paterson University and a M.S.W. from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ.

Jacqui Van Horn, MPH, IMH-E® (IMHM-C), provides reflective supervision/consultation and specialized infant mental health training to practitioners who work with infants, young children, and their families in a wide variety of work settings. She has worked for over 35 years providing infant family services (IDEA, Part C), as well as training and consultation to families, practitioners, programs and systems in New Mexico, throughout the US, and internationally. Jacqui established the Parent-Infant Study Center in Albuquerque, NM in 2009 to create a community where high quality, relationship-based learning experiences are provided both in person and through distance technology for professionals who work with infants/young children and their families.

Jacqui’s special areas of interest and expertise are:

• The early social and emotional development that occurs in the context of the parent-young child relationship; and

• The development of reflective capacity in young children, parents, and practitioners who work in early care and education, home visiting, early intervention, Head Start, and mental health settings.

Mary Dallas Allen, PhD, MSW, is an Associate Professor in the School of Social Work at the University of Alaska Anchorage, where she is the MSW Program Coordinator and the social work core faculty member for the AK Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) program. Her research areas of interest include rural social work education, rural social work practice, rural social workers’ response to climate change, and rural infant and early childhood mental health consultation. Joy V. Browne, Ph.D., PCNS, IMH-E® (IV), is a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, has faculty positions at the University of South Florida and Fielding Graduate University and the University of New Mexico Department of Psychiatry. She holds dual licensure as a Pediatric Psychologist and a Clinical Nurse Specialist and is endorsed as an Infant Mental Health Mentor. Dr. Browne is a member of the Zero to Three Academy of Fellows. Additionally, she was the founding President of the Colorado Association for Infant Mental Health, past President of the New Mexico Association for Infant Mental

Health and is on the Board of Directors for the Alliance for the Association for Infant Mental Health. Dr. Browne is the founder and director of WONDERbabies, which encompasses several programs including the Colorado Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program (NIDCAP), the Family Infant Relationship Support Training (FIRST) program, the BABIES and PreSTEPS program and the Fragile Infant Feeding Institute (FIFI). Her area of expertise is in neurobehavioral assessment and intervention with high-risk infants and their families, as well as systems change toward developmentally supportive and family centered care in both hospital and community settings. Dr. Browne provides training and consultation nationally and internationally.

Chris Gunderson, LPC-S, NCC is a lifelong Alaskan, born and raised in the Mat-Su Valley, who currently serves as the President/CEO of Denali Family Services, a community mental health agency providing care to children and families throughout Anchorage and the Mat-Su Valley. Chris holds graduate degrees in English and counselor education from the University of Alaska Anchorage and is a licensed professional counselor, licensed professional counselor supervisor, and nationally certified counselor.

John Burek, MS, holds a Masters Degree from Nova Southeastern University and a Bachelor’s degree in Pastoral Ministries from Southeastern University. John has been working in the social services field for the last 23 years. For 9 years, John served as Deputy Director of one of the largest community based providers in Florida overseeing multiple programs throughout the state in the areas of prevention, diversion, intensive intervention and reentry. John started as an entry level case worker in a juvenile justice provider organization and quickly moved up in the organization and was promoted to

deputy director and then executive director; All programs under his direct supervision received a commendable status or higher; one program was the highest Quality Assurance score in the state of any program type reviewed in the Department of Juvenile Justice. John was a Certified Peer Reviewer for the Bureau of Quality Assurance, held executive office positions on for the Juvenile Justice Boards and Councils including the Florida Circuit 10 Chair of the Faith Community Network. In 2010, John joined the PLL organization where he currently serves as president/CEO of the Evidence Based model Parenting with Love and Limits (PLL). PLL currently works with service delivery providers in multiple states and Europe. John oversees the day to day operations, and works closely with program development, implementation, marketing and research within the agency. Additionally, John has spoken at more than 70 conferences and leadership groups across the country. John has a strong passion for helping hurting families by helping organizations to restore hurting and broken families.

