Plenary Speaker: DJ Johnson, DJ Inspires LLC

Antwann “DJ” Johnson is a devoted husband and father, author, parenting and youth empowerment coach, counselor, sports statistician, and Owner of DJ Inspires, LLC. He grew up in the Indiana foster care system and yet despite that, has gone on to lead a successful, and fulfilling life. Before spending nine years in the foster care system, DJ suffered child abuse, domestic abuse, and emotional trauma. At one point, he wanted to end his life, but he realized that he was on this earth for a purpose.
More info:
https://www.djinspires.com/

“Surviving 10!” Tips & Strategies to Help Our Most Vulnerable Students Through Their Trauma

Session Description: As ACE scores rise, so do the risks of health and emotional challenges—those with a score of 6+ may lose 20 years of life. But resilience changes the story. Join DJ Johnson as he shares strategies that helped him go from an ACE score of 10 to working courtside at Lakers games. Learn how to meet students where they are and equip them to rewrite their narratives and build lasting resilience.

Awards Luncheon Keynote Speaker: Dr. Gregory Williams, Manager-Senior Leadership Baylor College of Medicine-Houston

Dr. Gregory Williams is on the Senior Leadership Team at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. He travels the country speaking to thousands of people on child abuse, the aftermaths of abuse, the detection and recognition of abuse and importance of the Adverse Childhood Experiences. He is the author of “Shattered by the Darkness” and “When the Dark Clouds Come” which sold more than 2.6 million copies around the world. His latest book, “Embracing Your Scars: Learning How to Turn Life’s Pain into Life’s Power & Purpose” will be released in October of 2024. He is on the Advisory Board of the Institute of Trauma-Informed Practices at Columbia College in Columbia, South Carolina. He is also the Chairman of the Steering Committee of the United Against Human Trafficking and is a State of Texas certified trainer for Medical Physicians in Human Trafficking Awareness Training. He is also on Governor Greg Abbott’s Sexual Assault Survivors’ Task Force.

Session Description: Toxic Stress According to Forrest Gump

Session Description Coming soon

Speaker Name: Kanwal Nadeem, BS – Child Protective Investigator IV, Sydney Pieske, BA, MA, Child Protective Investigator IV

Kanwal Nadeem received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Abilene Christian University. She is an investigator in the Taylor County specialized investigations unit and serves as one of Taylor County’s three mentors and received the “Mentor of the Year” Award for Region 02 for the 2024 mentorship year. She has been with the Department for nine years and has experience working as a conservatorship worker prior to beginning her journey in investigations. Kanwal’s background providing ongoing services to clients inspires her to offer a different perspective to traditional investigations. Kanwal provides educational trainings to various agencies in the community about the role of Child Protective Services and Investigations. Kanwal’s engagement allows her to build strong relationships with community resource providers and organizations which she can utilize to better serve the families she works with.

Sydney Pieske is an investigator with four years of experience in Taylor County specialized unit. Sydney received her Bachelors in 2020 and her Masters degree in 2024, both in Psychology, from American Military University. Sydney brings a deep understanding of human behavior and trauma to her casework, ensuring a compassionate and effective approach to investigations. Passionate about making a difference, Sydney has traveled extensively, gaining unique insights into diverse cultures and fostering meaningful relationships along the way. This global perspective fuels her commitment to building networks and connecting with individuals who share a vision for protecting children and raising awareness about abuse preventions.

Child Protective Investigations : The Role We Play

Session Description: We will be exploring what it is like in the life of a CPS investigation. What do we do when someone suspects a child is not getting enough food to eat at home? Or there is concern that a child’s bruises and injuries don’t quite match the explanation given? Why involve Child Protective Investigations? What will happen once a report is made?

Speaker Name: Thomas Peterson, National Criminal Justice Training Center

Thomas Peterson: Information coming soon

Prevalence and Path to CST

Session Description: Comprehend the prevalence and hidden nature of CST | Delve into common identifiers of a child sex trafficking victim | Distinguish the methods traffickers use to connect to and control children | Compare and contrast proactive vs. reactive measures in the mission to recover CST victims. | Explore the CST business model and how traffickers sell children.

Recognizing and Identifying CST (Part 1)

Session Description: Identify situations in which first responders come into contact with CST victims | Examine behavioral and physical indicators in children specific to each agency’s type of contact with the victim | Apply best contact practices when interacting with a CST victim

Recognizing and Identifying CST (Part 2)

Session Description: Identify situations in which first responders come into contact with CST victims | Examine behavioral and physical indicators in children specific to each agency’s type of contact with the victim | Apply best contact practices when interacting with a CST victim.

Speaker Name: Brandon Gurganus, Forensic Interviewer

Brandon Gurganus has been working as a Victim Services Specialist for the Child Advocacy Center (CAC) in Abilene since 2016. Prior to that, he worked as an Investigator with CPS for 2 years. Brandon was born and raised in Abilene and graduated from Hardin-Simmons in 2010 with a Bachelors in Criminal Justice. Since his time at the CAC, Brandon has conducted approximately 1,400 forensic interviews of child abuse victims, and provided advocacy support services to approximately 900 families. He also serves on the Forensic Interview Training Faculty with Children’s Advocacy Centers of Texas, providing training and support to new interviewers from across Texas. Brandon has partnered with the goal of ending child sexual abuse in Texas, and presents regularly across the community in hopes of lighting a spark towards that goal.

