Lisa L. Swem

Lisa L. Swem graduated from the University of Notre Dame School of Law (J.D., 1988). Before law school, Ms. Swem served for five years as a social studies teacher at the secondary level. She earned a B.A. in history from Centre College (1979), an M.A.T. in social studies from Colgate University (1981), and completed many graduate courses in educational administration at S.U.N.Y. – New Paltz. Ms. Swem joined Thrun Law Firm, P.C. in 1988. She is a member of the NSBA and Michigan Council of School Attorneys, the Education Law Association, and the National Association of College and University Attorneys, as well as the American Bar Association and the State Bar of Michigan.

Legal Issues in the Digital Age

This workshop will address the legal issues confronting school districts related to employee and student use of technology, including employee use of social media and student cyberbullying. In particular, First Amendment “free speech” implications will be reviewed as school officials endeavor to provide a safe school environment and address inappropriate behaviors that can be harmful to others.

Patricia K. Criswell, LMSW

Patti is a clinical social worker, speaker and author living near Kalamazoo, MI. She has been working with girls and their families for almost 20 years to help girls gain the skills they need to grow into strong and powerful women. Areas of specialty include relational aggression and developing a healthy body image.

Patti is a recognized expert in the area of tween girls. Her work includes individual, family and group therapy with girls and their parents as well as working with young women in transition. She is a writer and has numerous books and articles on relationship skills, personal growth, and development in girls ages 8-14. She has presented at national conferences and has conducted numerous workshops for girls and their parents. Additionally she is on the faculty of Western Michigan University where she teaches both graduate and undergraduate courses in College of Health and Human Services in the School of Social Work.

Relational Aggression in Schools

This workshop will examine the roles and dynamics of bullies, the bullied and bystanders in schools. Specific and concrete intervention and response strategies as well as protocols will be discussed. The workshop will also highlight low and no costs ways to integrate bully prevention into the school culture at each grade level.

Maurice Azar

Maurice Azar is a 19-year old college student from Marysville, MI who has Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of Autism. He currently lives with his mother, his younger brother who also has Autism, and his younger sister. His hobbies include: Video Games, Retro Television, Anime, Reading, Watching Sporting Events, and Bargain Hunting.

Maurice believes that transition is not a single event, but rather, a long process that must be given extreme care and effort. Thanks to a successful transition plan, Maurice is currently attending St. Clair County Community College and works as a public speaker on various aspects of Autism. In the future, Maurice plans on transferring to Walsh College of Accountancy and Business Administration in order to obtain a Master’s Degrees in Accounting, Business Administration, and Finance as well as continuing to publicly speak on Autism.

Autism and Me: My Struggles with General Education

Attendees will walk away with an understanding of issues Maurice, a student with ASD, faced in the school setting as well as strategies that have helped him be successful. Maurice’s mother will also address issues that she has experienced with her son Maurice and her other children: another son with ASD and a typically developing daughter.

Allison Sevegney Reynolds, LMSW, Family Services & Program Coordinator, Ele’s Place
Megan Spedoske, LMSW, Family Services & Program Coordinator, Ele’s Place

This workshop will provide an overview of how grief can affect a student across developmental stages, the unique characteristics of a child’s grief, tasks of grief, & practical ways that school social workers can support grieving students.

Target Audience: K – 12
Practice Level: All

Debra L. Cusic, LMSW, School Social Worker, National Heritage Academies
Jennifer Self-Aulgur, MPA, Certified Humane Education Specialist

Numerous studies have shown the link between animal cruelty and violence toward humans. Developing empathy toward animals that can also transfer to humans, especially with the help of a therapy dog (canine good citizen), is a   refreshing and engaging way to help decrease students’ risk for future violence. This workshop will introduce humane education concepts and activities and involving an animal in individual or group practice.

Target Audience: K – 12
Practice Level: All

Rebecca A. Longcore, LMSW, Educational Interventionist/MiBLSi Coordinator, Van Buren ISD

Participants will increase their knowledge in decision making, planning for appropriate service delivery, effective communication with team members, and progress monitoring students’ goals and objectives - all through data collected on student, classroom, and school-wide behavior! Resources from online technology sites, software programs, social skills curriculums, and other data tools will be shared.

Target Audience: K – 12
Practice Level: Beginning

Stacy L. Peterson, MSW, LMSW, Field Educator/Lecturer IV

This seminar will provide an overview of pain management challenges that school aged children face and will discuss  strategies school social workers can utilize to provide support to children and their families. Lecture, reflection and small group discussion will be used to look at pain management from a cultural perspective that addresses minority populations. This workshop is approved for pain management CE’s.