Geri Hernandez, MEdC, is a clinician with the Little Tykes Therapeutic Program at Anchorage Community Mental Health Services. Geri provides mental health services to children and their families that have been effective by trauma.

Cameron Adams, LCSW, was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska. Cameron is an avid traveler, lover of books, black labs, music, and food from as many countries as she can visit. Cameron received her undergraduate degree in English Literature with a minor in Spanish from Western Washington University, located in Bellingham, Washington. Cameron received her Master’s in Social Work at the University of Alaska, Anchorage. Cameron has worked for Denali Family Services since 2014, serving as a clinical intern, clinician and currently serves as the Director of Case Management. Cameron is passionate about her work with young people and is dedicated to reducing and finding solutions to the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences on all people. Cameron utilizes a relational approach in her work and recognizes the relationship as the foundation for change.

Christy McMurren, LCSW, IMH-E®, recently retired from Programs for Infants and Children (PIC), the infant learning program in Anchorage. At PIC, she managed a trans-disciplinary team of PT's, OT's, SLP's, SW's and Early Childhood Special Ed Teachers. Prior to her work at PIC, she provided social work services in the NICU and Maternity Center at Providence for 17 yrs. Christy completed the University of MA Infant-Parent Mental Health Graduate Certificate Program at Napa, Ca. in

2012. She has been endorsed as an Infant Mental Health Specialist through the Alaska Association for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health since 2013. Christy has been part of the Neuro-Relational Framework (NRF) learning collaborative with Dr. Connie Lillas since 2014. She is a founding member of AK-AIMH and has served on its Board. She provides training in the NRF and is a Reflective Supervision consultant.

Shannon Parker, MSNP is a Program Manager/Technical Assistant with the State of Alaska Infant Learning Program. Shannon has over twenty years working in the field of Early Intervention and Infant Learning as a Developmental Specialist and Director in numerous Infant Learning Programs around the state of Alaska. Shannon previously owned Alaska ILP Solutions, which took her to the Bristol Bay region as a contractor for nearly three years working with ILP programs and villages in the region. Shannon holds a M.S in Non-Profit Management.

Joy V. Browne, Ph.D., PCNS, IMH-E® (IV), is a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, has faculty positions at the University of South Florida and Fielding Graduate University and the University of New Mexico Department of Psychiatry. She holds dual licensure as a Pediatric Psychologist and a Clinical Nurse Specialist and is endorsed as an Infant Mental Health Mentor. Dr. Browne is a member of the Zero to Three Academy of Fellows. Additionally, she was the founding President of the Colorado Association for Infant Mental Health, past President of the New Mexico Association for Infant Mental Health and is on the Board of Directors for the Alliance for the Association for Infant Mental Health.

Dr. Browne is the founder and director of WONDERbabies, which encompasses several programs including the Colorado Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program (NIDCAP), the Family Infant Relationship Support Training (FIRST) program, the BABIES and PreSTEPS program and the Fragile Infant Feeding Institute (FIFI). Her area of expertise is in neurobehavioral assessment and intervention with high-risk infants and their families, as well as systems change toward developmentally supportive and family centered care in both hospital and community settings. Dr. Browne provides training and consultation nationally and internationally.

Maria L. Quintanilla, MSW, LCSW, is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Latino Family Institute, Inc. (LFI). LFI specializes in providing adoption, kinship care, foster care services and family support services to the Latino community in Southern California. Maria obtained her Master’s in Social Welfare Degree from University of California, Berkeley and also studied Social Welfare and Public Health at Universidad de Guadalajara, Mexico. Maria is endorsed as an Infant-Family and Early Childhood Mental Health Specialist and Reflective Practice Facilitator II. Maria is a Child Trauma Academy Fellow, completing Dr. Bruce D. Perry’s, one-year trauma informed Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT) Certification. Maria is a recognized leader in the field of Latino child welfare issues. She has

