Through the Eyes of the Child Initiative

Everything You Need to Know About Concurrent Planning BUT Didn't Even Know to Ask!

Please view the video of this live training below

Description: The federal Adoption and Safe Families Act promoted concurrent planning for foster children as a best practice. What does concurrent planning for our foster children really mean and are we doing it effectively in Nebraska? How does concurrent planning impact the court and legal
processes? This training - offered at three locations - will provide thoughtful discussion aimed at child welfare professionals on this important topic.

Trainers: Margaret A. Burt, J.D. is an attorney in private practice in Rochester, New York. For 32 years she has specialized in the representation of children, adults and child welfare agencies in trial court and appellate practice. A substantial amount of her practice involves consulting and training for lawyers, judges, caseworkers and service providers all around the country in the areas of child abuse and neglect, permanency for foster children, the termination of parental rights, adoptions and trial techniques. She provides national and local training on such issues as the Adoption and Safe Families Act, the Indian Child Welfare Act, the Multi- Ethnic Placement Act, confidentiality, the representation of children and trial techniques. She also consults on legislation connected to child welfare issues.

Stephanie Boyd Serafin, M.S.W., L.C.S.W., A.C.S.W., - Stephanie Boyd Serafin has 30 years of experience in the field of child welfare, both as a clinical social worker and an administrator. Currently she is the Associate Director of the National Resource Center for Permanency and Family Connections. The NRCPFC is a federally funded program that provides consultation to States and Tribes across the nation to assist them in improving services to children and families who are part of the child welfare system. At the NRCPFC she is responsible for coordinating all of the technical assistance and training efforts. She has been an adjunct faculty member and advisor for 15 years at the Hunter College School of Social Work and has taught Human Behavior in the Social Environment I and II, Foundations of Social Work Practice and Multicultural Social Work Practice.

These live trainings were held in:
South Sioux City, April 23, 2012
Hastings, April 24, 2012
Papillion, April 25, 2012

Video Session - recorded at Papillion (4/25/2012)

Videos of the Session:

1. Part 1 - Stephanie Boyd Serafin
2. Part 2 - Margaret A. Burt
3. Materials:
   • Powerpoint presentation 1, Stephanie Boyd Serafin
   • Powerpoint presentation 2, Margaret A. Burt
   • Supplemental Material 1, Case Study
   • Supplemental Material 2, Checklist
   • Supplemental Material 3, Court Handout
   • Supplemental Material 4, DHHS Handbook Policy
   • Supplemental Material 5, Save the Date flyer
   • Supplemental Material 6, Certificate for participating

The Use of Medications to Treat Behavioral and Mental Health Problems in Children - When Do They Make Sense?

Please view the video of this live training below

This lecture was discussed in an Editorial in the Lincoln Journal Star published Sunday, June 3rd. Click here to read it.

Description: Behavioral and mental health problems in children are increasingly being treated with psychotropic medications. Whether their use represents the best care for the child depends on a number of factors including the child's history, diagnosis and the medications being considered. This talk will provide an overview of the neurobiology of some of the more frequent problem behaviors in children and the factors that can exacerbate behavioral and
mental health problems. A review of the medications most often prescribed to treat these disorders will also be covered as will their mechanism of action, evidence of their effectiveness and whether there are non-pharmacological alternatives that should be considered. Case examples will be provided to illustrate the decision making process in choosing the best care.

Trainer: Kayla Pope, M.D., J.D. is a child and adolescent psychiatrist and the Director of Neurobehavioral Research at Boys Town National Research Hospital. She trained at George Washington University Medical Center in Washington, DC, with advanced training at the University of Maryland/Sheppard Pratt, in Baltimore, MD, and Children's National Medical Center in Washington, DC. She completed a research fellowship at the National Institute of Mental Health, where she studied the neurocircuitry of children with a diagnosis of conduct disorder using fMRI technology. She is a past member of the American Psychiatric Association's Board of Trustees and currently sits on the APA's DSM Oversight Committee. She is also a member of the Board of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. Before attending medical school, Dr. Pope was an attorney and mediator specializing in family law and child advocacy.

These live trainings were held in:
North Platte, May 14, 2012
Lincoln, May 17, 2012
Omaha, May 18, 2012

Video Session - recorded at Lincoln (5/17/2012)

Videos of the Session:

1. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.
2. Materials:
   • Powerpoint presentation
   • Supplemental Material 1,
     Psychotropic Medication and Children in Foster Care
   • Supplemental Material 2, Save the Date flyer
   • Supplemental Material 3, Certificate for participating

About the Lecture Series

All individuals with a stake in the child welfare court system are invited to attend, including judges, attorneys, caseworkers, clerks, school personnel, law enforcement, medical and service providers, foster families, treatment providers, CASA, FCRB, and court facilitators.
You must register to attend. There is no cost to attend but registration will close when limits are reached. You must register in advance to receive MCLE credits (approval pending). There will be a fee of $7.50 per credit hour.

If you are unable to attend, some of these sessions will become available through video streaming.