Speakers

programs, and direct delivery of specialized pre and post-adoption counseling services. Ms. Riley created a continuum of innovative, culturally responsive evidenced-informed programs to improve the behavioral outcomes of foster and adopted youth and their families which has become a nationally recognized model.

For over a decade, she has built and implemented a framework for training an adoption-competent mental health workforce nationally and is the founder of TAC (Training for Adoption Competency Curriculum). Through two federal grant awards to C.A.S.E from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Administration for Children and Families, Ms. Riley serves as the PI for National Adoption Competency Mental Health Training Initiative (NTI) and the National Center for Child Welfare Competent Mental Health Services to improve mental health outcomes for children and families experiencing child welfare systems.

She is co-author of the book Beneath the Mask: Understanding Adopted Teens (Riley and Meeks, 2006) and Adoption Specific Therapy, A Guide to Helping Adopted Children and Their Families Thrive (Waterman, Langley, Miranda, and Riley, 2018). Is a contributing author to The Need for Adoption Competent Mental Health Professionals in Transracial and Intercountry Adoptions, Cultural Guidance for Professionals (Fong and McRoy, 2016); Training for Adoption Competency Curriculum in The Routledge Handbook Of Adoption (Wrober, Helder, and Marr, 2020); Adoption as a Diversity Issue in Professional Preparation: Perceptions of Preservice Education Professionals, Adoptions Quarterly (Taymans, Marotta, Lynch, Riley, Ortiz, Schutt, Mallery, Embich, 2008); Adoption Competent Clinical Practice; Defining Its Meaning and Development, Adoption Quarterly (Atkinson, Freundlich, Gonet, Riley, 2013); and Training for Adoption Competency: Building a Community of Adoption-Competent Clinicians, Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Social Services (Atkinson and Riley, 2017).

quality, and diverse resources to adoptive and foster parents.

Isaac utilizes his experience of being adopted to curate deep conversations about race, identity, and adoption. With his unique insight, Isaac facilitates impactful discussions about adoption’s impact on children and how parents can support their children in navigating identity and racial identity development. He specializes in helping child welfare professionals and parents understand the unique challenges and joys involved in transracial adoption and fostering.

impacted her family. She is an adoptive mother and has become an advocate for adoptive and foster families in the community, helping fight or encourage legislation on these topics and others. Recently, she had the opportunity to speak alongside the governor of Nebraska as he signed the document proclaiming November as adoption awareness month. Empowering women and business-minded individuals is a passion of hers and she will continue to always seek ways to inspire.

she oversaw the initial rollout of Results Based Accountability in the Central Service Area and then began supervising foster care licensing. In 2018 she stepped into the Child and Family Services Specialist Supervisor position as the first permanency unit supervisor for Central Services Area and continued this work until February 2024, when she began as the Department’s Permanency Administrator. She oversees programming for foster care, adoption/guardianship, missing youth, human trafficking, and a few other programs for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. Nichole has served 3 years on the Buffalo County Community Partners Board, currently serving as Vice Chairman. She has a passion for community work and empowering the next generation.

she focused on individualized education programs, positive behavior supports, and strengthening home-school partnerships before becoming the Executive Director. She is grateful to be part of such a wonderful team that is passionate about empowering families to advocate for their children’s needs in school and teaching families how to navigate different systems and services.

Jenn serves on several statewide committees and local boards that focus on improving outcomes for people with disabilities. She has a Master’s in Human Resource Development and received her Bachelor’s in English with Minors in Speech and Mass Communications and an emphasis on Public Speaking from Doane University. She has three wonderful children, her oldest son has a rare genetic disorder that has led to global developmental delays in all areas and multiple disabilities, including Intellectual Disability, Epilepsy, and Autism. Jenn enjoys spending time and going on adventures with her children (even when that adventure is going to Scooters or Target), hanging out with her family and friends, laughing, playing volleyball, drinking coffee, and eating ice cream.

ongoing case management.

Cydney earned her BS in Social Work from Nebraska Wesleyan University. Originally from Nebraska, Cydney grew up in Humboldt, NE.

began studying and immersing herself in trauma-informed care.

Kara and her husband founded Imana Kids: Orphan Care Ministry, an educational sponsorship program in Rwanda with a focus on trauma-informed interventions, learning and care, setting it apart from other international orphan care programs.

Kara has over twenty-four years of experience as an international healthcare provider and orphan care advocate. She has been trained and certified in Cultivating Connection, a parent to parent program under the umbrella of Empowered to Connect. Kara also facilitates classes as well as provides one-on-one coaching for foster and adoptive families, social workers, counselors and medical students on applying trauma-informed care and TBRI (trust based relational interventions).

Health First Aid. Her greatest asset that positions her for disruption, is her lived experiences. Jody-Ann envisions a world where the grip of childhood trauma is loosened. She is committed to helping children, caregivers, and professionals build their resilience and ability to overcome the challenges of navigating trauma on their individual and collective journey to healing.