developed a culturally based practice model of service delivery for Latinos and has conducted trainings on this model statewide, nationally, internationally in Canada through her work as a trainer for the National Resource Center for Adoption and the National Resource Center for Diligent Recruitment. Maria is a board

member of the Adoption Exchange Association (AEA) since 2001 and serves as Board Secretary. AEA operates the AdoptUSKids with the US Children’s Bureau since 2002. Maria has been interviewed on radio, local and national television and various media outlets regarding Latino child welfare issues. In 2017 she was awarded the Dr. Bruce D. Perry “Spirit of the Child Award” for her work. Maria was recently awarded an Adoptions Excellence Award from the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for her “extraordinary contributions in supporting efforts to improve adoption and other permanency outcomes for children in foster care”.

THURSDAY

Elizabeth Manley, MSW, is a Clinical Instructor for Health and Behavioral Health Policy at the Institute for Innovation and Implementation at the University of Maryland School of Social Work. In this capacity, Ms. Manley provides technical assistance to states and communities specific to children’s behavioral health innovations with a specific focus on policy and financing of systems of care. Ms. Manley is the former Assistant Commissioner for NJ's Children's System of Care. In this capacity, Ms. Manley led transformation and implementation of system innovations including integrating individuals with developmental/intellectual disabilities, substance use and integration of physical health into the Children’s

System of Care. She had direct oversight of the statewide child behavioral health, substance use and development/intellectual disabilities systems. This includes a wide range of community-based services and residential treatment centers. Ms. Manley was the DCF representative on the NJ Board of Social Work Examiners and the Governor's Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse; the Principal Investigator on NJ's Promising Path to Success, a SAMHSA System of Care Expansion Grant with the focus on improving care for youth in need of an out of home intervention; Vice Chair of the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD); and has presented at several national conferences. Prior to joining DCF Ms. Manley was the CEO of Caring Partners of Morris/Sussex, Inc., a Care Management Organization (CMO) specializing in working with youth with complex behavioral health challenges. Ms. Manley worked for Capitol County Children's Collaboration, the Mercer County CMO, as the Director of Operations, at the time of its inception in 2002. She came to that position after spending 15 years at SERV Behavioral Health, in various positions with her final position at SERV as the Director of Children's Services for SERV Behavioral Health. MS. Manley earned a B.S. degree in Health Education from William Paterson University and a M.S.W. from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ.

Margi Clifford, LPC, E-RYT 500, is a licensed professional counselor and experienced yoga teacher in Anchorage, Alaska. She integrates techniques of hatha yoga, insight meditation and psychotherapy to promote well-being in individuals and communities at Yoga for Mental Health. Margi founded Yoga for Mental Health in 2006. She offers individual and group therapy, retreats, yoga teacher training and other professional development opportunities for counselors, teachers, healers and systems. Margi has significant experience working with pregnant and postpartum women, mood disorders and anxiety, acute and post-traumatic stress disorders, ADHD, chronic pain, auto-immune disorders including cancer, diagnoses, treatment, and recovery. Margi brings a wealth of knowledge,

compassion and optimism to her work. She is a loyal friend, enthusiastic adventurer and sensitive soul. She

aims to support and serve vulnerable populations and to foster healthy systems that encourage growth and creativity.

Kristin Mortenson, MS, LPC-S, is the Director of Early Child and Outpatient Services at Anchorage Community Mental Health Services. As part of the Alaska Child trauma Center since inception, Kristin provides mental health services to children and families impacted by trauma and is a nationally certified ARC (Attachment, Self-Regulation and Competency) trainer. Kristin provides training and consultation services regarding trauma-focused services, early childhood mental health and trauma informed systems. Kristin provides training and consultation services regarding trauma-focused services, early childhood mental health and trauma informed systems.

