Wed01: Street Smart: Drug Abuse Trends
Captain Shawn Bain (Ret.), Street Smart Ohio
Sgt. Michael N. Powell (Ret.), Street Smart Ohio
Participants will learn about current drug abuse trends in our communities and how to recognize the signs of drug use in this demonstrative workshop. The presenters will describe items used to carry, conceal, or consume drugs in various locations, as well as where these items can be purchased. Statistics will show how this epidemic has spread throughout the country.
Wed02: The Cost of Poverty Experience
Robert L. Caldwell, Jr., Executive Director, AnswerPoverty.Org
The Cost of Poverty Experience (COPE) is an immersive learning experience that simulates one month in the lives of people living in poverty. It is designed to introduce participants to a small sample of the reality that individuals and families experience as they navigate the system of helping organizations. Attendees will be exposed to the emotional challenges and social stigma associated with a life lived in poverty. Participants will also have an opportunity to think strategically about learning applications and what changes could be made to help programs, services, or their own advocacy be more effective.
Wed03: Identifying and Responding to Juvenile Victims of Human Trafficking
Micayla Wilson, BSW, OVC Program Administrator, Office of Criminal Justice Services
Chelsea Gaffey, LSW, Human Trafficking Liaison, Ohio Department of Youth Services
Vanessa Perkins, Workforce Development Director & Expert Consultant, Freedom A La Carte
In this training, participants will learn about human trafficking, including the definition of human trafficking, Ohio specific data and laws, and dynamics of exploitation. Participants will engage in the “Stay or Go” activity, which simulates the experience of a young girl who is being sexually exploited/trafficked. This empathy building activity will equip participants with the skills to recognize trafficking as it presents in youth.
Wed04: Educational Advocacy Tools for CASA Volunteers
Robyn Traywick J.D., R.N., Law Office of Robyn Traywick, LLC
Participants will learn how to effectively advocate for a child in an educational setting, equipping them with tools, check lists, and advocacy tips. The workshop will cover a basic overview of education and special education-related issues, including the McKinney Vento Homeless Assistance Act, the rights of students without homes, and the rights of children in foster care under the Every Students Succeeds Act. It will provide in-depth information about discipline due process rights for students. This session will also cover what qualifies as “bullying” and what tools are available to assist CASA volunteers as they are advocating for children who are being bullied at school. Participants will receive multiple practical quick references such as check lists, flow charts, sample letters, and advocacy tips designed specifically for CASA volunteers.
Wed05: Understanding Rule 48 Requirements & How to Express Written and Oral Recommendations to the Court
Sarah Harvan, MA, BA, Training Coordinator, CASA/GAL Program of Summit County
Holly Farah, J.D., CASA Staff Attorney, CASA/GAL Program of Summit County
This workshop will provide an overview and highlight updates of the current duties and responsibilities of a CASA volunteer or guardian ad litem in Ohio in accordance with Rule 48. Rule 48 of the Rules of Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio sets standards regarding the appointment, responsibilities, training, and report requirements of Ohio guardians ad litem and for the responsibilities of appointing courts. Participants will learn how the requirements impact the role of the CASA volunteer or guardian ad litem, as well as the writing of a court report. Attendees will also learn tips for testifying in court and how to express both written and oral recommendations for the best interests of the children served.
Wed06: Conflict Management in Child Welfare
Jeff King, Co-Director, OSU Leadership Center and Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural Communication, Education, and Leadership, Ohio State University
Conflict is a part of our daily lives at work or at home. CASA volunteers, social workers, and attorneys frequently navigate high-conflict situations. How we manage conflict has a direct impact on how fulfilled we feel about our work, relationships with co-workers, and how effective we are in dealing with non-productive behaviors. Effectively dealing with and using conflict as a positive tool is a major component of success in our work advocating for children. Resolving conflict effectively can positively impact children, families, and our communities. This session will provide participants with a greater understanding of how conflict affects their work and strategies to develop one’s conflict management skills.
Wed07: Partners in Parenting: How you can Support Coparenting Relationships between Primary and Resource Families
Chelsey Rennard, MS, M.Ed, Human Services Program Administrator 3, Ohio Department of Children and Youth, Bureau of Professional Development
In Ohio’s evolving child protection landscape, resource families (kinship and foster caregivers) are seen and valued as potential partners in a child’s healing journey. At the same time, primary families are proving their capacity to grow, reunify, and thrive when meaningfully supported. This workshop explores how CASA volunteers and court professionals can actively foster healthy, respectful coparenting relationships between these two families. Through real-world examples, participants will examine the benefits of coparenting—including increased placement stability, faster reunification timelines, and improved child well-being. The session will also address common challenges such as trust-building and communication barriers and offer practical tools CASA volunteers can use to advocate for safe, strength-based, child-centered collaboration.
Wed08: Culture and Communication: Tools to help the CASA/GAL Volunteer
Eileen P. Anderson, EdD, Anne Templeton Zimmerman, MD Professor of Bioethics; Director, Educational Programs in Bioethics and Medical Humanities; Director, Center for Medicine, Society and Culture, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University
In child development and rearing, when is a behavior different and when is it a problem? This workshop introduces the concept of cultural models relevant to determining a child’s best interest. Participants will learn how to use a questionnaire toolkit designed to identify implicit assumptions about child wellbeing and caregiving that aids communication, recommendations, and conflict reduction. Relevant neuroscience background and developmental considerations will be addressed.
Wed09: Understanding and Addressing Addiction
Kayla Zawislak, LCSW, CADC, Director of Patient and Family Services, Addiction Policy Forum
This multi-sector training program delivers a wealth of knowledge about addiction science and how substance use disorders (SUDs) affect the brain. Participants will explore evidence-based treatment options, including medication for addiction treatment (MAT), and gain a deeper understanding of core components essential for effective treatment and long-term recovery. Attendees will learn strategies to engage with someone about their substance use and be able to explain the importance of having these conversations.