Supervisors Conference 2023 Agenda

We are excited to host this year’s event to support you in your roles as leaders. This two-day, in-person conference at the Hyatt Regency Lake Washington will address challenges in the context of the current ever-changing environment, and offer inspiration on how to continue to support self and others. 

Tuesday, Sept. 26

8-9 a.m.: Breakfast
       Lake Washington Ballroom and prefunction space

9-9:30 a.m.: Introductions and Welcomes
       Lake Washington Ballroom

9:30-10:30 a.m.: Finding the Bright Sides
Some might say that we’ve been through some of the toughest times in memory in the past few years. These experiences can dampen our spirit and the current changes and uncertainties understandably create worry. However, in every crisis, there are opportunities, and our current conditions are accelerating change and creating openings to do more good in ways that were not previously available to us. This presentation will help reinvigorate our imaginations and our spirits as we explore emerging possibilities for a brighter future for us and the children and families we serve. 
       Presented by Amelia Franck-Meyer, Ed.D., MSW
       Lake Washington Ballroom

10:30-10:45 a.m. Break

10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Breakout Sessions:

Re-Energizing Your Why: Join the Family First team for their Ted Talk inspired by a family’s personal story that gets to the heart of how we as change makers can and do have impact on those we support and serve. You’ll also learn about the future of partnership pathways being forged through the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) and gain actionable tools through the spirit of Motivational Interviewing (MI) that you can use within daily your sphere of influence. 
       Facilitated by DCYF FFPSA Program Consultants
       Lake Washington Ballroom

Cycle of Reflecting: When something goes wrong on the job it can be difficult to use it as a learning opportunity.  Some staff experience so much guilt and shame that they shut down, while others may express anger or blame.  Neither response promotes change or performance improvement. The Cycle of Reflecting tool creates a more neutral processing experience. Exploring the roles of communication, power, assumptions, habits, and beliefs can expose problems that can be corrected before mistakes are repeated. This tool can be used alone, as a way for a supervisor to debrief with a single employee, or as a team debrief exercise.
       Facilitated by Alliance Facilitation Specialist Deb Ausema, MA Ed.
       Bellevue 1

ICW Policy: Join us for an overview of ICW. We will discuss updates on current legislation and policies that you should be aware of, and upcoming changes that may impact your practice. Feel free to bring your questions.
       Facilitated by DCYF Office of Tribal Relations
       Bellevue 2

12:15-1:15 p.m. Lunch
       Lake Washington Ballroom and prefunction space

1:15-2:15 p.m. The Fentanyl Epidemic
Learn about the current state of the opioid crisis in Washington, and find out how to keep yourself and your team safe. Bring your questions.
        Presented by Sean Hemmerle, Washington Department of Public Health
        Lake Washington Ballroom

2:15-2:30 p.m. Break

2:30-3:30 p.m. Trauma-Informed Supervision: Tools and Strategies
Join us for a discussion around practical trauma-informed strategies that you can use to support your staff’s well-being, morale, and retention within the child welfare field. Trauma-informed supervision is a leadership style based on strong relationships, psychological safety, equity & inclusion, and commitment to staff well-being. A trauma-informed leader realizes how first-hand and second-hand trauma can impact staff; recognizes the signs of trauma, burnout, and compassion fatigue in real time; responds in ways that foster safety, trust, choice, empowerment & equity (in words and policies); and resists retraumatizing staff. This session will support you in putting trauma-informed principles into practice as a supervisor.
       Presented by Ann Marie Roepke, Ph.D.
       Lake Washington Ballroom

4-5 p.m. Networking Reception
       Lake Washington Ballroom Terrace   

Wednesday, Sept. 27

8-9 a.m.: Breakfast
       Lake Washington Ballroom and prefunction space

9 a.m.: Introductions and Welcomes
       Lake Washington Ballroom

9:15-10:15 a.m.: Navigating Difficult Conversations
Are there tough conversations that you have been avoiding? Are you looking for best practices about how to have tough conversations when working remotely or in a hybrid workplace? Join us to discover how to prepare for a tough conversation, explore best practices of how to master the art of tough conversations and design an action plan to put the skills into practice at your workplace.
       Presented by Corey Leneker, MPA
       Lake Washington Ballroom