Joseph Solomita, MSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in California with over 35 years’ experience working with children, adolescents and families in a variety of residential, educational and clinical settings. Over the past twenty years, Mr. Solomita has worked for Stars Behavioral Health Group, serving as Clinical Director of both Star View Adolescent Center, an inpatient treatment facility and, TEAMMATES a community-based Wraparound Program. For the past ten years Mr. Solomita has been the Managing Director for Stars Training Academy, a division of Stars Behavioral Health Group that provides a range of services to organizations across the United States in the training, implementation, and sustaining of evidenced-supported and evidenced-based practices.

Joy V. Browne, Ph.D., PCNS, IMH-E® (IV), is a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, has faculty positions at the University of South Florida and Fielding Graduate University and the University of New Mexico Department of Psychiatry. She holds dual licensure as a Pediatric Psychologist and a Clinical Nurse Specialist and is endorsed as an Infant Mental Health Mentor. Dr. Browne is a member of the Zero to Three Academy of Fellows. Additionally, she was the founding President of the Colorado Association for Infant Mental Health, past President of the New Mexico Association for Infant Mental Health and is on the Board of Directors for the Alliance for the Association for Infant Mental Health.

Dr. Browne is the founder and director of WONDERbabies, which encompasses several programs including the Colorado Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program (NIDCAP), the Family Infant Relationship Support Training (FIRST) program, the BABIES and PreSTEPS program and the Fragile Infant Feeding Institute (FIFI). Her area of expertise is in neurobehavioral assessment and intervention with high-risk infants and their families, as well as systems change toward developmentally supportive and family centered care in both hospital and community settings. Dr. Browne provides training and consultation nationally and internationally.

John Burek, MS, holds a Masters Degree from Nova Southeastern University and a Bachelor’s degree in Pastoral Ministries from Southeastern University. John has been working in the social services field for the last 23 years. For 9 years, John served as Deputy Director of one of the largest community based providers in Florida overseeing multiple programs throughout the state in the areas of prevention, diversion, intensive intervention and reentry. John started as an entry level case worker in a juvenile justice provider organization and quickly moved up in the organization and was promoted to deputy director and then executive director; All programs under his direct supervision received a commendable status or higher; one program was the

highest Quality Assurance score in the state of any program type reviewed in the Department of Juvenile Justice. John was a Certified Peer Reviewer for the Bureau of Quality Assurance, held executive office positions on for the Juvenile Justice Boards and Councils including the Florida Circuit 10 Chair of the Faith Community Network.

In 2010, John joined the PLL organization where he currently serves as president/CEO of the Evidence Based model Parenting with Love and Limits (PLL). PLL currently works with service delivery providers in multiple states and Europe. John oversees the day to day operations, and works closely with program development, implementation, marketing and research within the agency. Additionally, John has spoken at more than 70 conferences and leadership groups across the country. John has a strong passion for helping hurting families by helping organizations to restore hurting and broken families.

Ellen Souder, MA, LPCC-S, holds a master’s degree in professional counseling and is a family therapist, trainer, and public speaker. She has traveled extensively, conducting seminars and trainings throughout the United States and Europe. She has trained well over 200 clinicians in the Parenting with Love and Limits (PLL) treatment model. Ms. Souder is a co-developer of the Parenting with Love and Limits (PLL) evidence-based family therapy treatment model, which is a family systems stabilization and trauma treatment model. The focus of PLL is not just to help the clinician implement the PLL treatment model, but also to work collaboratively with juvenile

justice and foster care systems in the United States and Europe to retool the way we serve our youth and motivate their parents. Ms. Souder is Vice President of Parenting with Love and Limits (PLL) and oversees the clinical implementation of the PLL treatment model in agencies or organizations throughout the United States as well as Europe. The PLL Family Systems Treatment Model has been implemented in over 20 states and Europe. In addition to co-developing with Dr. Scott Sells the complete PLL Treatment Model, she has co-authored the book “Treating the Traumatized Child: A Family Systems Approach” which covers the PLL trauma treatment.