The Art of Questioning Children in Abuse Investigations

Session Description: There’s a science to interviewing children that can be easily taught. This includes how to get from “Hi, my name is…..” to “thank you for talking with me today”. However it’s the art of interviewing children that takes time, and experience, often years after professionals begin. In this workshop, participants will learn more of this art and be able to take their knowledge gained into the field.

Speaker Name: Tony Lassetter, Director of School Safety & Security and Erin Bennett – School Safety & Security Specialist

Toni Lassiter: Retired from the Abilene Police Department in October 2021 after serving the City of Abilene for 33 years. A highlight of Tony’s career was the 15 years he spent as the Supervisor, and later the Commander, of the Youth Division, where he oversaw Youth Detectives and School Resource Officers. Currently, Tony is the Director of School Safety and Security for the Abilene Independent School District, a position he has held for three years.

Erin Bennett: Serves as a School Safety & Security Specialist with the Abilene Independent School District since retiring from the Abilene Police Department in February 2023. During her 20 years of service at the Abilene Police Department, she specialized in investigating crimes involving children, both as victims and as offenders. Erin’s background in child crimes, along with training in school safety measures, lends her an in-depth perspective into school safety.

School Safety 101 for Professionals and Parents

Session Description: School safety and security protocols evolve after each major school shooting. The most significant changes in Texas school safety came after the tragic event in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24, 2022. Whether you are a professional who regularly visits school campuses or a parent, it is important to be aware of the safety measures that have been put in place. Understanding these measures will help you navigate school environments more effectively and enable you to discuss vital safety practices with your children. Participants will receive a comprehensive overview of the 10 Essential Actions for ensuring school safety.

Speaker Name: Patty Wenetschlaeger, Associate Judge and April Propst, Associate Judge for CPS Cases

Patty Wenetschlaeger: Information coming soon

April Propst: Information coming soon

A Picture from the Bench

Session Description: Judges will discuss trends, gaps and best practices in the courtroom

Speaker Names: Tara Kinslow, Grant Coordinator, Abilene-Taylor County Public Health District

Tara Kinslow works as the Grant Coordinator at the Abilene Taylor County Public Health District, where she strives to prevent obesity and chronic disease through physical activity and nutrition. Tara collaborates with community partners to provide health education to people of all ages, with a special focus on helping the tiniest of Texans learn healthy habits, such as trying fresh local foods and discovering how nature improves social-emotional skills. Born and raised in the Abilene area, Tara earned her degree from Texas A&M University with minors in public health and health and a biomedical research certification. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Public Health from Texas Tech. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, dog sitting, and teaching rabbitry education to youth.

Benefits of Nature Play in Early Childhood

Session Description: The benefits of Nature in Early Childhood underscores the crucial role of educators in facilitating early exposure to nature. By creating a play atmosphere that enhances social-emotional development and provides an understanding of food origins, you can inspire children to try new foods and lead healthy lives. We’ll equip you with basic knowledge and resources to start a nature play space.

Speaker Names: Michael Nixon, Assistant Director / Amber Alert Coordinator, Lamar Institute of Technology Police Academy

Michael Nixon: Information coming soon

TBD

Session Description: Information coming soon

Speaker Name: Dr. Gregory Williams, Manager-Senior Leadership Baylor College of Medicine-Houston

Dr. Gregory Williams is on the Senior Leadership Team at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. He travels the country speaking to thousands of people on child abuse, the aftermaths of abuse, the detection and recognition of abuse and importance of the Adverse Childhood Experiences. He is the author of “Shattered by the Darkness” and “When the Dark Clouds Come” which sold more than 2.6 million copies around the world. His latest book, “Embracing Your Scars: Learning How to Turn Life’s Pain into Life’s Power & Purpose” will be released in October of 2024. He is on the Advisory Board of the Institute of Trauma-Informed Practices at Columbia College in Columbia, South Carolina. He is also the Chairman of the Steering Committee of the United Against Human Trafficking and is a State of Texas certified trainer for Medical Physicians in Human Trafficking Awareness Training. He is also on Governor Greg Abbott’s Sexual Assault Survivors’ Task Force.

The Tragic Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences

Human Trafficking Training

Session Description: This presentation presents training that all individuals will need to recognize, understand and deal with a potential victim of human trafficking. It will present training on how to best communicate, recognize and deal with the issue when human trafficking is suspected

Speaker Name: FBI Victim Specialist and Special Agent

FBI Victim Specialist and Special Agent: Information coming soon

FBI/Human Trafficking Cases

Session Description: Information coming soon

Speaker Name: Derek VanLuchene, National Criminal Justice Training Center

Derek VanLuchene: Information coming soon

Implementing a CHILD Abduction Response Team (CART) as a Response Force Multiplier

Session Description: Information coming soon

How a CART is created and identifying the available resources and training

Session Description: Information coming soon