MINCA Professional Development Conference

Conference Links

Conference Introduction Video Once you start the video, click on the expand button in the lower right corner for full screen.

Keynote Speaker Information

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Anna Salter, Dr. Ester Deblinger, Dr. Scott Modell and Olga Trujillo will be keynote speakers at the conference.  You will find information on the keynote and other confirmed speakers for the conference listed below.

Dr. Anna Salter received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and Public Practice from Harvard University and obtained a Masters Degree in Child Study from Tufts University. She was a Teaching Fellow at both Universities.  Dr. Salter has lived in Madison Wisconsin since 1996 and consults half time to the Wisconsin Department of Corrections. In addition, she lectures and consults on sex offenders and victims throughout the United States and abroad. She has keynoted conferences on sexual abuse in Australia, New Zealand, Scotland and England. In all, she has conducted trainings in 50 states and 10 countries. Dr. Salter also evaluates sex offenders for civil commitment proceedings and other purposes. She testifies as an expert witness in sexual abuse civil and criminal cases.  Before moving to Madison, Dr. Salter was on the faculty of Dartmouth Medical School in Lebanon, New Hampshire in the Departments of Psychiatry and Maternal and Child Health. While there, she was Director of Psycho-social Training for the Pediatric Residency Program, Director of Child Psychiatry Consultation to the Pediatric Ward, Co-Director of the Parenting Clinic, Assistant Director of the Children-at-Risk Program and Director of the Parents in Distress Program. She also won the Saul Blatman Teaching Award in the Department of Pediatrics and Maternal and Child Health.

Dr. Esther Deblinger is Professor of Psychiatry, co-founder and co-director of the CARES (Child Abuse Research Education and Service) Institute at UMDNJ - School of Osteopathic Medicine in Stratford, New Jersey.   Dr. Deblinger has conducted extensive clinical research examining the impact and treatment of childhood sexual and physical abuse, PTSD and related difficulties.  This research has been funded by the Foundation of UMDNJ, the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect and the National Institute of Mental Health.  Dr. Deblinger has co-authored numerous scientific articles and book chapters, and published both professional and children’s book reflecting her work.  Dr. Deblinger and her collaborators, Drs. Judith Cohen and Anthony Mannarino, have developed and extensively tested Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), a treatment program that has evolved as the clear standard of care for children and adolescents who have experienced abuse and/or other childhood trauma.  In 2001 TF-CBT was given an “Exemplary Program Award” by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.  In 2004 it was named a Best Practice by the Kauffman Best Practices Task Force of the NCTSN, and was given the highest classification for an evidence based practice by the U.S. Department of Justice sponsored report, Child Physical and Sexual Abuse: Guidelines for Treatment.  Dr. Deblinger also has collaborated with Dr. Melissa Runyon in developing Combined Parent-Child Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, an evidence based treatment for families at risk for physical abuse. Dr. Deblinger is a frequent invited speaker at local, national and international conferences.  She served two terms on the Board of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children and has been recognized by Women’s Day magazine and by the NJ Office of the Child Advocate for her work in helping children overcome post-traumatic stress and other abuse-related difficulties.  

Dr. Scott Modell is currently serving as the Deputy Commissioner for the Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities for the state of Tennessee. Previously, he spent 14 years as a Professor at California State University, Sacramento. Over the last 5 years, he served as Director of the university’s Autism Center for Excellence. He is an expert in disability etiology, characteristics, interview techniques, and abuse. He has authored five books, including “A Law Enforcement guide to working with children with Autism, Intellectual and Communication Disabilities”, and has over 100 published articles and abstracts. Dr. Modell has been an invited speaker for a number of conferences for law enforcement throughout the country. He currently consults with multiple law enforcement agencies regarding disability abuse and as an expert witness.  Dr. Modell has taught for the Office of Victims of Crime (OVC), California District Attorney's Association (CDAA), National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA), New Mexico Crime Victims Reparation Commission, National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA), and the Singapore National Council of Social Service.  He has conducted workshops and trainings reaching thousands of police officers, child protective service and adult protective service professionals across the country. He has received international recognition for his work in the area of disability abuse and interview techniques for individuals with developmental disabilities. In addition to his scholarship, Dr. Modell is widely recognized at the local, state, and national level for the provision of community-based services for individuals with disabilities. Through his community-based programs and public school experience, Dr. Modell has worked with thousands of children and adults with disabilities. He has been highly regarded in his community and throughout the country for his expertise, passion, and quality programs.

Olga Trujillo is an attorney, speaker, author and survivor. Her experience over the past 25 years has been as a private attorney, an attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice, a consultant to many local, state and national organizations. Olga is a nationally sought speaker and an author.  Olga is featured in the video “A Survivor’s Story”, a documentary and training video based on her personal experience of violence.  In 2006, Olga received the Bud Cramer Leadership Award given by National Children’s Alliance for her work to help professionals around the country better understand the impact of violence on children. Olga has authored a number of articles and publications. Her memoir for New Harbinger Publications entitled “The Sum of My Parts” was released in October 2011. Olga currently writes a regular blog for Psychology Today and The Huffington Post.  Olga's rare combination of personal experience and professional skills compelled her to create ORT Solutions in 2001 (now Olga Trujillo Consulting). Olga Trujillo Consulting's mission is to help provide comprehensive, though-provoking and innovative approaches to child abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, immigration and human trafficking issues. Offering a myriad of consulting services, Olga Trujillo Consulting partners with each client to identify and assess their needs and tailor a comprehensive plan to meet those goals.