Tami K. Eller, MS, was born and raised in Anchorage. Tami’s unique perspective on FASD comes from personal and professional experience. Started professionally working with individuals who experience FASD professionally when returning to Alaska and entering the social services field in 2001. After earning her Master’s Degree from Alaska Pacific University, she had the amazing opportunity to learn and be mentored by Diane Malbin, MSW who taught her to provide FASD into Action. Tami has provided education about FASD in Alaska, Utah, Tennessee, and California as well as internationally with the Rotary International Vocational

Training Team in Western Australia. She is currently a member of the Governor’s Council on Disabilities and Special Education FASD 5 Year Strategic Planning Group where she co-chairs the Community Outreach and Engagement workgroup.

Teagan Presler, MSW, CDC was born and raised in Portland, OR, and will be celebrating her 14th anniversary in Alaska this summer. Teagan holds a BA in Psychology from University of Alaska Anchorage and an MSW from Widener University with a focus on Trauma-Informed Clinical Practice. Teagan worked in AK Child & Family’s residential homes as a direct care provider and a program supervisor before becoming a trainer with the agency. She has been training for residential homes across the state of Alaska for about 4 years in curriculums & topics including de-escalation strategies, History & Hope, Trauma 101, FASD 101/201, FASD Into Action, Residential Child and Youth Care Professional (RCYCP), and she is also a facilitator with the Alternatives to Violence Project. Teagan enjoys finding new ways to engage others in trainings and getting other excited about learning.

Brenda Byrd is an active member of the Ts’msyen Community of Metlakatla with extensive knowledge of Alaska Native Cultural Values. She serves as an Individual and Family Therapist at Wil La Mootk Counseling Center. She has been a Behavioral Health Aide III since 2015 and has integrated cultural values and traditions in her work with youth and their families.

Robert J. Hilt, MD, FAPA, FAAP is a Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Washington and Seattle Children’s Hospital. Prior to his career as a child psychiatrist, Dr. Hilt worked as a primary care pediatrician and then as a pediatric hospitalist. Dr. Hilt is the Program Director for the new Partnership Access Line child mental health consultation service for primary care providers in Alaska, also known at PAL-PAK. He directs similar services for Washington and Wyoming, is also the Program Director for the Medicaid Medication Second Opinion Programs of Wyoming and Washington, and MDT Consult Service in Wyoming. He has served as co-chair of the Committee on Collaboration with Medical Professions

with the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and as a Mental Health Editor for the American Academy of Pediatrics’ PREP-Self Assessment, and serves on the editorial boards for Pediatric Annals, Psychiatric Annals, and Psychiatric Services.

Renee Georg, MS, is an Assistant Professor of Counseling Psychology, Alaska Pacific University and is approved by the Alaska State Licensing Board as a Counseling Supervisor. She has experience with a wide range of Human Services agencies, including work in the domestic violence and sexual assault, community mental health, and child development fields. Counseling specialties include working with children, working with groups, and working with folks who have experienced trauma.

Kristin Clark is the Program Supervisor at Alaska Youth and Family Network. She has been working with youth and families for the last fifteen years. Kristin is finishing her BSW through UAF and will be pursuing her MSW this summer. She is currently a practicum student at Choosing Our Roots with Julia Terry. Kristin is a member of the LGBTQ + community and passionate about creating safe and affirming spaces for vulnerable populations. Julia Terry (queer femme; she/her) believes in being of service in the world. Julia grew up on the YK Delta and in the Interior and is constantly craving salmonberries and cabin life. As an advocate, educator, facilitator, and support person, she has worked in crisis response, street outreach, and low-to-no barrier programs for the past 15 years. Julia holds a G.E.D. and a Masters of Social Work. She is a queer, polyamorous, poor, cisgender, white, anti-racist mother who is family to transgender, queer, and lesbian people. Julia thinks it is essential to wellbeing that we make spaces where people can safely explore who they are. Elijah McCauley, MA, is the lead Clinical Training Specialist at Stars Behavioral Health Group. He is a dynamic Clinical Trainer with 25 years experience in training and delivering therapeutic group services to youth with Emotional & Behavioral Difficulties (EBD). His expertise lies in Evidence Based Practice implementation and effective methods for dealing with difficult and resistant youth with EBD. He currently holds an M.A. in Health Science - Rehabilitation Psychology. Elijah holds certifications as a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRCC), Certified Trainer of Aggression Replacement Training/ TPS (CA Institute of Mental health), Certified Trainer of Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescence Responding to Chronic Stress (North Shore Jewish Hospital), and Certified Master Transition to Independence Process (TIP) Consultant/Trainer.