10:15-10:30 a.m. Break

10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Breakout Sessions:

Supervisors as Referral Gatekeepers: The newly established DCYF Service Array Team and the DCYF Regional Service Leads introduce how their roles intersect in support of caseworkers and with the In-home provider network. Participants will receive a brief overview of the new Statewide Service directory and receive technical assistance with supporting their staff in service referral writing and successful service matching.
       Facilitated by Service Array consultants
       Lake Washington Ballroom

Gentle Yoga and Mindfulness: We will explore several mindfulness building practices, including movement-based and stillness-based options that you can do anytime, anywhere, and yoga activities that will be simple and easy to incorporate into your daily life.  This practice will be done standing and seated, so no mats or other special equipment will be needed. The instructor will also offer adaptive options if you are working with a limitation of some kind.  For this practice, clothing that does not limit your range of motion is recommended but not required. 
       Facilitated by Alliance Facilitation Specialist Holly Bond, MS, RYT
       Bellevue 1

Understanding Your Influence: Whether you’re a supervisor or a parent, there’s no escaping the fact that we have an influence on others. Sometimes profoundly so. This workshop will take a closer look at some of the fundamental factors that shape this influence: self-awareness, adaptive skills, the power differential, and, finally, positive feedback. Understanding these will help you not only shift your own influence in a positive direction but also help you coach others to do the same.
       Facilitated by Lee Riley, M.Div, MA
       Bellevue 2

12-1 p.m. Lunch
       Lake Washington Ballroom and prefunction space

1-2:30 p.m. Breakout Sessions:

Courts and HB1227: The Keeping Families Together Act (HB 1227) effective on July 1, 2023 and has already had significant impacts on dependency court systems around the state. HB 1227 significantly expanded judicial authority and inquiry at Shelter Care Hearings, with the ultimate aim of creating a more equitable front-end process that results in better outcomes for all families, including fewer removals, increased kinship placements (vs. foster care), and reduction of racial disparities. This presentation will provide an overview of the statutory changes resultant of HB 1227 and how these changes have impacted dependency court system practice.  Presenters will also introduce the tools, trainings, and resources created for courts to support system alignment with this historical legislative change. Attendees will have opportunities to discuss how their offices have been impacted by HB 1227 and generate possible solution strategies.
       Facilitated by Laura Vogel, CIP Co-Director & Training Specialist, and Jasmine Hodges, MA, DCYF Child Safety Program Manager
       Lake Washington Ballroom

Preparing for Stress and Trauma: Stress and trauma can impact us at any given time. Sometimes it’s unpredictable and sudden and sometimes it’s planned. Either way, the impact can be hard and heavy on our mind, bodies and heart. Join us for this interactive training where our team will lead you through tangible strategies and skills to practice in the event of a traumatic events. You will walk away with skills to practice with yourself, your teams and your friends and family.   
       Facilitated by Peer Support
       Bellevue 1

Working Smarter: A common theme in work conversations is the need, even the requirement, for folks to do more with less. A common admonishment we’ve all heard a time or two, is to “Work smarter, not harder!” Doesn’t that sound like just the thing! Rarely does that advice include exactly how one goes about working smarter. Drawing from current research, including neuroscience, this workshop provides a framework and tools for working smarter, including managing and directing energy, focus, concentration and attention, and role of willpower throughout.
       Facilitated by Chuck Pratt
       Bellevue 2

2:30-2:45 p.m. Break

2:45-3:45 p.m. Mark Anthony Garrett
Hear from Mark Anthony Garrett, who as a youth experienced foster care and juvenile rehabilitation. He will share his story and talk about influential people he has met along his journey and the impact teachers, counselors, foster parents, case workers and volunteers have made on him.
       Presented by Mark Anthony Garrett
       Lake Washington Ballroom