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Keynote Speakers

Conference at a Glance

Breakout Sessions

dr. henryDr. Jim Henry, Ph.D., MSW

Dr. Henry has a history that includes over 18 years as a child welfare/protective services worker and over 10 years developing and providing trauma-informed instruction in the School of Social Work at Western Michigan University. He is the director of the Southwest Michigan Child Trauma Assessment Center and a professor at Western Michigan University.

Dr. Mark Sloane, DO, FACOP, FAAP

Dr. Sloane has been a board-certified, practicing pediatrician for more than 26 years and is now considered a local, regional, and statewide expert in the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric disorders of mood, behavior, learning, and attention. He is the Neurobehavioral Pediatrics Consultant and Medical Director at the Southwest Michigan Children’s Trauma Assessment Center and is a private practitioner at  Center for Behavioral Pediatrics.

“Impact of Traumatic Stress and Prenatal Alcohol Exposure for School-Aged Children and Adolescents”
The presenters will provide the participants with a state-of-the-science review of the neurodevelopmental and neurobehavioral impact of traumatic stress and prenatal alcohol exposure for school aged children and adolescents; the presentation will focus on how this looks in the school setting. The critical role of the school as an essential part of a global social system reform will also be addressed. Finally, an emphasis on practical treatment and management strategies (including an overview of psycho-active medication) will be covered.



Ron Glodoski

Mr. Glodoski is a leading national expert on bullying, substance abuse, and resiliency. His personal triumph over abuse issues, a traumatic brain injury and learning disabilities provides practical solutions to the challenges confronting our youth today. Mr. Glodoski a is successful author and entrepreneur.

“Working With Angry Kids Who Just Don’t Care”
Ron Glodoski provides a powerful, practical message of hope, inspiration, and encouragement for all professionals who work with youth.

Ron shares his remarkable story of how he turned his life around. With honesty,humor, and sincerity he helps his audience see why kids are so angry, and why so many of them have given up—on school, on relationships, and on their hopes and dreams.


Nanci Burns, MSW, RSW

Ms. Burns has worked at the Ottawa-Carleton District School District for the past 19 years, developing initiatives to nurture the social and emotional intelligence of all students, from kindergarten to high school. Ms. Burns helped establish the National Clearinghouse on Family Violence/Health and Welfare Canada and spent several years at the Family Research Laboratory at the University of New Hampshire.

“Take Your Temperament! Nurturing Roots and Strengthening Branches”
In our role in working with children, are we seeking to change the child or to nurture the child within? Studies in temperament confirm our intuitive understanding that a child’s innate nature generally does not change over time. However, as school social workers, we can help children temper their temperaments to be more successful in life. This presentation will help you understand your own temperament through an experiential process and then look at strategies to guide a student through an exploration of his or her “nature.”

A-2 The Transition from Disability to Work


Steven Calley, Area Work Incentives Coordinator/Social Security Administrator

There are many work incentives available to help individuals transition from disability to work regardless of where they may be in the recovery process. Unfortunately, these work incentives and services are underutilized in Michigan and federal money is being left on the table. The focus of this workshop will be to advise school social workers on how to help students utilize Social Security’s employment support programs as they transition from school to paid work.

Target Audience: Secondary
Practice Level: Beginning


A-3 Families Facing Cancer

Samantha A. Rowland, LMSW, CBIS, Medical Social Worker, West Michigan Cancer Center

A cancer diagnosis is an emotional trauma for the individual and his or her family. This workshop focuses on working with families facing a cancer crisis, some of the concerns that may arise, and how school social workers may be able to assist a child and his/her family. Also discussed: coping as a social worker working with cancer and terminal illness.

Target Audience: K-12
Practice Level: Experienced


A-4 The 5W’s of Data Collection

Rebecca A. Longcore, School Social Worker, Van Buren Intermediate School District
Eileen Derengowski, School Social Worker, Van Buren Intermediate School District

Participants will increase their understanding of data collection techniques for use with progress monitoring individual students, groups, and classrooms, resources used to collect and display data, and interventions that are conducive to collecting data and sharing results.

Target Audience: K-12
Practice Level: Beginning


A-5  Rural Places: Changes Spaces

Elaine Ragsdale Schott, Ph.D., Professor of Social Work, Grand Valley State University


Impressions of homogenous rural spaces betray the complex challenges and diversity that  characterize rural places. Successful learning environments that build inclusion and exploit creative assets, as well as strategies to respond successfully to challenges of school social work practice in rural areas within contexts of limited resources and rapid change, will be addressed in this workshop.

