Agenda - Doing What Matters for Alabama's Children Home Page

The 2025 program will be held on Wednesday, January 29, 2025.

*The agenda below is for the 2024 conference. The 2025 agenda will be structured similarly.

2024 Agenda Doing What Matters for Alabama’s Children
“Safety Nets for Our Children and Their Families”

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

Tuesday, January 30, 2024

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 – 9:20 am	Strategies for Supporting Alabama’s Children and Families Steve Marshall, Attorney General, State of Alabama
9:20 – 9:55 am	The State of Our Children Rhonda Mann, Executive Director, VOICES for Alabama’s Children
9:55 – 10:40 am	Youth Perspectives on What Mattes for Alabama’s Children Paris Henderson, Student, University Charter School Kristel Orduna-Reyes, Student, Tuscaloosa City Schools Laura Phillips, Student, American Christian Academy
10:40 – 10:55 am	Exhibits and Networking
11:00 am – 12:00 pm	Concurrent Morning Breakout Sessions (Choose One) Inclusive Spaces for LGBTQ Students Amanda Keller, Director, Magic Center Acceptance Academy *Lauren Jacobs,* Assistant Director, Magic City Acceptance Center *Laura Leffel*, LMSW, Social Worker, Magic City Acceptance Center *Isiah Caldwel*l, Community Outreach Worker, Magic City Acceptance Center Securing the Financial Health and Wellness of Generations to Come Betty Jones, Peoples’ Loan Program Supporting Children and Families through Pediatric Partnerships Elizabeth Dawson, MD, President Troy Resilience Project, Pediatrician American Academy of Pediatrics Alabama The Importance of Early Literacy Carrie Jones, Community Literacy Specialist, Tuscaloosa Reads *Caroline Lassiter,* Tuscaloosa Education Foundation Reading Allies Lori Maxey, Executive Director, The House Tuscaloosa Jodi Wilson, Program Manager, United Way of West Alabama Success by 6 Health and Wellness Services *Leigh Ann Alexander,* Audiologist, The Woolley Institute for Spoken-Language Education Vicky Britt, Pickens County Smart Clinic Kevin Daum, ODPHD, Director and Optometrist, Mobile Eye Clinic, Alabama Lions Sight Nancy Gregg, Executive Director, Woolley Institute for Deaf and Haring Impaired Children Mobile Clinic *Amanda Newman,* Senior Utilization Manager, Pickens County Smart Clinic Kim Taylor Smith, Regional Utilization and Engagement Coordinator/Integrated Behavioral Health Coordinator, Pickens County Smart Clinic
12:00 – 12:45 pm	Lunch Update from Freedom Farm
12:45 – 1:00 pm	Exhibits and Networking
1:00 – 2:00 pm	Concurrent Afternoon Breakout Sessions (Choose One) I Need Your Help: Parenting While Facing a Diagnosis Vilma Blanco, Alabama Parent Advisory Council Member, Congressional District 2 Kayla Etie, Alabama Parent Advisory Council Member, Congressional District 4 Sarah-Ellen S. Thompson, IECMH Services Coordinator, Office of Early Childhood Special Programs Cariell Weeks, Vice President, Tuscaloosa, Angels Vadonna Williams, Alabama Parent Advisory Council Member, Congressional District 7 Community Programs that Make a Difference *Pam Clasgens,* Prevention Director, National Children’s Advocacy Center *Eric Prewitt,* President, 100 Black Men of West Alabama *Jesse Smith*, Northeast Alabama Human Trafficking Taskforce Coordinator *Karen Thompson-Jackson, Ph.D.*, Executive Director, Temporary Emergency Services Recognizing, Rethinking, and Responding to Child Trafficking: What You Can Do! Jan Bell, Co-founder and Director, Child Trafficking Solutions Project, Children’s Aid Society Dental and Medical Health Services for Children *Tommy Johnson, DMD*, Dental Director, Alabama Department of Public Health *Aymee Anderson, DMD*, Tuscaloosa County Health Department *Keisha Lowther, MD,* Chief Medical Officer, Whatley Health Services Suicide Prevention Lee Andra Calvin, LBSW, Maternal Child Health Coordinator, Alabama Department of Public Health Richard Beatty, Suicide Prevention Coordinator, Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center JaQuan Winters, Executive Director, Kristen Amerson Youth Foundation
2:10 – 2:50 pm	Children’s Mental Health: Bringing Behavioral Health Care to Local Communities Susan Griffin, LICSW, PIP, CHCQM, Pediatric Access to Telemental Health Services Director at Children’s of Alabama
2:50 – 3:20 pm	Threat Assessment Lt. Craig Parker, Commander of Behavioral Intervention Team, Tuscaloosa Police Department Matt Tootle, Supervisory Special Agent, FBI Birmingham Field Office
3:20 – 3:50 pm	How We Can Make an Impact Sebrena Jackson, PhD, School of Social Work, The University of Alabama
3:50 – 4:00 pm	Closing Remarks Dr. Kevin Besnoy, Executive Director, Tuscaloosa’s One Place, A Family Resource Center