Target Audience: K – 12
Practice Level: All

John Micsak, Clinical Director and Founder, National Institute for Resiliency and Wellness

Stress and overwhelm from adverse childhood experiences undermines the ability of students to form healthy relationships, regulate their emotions and decreases cognitive functioning. Generally, public school systems lack the training to adequately assess and address this overwhelming pattern in today’s schools. Participants will be introduced to ground breaking approaches drawing from the disciplines of trauma informed care, body and mind science and resiliency research. This workshop will meet during three back-to-back sessions.

Target Audience: K – 12
Practice Level: All

Katharine Ehmann, School Social Worker, Birmingham Schools
Lindsay Stone, General Education Teacher, Birmingham Schools
Kelly Lybeck, General Education Teacher, Birmingham Schools

This session will take participants on an interactive journey from outdated, punishment-based discipline to a character-based, comprehensive, school-wide approach to discipline that aligns with RtI and PBIS. Learn the components of one such system implemented at Greenfield Elementary school, a CEP National School of Character, and go home with the know-how to transform your school’s discipline system.

Target Audience: Elementary
Practice Level: All

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

This workshop will focus on the adolescent growth toward independence. It will discuss ways to facilitate communication and family bonding while also allowing the adolescent to achieve maturing and independence. It will cover appropriate discipline measures to use in the home and in the classroom. It will discuss ways to help teams formulate and move  toward positive future goals.

Target Audience: Secondary
Practice Level: All

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

This workshop will provide you with an assessment tool that you will use over and over again. The information will uncover strategies for relating to and managing even the most challenging students (and colleagues). Through the use of temperament assessment, social workers will help their students to better understand the strengths and qualities with which they were born. The result can be a natural – and measureable – rise in self-esteem. This workshop will meet during two back-to-back sessions.

Target Audience: K – 12
Practice Level: All

Matt Langlois, School Social Worker, Forest Hills Public Schools

This is a training for school social workers to learn how to create “photostories” for individual students and groups who are receiving social work services. “Photostories” combine principles of “social stories” (an Evidence-Based Practice) with graphic visual supports to teach social skills, appropriate classroom behavior, and other positive coping skills needed for academic success. Social workers will learn elements of an effective social story and how to use software to create a visual slideshow of that story, complete with student narration. This model for teaching social skills was originally designed for use with students with Autism Spectrum Disorders, but can be used with all students who need social skill development. This workshop will meet during two back-to-back sessions.

Target Audience: K – 12
Practice Level: All

Rose Dore, ACSW, SSW, Consultant for Students with AI, St. Clair County RESA

This workshop will provide an overview of the characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Basic principles of Applied Behavior Analysis will be discussed: using the ABC contingency, conducting a functional behavior assessment in school, and developing a Behavior Support Plan. This workshop will meet during two back-to-back sessions.

Target Audience: K – 12
Practice level: Beginning

Stacy L. Peterson, MSW, LMSW, Field Educator/Lecturer IV

This seminar will provide an overview of pain management challenges that school aged children face and will discuss strategies school social workers can utilize to provide support to children and their families. Lecture, reflection and small group discussion will be used to look at pain management from a cultural perspective that addresses minority populations. This workshop is approved for pain management CE’s.

Target Audience: K – 12
Practice Level: All

Catherine Sage, Administrative Assistance, Ionia ASD
Jennifer Rashewsky, ASD Teacher Consultant, Ionia ASD
Mark Kleersnyder, Technology Support, Ionia ASD

Target Audience: K – 12
Practice Level: Beginning

Roger Manela, Ph.D., LMSW, School Social Worker, Detroit Public Schools
Pamela Manela, LMSW, School Social Worker (Retired)

This course provides school social workers with information about social work ethics, some of which addresses gender, age and cultural aspects and implications of ethical decision making. It also examines the principles and practices of critical thinking, which emphasizes a universal and unbiased approach to the analysis and decision making about ethical issues in social work. This workshop is approved for ethics CE’s. This workshop will meet during two back-to-back sessions.

Target Audience: K – 12
Practice Level: All

Brandon Morkut, MS, OTR/L, Occupational Therapist, Van Buren ISD

Children with Sensory Modulation Disorder demonstrate traits which include: constantly touching objects, always “on the move,” avoiding change, compulsive and perfectionist habits, aggression, and difficulty forming relationships. Participants will learn simple classroom strategies that can help sensory challenged students regulate their school day.

