Together for Children 2025

Wisconsin Dells, WI US
April 14, 2025 to April 16, 2025

The purpose of the 2025 Together for Children conference is to provide information and skills that support a multidisciplinary approach to improve prevention, treatment, investigation and prosecution of child abuse and neglect. Topics presented will address emerging issues, research questions and public policy changes in child welfare and child protection. As a reminder, the materials presented at the Together for Children Conference are for continuing education purposes only. The content and material shared during this event reflect an approach, view, experience, statement or opinion of the presenters or authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Children’s Wisconsin or Prevent Child Abuse Wisconsin (PCAW). Moreover, the presence of any speaker, author, vendor or participant in the conference does not constitute an endorsement of their organization, views or services. Lastly, the information shared during the event does not create any patient-physician relationship and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis

Target Audience

  • Child advocacy center personnel
  • Child protective services
  • CASA staff and volunteers
  • Sexual assault and domestic violence personnel
  • Judicial officers, attorneys & guardians ad litem
  • Law enforcement officials
  • Medical and health professionals, including SANE Nurses and nurse practitioners
  • School personnel
  • Social workers, therapists, and psychologists
  • Foster care workers and parents
  • Anyone interested in child abuse & neglect issues and prevention

 

 

Learning Objectives

Participants who engage in this educational intervention will be able to: 

  • List practical strategies to improve accurate detection of and responses to child maltreatment and domestic violence
  • Preventing child maltreatment and risk factors for child maltreatment
  • Describe self-care strategies that can improve resilience of the workforce
Additional information

Contact

Name: 
Sarah Leathrum
Phone Number: 
+1 (262) 825-0796
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 18.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™
    AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™
  • 18.25 Hours of Participation
    Hours of Participation credit.
Course opens: 
04/14/2025
Course expires: 
06/20/2025
Event starts: 
04/14/2025 - 8:00am CDT
Event ends: 
04/16/2025 - 5:00pm CDT
Cost:
$0.00

image

Mon, Apr 14, 2025

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM                Registration and light continental breakfast

 

9:00 AM - 4:30 PM                Forensic Interviewing in Wisconsin
Location: Sandstone 6
Speakers: Liz Ghilardi, LCSW, Allison Flatow

 

9:00 AM - 4:30 PM                 Overview of Child Trauma Investigations from an MDT Standpoint
Location: Sandstone 89
Speakers: Jesse Crowe, Melissa Fus, Emily Zernick, Adam Frederick, Ken Folkers

 

12:15 PM - 1:15 PM              Lunch
Location: Sandstone 27

 

 

Tue, Apr 15, 2025

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM                Registration and light continental breakfast

 

9:00 AM - 9:15 AM                Welcome and opening comments
Location: Sandstone 27

 

9:15 AM - 10:45 AM             KEYNOTE | These Kids Deserve Our Help, too: Children and Teens with Problematic Sexual Behavior
Location: Sandstone 27
Speaker: Jimmy Widdifield, Jr.

 

10:45 AM - 11:00 AM           Break

 

11:00 AM - 12:30 PM           Child Abuse Pediatrics 101
Location: Sandstone 456
Speaker: Rachel Segal

 

11:00 AM - 12:30 PM          Multi-Disciplinary Response when a Child Recants Abuse: A review of the Brown County MDT Recantation Guidelines
Location: Sandstone 1
Speakers: Kristie Sickel, MSW, CSW, Stefanie Burton, Megan Hackl

 

11:00 AM - 12:30 PM           Reimagining Child Welfare: A Cost Analysis Framework for Advancing Protection
Location: Tundra DEF
Speakers: Gabriel McGaughey, Colleen Janczewski, Marc Seidl, Eric Calvino, MSW, Peter Power, Shelbey Puppe, Julie Ahnen

 

11:00 AM - 12:30 PM          The Treatment Court’s role in healing families affected by substance abuse and the Child Protection System
Location: Tundra ABC
Speakers: Samantha Reynolds, Cassie Pakkala, Madison Witt, Thomas Walsh, Hannah Stewart