FRIDAY

Millie Sweeney, M.S. Across the children’s mental health and child-serving systems, Millie Sweeney has over twenty years’ direct experience in navigating systems with and on behalf of families, advocating at both the individual and policy level, and building collaborations with professionals and systems. Mrs. Sweeney has leveraged both her professional experience and personal experience as a parent to assist organizations and states with family driven program and system development, consulted nationally on certification and family/youth support services, developed and offered curriculum and training on a variety of topics related to children’s mental health and participated on policy-making groups at the state and national level to advocate for family voice and choice in child-serving systems.

With a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology, she spent a number of years as a therapist in intensive in-home family programs before moving to supervision. For twelve years, she operated as a member of the management team within a large statewide family organization, participating in the administration of six system of care sites, supporting the development of the statewide Youth MOVE chapter, and developing and managing up to twenty local and statewide programs. She then founded Family Solutions Consulting, focusing on consulting in program development, parent peer support and family driven care nationally before joining the FamilyRun Executive Director Leadership Association (FREDLA). First as Project Coordinator and now as Deputy Director, Mrs. Sweeney specializes in grant and program development, staff supervision and training, parent peer support and family engagement, curriculum development, and systems of care. Facilitating a national Family Research Partnership for the past three years, she is also involved in ongoing efforts to study parent peer support and the work of family-run organizations with the goal of contributing to the literature and informing the field of best practices. Currently, she is a co-P.I. for a NIMH R-34 research grant studying early identification and support through parent peer navigators.

Paul Cornils, BS, Executive Director, Alaska Youth & Family Network, has been involved with AYFN since 2003. He initially came to AYFN seeking help finding effective behavioral health care for his children and support for his family. He joined AYFN as Program Manager in 2007 and became Executive Director in 2011. Paul earned his Bachelor’s in Psychology at Sam Houston University, Texas, in 1997. His childhood provided him firsthand experience of the impact that unaddressed Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and intergenerational trauma can have on a family, ultimately fueled his passion for improving care and supports for Alaska’s families and children. His personal ACE(s) score is 8. As a result, he has lived with, and recovered, from opiate and alcohol addiction, mental illness, and homelessness. Paul has been involved in many efforts to expand the role of professional and grass roots peer and family-peer supports both in Alaska and nationally since 2003, especially for child welfare involved families. He is a founding director and current of the Family-Run Executive Director Leadership Association, past Chair of the Alaska Peer Support Consortium, the Alaska Psychiatric Institute Governing Body. Paul and his wife were also treatment foster parents for 13 years, ending with their adoption of their two youngest children. Paul lives in Anchorage with his wife, Alicia, and the 5 youngest of their 10 children.

Dr. Rebecca Volino Robinson is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. She provides behavioral health consultation to specialty medical clinics, direct clinical service to rural Tribal Health Organizations, and education through affiliated faculty appointments with the HRSA-funded AIDS Education and Training Center and the Alaska Psychology Internship Consortium. Dr. Robinson has extensive experience working with adults and communities with histories of complex trauma and problems associated with this history including substance misuse, infectious, and chronic disease. She is experienced in trauma-informed program development, implementation, and evaluation and identifies as an Acceptance and Commitment therapist.