Target Audience: All
Practice Level: All


A-6 Testing & Measurement: Empirically Based Assessment Instruments for School  Social Workers

Steven Foley, LMSW, MA, Ph.D., LP, CSP, School Psychologist, Plymouth-Canton Community Schools

The presentation will focus on understanding    psychometric instruments that can be used by Licensed Master Social Workers when conducting evaluations. A single assessment instrument will be presented for each of the following areas of child psychopathology: 1) behavior disorders, 2) ADHD, 3) ASD, 4) anxiety, and 5) depression. Information on understanding scoring systems and using screening instruments that strengthen a school  social worker’s referrals to other disciplines will also be included.

Target Audience: K-12
Practice Level: All


A-7 “So How Am I Supposed to Teach Them That?”

Bianka von Kulajta, School Social Worker, Lincoln Consolidated Schools

Play is the natural language of children. It can convey much more than something limited by  written or verbal form. Demonstrating both directive directive play and adventure therapy techniques, this hands-on workshop will give attendees a chance to learn something new for their ever-changing toolbox while having fun.

Target Audience: K-12
Practice Level: All


NEW!!!
A-8 Conducting Trauma-informed Functional Behavior Assessments and Behavior Plans

Amy Tuley, LMSW Director of Admissions & Student Services, School of Social Work, Western Michigan University; former School Social Worker

Have you ever cringed at the idea of doing yet another Functional Behavior Assessment for a student with an emotional impairment? Then this session is for you! This session will help learn how to lead teams in conductingtrauma-informed Functional Behavior Assessments and Behavior Plans.


Target Audience: K-12
Practice Level: All

B-1 LGBTQ Youth: What We Need to Know

Jean Toner, MSW, Ph.D., Center for Research and Training for LGBTQ Youth Issues
Katrina Rhymer, Ph.D., Center for Research and Training for LGBTQ Youth Issues
Susan Jacob, Ph.D., Center for Research and  Training for LGBTQ Youth Issues


This workshop will focus on issues concerning LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bi-attractional, transgender, and questioning) youth, including identify formation and intervention strategies, with a special focus on school-based and foster care fields of practice.

Target Audience: K-12
Practice Level: All

*Double Session: Participants must register for C-1 as well.


B-2 50 Ways to Use the Internet in Your School Social Work Practice

Steven P. Whitmore, LMSW, School Social Worker, Utica Schools

How well do you incorporate technology into your practice? This practical workshop will provide a sampling of how the internet can improve your practice to help you assess, plan, intervene, and support your clients and their families. You will also be able to tour the MASSW website. Time will be allotted for  sharing web resources, so please bring your favorites to share!

Target Audience: K-12
Practice Level: Beginning


B-3 Exploring Issues Through Film Clips

Maria Lucas, School Social Worker, Calhoun Intermediate School District

Movies provide an opportunity for the viewer to experience and relate to issues in a cathartic manner. The purpose of this session is to demonstrate how featured film clips can be utilized in groups in order to explore and discuss with students students how their own lives are impacted by these issues and how they can manage their own struggles.

Target Audience: Secondary
Practice Level: Experienced

B-4 Communication, Empowerment, & Engagement: Applied Technology in School Social Work Practice

James Edwards, Ph.D., Director, Community Research Institute; Assistant Professor, School of Social Work, Grand Valley State University

Participants will engage in small group discussion focused on using technology to deliver social work services. This discussion will include the application of the NASW & ASWB Standards for Technology Use in Social Work Practice (2005).

Target Audience: All
Practice Level: Beginning


B-5 Adventure Therapy with Individuals or Groups in Schools

Matthew Langlois, LMSW, School Social Worker, Forest Hills Public Schools


This training will overview concepts of adventure therapy and how to use this approach in school settings with individuals or groups of children.   Attendees will participate in ice breakers, energizers, and problem-solving initiatives; they also will learn and practice processing techniques.

Target Audience: K-12
Practice Level: All


B-6 Siblings’ Perspective: Understanding the Brothers & Sisters of Children with Special Needs

Jennifer Rapanos, School Social Worker, Midland County Educational Services Agency

In the United States, over five million children have disabilities or special health concerns; most have brothers and sisters. This workshop will raise awareness of siblings issues, give siblings a voice, and outline a range of strategies to help siblings and families become stronger.

