Topic: Black Liberation and the Child Welfare System
Speaker: Ashley Huggans, Jackson County CASA
Description: This workshop provides a brief overview of how the Child Welfare system has impacted Black Americans since the inception of slavery in 1619 to the present. This workshop goes on to explore Black Liberation and what are some active ways community members can help Black youth and Black foster youth thrive in spite of oppression.

Topic: Safety and Support: A Unified Approach with Handle with Care and Courage2Report
Speaker: Dakota Boehmer, School Safety Analyst Supervisor for Courage2Report and Tammy Walden (MJJA)
Description: Attendees will learn how Handle with Care alerts schools when a student has experienced a potentially traumatic event, allowing for compassionate, informed support. Simultaneously, Courage2Report provides a confidential platform for reporting threats and suspicious behavior, enabling early intervention and violence prevention.

Topic: Accountability: The Dilemma of Parental Culpability
Speaker: Dr. Gary L. Hill, Lincoln University Vice President of Campus Culture & Chief of Police
Description: In recent years, the United States has experienced a significant shift toward holding parents legally accountable for their children’ s criminal behavior, particularly in cases involving youth violence and mass shootings.
(Obj: #2) High-profile prosecutions, such as the Crumbley case, have expanded the scope of parental criminal liability by emphasizing factors like failure to act on warning signs and allowing access to firearms. This trend reflects a broader movement toward increased accountability not only for parents, but also for school officials and institutions.
(Obj: #1) Parental responsibility laws fall into three main categories: civil liability (financial responsibility), status offenses (e.g., truancy), and criminal liability (rare but increasing in serious cases). While these laws aim to deter juvenile delinquency and promote responsible parenting, their effectiveness remains uncertain. Research shows no clear evidence that such laws reduce youth offending, and many parents are unaware of their legal responsibilities.
(Obj: #4) A key concern is that these laws often oversimplify the causes of juvenile delinquency. Youth behavior is influenced by multiple factors beyond parenting, including peer pressure, socioeconomic conditions, mental health, and environmental influences. Although parental monitoring and safe firearm storage can reduce risks, they are not solely determinative.
{Obj: #3) The expansion of parental liability raises significant ethical and legal concerns. Critics argue that these laws may violate due process, particularly when strict liability standards presume parental guilt without proof of intent or negligence. (Obj: #6) Additionally, enforcement disproportionately impacts marginalized communities, including Black, low-income, and single-parent households, exacerbating existing inequalities. Gender bias is also evident, with mothers often facing greater scrutiny and blame.
From the perspective of juveniles, most do not believe their parents are responsible for their actions, though many acknowledge that the possibility of parental punishment could deter their behavior. This highlights a tension between perceptions of accountability and the potential deterrent effect of these laws.
(Obj: #5) The broader juvenile justice system has also shifted from a rehabilitative model toward a more punitive approach, influenced in part by exaggerated fears of youth violence, such as the “super-predator” myth. Evidence suggests that harsher measures, including transferring juveniles to adult courts, may increase recidivism rather than reduce it.
Given these challenges, many experts advocate for alternative approaches that emphasize prevention and support rather than punishment. These include restorative justice programs, family-based interventions, mental health services, and expanded roles for juvenile or family courts that involve parents without criminalizing them.
Overall, while parental responsibility laws aim to enhance accountability and public safety, their long-term effectiveness is unclear, and they risk unintended consequences such as family instability and systemic inequality. Future policy efforts should focus on balanced, evidence-based strategies that address the root causes of youth offending while promoting fairness and rehabilitation.

Topic: Case Law and Legislative Updates
Speakers: Alex Martinez and Bill Prince
Description: Alex Martinez and Bill Prince will present an update of case law and new legislation impacting juvenile justice and child welfare.

MORNING WORKSHOPS

Topic: ENHANCING SCHOOL SAFETY USING A THREAT ASSESSMENT MODEL: An Operational Guide for Preventing Targeted School Violence
Speaker: Ed Oslica, U.S. Secret Service
Description: For over 20 years, the U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) has conducted research on the thinking and behaviors of those who commit acts of targeted school violence in an effort to prevent future tragedies. Key findings from this research indicate that establishing multidisciplinary threat assessment teams and encouraging school communities to report concerning behaviors are critical steps in the prevention of targeted violence. This presentation will highlight past incidents as well as relevant findings and recommendations from NTAC’s latest research on targeted school violence and interrupted school plots in the United States.  It will also focus on how communities can use a multidisciplinary approach to identify, assess, and intervene with students exhibiting concerning or threatening behaviors as early as possible.