Patti Toth has been the Child Abuse Program Manager for the WA State Criminal Justice Training Commission since 1999 where she is responsible for development & delivery of child forensic interview training for specialized child interviewers, law enforcement investigators, CPS workers and prosecutors throughout WA State.  Patti started her career in 1980 as a Washington State prosecutor where she tried numerous child abuse & sexual assault cases.  She then worked 8 years as the 1st Director of the National Center for Prosecution of Child Abuse of NDAA (National District Attorneys Association) & was a Trial Attorney in DOJ’s Child Exploitation Section in Washington, DC, served on the Executive Council of ISPCAN (International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse & Neglect) from 1990 to 1998, & was the President of APSAC (American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children) in 1994.  She frequently presents training throughout the US and in other countries, and manages APSAC’s highly respected Child Forensic Interview Clinics.  Patti co-chaired the committee responsible for APSAC’s national 2012 Practice Guidelines on Forensic Interviewing in Cases of Suspected Child Abuse, is co-author of Washington State’s Child Interview Guide, and developed WA State’s “CPOD Guidelines for First Responders to Child Fatalities and Serious Physical Abuse.”  In 2008, she received the J. Pat Finley Child Protection Lifetime Achievement Award.

Kimberly Day, MSW, is the Deputy Director for the National Children’s Alliance, the professional association and accrediting body for more than 750 Children’s Advocacy centers in the US and abroad. Prior to her tenure at NCA, she was the Coordinator for the National Coalition to End Child Abuse Deaths in Washington, DC.  She developed, coordinated, and facilitated the child welfare policy work of the Coalition by engaging in non-partisan outreach efforts, enlisting congress, the executive branch and members of the media for the purpose of drawing attention to and preventing child abuse fatalities.  Her previous experience includes coordination of the Maine Child Death & Serious Injury Review Panel, the Maine Citizen Review Panel and Maine Child Abuse Action Network. She has worked in the field of public and private child welfare, and child welfare policy for fifteen years.  She has served in management and executive positions in children’s services for over twenty-five years.   Ms. Day obtained her Masters degree in Social Work from the University of Maine.

Derek J. Bailey was Tribal Chairman for the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians from 2008-2012. Derek served on Tribal Council from 2004-2008, in which he served over two years on the Executive Council as Secretary. Chairman Bailey became the fifth Chairman since the Grand Traverse Band was federally reaffirmed on May 27, 1980, and the youngest in the Tribe’s history.  Derek retired as Tribal Chairman and did not seek re-election, as he was running for a State Representative seat in Michigan's House of Representatives.  In August 2012, he was narrowly defeated in the Democratic primary.  Since then, he has begun a new chapter in his life, developing 7th Legacy Consulting, with his wife Tonia.  As well, Derek was just brought on as the Government Relations and Tribal Policy Consultant at the Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan (ITCM).  He will serve as the group’s liaison to tribal organizations throughout the U.S. and Canada.  Chairman Bailey is the past Board President of the Inter-Tribal Council of MI, and the past Chairman of CORA (Chippewa/Ottawa Resource Authority) which is comprised of the five (5) signatory Tribes to the Treaty of 1836. Along with those duties he was also appointed as one of two (2) Bemidji Area Representatives to the Indian Health Service Director’s Tribal Consultation Committee. In May of 2010, Chairman Bailey was appointed by President Obama to the National Advisory Council on Indian Education.  He holds a Master’s degree in Social Work, graduating from Grand Valley State University (GVSU) in 1998. He has extensive work experience in both clinical and administrative work in the areas of behavioral health. Also, he has worked for GVSU in past years teaching as an adjunct professor in their MSW program. Derek and his wife, Tonia, reside in Leelanau County (MI) with their five children; Panika, Nimkees, Daanis, Ohsaw Kihew and Maengun.

Tonia Bailey, BA, from Lake Superior State University, has extensive work history in family preservation, prevention-education development and programming, and cultural diversity training.  Tonia has worked for the Bay Mills Indian Community,  Boys and Girls Club, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, and the Inter-Tribal Council of MI, Inc.  Tonia was born and raised in Toksook Bay, AK, and is an enrolled citizen with the Nunakauyarmiut Tribal Nation.  As a fluent Yu'pik speaker, Tonia recognizes the importance of communication and cultural identity.  Tonia's career experiences have focused on the health and wellbeing of individuals, youth and Elders, and communities, as well as striving to break down barriers to forge healthy and meaningful relationships. Tonia’s presentation at the conference will focus on the effect of trauma on children and families in the Native American population.

