Parenting Conference

2026 Conference Agenda

• 8:00 – 9:00 AM: Breakfast/Registration
• 9:00 – 9:15 AM: Intro/housekeeping
• 9:15 AM – 10:30 AM:     Morning Keynote by Rachel Les
  • Life’s Been Hectic Lately: How to Be a Present & Mindful Parent Amidst Modern Day Chaos
    • As adults, we can feel like we must work as if we don’t have families and parent as if we don’t already have full-time jobs. Before we know it, we can look back and realize we’ve missed out on major life moments because we were mentally somewhere else. Mindfulness is not just meditation; but instead “about being fully awake in our lives–perceiving the exquisite vividness of each moment.” – Jon Kabat-Zinn (mindfulness expert). Attendees will learn evidence-based strategies to find this state of being alive and whole in the present. That way, not only can we derive more meaning and joy from parenting, but we can also show up as more attuned and engaged with our children.
• 10:30-10:45 AM: Break
• 10:45 am-12:00 pm: Morning Workshop Sessions – Breakout Session Options
  • Managing Stress and Building Confidence presented by Dr. Bernie Les, Ph.D.
    • Navigating childhood involves confronting one challenge after another. Constant changing environments and confronting developmental demands all mean high stress. This kind of stress can lead to very unhealthy feeling states, like anxiety and depression, which, in turn, lead to unhealthy behaviors, like isolation, school avoidance, even defiance and substance abuse. This presentation will explore childhood stress in all its settings (e.g., school, on line). Participants will walk away with a toolbox full of how to manage stress in the family and how to address the problems resulting from stress by building confidence and resiliency.
  • ADHD Myth Busters: What Does the Research Actually Say? Presented by Ashley Kraut, LPC & Hayley Thiele, LLC
    • We hear many ideas regarding ADHD and what may or may not be helpful. Parents need to know what the research actually says. We can easily get influenced by social media and other’s opinions, so let’s get the facts straight! I will provide information on ADHD facts, and also provide helpful tools that are based on the research acquired by professionals.
  • Raising Resilient Kids: Preventing Substance Use and Vaping presented by Jade Cruz, CPS & Lauren Letzmann, CPRC, CPRM, CPS-DP
    • Parenting in today’s world comes with new challenges, from the rise of vaping to concerns about substance use among youth. This engaging session will provide parents with up-to-date information on the risks of vaping and substance use disorder, while also highlighting the powerful role resiliency plays in prevention. Participants will learn practical, everyday strategies to strengthen protective factors at home, build open communication, and foster coping skills in their children. The session emphasizes connection as the key to prevention, empowering parents to be the strongest influence in their child’s life. Attendees will leave with practical tools, warning signs to watch for, and access to helpful resources. Together, we’ll explore how families can raise resilient, confident kids who are better equipped to make healthy choices.
  • From Overwhelmed to Empowered: Helping Children Regulate Through Trauma and Sensory Challenges presented by Sheena Patel, MOT, OTRL
    • This presentation will explore the connection between trauma, sensory integration, and children’s ability to participate in meaningful daily activities. Families will gain practical tools to recognize and respond to signs of dysregulation, learning effective ways to support their child both in the moment and over time. Attendees will actively participate in learning hands-on sensory strategies and trauma-informed approaches they can immediately apply at home or in the community. The session will also highlight the impact of today’s digital world, including how screen time affects regulation, relationships, and attention. Parents will leave with practical strategies to engage children in balanced, intentional ways while navigating screen use. The goal of this session is to empower families with knowledge and actionable skills that foster resilience and connection.
  • Healing the Family Together: Empowering Caregivers After Trauma presented by Shantiece Newby, LLMSW
    • Caring for children who have experienced trauma can feel overwhelming, but caregivers are not alone. This workshop provides practical tools, strategies, and encouragement to support children’s healing at home. Participants will explore how trauma affects children’s emotions and behavior, learn ways to build safety, trust, and connection, and practice approaches to help children regulate emotions, communicate their needs, and understand their bodies in an age-appropriate way. The session will also address trauma-sensitive conversations about boundaries, consent, and healthy relationships. Caregivers will leave with confidence, hope, and actionable strategies to foster resilience, recovery, and ongoing support for their children.
• 12:00-1:00 pm: Lunch
• 1:00-2:15 pm: Afternoon Workshop Sessions #1 – Breakout Session Options
  • Couples & Co-Parents: How Rediscovering Each Other Nourishes Our Child’s Inner World presented by Rachael Les, MS, LLP
    • Behind many well-adjusted children is a consistent, connected relationship between their parents. In today’s fast-paced, high-pressure world, maintaining that connection—whether within a marriage or across separate households—can feel harder than ever. Modern stressors often make it easier to turn away from one another; this session invites parents to turn toward each other instead with mindfulness, curiosity, and compassion. Participants will take home tools to regulate emotions, communicate effectively, and rediscover a parent bond that drives the engine of family growth. Grounded in mindfulness and attachment science, these discoveries and tools for a united parenting front will strengthen children’s resilience and nurture the emotional climate we all need to thrive.
  • Loving Limits: Setting Boundaries with Care and Confidence presented by Carol Mastroianni, MBA, RM
    • What if setting boundaries wasn’t about controlling your child—but about how you show up? In this empowering presentation, parents will learn how managing their own emotions and energy transforms the way they guide their children, making it possible to set firm yet loving boundaries with confidence. Participants will discover how to reduce power struggles, enforce rules effectively, and use natural consequences to encourage responsibility and independence. Emphasizing that parents do have control—over their responses, their approach, and the environment they create—this session provides practical strategies for fostering clarity, respect, and connection. Through real-life scenarios and interactive discussions, attendees will gain fresh perspectives, actionable tools, and the confidence to begin creating a home grounded in compassion and consistency. Parents will leave ready to implement simple, effective strategies immediately.