Target Audience: K – 12
Practice Level: All

Velma Jordan, LMSW, School Social Worker, Detroit Public Schools/Early Learners Foundation

This presentation will discuss the incidence of parental violence and the impact it reportedly has on the lives of children who are exposed to it. Research suggests that 3.3 million children a year are at risk of exposure to parental (domestic) violence. Children "not only see violence, they also hear it occurring, are used as part of it, and experience its aftermath.” A further review of the research theorizes the cumulative effects may be devastating.

Target Audience: Pre K – 12
Practice Level: Beginning

Julie Ribaudo, Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Michigan

Children who have histories of insecure attachment relationships often enter into classroom settings with difficulties in emotional behavioral self-regulation. This workshop will address how to help children whose attachment histories interfere with their ability to use typical behavioral support.

Target Audience: Elementary
Practice Level: All

Kathy Weaver, School Social Worker, Livonia Public Schools/MASSW

This program is a train-the-trainer event and will provide a curriculum for School Social Workers to use with building-based staff. The aim is to assist educators in recognizing and addressing mental health issues in the school environment. Participants will enhance their ability to educate school staff on how to recognize risks and protective factors, how to develop strategies to support students, how to identify instructional techniques that consider individual learning styles and promote positive classroom climates, and how to identify community resources to promote mental health.

Target Audience: K – 12
Practice Level: Experienced

Rebecca Ducham, LMSW, School Social Worker, Tuscola ISD
Deb Thomas, Supportive Intervention Aide, Tuscola ISD

Participants will gain knowledge to effectively assist paraprofessionals in gaining the skills necessary to assist students. Various ethical dilemmas will be presented, discussed, and a plan will be outlined to address the issues.

Target Audience: K – 12
Practice Level: Beginning

Steven Camron, Associate Professor, Eastern Michigan University

The field of special education is dynamic. The presenter will describe recent changes in the special education laws, including important court decisions with a focus on students with emotional/behavioral disorders and ASD. The presenter will also answer attendee questions on special education and general school law. This workshop will meet during two back-to-back sessions.

Target Audience: K – 12
Practice Level: All

Jeanene Blease, School Social Worker, Grand Haven Area Public Schools
Christy S. Rinkeviez, School Social Worker, Grand Haven Public Schools

More and more students with disabilities are being serviced in general education classrooms. This is a positive step that comes with some drawbacks. Students with Autism often stand out because they have limited social skills and a lack of peer relationships. These students get teased at a higher rate due to their different behaviors. This impacts their feelings about school and their academic progress in the general education classroom. The POPS program provides general education mentors to students with Autism to help them develop their social skills, including greeting others, carrying on a conversation and making and keeping friends. As a result of mentorships, teachers are able to focus their time on instruction and students have a better understanding of each other.

Target Audience: K – 12
Practice Level: Experienced

Steve Whitmore, School Social Worker/MASSW Webmaster, Utica Community Schools

Does the web seem overwhelming? How do you find the information you want when you want it? Using MASSWMI.ORG as a guide, we’ll explore the different types of information that are accessible and possible uses in School Social Work Practice. The session will include discussion of finding resources, finding research, technology applications, professional advocacy, and increasing professional collaboration.

Target Audience: K – 12
Practice Level: All

Roger Manela, Ph.D., LMSW, School Social Worker, Detroit Public Schools
Pamela Manela, LMSW, School Social Worker (Retired)

This course provides school social workers with information on ADHD which addresses gender, age and cultural aspects and implications of ADHD. The workshop examines diagnostic criteria, origins and etiology of ADHD, co-morbidity, and conditions that may be mis-diagnosed as ADHD and lead to students being labeled ADHD inappropriately. It also explores interventions and treatment modalities that can be effectively used in schools by school social workers. This workshop will meet during two back-to-back sessions.

Target Audience: K – 12
Practice Level: All

Richard C. Spring, LMSW, School Social Worker
William Young, MA, Behavior Specialist

It seems you can’t go to a conference these days without someone offering yet another bullying workshop. Most often those are lecture driven and focused primarily on elementary students. But you and I both know that bullying doesn’t stop at the middle school doors. Bullying goes into high school and some bullies continue that behavior throughout    adulthood. We are here to offer you something just a little different this time around. Fear not: you will get information on the latest research and on promising programs and interventions. We will address bullying across the ages, and have content on cyber-bullying as well. However, this won’t just be a listening lecture format. You will be involved and hopefully entertained as much as you are enlightened!

