Through the Eyes of the Child Initiative

August 27 - 29, 2012, Kearney, Nebraska, Younes Conference Center

• About the Summit (click here for more information)
  • The Children's Summit is a statewide conference sponsored by the Through the Eyes of the Child Initiative and the Nebraska Supreme Court where attendees will spend over 2 days focusing on improving the child welfare court system. Specific topics will include: infants and toddlers, older youth, educational outcomes, parents' legal representation and engaging families.
  
  
  • All members who are part of the Through the Eyes of the Child Initiative local multidisciplinary teams are encouraged to attend. Other individuals involved in the child welfare system are welcome to attend, space permitting. There will be no registration cost for team members and $25 for non-team members.


• Register Here (Online registration will open June 1, 2012 and will remain open until capacities are reached)


• Frequently Asked Questions (click here for more information)
  

  • Q&A for the 2012 Nebraska Children's Summit

    
    

    I'm not a member of a local team of the Through the Eyes of the Child Initiative. Can I attend the Summit?
    The majority of individuals attending the Children's Summit will be current members of the local Through the Eyes teams. However, the local teams are able to invite additional people to attend if space allows. If you are not currently a team member but would like to attend, you are encouraged to contact the team nearest you. To find out who the team closest to you is and its contact information, please contact Kelli Hauptman (khauptman2@unl.edu). However, registration for non-team members will be allowed as long as space permits.

    How much does the Summit registration cost?
    There is no cost for team members to attend the Summit. The registration fee for non-team members is $25. Registration for the Summit includes materials, breakfast, lunch, and snacks. Dinner is on your own.

    How do I register?
    Registration will be available in June 2012. Keep posted to the Through the Eyes website (www.throughtheeyes.org). Once there, you can also subscribe to our monthly e-newsletter for more information about registration and other Summit details.

    Is there a limit to the number of people who can attend?
    We anticipate registration numbers similar to the levels of the 2009 Summit. If numbers exceed that amount, we may have to close incoming registrations due to funding and space limitations. To ensure your spot, it is important to register as soon as possible after registration becomes available online in June.

    Do I have to pay for a hotel room?
    Each team will be allotted a certain number of hotel rooms to distribute to their team members. Hotel rooms will be limited, and it is likely that some teams will have more team members than hotel rooms. Please stay tuned to information from your lead judge and team coordinator about allotment of hotel rooms.

    Will all teams receive the same number of hotel rooms?
    No. The number of hotel rooms each team is allotted will depend on (1) the number of rooms requested by the team (2) the current size of the team, and (3) the size of the team's community(ies).

    How do I get one of the team's allotted hotel rooms?
    You must work with the team you're attending the Summit with to secure one of the allotted hotel rooms. Teams may choose how they want to distribute hotel rooms and will submit this information to Initiative staff. There is no separate online registration for the allotted hotel rooms. You must work through your team to secure a hotel room.

    I am paying for my own hotel room. Are there certain hotels nearby I should call where there are special rates for Children's Summit participants?
    Yes. Additional rooms are available at:
      Fairfield Inn
      510 Talmadge Road, 68845
      308-236-4200
      $84.95/ Suites 149.95
    

    Do I get reimbursed for my mileage?
    No. We are unable to reimburse for mileage for most Summit attendees. However, judges will be allowed to submit their travel expenses for reimbursement.

    Will there be opportunities for the teams to meet during the Summit?
    Yes. The teams will have opportunities to meet during the Summit and discuss what they are learning in sessions. More information will be available by viewing our Agenda.

    Will the content of the Summit be applicable to our local issues?
    Yes. There is a combination of national and Nebraska speakers, including members of local teams. The plenaries and breakout sessions are the result of consultation with team coordinators, judges and other system stakeholders.

    Will I receive paper or electronic handouts?
    In an effort to decrease the environmental impact of our conferences, the Through the Eyes of the Child Initiative will be providing a flash drive to all conference attendees. The flash drive will contain all materials and presentations from the Summit. We will also be sending out electronic materials with your registration confirmations a few days prior to the Summit, to give you the chance to print materials that you'd like to access in hard copy.

    Will we get data about how our team is doing with improving court process?
    Yes. Each team will receive data on their team's timeline progression of abuse/neglect cases. This data will indicate how long it is taking an abuse/neglect case to get through the court systems in the team's area. The report will also include data from Fostering Court Improvement (fosteringcourtimprovement.org/ne).

    Who can answer other questions that I have?
    You can direct additional questions, first, to: your team coordinator or lead judge. They have been working with us on many aspects of planning the summit. If they are unsure how to answer your question, feel free to contact Initiative staff: Kelli Hauptman (khauptman2@unl.edu) or Melissa Townsend (mtownsend3@unl.edu).



• 2009 Nebraska Children's Summit