  • Social Media: The Good, Bad and the Ugly presented by Alisha Meneely
    • This engaging session equips parents and caregivers with the knowledge and tools to help children navigate the digital world safely. Participants will learn about the Michigan Child Protection Registry, including how it works and how to register. The presentation also explores sexting and sextortion, explaining the laws surrounding these issues in Michigan. Attendees will gain practical guidance on using parental controls at the network, device, and app levels, and discover which apps are currently popular among youth—along with how online predators may use them to target victims.
  • Because I Said So: Parents Café presented by Emily Wynkoop & Ricki Harmon, CPRC, CHW, CRPM
    • Strong Roots Parent Cafes are physically and emotionally safe spaces where people talk and hear each other on topics that matter to them, such as challenging and victories of raising a family. Through individual deep self- reflection and peer- to peer learning, participants explore their strengths, learn about Strong Roots and the Protective Factors, and create strategies from their own wisdom and experiences to strengthen their families.
  • How to Support but not Enable Your Adolescent’s Behavior presented by Bruce Goldberg, LMSW ACSW CAADC SAP
    • Parenting adolescents can be both rewarding and challenging — especially when trying to balance support with accountability. This workshop will help parents understand the difference between supporting and enabling adolescent behaviors. Participants will learn how to foster independence, build trust, and set healthy boundaries that encourage responsible decision-making. Through discussion, real-life examples, and practical strategies, attendees will leave with tools to promote positive growth while maintaining structure and emotional connection with their teen.
• 2:15-2:30 pm: Break
• 2:30-3:45 pm: Afternoon Workshop Sessions #2 – Breakout Session Options
  • I’m So Angry I Could Just Scream! Presented by Lisa Kaplan, LMSW, CAADC
    • This presentation provides a comprehensive look at anger and its impact on individuals and families. Participants will learn practical tools for managing anger in healthy, non-violent ways—applicable to family members of all ages. Parents will discover how to model positive coping strategies and teach these skills to their children, fostering emotional awareness, self-control, and stronger family relationships.
  • Self-Esteem: The Secret to Raising Productive and Resilient Children presented by Joe Gulino, BS, CPS
    • It is easier to build a child than to repair an adult. Self-esteem is the foundation for inner growth and cooperation. This presentation will help parents and caregivers recognize how children feel and understand what they need to thrive. Participants will learn a four-step model designed to transform discouragement into encouragement, fostering confidence and resilience in children.
  • Ships, Scripts, & Sex Ed: Parenting Through the Drama of Teen TV presented by Illiana Navarra-Bueno, LLPC, NCC
    • From steamy love triangles to emotionally intense first loves, today’s teen shows aren’t just entertainment. They’re shaping how adolescents think about sex, relationships, and identity. In this 75-minute workshop, we’ll explore how popular YA series like The Summer I Turned Pretty, My Life with the Walter Boys, and others influence teen expectations around intimacy, consent, and connection. Parents will learn practical strategies for media monitoring that go beyond restrictions, turning screen time into meaningful conversations about values, boundaries, and sexual health. We’ll discuss how to use on-screen moments as teachable opportunities to spark real-life dialogue around tricky topics. The session will also cover how parent mediation can reduce problematic media use and support healthier emotional development. By the end, you’ll leave with tools to strengthen your relationship with your teen while helping them navigate romance and sexuality in the digital age.
  • Parenting with Connection: Using TBRI® to Nurture Secure Attachment presented by Kara Applegate, LLMSW-C, CFLE
    • This interactive workshop introduces participants to Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®), a trauma-informed, attachment-based framework designed to meet the complex needs of children and families. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of attachment and how early relational experiences shape a child’s ability to trust, connect, and regulate. The session will explore the three core TBRI principles—Connecting, Empowering, and Correcting—and how they can be applied in everyday parenting moments. Through a blend of visual presentation and hands-on activities, participants will experience calming techniques that promote co-regulation and healing. Emphasis will be placed on viewing behavior through an attachment lens, helping parents respond with empathy rather than reactivity. Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, or professional, this session offers meaningful tools to strengthen relationships and create safe, nurturing environments where children can thrive.
  • Non-traditional Parenting: Navigating Foster Parenting and Adoptive Parenting presented by Myama Locke
    • Non-traditional Parenting: Navigating Foster Parenting and Adoptive Parenting is an interactive workshop for Foster and Adoptive Parents that will navigate some of the challenges that come with caring for children with complex trauma, grief and loss behaviors, and the spiritual, mental and emotional caregiving.  This workshop will help address some of the challenges and joys regarding being a foster and/or adoptive parent.  The workshop facilitator is a former foster parent and current adoptive parent, but has always “cared for other people’s children”.  Foster and Adoptive Parenting is not traditional parenting and requires a level of understanding, maturity, faith, and innovation.  This workshop will provide self-care strategies, techniques to address the root of behavioral concerns that often times intensifies in adolescence, and continues on into adulthood.  This is often the reason that foster and adoptive parents struggle with childrearing techniques that are unfamiliar or confusing.  This workshop will also be a safe place where foster and adoptive parents can receive encouragement and strategies.

Thank you to our 2025 sponsors!