Written by Administrator

D-01 - A Positive Approach to Sexual Offender Treatment

W.L. Marshall, OC, FRSC, PhD

The workshop will begin by describing Andrews’ Principles of Effective Offender Treatment and the basic notions of positive psychology and how both of these can be applied to sexual offender treatment.  The approach of Rockwood Psychological Services, based on these ideas, will be described involving three phases of treatment.  The goal of the first phase is to engage the clients, win their confidence, and motivate them to participate effectively in treatment.  In this initial phase we may ask questions for clarification; we do not challenge clients.  In the second phase the goal is to address the relevant criminogenic features.  In the final phase all that the offender has learned is integrated into an abbreviated Good Lives Model plus reintegration plans.  Finally a treatment outcome study of the program will be described.

D-02 - Treatment of Trauma - A Mindfulness Based Approach to Allostatic Load Rebalancing

David Prescott

There are plethora of treatment for trauma and related allostatic load imbalance. How does mindfulness centered practice look and what skills are useful? Does it really work? How does it work for different age groups and presentation of trauma? What other trauma based treatment might fit?

D-03 - Disproportionality and Disparities in Child Welfare…What do we do about it?

Ralph Bayard, EdD

The purpose of the workshop is to help build awareness around the issue of disproportionality and disparities for children of color in the child welfare system.  Included in the presentation would be a discussion of the definitions, a look at the national data and the story behind the data. A discussion on the theoretical causation factors including bias, and that this issue is very complex in terms of why it exists. A brief history of child welfare and disproportionality in this country. Finally,  a conversation about promising practices and other potential solutions for addressing the issue.  There will be an opportunity for Q & A following the presentation.

D-04 - The Tribal Law and Order Act

Kateri Bishop, MSW

D-05 - Child Death Investigation by the Forensic Pathologist/Medical Examiner (Part 1 of 2)

Mary Case, MD

This presentation will cover the investigation of a wide variety of child deaths including abusive and accidental deaths from the perspective of a forensic pathologist/medical examiner.  The presentation will include discussion of the types of information from medical records, birth history, family history, and  other agency investigations that must be incorporated into the investigation by the medical examiner in coming to conclusions about the cause and manner of death of a child.  In depth discussion of death scene investigation will demonstrate how many deaths are subtle or totally lacking in findings at autopsy and how the medical examiner reaches decisions as to cause and manner of death in these cases from death scene investigation.  The presentation will also discuss the autopsy process beginning with trace evidence and body identification and continuing to documentation of injury on the body or by radiographs.  Every type of inflicted injury will be demonstrated and discussed.  The presentation will then proceed to internal evidence of injury at autopsy and will demonstrate every type of injury.  The use of histology for determination of aging and dating of injury will be considered.  Special studies including chemistry, microbiology, neuropathology, and toxicology will be discussed and demonstrated.  The thought process of the forensic pathologist/medical examiner in making decisions about cause and manner of death, inflicted or accidental injury,  dating of injuries, and clinical correlation with autopsy findings will be discussed.

D-06 - What to Do When There is No Money - A Discussion of Ethics, Economics and Justice in Dependency Courts

Commissioner Brian Paxton/Commissioner Michelle Ressa

This session will address ethical implications of budget restrictions.  We will examine  limitations imposed on court time which may impact due process as well as limits on service availability which may impact on federally required reasonable efforts findings.  We will specifically address the ethical dilemmas encountered in a system in which the court is supposed to both lead collaborative efforts for the good of the whole and at the same time serve as a neutral arbiter of individual cases.  Specifically, we will examine these issues through the lens of code of judicial conduct rule 2.4 and 2.5 addressing both how judicial officers can effectively address the need to both be seen as exercising leadership and oversight in child abuse and neglect cases while at the same time remaining uninfluenced by these relationships as required by Rule 2.4.  Additionally, we will examine how under Rule 2.5 judges can competently and diligently perform their duties in an environment where caseloads continue to grow (Washington state has seen a 33% increase in dependency filings last year) while resources continue to shrink.  Courts are impacted not only in the ability to diligently move cases forward because of reduced court time and increased case numbers, but the competency of the court is impacted as well by judicial rotations, lack of requirements for specialized training, and a lack of support for judicial officers to take advantage of training opportunities that do exist.

D-07 - Place Matters: Understanding and Improving Local Permanency Outcomes

Brett Ballew JD; Jen Hook PhD; Joanne Moore JD

Each year about 3800 dependency petitions are filed in Washington State.  New research from Partners for Our Children examines seven years of data regarding parent, child, and system factors associated with timely case resolution of dependency cases.  Child welfare system partners are gathering across Washington to review local outcome data and improve practice.  Over the past decade the Office of Public Defense Parent Representation Program has expanded to serve 25 counties in Washington.  Evaluation of the program finds that children experience more timely permanency outcomes in counties where PRP is operating. This panel discussion will share highlights from research, cost benefit analysis and implications for practice and policy.  