Topic: De-Escalation and Crisis Prevention
Speaker: Rob Bodley, Midwest Crisis Management LLC
Description: This presentation explores practical and ethical conflict de-escalation strategies tailored for juvenile justice practitioners. It examines the nature and causes of conflict in juvenile settings, including interpersonal and authority related challenges, and highlights the emotional, psychological, and rehabilitative impacts of unresolved conflict on youth. Participants are introduced to evidence informed de-escalation techniques such as active listening, verbal and non verbal communication strategies, empathy, rapport building, and environmental modifications. The session also addresses how agencies can implement these strategies through training, policy integration, and consistent practice. Finally, it outlines methods for evaluating de-escalation success using behavioral indicators, youth feedback, and continuous improvement processes, supported by real world case examples to reinforce effective practice.

Topic: Older Youth Engagement
Speaker: Rene’ Brinkman, Department of Social Services in 2007. She currently serves as the Children’s Division Older Youth Program Coordinator
Description: Explain the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood and how it supports older youth in foster care, eligibility requirements for Chafee, and services and supports offered by the Chafee program. Describe the benefits available to youth based on the age at which they leave care. Explain the purpose and mission of the ROYALS unit, eligibility requirements, and program goals. Introduce the MO Engaged Care Model and how it emphasizes and promotes authentic youth engagement. Identify leadership opportunities for youth in foster care and how these opportunities increase youth connection, well-being, and case involvement. Demonstrate how Chafee, ROYALS, and MO Engaged Care collectively support successful transition to adulthood.

Topic: Preventing Predators in the Workplace
Speaker: Lori Lindsey, The Child Advocacy Center Of Northeast Missouri
Description: The Preventing Predators in the Workplace Program will empower professionals to diminish the likelihood children in their organization will be become a victim of child sexual abuse. Participants will learn predators exist in all workplaces where children are present, the statistics surrounding CSA in youth serving organizations, and common traits of a predator. An understanding of specific strategies to reduce CSA will be developed through a review of their role as mandated reporters and additional best practice recommendations. Youth serving organizations will be enabled to create or revise child protection policies, respond responsibly to address any observed boundary violations, and confidently make hotline reports.

AFTERNOON WORKSHOPS

Topic: Violence Reduction in Neighborhoods: Resource Delivery
Speaker: James Clark
Description: This presentation will focus on the 4 leading public safety issues facing the St. Louis Metropolitan area. It provides a detailed overview of efforts currently making a difference in neighborhoods. From Social Service to Social Science. The Return to Social Service.

Topic: Stronger Together: How Child Serving Professionals Support Foster Parent Recruitment and Retention
Speaker: Lauren Masterson, LMSW. Assistant Deputy Director for Permanency and Foster Care Licensing with the Missouri Children’s Division
Description: Missouri is the second state to join the Administration of Children and Families “A Home for Every Child” initiative. This presentation will provide an overview of Technical Bulletin #14 and Missouri’s PIP pilot plan, with an emphasis on how the Division plans to recruit, develop, support, and engage potential relative families for children in foster care. This workshop will highlight how child serving professionals are critical to the successful implementation of recruitment and retention plans and how professionals can partner with the Children’s Division to ensure every child has access to a safe, stable, and loving home.

Topic: Certified Pending Trial…. From Juvenile Detention to Adult Jail and Beyond
Speakers: Chris Yeager (Missouri Department of Public Safety) and Amy Sax (Missouri Division of Youth Services)
Description: In December 2018, the federal Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (JJDP) Act was reauthorized. The JJDP Act, as amended, made significant changes to how juveniles are held pending trial in the adult criminal justice system. Physically transferring a juvenile to a jail or lockup for adults following certification is no longer automatic. Now, certified juveniles are to remain placed in secure juvenile facilities pending the outcome of their criminal trial. However, there is a judicial process for transferring a certified juvenile to an adult jail when it is in the “interest of justice.” In 2021, Missouri codified these protections in Section 211.072, RSMo This presentation will review the initial transfer process, the subsequent required hearings, and the documentation necessary to ensure the state’s compliance with Section 223(a)(11)(B) of the JJDP Act and Chapter 211.072 of the Missouri Revised Statutes.
In addition, this presentation will provide attendees with an overview of Dual Jurisdiction sentencing as authorized under RSMo 211.073, Missouri’s blended sentencing statute, and the Dual Jurisdiction (DJ) Program administered by the Division of Youth Services (DYS). The session will focus on the statutory framework and legislative intent of RSMo 211.073, which permits certified youth to receive a dual sentence to the Division of Youth Services and the Department of Corrections (DOC). Attendees will receive education on how the DYS’ Dual Jurisdiction Program functions within the statutory structure, including eligibility considerations and the assessment process. This session is designed to support a clear, consistent understanding of RSMo 211.073 and the role of the Division of Youth Services Dual Jurisdiction Program within Missouri’s blended sentencing framework.