 

 

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM              Lunch
Location: Sandstone 27

 

 

1:30 PM - 3:00 PM               Enhancing the Multidisciplinary Coordinated Response to Cases of Child/Teen Problematic Sexual Behaviors | Part 1
Location: Sandstone 1
Speakers: Jimmy Widdifield, Jr., Matthew Torbenson, Alanna Pahos, Liz Ghilardi, LCSW, Mike Jaszczak
 
 
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM                Reimagining Mandated Reporting
Location: Sandstone 456
Speakers: Leah Cerwin, Julie Ahnen, Marc Seidl

 

1:30 PM - 3:00 PM                Layering Prevention: How to build non-traditional partnerships across organizations
Location: Tundra DEF
Speakers: Laura Staats, MSW, APSW, Heather Dedering, Aviva Herman, LCSW

 

1:30 PM - 3:00 PM                Social Connectedness One Relationship at a Time
Location: Tundra ABC
Speakers: Meghan Christian, Lori Jensen, Jessica Frost, Joshua Mersky

 

3:00 PM - 3:15 PM                Break

 

3:15 PM - 4:45 PM               Enhancing the Multidisciplinary Coordinated Response to Cases of Child/Teen Problematic Sexual Behaviors | Part 2
Location: Sandstone 1
Speakers: Jimmy Widdifield, Jr., Jeremy Willems, Braelyn Grinwald

 

3:15 PM - 4:45 PM                Connections & Supports with Relatives
Location: Sandstone 456
Speakers: Moe Green, MSW, APSW, Shannon Braden

 

 

3:15 PM - 4:45 PM                What’s in your cup? Practical, Whole-Person Self-Care
Location: Tundra ABC
Speaker: Rebecca Green Blanks

 

3:15 PM - 4:45 PM                Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: Learning Styles, Behavior, and Intervention
Location: Tundra DEF
Speaker: Tristin Nyman-Mallis

 

 

Wed, Apr 16, 2025

8:00 AM - 8:50 AM                Registration and light continental breakfast

 

8:50 AM - 9:00 AM                Welcome and keynote introduction
Location: Sandstone 27

 

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM             KEYNOTE | Working Together, How MDTs and CACs can Accommodate Children with Disabilities
Location: Sandstone 27
Speaker: Dermot Whelan

 

10:00 AM - 10:15 AM           Break

 

10:15 AM - 11:45 AM           Investigating Crimes Against Children with Disabilities
Location: Tundra DEF
Speaker: Dermot Whelan

 

 

10:15 AM - 11:45 AM           Pathways to Economic Stability: The Promise of Guaranteed Income Programs
Location: Tundra ABC
Speakers: Luke Waldo, Blake Roberts Crall

 

 

10:15 AM - 11:45 AM           Human Trafficking of Foreign Minors
Location: Sandstone 456
Speaker: Mariana Rodriguez, BA

 

 

10:15 AM - 11:45 AM           What Lives in the Dark: Drug Endangerment and the CAC
Location: Sandstone 1
Speakers: Samantha Nauman, MSW, Michael Thielke, Jacqueline Gremler

 

11:45 AM - 12:45 PM           Lunch
Location: Sandstone 27

 

12:45 PM - 2:15 PM              Confronting Myths of Child Sexual Abuse by Understanding Perpetrator Manipulation
Location: Sandstone 1
Speakers: Lynn Cook, MSW, APSW, Gerise LaSpisa

 

 

12:45 PM - 2:15 PM              Asking the Right Questions: Child Witnesses to Suspected Maltreatment
Location: Tundra DEF
Speakers: Hillary Petska, MD, MPH, Jacqueline Gremler

 

 

12:45 PM - 2:15 PM              Learning Brain & Survival Brain: Understanding the Biology of Trauma
Location: Sandstone 456
Speaker: Ricky Ferrari Traner

 

 

