General Sessions
Resilience, Opportunity, and the Transformative Power of Positive Engagement
Tuesday, April 1
8:40 AM - 10:00 AM
Lucas’ powerful story is one of resilience, opportunity, and the transformative power of positive engagement. Having experienced foster care and adoption, he will share how supportive adults shaped his path—while also reflecting on what other family support opportunities could have been explored. His insights will challenge and inspire all of us working to improve outcomes for youth and families.
SPEAKER:
- Lucas Daniel Boyce, MBA, Author
SLIDES:
Foster Care Rate Structure and How Do Counties Prepare
Tuesday, April 1
11:00 AM - 12:05 PM
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) will provide an overview of the state’s new Permanent Foster Care Rate Structure and will share the next steps for departments to consider to better prepare for implementation. The first phase of implementation will begin July 1, 2025, requiring the use of standardized high-fidelity Integrated-Practice Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (IPCANS) assessment for all youth and non-minor dependents (NMDs) in foster care. The new tiered rate structure will be effective July 1, 2027.
SPEAKERS:
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
- Daniel Wilson, Chief, Integrated Practice and Resource Development Section
- Emily Smallson, Project Manager, The Children and Family Services Division
- Erin Thuston, Chief, Permanency Policy Bureau
SLIDES:
Understanding Juvenile Justice Trends and Adolescent Development to Help Inform Positive Youth and Family Engagement
Wednesday, April 2
8:40 AM - 10:10 AM
Why do intelligent adolescents engage in risky, sometimes reckless behaviors? What differences in adolescent development have been identified in youth involved in the juvenile justice system? Dr. Cauffman will explore how cognitive and emotional development follow different timelines; why these differences affect impulse control, judgment, and decision-making; and what probation officers and youth professionals can do to improve youth engagement and outcomes.
SPEAKER:
- Elizabeth Cauffman, Ph.D., Professor of Psychological Science, Education and Law; University of California, Irvine
The Power of Connection in Schools for Engaging System-Involved Youth to Ensure Belonging, Wellbeing and Success
Wednesday, April 2
10:25 AM - 11:30 AM
During this insightful concluding session, Dr. Faris Sabbah will highlight how intentional engagement of foster and justice-involved youth can transform lives and communities. Drawing on examples from Santa Cruz County’s standout Alternative Education and FosterEd programs, as well as a comprehensive, new diversion initiative, the session will illuminate how – and why – schools are evolving into hubs of services, safety, and support, and provide actionable insights into how to form partnerships and practices spanning probation, child welfare, and education that can drive lasting positive outcomes for systeminvolved youth.
SPEAKER:
- Dr. Faris Sabbah, County Superintendent of Schools, Santa Cruz County Office of Education