Topic: Caught in the Middle: Courts and Collaborative Approaches for Dual Status Youth
Speaker: Esther Flowers, Esq.
Description: Youth involved in both the child welfare and juvenile justice systems, commonly referred to as dual-status youth, often experience fragmented decision-making, inconsistent case planning, and court responses that address behavior without examining the broader circumstances affecting the youth and their family. This session explores how overlapping legal systems shape outcomes for these youth and how legal professionals can promote more coordinated responses.
Using guided discussion and analysis of fact-based scenarios, participants will examine how family instability, unmet service needs, and system fragmentation can intersect with delinquency proceedings. The session introduces a two-generation (2Gen) framework, encouraging participants to consider how caregiver stability, access to resources, and family conditions influence youth behavior and system involvement.
The presentation also acknowledges Missouri’s juvenile court structure, which allows coordinated handling of youth involved in both dependency and delinquency matters. Participants will explore practical strategies for improving communication, information sharing, and coordinated case planning among courts, attorneys, probation personnel, and child welfare professionals.
Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of the structural challenges faced by dual-status youth and practical approaches for promoting coordinated, youth- and family-centered responses within Missouri’s legal framework.

Topic: Interviewing Techniques in Juvenile Justice: From Victims to Offenders
Speaker: Rob Bodley, Midwest Crisis Management LLC
Description: This session explores best‑practice approaches for interviewing and interrogating youth within the juvenile justice system, with a strong emphasis on developmental awareness, legal safeguards, and ethical practice. Participants will examine how cognitive development, emotional maturity, trauma, family dynamics, and environmental factors influence juvenile behavior and communication. The presentation also reviews key legal considerations, including juveniles’ rights, age‑based protections, and recent legal reforms shaping interrogation practices. Attendees will gain practical strategies for building rapport, asking effective and non‑leading questions, managing resistance, and conducting non‑coercive, culturally responsive interrogations that promote fairness, accuracy, and youth well-being.

Topic: Core Concepts of Childhood Trauma: Intersections with Juvenile Justice
Speaker: Matt Kliethermes, St. Louis Children’s Advocacy Center/University of Missouri-St. Louis
Description: This workshop will introduce participants to the Core Concepts of Childhood Traumatic Stress as developed by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network. The Core Concepts will be considered through the lens of how they might present or be experienced in a juvenile justice setting. Discussion will also focus on how the Core Concepts can be used to guide professionals in their interactions with youth and families involved in the juvenile justice system.

Topic: Leading Challenged Populations in Difficult Times: Inclusive Listening Sessions for Youth & Community Relationship Building
Speaker: Juanita Simmons, RED Consultant
Description: This workshop involves the participation of attendees in designing structured and properly facilitated listening sessions. Listening sessions are important assets for many non-profit organizations and youth development centers because they can provide safe spaces to gather authentic feedback, stories, and insights for stakeholders. Particularly popular for building trust with justice-involved youth, listening sessions can help leaders to understand challenges and perspectives of youth. In addition to the goal of trust and relationship building, properly structured sessions result in facilitative conversation and constructive dialogue that can help bring actionable feedback and problem solving.

Topic: “Catch em Doing Right”: How to Reduce Delinquency among Youth Suffering from Trauma
Speakers: Moisés Próspero, Ph.D. and Steve Anjewierden
Description: The workshop will review events that can cause trauma in young persons. Best practices on how to engage young persons to improve prosocial behavior, reduce delinquency and avoid re-traumatization will then be presented. The workshop will end with steps on how to respond to a behavioral crisis and de-escalate a problematic situation.