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Opening Keynote

Debbie Riley
Beneath the Mask: The Search for Identity

Adolescence is a time when adoptees struggle with an extra layer of challenges related to their identity, weaving the past, present and their future. Participants will explore how the “normal” or typical developmental tasks of the teen years are intensified and complicated byadoption, particularly if teens are being raised by parents of a different race or culture. Participants will gain an understanding of how adoption influences separation from parents, identity formation and decisions related to birth family connections In signature her book, Beneath the Mask: Understanding Adopted Teens, author , therapist and C.A.S.E. CEO Debbie Riley highlights “the six spots where teens get stuck” as key vulnerabilities around the adoption experience in adolescence. Writings from teens will be shared to enhance the understanding of the dynamics of the “stuck spots”.

Morning Breakout Sessions
Choose from speakers including Jenn Smith-Miller, Issac Etter, Cydney Volker, and Nicole Hersh

Jenn Smith-Miller
Individualized Education Programs (IEPs): What You Need to Know!

It’s important to be knowledgeable about all aspects of the IEP in order to make sure a child’s educational needs are being met in school. Participants will learn what components must be included in an IEP and what information must be considered in the development of an IEP. Participants will gain the knowledge and tools they need to be effective members of the IEP team. Come learn with PTI and help us empower you to improve the outcomes for children in special education.

Isaac Etter
Understanding & Supporting Transracial Adoptees & Fosterees

This Workshop covers everything needed to be a great transracial adoptive parent. This presentation will cover Isaac Etter’s transracial adoption experience, understanding bias, racial identity development for adoptees, and Isaac’s practical guide to transracial adoption. The audience will hear Isaac’s story of growing up as a Black boy in a white family, they will get a deeper understanding of bias and how to address bias in themselves, how to support their child’s racial identity development, and a practical guide of what to do and conversations to have in every age group.

Cydney Volker & Nicole Hersh
NPRRT & Assistance

The Nebraska Permanency Resource Responsibility Tool (NPRRT) is used by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (NDHHS) to determine and modify the amount of financial assistance for eligible children. This tool is based on the Nebraska Caregiver Responsibility Tool that is used to determine subsidy payments by NDHHS.

Adoption and Guardianship Assistance Programs support the well-being of children and families by ensuring that financial barriers and costs do not prevent children with special needs from achieving permanency in stable homes. The program provides or continues financial assistance for an eligible child aged 18 or under 
after finalization.

Networking Lunch

Afternoon Keynote

Isaac Etter
Discovering My Identity

Isaac Etter is an adoptee and adoption professional. In this keynote, Isaac shares his journey as a transracial adoptee who has struggled to find his identity. Isaac touches on the complexities of transracial adoption and strategies for supporting families adopting, his journey to appreciating his experience as an adoptee by becoming a father, finding himself working with adoptive families, and how adoption professionals and parents can support adopted people as they are growing up and adopted adults.

The audience will laugh and learn from Isaac’s story of growing up as a Black boy in a white family, they will 
be inspired by his family’s journey to understanding how to support him and moved by his journey to 
find himself as an adoptee. This keynote includes Isaac’s story and videos of his family discussing their experience and feelings while Isaac was growing up. You will walk away really getting a full picture of an adoptee experience.

Afternoon Breakout Sessions
Featuring Debbie Riley, Kara Higgins, and Jody-Ann Core

Debbie Riley
Building an Adoptive Identity: Navigating the Journey to Self-Discovery

The Journey of an adoptee is one of complexity, ambiguity and courage. Adoptees often navigate a unique path of self-discovery, grappling with questions of belonging, heritage and identity. In this keynote we will explore the journey of an adoptive identity – a process that weaves the dual realities of birth and adoptive histories. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the factors that influence adoptive identity and the importance of post permanency support.

Kara Higgins
Eternal Curiosity: Seeing Trauma Beyond the Behavior – Introduction to TBRI

TBRI (trust based relational interventions) are an evidence based, attachment rich set of tools and model of care to help caregivers create spaces for healing and connection. Kara is mom to 6 children, through biology, foster care and international adoption, as well as co-founder of Imana Kids, a trauma informed school and education program for street kids in Rwanda. Come learn some quick and easy “tricks” to begin to build trust with the children, teens and young adults that you work with.

Jody-Ann Core
Healing Hearts: Navigating Childhood Trauma, Support, and Self-Care

This presentation will be given from a dual lens of the child who has endured trauma and its impact, and the adult navigating those childhood experiences and supporting children who have also endured adverse childhood experiences. The presentation will start at trauma and its impact on the individual who is enduring it and also on those walking alongside this individual. Real anecdotes will be shared about what this looks like through different stages and protective factors that can help to offset the negative impact of childhood trauma. This will set us up for a discussion on why self-care is important, especially when you are supporting
someone enduring trauma. The breakout will end with what I call Healing Examination and Assessment of Ruminating Thoughts (HEART™) Work activity, which allows participants space to reflect on what lived experiences they bring to the relationships and family and how that influences their interactions.

Adoptee Panel
Isaac Etter & 5 persons who have been adopted

This presentation will be given from a dual lens of the child who has endured trauma and its impact, and the adult navigating those childhood experiences and supporting children who have also endured adverse childhood experiences. The presentation will start at trauma and its impact on the individual who is enduring it and also on those walking alongside this individual. Real anecdotes will be shared about what this looks like through different stages and protective factors that can help to offset the negative impact of childhood trauma. This will set us up for a discussion on why self-care is important, especially when you are supporting
someone enduring trauma. The breakout will end with what I call Healing Examination and Assessment of Ruminating Thoughts (HEART™) Work activity, which allows participants space to reflect on what lived experiences they bring to the relationships and family and how that influences their interactions.

Closing Keynote
Shannon Bingham sends us off with hope and actionable takeaways

Shannon Bingham
Closing the Full Circle

In her inspiring and concluding remarks, Shannon will speak from her experience as an adoptive mother and adoption advocate. As an adoption advocate, she wants people to always look at “adoption as an option”. Though there are many hills and valleys throughout the lifelong family journey of adoption, advocating, connecting with and mentoring others pays off. One thing she will never give up is hope, determination, and her grit.