A1 - Reframing Human Services”

Adela Carlin, Senior Director of  Training and  Community Partnerships, Illinois Partners for Human Service

Human Services are a vital building block for community well-being and ensuring everyone can thrive. We must tell a better story of how we work with the community to create the services, support, and connections that enable everyone to reach their full potential.

Reframing Human Services explores how the way we talk about human services influences public understanding, policy, and support. This engaging, research-based training offers practical communication strategies for service providers, advocates, and policymakers to help us tell a better story of our work and highlight the essential role of prevention services and well-being.

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A2 - “Failing to Track Belonging is Planning to Fall Short: Using a 4-Directional Framework to Understand, Implement, and Measure Belonging in your Organization and Services”

Gaelin Elmore, Keynote Speaker, Consultant and Belonging Trainer

The adage “failing to plan is planning to fail” applies to your work and its relationship with belonging. Ultimately, belonging unlocks the best that each and every human has to offer. That includes your leadership, frontline staff, and especially your clients and community. We will utilize the 4-directional belonging framework to guide the conversation, as well as additional tools, research, and science that lead to a meaningful prioritization and planning of belonging so that you can hit your goals and stay on mission!

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A3 - “Complex: Neurodiversity, Mental Health and Trauma”

Jennifer Gerlach, LCSW, True Story Counseling PLLC

When it comes to experience and healing of trauma, neurodiversity and mental health diagnosis can make for complexity. In this workshop we will explore these tangled webs from a compassionate and trauma-informed perspective.

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◊◊ A4 - “Leveraging the Science and Power of Hope”

Dr. Betsy Goulet, Senior Fellow, Child Welfare League of America

Josh Friedman, MA, Consultant, Ten Eight Innovations

Using the Science of Hope as a framework for action, this course broadly covers stress, adversity, and trauma, but more specifically, the continuous and often pervasive exposure to trauma in the helping professions. Participants will learn the Science of Hope framework and how hope can buffer the detrimental impacts of adverse experiences.

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++ A5 - “From Data to Action: Work Stress & Burnout in Home Visiting”

Sarah Krause, IDHS DEC Data Program Specialist, Center for Prevention Research & Development at School of Social Work UIUC

Melanie Cabello, MIECHV Data Program Specialist, Center for Prevention Research & Development at School of Social Work UIUC

Chris Guarnieri, Research Program Coordinator, Center for Prevention Research & Development at School of Social Work UIUC

Abby Snow, IDHS DEC CQI Program Specialist, Center for Prevention Research and Development at School of Social Work UIUC

This workshop explores work stress and burnout, presents findings from the 2024 IDHS-DEC Annual Workforce Survey, and introduces the Joy in Work framework. Participants will engage in anonymous polls and discussions, with live results shared for group analysis. The session also covers basic continuous quality improvement concepts and offers practical strategies from the “Joy in Work” curriculum to help reduce work stress and create joy in the workplace.

 

++ A6 - “Purposeful Planning: Using HOVRS to Guide Intentional, Responsive Home Visits”

Karen Carter, Program Manager, Good Beginnings

Macy Fernandez, Home Visiting Coordinator, Good Beginnings

Home visiting is both art and strategy. This workshop explores how the HOVRS (Home Visit Rating Scales) tool supports intentional planning and reflection. Learn how HOVRS aligns with curriculum,

ASQ, and other tools to design visits that are developmentally appropriate, responsive, and grounded in family strengths. Walk away with practical strategies for integrating observation and

planning tools into your routine to enhance visit quality, strengthen relationships, and improve outcomes for children and families.