Doug Miller is the Project Director for Western Regional Children’s Advocacy Center (WRCAC).   He was a Children’s Advocacy Center Director in Farmington, Utah for 15 years and prior to that supervised a team of Child Protective Services investigators.  He has a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology and received a Fulbright Award in 1982.  He will be presenting information at the conference on cultural diversity as it relates to Children’s Advocacy Center accreditation standards.  He be reviewing the results of a 2011 National Survey of perceptions surrounding the concept of cultural competency in CACs.  His presentation also looks at how other disciplines (medical, social work, mental health) define cultural competency and some of the strategies they implement to meet it.  The practicality of borrowing techniques from other disciplines will also be explored.

Dr. Bethany Mohr is an Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan and a Pediatric Hospitalist in the Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor, MI. Dr. Mohr is the Medical Director of the Child Protection Team and board-certified in both General Pediatrics and Child Abuse Pediatrics. Prior to her appointment at the University of Michigan, Dr. Mohr was the Co-Medical Director of the University of Florida CMS Child Protection Team from 2001-2007. She will be presenting on the Department of Human Services contract with DeVos' Children's Hospital at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids and the University of Michigan to ensure access to a Statewide Medical Resource System. MRS was established to extend access to forensic medicine services to CPS workers and medical professionals statewide. Dr. Mohr works with the Medical Resource System as part of her duties at the University of Michigan.

Kori Stephens has worked as an Outreach Coordinator for the Midwest Regional Children’s Advocacy Center (MRCAC) providing training and technical assistance to child abuse professionals across the nation since 2009.  She graduated from the University of Minnesota with a B.A. in Global Studies and French and is currently pursuing her Masters in Public Health with an emphasis on child abuse and neglect. She has worked with various non-profits over the past 5 years in web development, communications, grant writing and program evaluation.  Her work at the Midwest Regional Children’s Advocacy Center often involves working with Children’s advocacy centers to examine current trends in multi-disciplinary training and fund-raising strategies. Kori currently serves on the Board of Directors for Child Protection International, an NGO working to protect the rights of children in post conflict countries.

Julie A. Welch is the Director of the Child Abuse Training Services Department within the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan (PAAM).  PAAM is a voluntary association of the 83 county prosecutors, the Attorney General, and the U.S. Attorneys serving in Michigan. PAAM works to keep the prosecuting attorneys of the state informed of all changes in legislation, law, and matters pertaining to their office. Julie’s duties include planning and implementing specialized trainings dealing with child abuse and neglect, foremost the Forensic Interviewing Protocol training.  Julie also works with other agencies in and outside of Michigan assuring cross professional relationships continue to grow to assist children of crime.  She is a regular trainer in forensic interviewing, child development and working with kids.  She has also consulted with other states on child welfare issues including Nevada, Maine, Wisconsin and Oklahoma. Her presentation at this conference will focus on the forensic interview and the relationship to the MDT.

Brooke Nettz grew up in a small farm town in Northern Illinois called Polo.  She graduated from DePaul University with her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with an emphasis on Human Development.  Brooke went on to work in juvenile residential treatment facilities until returning to graduate school.  She earned her Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology.  Over the past 5 years Brooke has worked professionally with both adult sexual offenders and child sexual abuse victims.  Specifically she had conducted Psychosexual Evaluations on sex offenders and performed child forensic interviews in a Child Advocacy Center setting.  Currently brooke is the Executive Director of the Traverse Bay Children’s Advocacy Center, where she continues to conduct forensic interviews and enjoys empowering her local community to take a Zero Tolerance stance in an effort to end child sexual abuse.

Conference Center

The conference will be held at the Grand Traverse Resort in Traverse City Michigan.  Situated on 900 acres in the northwest corner of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula along the shores of Lake Michigan’s East Grand Traverse Bay, the resort is located six miles northeast of Traverse City and ten minutes from Traverse City’s Cherry Capital Airport. The resort features a variety of recreation offerings, including: five indoor and four outdoor tennis courts, two indoor and two outdoor swimming pools, a beach club, an upscale shopping gallery with a world-class spa, diverse restaurants and lounges, and live entertainment nightly.

Hotel rooms for conference attendees will be at the federal per diem rate.  However there is a resort fee that will add approximtely $10 to overnight lodging rates.  Grant funding can be used as taxes and fees are not considered when determining per diem rates.  Click here or on the picture below to make your hotel reservations online.

You may also call the Grand Traverse Resort at the number listed in the conference brochure to make your hotel reservations.  Be sure to mention the Michigan Chapter of the National Children's Alliance conference and the group code MNCA413.

We believe that you will find many activities in the Traverse City area for the entire family. Children and guest are sure to have many sites to see and attractions to explore while you are attending conference sessions.

Directions to the Grand Traverse Resort

You may use the interactive map below to obtain directions to the conference center.  Just click on the location icon to obtain driving directions to the Grand Traverse Resort.

Continuing Education Credits

*This course is approved by the Michigan Social Work Continuing Education Collaborative. (Approval # 031913-00)
*This course has been submitted through the MCOLES Network and 302 Training Funds can be used.
*This course has been approved for the use of VOCA grant funds for staff attendance.