Target Audience: K-12
Practice Level: All

Kristin Sulecki, School Social Worker, Traverse City Area Public Schools
Bianka von Kulajta, School Social Worker, Lincoln Consolidated Schools

Need fresh ideas to enhance your practice? We will explore several small/large group formats and many fun activities that can be plugged into the suggested formats or used independently. You will leave with ideas to help impart life long lessons in respect, responsibility, and safety. This workshop will meet during two back-to-back sessions.

Target Audience: Elementary
Practice Level: All

Donna Secor Pennington, School Social Worker, Forest Hills Schools and Vice President, SSWAA
Beverly VanDyke, Special Education Coordinator, Forest Hills Schools

This presentation outlines a comprehensive, multi-tiered approach to school violence prevention, intervention and risk assessment based on the findings and recommendations of the U.S. Department of Education and others. Roles for school social workers will be highlighted throughout. This workshop will meet during two back-to-back sessions.

Target Audience: K – 12
Practice Level: All

Rosie Chapman, School Social Worker, Utica Community Schools

Transform a hard cover book into a mixed media art form to express feelings, emotions and ideas. Altered books are a unique form of art that doesn’t require artistic skills. This workshop will meet during two back-to-back sessions.

Target Audience: K – 12
Practice Level: All

Sebastian Oros, School Social Worker, Indian Prairie School District 204

Video-Self Modeling (VSM) is an evidence-based intervention for teaching social skills to students with autism spectrum disorders, low cognitive functioning and selective mutism and is also useful for other students with skill deficits (can’t do’s) and performance skill deficits (won’t do’s). This presentation will include an overview of VSM, K-5 case examples, sample IEP goals, and step-by-step direction on how to produce VSM vignettes.

Target Audience: Pre-School and Elementary
Practice level: Beginning

Rebecca A. Longcore, LMSW, Educational Interventionist/MiBLSi Coordinator, Van Buren ISD

Participants will increase their knowledge in decision making, planning for appropriate service delivery, effective communication with team members, and progress monitoring students’ goals and objectives - all through data collected on student, classroom, and school-wide behavior! Resources from online technology sites, software programs, social skills curriculums, and other data tools will be shared.

Target Audience: K – 12
Practice Level: Beginning

Kim Hommerding, Executive Director, The Arc of Calhoun County

How can community agencies work with the school to make transition planning successful? What are common considerations of all transitional plans? Listen to how one community has improved transitional services through collaboration efforts.

Target Audience: Secondary
Practice Level: Beginning

Sebastian Oros, School Social Worker, Indian Prairie School District 204

Video-Self Modeling (VSM) is an evidence-based intervention for teaching social skills to students with autism spectrum disorders, low cognitive functioning and selective mutism and is also useful for other students with skill deficits (can’t do’s) and performance skill deficits (won’t do’s). This presentation will include an overview of VSM, K-5 case examples, sample IEP goals, and step-by-step direction on how to produce VSM vignettes.

Target Audience: Pre-School and Elementary
Practice level: Beginning

Amy L. Chapman, School Social Worker, Utica Community Schools

This workshop will aid school social workers in understanding the Non-Suicidal Self-Injurer and provide them with the knowledge base needed to respond in schools.

Target Audience: Secondary
Practice Level: All

Mark C. Bishop, Interim Community Relations Coordinator, Michigan Department of Civil Rights

A workshop designed to assist audiences to better understand how to define and respond to bias incidents and hate crimes and assist victims and their targeted communities.

Target Audience: All
Practice Level: All

Susan H. Rogers, School Social Worker, Birmingham Schools

This workshop will focus on designing and teaching communication, abuse prevention, debunking myths attached to issues of health and sexuality for people with disabilities, risk and vulnerability reduction, and strategies to increase health and safe relationships.

Target Audience: Secondary
Practice Level: Experienced

Susan M. Bushong, Contract Administrator & Outreach Coordinator of Health Professional Recovery Program

This session will review the Health Professional Recovery Program (HPRP), which was established by legislation in 1993 as a non-disciplinary, treatment-oriented approach to assist health care professionals with substance use and/or mental health disorders. It provides for confidential referrals to treatment services before impairment causes patient harm or otherwise interferes with the professional’s ability to practice their profession.

Target Audience: K – 12
Practice Level: All

"The Radisson Hotel Lansing has reached full capacity.  The overflow hotel for the conference is The University Quality Inn; phone number is 517-351-1440  The Rate for Wednesday night and Thursday night is $95 per night and the Friday night rate is $116. There will be free shuttle service from the Quality Inn to the Radisson during the conference.  When making your reservation indicate that you are with the MASSW conference."

Note: Hotel Rates are $116 per night plus applicable taxes (Currently 13%).

For mail-in registration form, click here.

To register on-line, please click here.