Target Audience: All
Practice Level: Beginning

B-7 Songwriting, Storytelling, Gardening, & School Social Work Services

Mark A. Nester, LMSW, School Social Worker, Waverly Community Schools

The use of story, lyrics, and music can be therapeutic therapeutic tools for school social workers. Behavior, social, and emotional goals and objectives can be achieved using a variety of sensory input techniques. Participants will be invited to sing, write a short story, and share experiences in grief and loss, social skills, family changes, ADHD and impulse control, manners, problem solving, and more.

Target Audience: All
Practice Level: All


C-1 Ethical Social Work with LGBTQ Youth: NASW Code of Ethics & Federal & State Law

Jean Toner, MSW, Ph.D., Center for Research and Training for LGBTQ Youth Issues
Katrina Rhymer, Ph.D., Center for Research and Training for LGBTQ Youth Issues
Susan Jacob, Ph.D., Center for Research and   Training for LGBTQ Youth Issues


This is a continuation of session B-1 wherein participants will focus on ethical and legal issues concerning LGBTQ youth in Michigan. Anti-bullying activism and legislation and EEO laws and policies will be reviewed.

Target Audience: K-12
Practice Level: All

*Double Session: Participants must register for B-1 as well.


C-2 Secrets for Boosting Self-Esteem & Empowering Youth

Denise Crittendon, Author & Motivational Speaker

This session explores affirmations, visualization, neuro-linguistic programming, and other effective ways to help high school and middle school  students control tempers, build self-confidence, cope with problems, and develop inner strength.

Target Audience: Secondary, K-12
Practice Level: Experienced




C-3 The ART® of Social Competence: When All the World’s a Stage

Cindy Jo Wheeler, LMSW, ACSW, CAC-R, School Social Worker, CLK Public Schools
Darlene Dahl, LMSW, ACSW, School Social Worker

In this workshop, participants will learn the history of Aggression Replacement Training (ART®), the three components that make up A.R.T., what is needed to implement A.R.T., how the model integrates with MiBLISi and RTI, and have the opportunity to participate in a demonstration of an A.R.T. Skillstreaming and Anger Management Groups.
Target Audience: K-12
Practice Level: All




C-4 Developing & Implementing Support Groups Specific to At-Risk Students

Kendra Payette-Linn, School Social Worker, Allen Park Public Schools

At-risk students need a place in school where they can learn and practice positive behavior skills. This workshop will help participants understand learning theories and how to develop a curriculum for at risk students. Participants will also have an opportunity to experience curriculum methods.

Target Audience: Secondary
Practice Level: All


C-5 Adventure Therapy with Individuals or Groups in Schools

Matthew Langlois, LMSW, School Social Worker, Forest Hills Public Schools

This training will overview concepts of adventure therapy and how to use this approach in school settings with individuals or groups of children. Attendees will participate in ice breakers, energizers, and problem-solving initiatives; they also also will learn and practice processing techniques.

Target Audience: K-12
Practice Level: All


C-7 Temperament Assessment Tools in the Schools

James Fongers, LMSW, School Social Worker, Forest Hills Public Schools

This workshop will provide participants with an essential assessment tool for use in many areas of their practice. Participants will learn about the different temperament styles, how to determine student temperaments, and how to relate to and manage even the most challenging students based on the information gained through the assessment.  Through the use of temperament assessment, social workers will help their students to better understand their natural strengths and qualities. This new knowledge brings forth a measurable rise in self-esteem.

Target Audience: K-12
Practice Level: Beginning


D-1 Motivating Unmotivated Students

Ron Glodoski, President, Turn Around Publishing, Inc.; Author & Speaker

This workshop is designed for educators, administrators, juvenile justice, and mental health professionals. This powerful program includes 10 steps for how to work with the most at-risk kids and 5 positive behavior intervention strategies.

Target Audience: All
Practice Level: All


D-2 Supportive Intervention Aide—A New Training for Paraprofessionals

Rebecca Ducham, School Social Worker, Tuscola Intermediate School District
Deb Thomas, Supportive Intervention Aide
Eric Lofback, Supportive Intervention Aide

School social workers often face the challenge of offering support to paraprofessionals assigned   directly to work with challenging  students. This program gives the school social worker a structure to train paraprofessionals.

Target Audience: K-12
Practice Level: Beginning


D-3 Multidisciplinary Interventions for Working with Reactive Attachment Disorder


Amy Tuley, LMSW, Director of Admissions & Student Services, School of Social Work, Western Michigan University; former School Social Worker

This workshop will focus on evidenced-based, multidisciplinary interventions for use with children diagnosed with Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD). Participants will learn how to build and lead multidisciplinary teams for severely traumatized children.