Lucía Grauman Neander, PhD, is a post-doctoral clinical psychologist who currently works at the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC) and the Aleutian Pribilof Island Association (APIA). She has experience working in inpatient and outpatient settings providing assessment and psychotherapy to adolescents and adults. Her clinical experience includes working with diverse clients with substance misuse, co-occurring disorders, anxiety and depression, severe mental illness, and trauma.

Coral Huntsman, LMFT is a Clinical Training Specialist for Stars Behavioral Health Group. Coral received her M.A. in Clinical Psychology with an MFT emphasis from Pepperdine University and is currently a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California. Coral has over 20 years of Human Services experience including, 7 years working as a Wraparound Facilitator and Clinician, delivering community-based services to youth and families in Los Angeles County. As a Clinical Training Specialist with the SBHG Stars Training Academy, Coral specializes in creating and delivering interactive clinical trainings on various evidence-based/evidence supported practices. She is a Certified Master TIP Consultant/Trainer with Stars Training

Academy, Certified Transition to Independence Process (TIP) Model® Consultant and TIP Model fidelity assessor. Coral is also certified in Aggression Replacement Training.

Jessica Saniguq Ullrich, MSW is a tribal member of Nome Eskimo Community, a mother of 2 beautiful children and worked at the Office of Children's Services for 8.5 years prior to going back to school for a doctorate degree in Social Welfare at the University of Washington. Jessica is currently a trainer at the Child Welfare Academy and is passionate about promoting child/collective wellbeing.

Valerie Dudley was born and raised in Bethel, Alaska. She graduated from the University of Alaska Fairbanks earning a degree in Elementary Education. Her teaching degree opened doors for her at the Association of Village Council Presidents as a trainer in the ICWA Department. Her many responsibilities included working with ICWA Workers, Tribal Councils, and Tribal Administrators in the context of ICWA. Valerie and her husband made the decision to relocate their young family of 3 sons to Wasilla in the summer of 2008. Though no longer living in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta area, her heart remains with the people. She is currently a Trainer at the UAA Child Welfare Academy and plans to pursue a Masters of Social Work in the coming years.

Elijah McCauley, MA, is the lead Clinical Training Specialist at Stars Behavioral Health Group. He is a dynamic Clinical Trainer with 25 years experience in training and delivering therapeutic group services to youth with Emotional & Behavioral Difficulties (EBD). His expertise lies in Evidence Based Practice implementation and effective methods for dealing with difficult and resistant youth with EBD. He currently holds an M.A. in Health Science - Rehabilitation Psychology. Elijah holds certifications as a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRCC), Certified Trainer of Aggression Replacement Training/ TPS (CA Institute of Mental health), Certified Trainer of Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescence Responding to Chronic Stress (North Shore Jewish Hospital), and Certified Master Transition to Independence Process (TIP) Consultant/Trainer. Joy V. Browne, Ph.D., PCNS, IMH-E® (IV), is a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, has faculty positions at the University of South Florida and Fielding Graduate University and

the University of New Mexico Department of Psychiatry. She holds dual licensure as a Pediatric Psychologist and a Clinical Nurse Specialist and is endorsed as an Infant Mental Health Mentor. Dr. Browne is a member of the Zero to Three Academy of Fellows. Additionally, she was the founding President of the Colorado Association for Infant Mental Health, past President of the New Mexico Association for Infant Mental Health and is on the Board of Directors for the Alliance for the Association for Infant Mental Health. Dr. Browne is the founder and director of WONDERbabies, which encompasses several programs including the Colorado Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program (NIDCAP), the Family Infant Relationship Support Training (FIRST) program, the BABIES and PreSTEPS program and the Fragile Infant Feeding Institute (FIFI). Her area of expertise is in neurobehavioral assessment and intervention with high-risk infants and their families, as well as systems change toward developmentally supportive and family centered care in both hospital and community settings. Dr. Browne provides training and consultation nationally and internationally.