12:45 PM - 2:15 PM              Building a Culture of Safety: Fostering Quality Initiatives for Group Care Providers
Location: Tundra ABC
Speaker: Jeannette Paules, MSW (she/her)

 

 

2:15 PM - 2:30 PM                Break

 

2:30 PM - 4:00 PM                Child Discipline: “I turned out just fine!”
Location: Sandstone 1
Speaker: Kelly McGregory

 

 

2:30 PM - 4:00 PM                The Role of CASA Volunteers in Supporting Youth Affected by Sex Trafficking
Location: Tundra ABC
Speakers: Meaghan Henry, BS, Cheri Dvorak, Brianna Bero

 

 

2:30 PM - 4:00 PM               Diaper Rash or Something Else? Ano-genital Skin Findings that Raise Concern for Maltreatment
Location: Sandstone 456
Speaker: Amanda Palm

 

2:30 PM - 4:00 PM                Childhood Begins at Home: How Family Foundations Home Visiting is Making a Difference.
Location: Tundra DEF
Speaker: Terri Enters

 

 

The Wilderness Resort, Glacier Canyon Lodge
45 Hillman Road
Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965
United States

 

 

In accordance with the ACCME® Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education, Standard 3, all persons in control of content must disclose any relevant financial relationships. It is the policy of the Medical College of Wisconsin to identify, mitigate and disclose the absence or presence of all relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies held by the speakers/presenters, authors, planners, and other persons who may influence content of this accredited continuing education. The following in control of content had no relevant financial relationships to disclose. 

Activity Director:
Lynn Sheets, MD


Planning Committee Members:
Judy Walczak, RN, MSN, CPNP, APNP
 
 

Presenters:

Amanda Palm, PA-C, LCSW
Gabriel McGaughey, MSW
Colleen Janczewski, PhD
Marc Seidl, MSW
Eric Calvino, MSW
Peter Power, MSW
Shelbey Puppe, MSW
Julie A. Ahnen, MSW
Hillary Petska, MD, MPH
Jacqueline Gremler, MS, CSW
Jeannette Paules, MSW
Katie Davis, MS, MPA
Jesse Crowe
Melissa Fus
Jeff Wisch
Jimmy Widdifield, Jr., MA, LPC
Kelly McGregory, DO, MS, FAAP
Kristie Sickel, MSW, CSW
Megan Hackl
Stefanie Burton
Laura Staats, MSW, APSW
Heather Dedering, BA
Aviva Herman, LCSW
Leah Cerwin, LCSW
Luke Waldo, MSEd
 
Blake Roberts Crall, MS, MA
Lynn Cook, MSW, APSW
Gerise LaSpisa
Meghan Christian, LCSW
Lori Jensen
Jessica Frost
Josh Mersky, PhD
Dermot Whelan
Moe Green, MSW, APSW
Shannon Braden, MS
Mariana Rodriguez, BA
Rachel Segal, MD, MPH
Rebecca Green Blanks, MSW, APSW, Pn1
Ricky Ferrari Traner, CSW, MPA, CTICP
Samantha Nauman, MSW
Sarah Blodgett
Michael Thielke
Samantha Reynolds, MSW
Cassie Pakkala
Terri Enters, MS
Tristin Nyman-Mallis, PhD
Meghan Henry, BS
Cheri Dvorak, BA
Liz Ghilardi, LCSW
Allison Flatow
Abbey VandenBush, BSW, CSW
Matthew Torbenson
Alanna Pahos, MS, CSW
 

ACCME Accreditation Statement:

The Medical College of Wisconsin is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

AMA Credit Designation Statement:

The Medical College of Wisconsin designates this live activity for a maximum of 18.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Hours of Participation for Allied Health Professionals:

The Medical College of Wisconsin designates this activity for up to 18.00 hours of participation for continuing education for allied health professionals.

Available Credit

  • 18.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™
    AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™
  • 18.25 Hours of Participation
    Hours of Participation credit.

Price

Cost:
$0.00
Please login or register to take this course.

Whova Registration Instructions can be found here