Target Audience: K-12
Practice Level: All


D-4 Burnout Prevention

John Nielsen, Ph.D., Director, MSW Extended Degree Program, Western Michigan University


Avoiding mild to moderate “burnout” is important to our being good caregivers. In this didactic and interactive workshop, participants will define the problem of burnout, discuss its signs and symptoms, and share what to do about it.

Target Audience: K-12
Practice Level: All


D-5 Special Education Law Update & Question & Answer

Steven C. Camron, Associate Professor, Eastern Michigan University

The presentation will focus on developments in special education law, including the latest court decisions involving students with emotional behavioral disorders and autism; in addition, the presenter will answer questions on special education and school law. Please send questions 2 weeks in advance to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Target Audience: K-12
Practice Level: All


D-7 School Focused Collegial Consultation Using a Case-Based Decision Model

Elizabeth H. Voshel, LMSW, ACSW, Associate Clinical Professor and Director of Field Instruction, School of Social Work, University of Michigan

Participants will function as “peer consultants” in small roundtable discussions seeking potential resolutions to ethical dilemmas utilizing the NASW Code of Ethics and a conceptual framework that focuses on culturally competent ethical practice differentiating professional responsibility from ethical decision-making.  

Target Audience: All
Practice Level: All


E-1 Motivating Unmotivated Students

Ron Glodoski, President, Turn Around Publishing, Inc.; Author & Speaker

This workshop is designed for educators, administrators, juvenile justice, and mental health professionals. This powerful program includes 10 steps for how to work with the most at-risk kids and 5 positive behavior intervention strategies.

Target Audience: All
Practice Level: All


E-2 Introduction to Life Space Crisis Intervention

James Marquoit, EDD, Supervisor of Char-Em Intermediate School District Programs; Master LSCI Trainer


Participants will be presented with the fundamental skills of Life Space Crisis Intervention, including the six most common patterns of self-defeating behavior, the conflict cycle, and effective interviewing skills.

Target Audience: K-12
Practice Level: All


E-3 Love & Logic

Vito Lentini, Associate Director, Wedgewood Institute, Wedgewood Christian Services


Stay out of the trap of trying to control children and adolescents. During this session, participants will experience the C.O.O.L. formula: control that’s shared, ownership of the problem, opportunities for thinking and decision-making, and letting empathy and consequences do the teaching.

Target Audience: Elementary and Secondary
Practice Level: All


E-4 Get CLEAR: Look Beyond the Behavior

Vikki Seger, Behavior Specialist, Char-Em Intermediate School District
Nancy Koehler, Behavior Specialist, Char-Em Intermediate School District

Participants will learn how to develop CLEAR Functional Behavior Assessments. These assessments guide support plans that are highly individualized and designed for students who exhibit difficulties despite proactive school-wide and targeted prevention efforts. Problem solving teams clarify the challenges, private logic (or thoughts), and emotions that drive self-defeating actions (patterns of behavior) that result in widening the gap in the student’s circle of support.

Target Audience: K-12
Practice Level: All


E-5 School Refusal Behavior: Functional Assessment and Treatment

Lori L. Doubleday, Ed.S., School Psychologist

School refusal behavior affects 28% of school children at some point in their education. Learn about the characteristics and functional assessment of school refusal behavior that can lead to research-based cognitive behavioral intervention and treatment.

Target Audience: K-12
Practice Level: All


E-6 Supporting School Social Workers

Sue Welcome, LMSW, School Social Worker, Oakland Schools; MASSW Region F President
Mike MacGregor, LMSW, MEA Representative, Huron Valley Schools
Sid Karon, LMSW, School Social Worker; MEA Representative for Royal Oak Schools
Steven P. Whitmore, LMSW, School Social Worker, Utica Schools; MASSW Webmaster


This workshop provides research, products, and strategies to demonstrate the effectiveness and uniqueness of the school social work profession. Protection, advocacy, and legislation for school   social workers will be highlighted and a discussion forum will be facilitated.

Target Audience: K-12
Practice Level: All


E-7 Enjoying Teenagers

Katherine A. Walton, ACSW, School Social Worker, Grand Haven Area Public Schools
Jeanene Blease, MSW


This workshop will focus on the adolescent move toward independence. Participants will learn how to support families during this time of change by reviewing ways to facilitate communication and family bonding while also allowing the adolescent to achieve maturing and independence. Appropriate discipline measures to use in the home and classroom and ways to help teens formulate and move toward positive futures goals will also be discussed.