D-08 - Positive Youth Development

Rick Butt, MSW/Angie Cross

The concept and frameworks for Positive Youth Development have evolved over decades and continue to evolve.  As the concepts of PYD and programs evolves, it is important that we do the same.  During this interactive session, participants will explore the elements to successful PYD, share what’s working, and discover new opportunities for PYD.  Participants will also hear stories of alumni who have experienced PYD and develop a simple plan to take away.

D-09 - Supporting Early Connections:  A Court-Community Partnership Serving Infants and Toddlers

Catherine Brewe, MA, LMHC/Sheri L. Hill, PhD, MEd, CCC-SLP/Helen Redman, JD/Teresa Sach, MSW, LCWS

Members of Supporting Early Connections (SEC), a King County court-community partnership, will describe an innovative program that addresses the relationship and mental health needs of very young children in the Dependency Court.  Panelists will share their experiences collaborating across the court, child welfare and mental health systems.  Early outcome data, practical tips, and reproducible examples of tools, forms and resources will be shared.  SEC provides families with evidence-based treatment services, and delivers cross-system training and collaboration on infant mental health and development.  Coordinated by the Center for Children & Youth Justice, SEC is funded by the Stuart Foundation.

D-10 - Recognizing Abusive Injuries

Richard Kaplan, MD

This presentation focuses on cutaneous injury in the form of pattern injuries, burns bruising.  There is also a discussion of Subgaleal Hematoma.  This talk has a strong emphasis on the importance of multidisciplinary teaming in the evaluation of these cases.

D-11 - WA State Child Abuse Interviewing Refresher (Part 1 of 4)

Laura Merchant, MSW, LICSW/Patti Toth, JD

This all-day workshop is a “refresher” class for WA State law enforcement, CPS, prosecutors and child interviewers who have previously attended the 3 or 4 day “Child Abuse Investigation and Interviewing” course sponsored by the WA State CJTC and DSHS and presented by CJTC and Harborview’s Center for Sexual Assault & Traumatic Stress.  It will review research-based best practices in child forensic interviewing and discuss recent modifications to the WA State Child Interview Guide.  Specific topics will include changes in recommendations regarding truth-lie discussions, ground rules and narrative practice.

D-12 - The Saving F.A.C.E. Approach to Finding Permanent Homes for Every Teen in Our Care Barring No One! (Part 1 of 4)

Pat O'Brien, MS, LMSW

This presentation will discuss how to find unconditionally committed permanent parent(s) for teens using this three prong recruitment approach: Friends, Acquaintances, & Community Education.

D-13 - Constance Meunch Homicide Investigation

Detective J.K. Pavlovich

Constance Meunch was born in September of 2001.  She was two months premature, weighing about 1pd, 4oz at birth.  As a result she was diagnosed with several medical problems and required constant care.  She was eventually sent home with her parents, father Ryan and mother Melissa, where all 3 lived with Melissa’s parents.  In August of 2002, at the age of 11 months, Constance died at home of an apparent Cardiac Arrest, believed to have been related to her various medical problems.  In April of 2003 her father Ryan reported to CPS that he had intentionally abused Constance by suffocating her on at least two occasions. 

This presentation will focus on the investigation of these allegations that eventually lead to the exhumation of Constance’s body in 2004 and the subsequent arrest and conviction of Ryan Meunch for Homicide by Abuse.  It will also briefly examine the relationship dynamics between Ryan and his wife Melissa, and how serious medical conditions in infants and young children can be used to mask intentional abuse.  

D-14 - Doll Reenactment for Infant/Child Fatality & Serious Injury

Dave  Delgado/Detetective Cloyd Steiger/Deborah Robinson, MSW

Death investigators agree that attempting to reintroduce and reposition a decedent’s body into a scene for photographic reasons would not be a wise decision.  However, the doll reenactment does just that with surprising positive results for both the investigator conducting the reenactment and the family member or caregiver performing the reenactment.  This workshop details the rationale behind doll reenactments for sudden infant deaths and serious injuries and outlines a performance procedure to follow.

D-15 - Federal, State and Tribal Jurisdictions – A Complex Barrier and Challenge

David Rogers, BS

The history, evolution and development of the complex jurisdiction situation that exists on Indian Reservations, Tribal lands and communities. This program will explain how these complexities make community safety a challenge and especially how it prevent functional approaches to dealing with major events or criminal activities such as Sex Offenders, Gangs, Drugs, etc. How some program provide the Tribes an opportunity to develop culture based programming to address these needs.

D-16 - Best Practices and Legal Issues in Working with LGBTQ Youth in Out-of-Home Care (Repeat)

Susan Sommer, JD

This workshop will focus on the unmet needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth in out-of-home care, who commonly suffer needless discrimination and misunderstanding.  It will offer training and resources, including training manuals, reports and tool kits developed by Lambda Legal with such partnering organizations as the NASW, CWLA, and the Council on Social Work Education.  The workshop will also canvas legal issues relevant to work with this population, and is appropriate for child welfare administrators and staff, as well as for judges, attorneys and advocates who work with LGBTQ youth in care.