Agenda

Wednesday, August 13, 2025

» Registration and Exhibitor Hall Open

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.

Light Breakfast and Refreshments

» Welcome and Opening Remarks

9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.

Brandon Jones, Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health
Anuraa Venkat, Student at East Ridge High School

» Transition

9:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.

» Breakout Session One

9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

Let’s Talk About It…Really Talk About It

Bree Theising, Midwest Children’s Resource Center and Advocate, and Cheyenne Wilson, We Are the Evidence
Community track

Recognizing and Responding to Grooming Behaviors in School Settings

Rita Farrell and Caitie Dahl, Zero Abuse Project
Schools track

Mindful Communities: Community-led approaches to preventing childhood maltreatment and promoting healing

Neerja Singh
Systems track

» Transition

10:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

» Breakout Session Two

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Under a Watchful Eye: Child abuse prevention in youth-serving organizations

Alison Feigh and Rita Farrel, Zero Abuse Project
Community track

Not A Number: An interactive youth trafficking and exploitation prevention classroom curriculum

Allan Bakke and Stephanie Darnell, Southwest Crisis Center
Schools track

Preventing Child Abuse Using the Circle of Parents Support Group Model

Barb Sorum, FamilyWise Services
Systems track

» Transition

12:00 p.m. – 12:15 p.m.

» Keynote and Lunch

12:15 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Be The Difference: Belonging is the support we need

Gaelin Elmore
What determines if an individual is a “success” story or a “cautionary” tale? Is it talent? Is it resilience or grit? Is it simply luck? Gaelin Elmore knows that stories of caution and success have more things in common than we’d care to admit. He knows because he lived it. Mr. Elmore’s powerful story has motivated and inspired thousands, but instead of using his story to focus on “success,” he uses it to shed light on the importance of belonging and “support.”

Throughout this keynote, attendees will be challenged and inspired to be individuals who CARE about belonging, because belonging is ‘the difference’ between a story of success and a tale of caution.

Introduction by: Marcia Milliken, Minnesota Children’s Alliance

Meal: Boxed lunches

» Transition

2:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.

» Breakout Session Three

2:15 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.

The Role of Faith Communities in Preventing Child Maltreatment

Victor Vieth, Zero Abuse Project
Community track

The Power of Collaborative Prevention Education

Gracie Getschel, First Witness Child Advocacy Center
Schools track

Ethical Considerations in Mandated Reporting

Michelle Harris, CornerHouse
Systems track

» Transition

3:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

» Breakout Session Four

3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Let’s Talk Grooming

Aubree Derksen, University of Minnesota Extension
Community track

The Importance of School Policies Related to Disclosures of Abuse and Mandated Reporting

Jeff Dion, Zero Abuse Project
Schools track

Chronically Online: Understanding and supporting adolescents in today’s digital age

Carly Hiti, Program for Aid to Victims of Sexual Assault, and Andrea White, Olmsted County Victim Services
Systems track

» Adjourn

4:30 p.m.