Target Audience: Secondary
Practice Level: All


F-1 Family Courts & Schools

David Manville, Family Clinician, Third Judicial Circuit Court—Friend of the Court

Ever wonder how those custody and parenting time orders from the Court come to be? The ones that have parents battling and arguing at the front office? Who can pick up the children? Do you have to release the child to a non-custodial parent? This workshop shares up-to-date information on current laws, information on court process, legal rights of parents, and custody and parenting time information.

Target Audience: K-12
Practice Level: All


F-2 No Pill for Jack or Jill—Natural Alternatives for ADHD

Cassandra Jones, Kindergarten Teacher, Utica Community Schools
Dr. Jerry Evanski, Principal, Chippewa Valley Schools

This presentation will address the importance of exploring options before diagnosing a child with ADHD and using medication. New research regarding alternatives to medication and how the brain works will also be discussed.  

Target Audience: K-12
Practice Level: All


F-3 Supporting Homeless Students through Collaborative Implementation of the McKinney Vento Act

Susan Hoffman, LMSW, ACSW, CAAC, School Social Worker and Homeless Liaison, Boyne City Public Schools
Mary Gaudard, CTE Consultant and Homeless Liaison, Char-Em Intermediate School District
Alex Gierhart, School Social Worker and Homeless Liaison, COPESD


This workshop will highlight the growing problem of homelessness in our communities and describe a service delivery system that is effective and maximizes the use of McKinney Vento Funding for homeless students. Also discussed: professional development and community education.

Target Audience: K-12
Practice Level: All


F-4 Exploring Issues Through Film Clips

Maria Lucas, School Social Worker, Calhoun Intermediate School District

Movies provide an opportunity for the viewer to experience and relate to issues in a cathartic manner. The purpose of this session is to demonstrate how featured film clips can be utilized in groups in order to explore and discuss with students how their own lives are impacted by these issues and how they can manage and adopt to their own struggles.

Target Audience: Secondary
Practice Level: Experienced


F-5 Adolescent Depression: School Social Work Intervention

Pamela K. Manela, LMSW, School Social Worker, Southfield Public Schools
Roger Manela, Ph.D., LMSW, School Social Worker, Detroit Public Schools


This presentation will contrast adolescent depression with adult depression in light of research on brain development. Attendees will learn to explain depression to teens and their  families. Depression and suicide will be discussed, along with effective interventions and treatments options for teens. Depression will also be contrasted with bipolar disorder.

Target Audience: Secondary
Practice Level: All



F-6 Supporting Students with Autism in the General Education Classroom

Rose Dore, ACSW, SSW, Consultant for Students with Autism, SCCRESA

This presentation will concentrate on interventions and strategies that have proven to be effective with individuals on the Autism Spectrum, including Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Positive Behavior Supports (PBS), the Picture Exchange Communication Systems (PECS), social stories, visual schedules, and other accommodations and modifications.

Target Audience: K-12
Practice Level: A
ll


F-7 Understanding Students with Difficulties in Emotional Expression

Ineke Way, Ph.D., LMSW, Associate Professor, School of Social Work, Western Michigan University
Essence Roberts, MSW, Head Start


This presentation outlines how alexithymia (difficulty identifying, understanding, and/or expressing feelings) may affect behavior and communication problems in school-age children and adolescents. A new screening instrument for alexithymia is presented.

Target Audience: Elementary, K-12
Practice Level: Experienced


Click here for a separate Printable Mail Order Registration Form.

Click here for on-line registration.

Questions?

For more information, please contact:

Mollie Reynolds ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) or Karla Vandenberg ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ).

Awards inquires can be directed to: Pat Sager ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. )

Registration questions can be directed to: Susan McDaniel ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. )

 

MASSW Mission Statement

The Mission of the Michigan Association of School Social Workers is to advocate for the delivery of school social work services to meet the needs of all children. As an organization, we will actively promote the educational and professional growth of members to ensure that the highest standards of practice are upheld. We will champion the causes of members and clients, and work to impact legislation that will improve the delivery of school social work services and enhance the education of all children. School Social Workers will work cooperatively with all systems that affect education to guarantee the highest degree of service. The future of our nation is dependent on the education of our children. MASSW will do whatever is within its power to meet these present and future challenges.