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2025 Agenda Doing What Matters for Alabama’s Children
“Instilling Hope in Families and Communities “

18^th Annual Conference to Improve the Well-Being of Our Children

Tuesday, January 29, 2025

Date/Time	Session
7:45 – 8:30 am	Registration, Breakfast, and Exhibits
8:30 – 8:35 am	Welcome, Invocation, and Presentation of Colors Dr. Kevin D. Besnoy, Executive Director, Tuscaloosa’s One Place, A Family Resource Center
8:35 – 8:45 am	Opening Remarks Mayor Walt Maddox, City of Tuscaloosa
8:45 – 9:00 am	America’s Promises Dr. Charles Nash, Challenge 21 – Tuscaloosa’s Promise
9:00 – 9:25 am	Data-Driven Approaches to Enhancing the Wellbeing of Alabama’s Children *Apriell Hartsfield,* Policy/Data Analyst, VOICES for Alabama’s Children
9:25 – 9:55 am	TBA Churmell Mitchell
9:55 – 10:40 am	Youth Perspectives on What Mattes for Alabama’s Children *Students from the Region*
10:40 – 10:55 am	Exhibits and Networking
11:00 am – 12:00 pm	Concurrent Morning Breakout Sessions (Choose One) Afterschool and Out-of-School Programs Lindsey Blevins, Tuscaloosa City Schools *TBA,* Tuscaloosa’s One Place *Christopher Spencer*, Chief Engagement Officer, Black Belt Community Foundation The Drug Crisis *Christine Smith,* R.O.S.S. (Recovery Organization of Support Specialists) Supporting Immigrant Children and Families Leigh Pate Andrea Hayes Alex Morgan Judity Zambrano Workforce Development: Overcoming Barriers to Employment *Holly Glasgow,* 3 by 3 Program, Shelton State Community College Ted Sexton, Executive Director, Phoenix House Adoptive and Foster Care *Cathy Wood,* Freedom Farm Johnny Waits, Freedom Farm Shea Cobb, England, Alabama Department of Human Resources Candyce Hughston, Foster Parent
12:00 – 12:45 pm	Lunch Elevating K-12 Education: Strategies for Advancing Alabama’s Students Dr. Eric Mackey, Superintendent, Alabama State Department of Education
12:45 – 1:00 pm	Exhibits and Networking
1:00 – 2:00 pm	Concurrent Afternoon Breakout Sessions (Choose One) Two Voices from Across the State about Lessons Learned from their Needs Assessments *Hon. Elizabeth C. Hamner,* Circuit Judge, Sixth Judicial Circuit *Liletta Jenkins,* Director of Community Outreach and Engagement, Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education The Family Resource Center Model *Joan Witherspoon-Norris,* Alabama Network of Family Resource Centers Statewide Resources to Support Alabama Families Matt Holdbrooks, Kid One Transport Michelle Raybon, Alabama Partnership for Children Digital Safety and Mental Health Jeff Davis, Co-Founder, Fowler Davis 4 Change, LLC TBA
2:10 – 2:50 pm	The Impact of the Literacy Act & Numeracy ACt *Erin Camielle-Floyd*
2:50 – 3:20 pm	Fatherhood Initiatives Jori Jordan, Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention
3:20 – 3:50 pm	TBA *Karen Jones,* Chief Executive Officer, Indian Rivers Behavioral Health
3:50 – 4:00 pm	Closing Remarks Dr. Kevin Besnoy, Executive Director, Tuscaloosa’s One Place, A Family Resource Center