2025 Spring Conference Schedule

Wednesday, April 30 

8:00am - 4:30pm Registration

9:30am - 12:00pm WCHSA Board Meeting

12:00pm - 12:50pm Lunch with Exhibitors

12:50pm - 1:00pm Welcome to Green Bay

Troy Streckenbach, Brown County Executive

1:00pm - 1:15pm Conference Welcome

Matt Strittmater, WCHSA President; John Tuohy, WCHSA Executive Director

1:15pm - 2:45pm Belonging is the Missing Link

Gaelin Elmore, Gaelin Speaks

2:45pm - 3:15PM Creating a Localized Data Resource for Wisconsin

Hilary Shager, PhD; UW Institute for Research on Poverty

3:15pm - 3:30pm Break with Exhibitors

3:30pm - 4:00pm Department of Health Services Update

Gynger Steele, Division of Care and Treatment Services, Department of Health Services

4:00pm - 4:30pm Department of Children and Families Update

John Elliott, Division of Safety and Permanence in the Wisconsin, Department of Children and Families

5:00pm - 7:00pm Welcome Reception

6:00pm - 8:30pm Awards Dinner

Thursday, May 1 

7:45am - 4:30pm Registration

7:45am - 8:30am Breakfast 

8:30am - 8:40am Conference Welcome Day 2

Dawn Buchholz, WCHSA Vice President

8:40am - 9:40am

Breakout 1.1 Changing the Way We Work With Families: Guiding Values and Guarantees of Family Centered Treatment

Emily Klingenberg, LPC; Jennifer M. Deringer, MSSW, LCSW; Sam Ryan, LCSW LCAS CCJP CCS; Lutheran Social Services

Breakout 1.2 Treatment Court and Recovery Coaches

Nicolette Swokowski, Winnebago County Behavioral Health; Heather Foust, Winnebago County Behavioral Health; Amy Geffers, Winnebago County Behavioral Health

Breakout 1.3 My Wisconsin ID

Jennifer Mueller, DHS; Chris Stotesbery, DOA

Breakout 1.4 Sponsored Talk: The Winning Edge: Evidence-Based Tools Made Simple

Michelle Wingate, Omni Family Institute

9:45am - 10:45am

Breakout 2.1 Help for the Holders: Utilizing Reflective Practice with Human Services Supervisors

Stacey Otto, LCSW

Breakout 2.2 A Prescription for Housing: Using WI Medicaid to Address Homelessness and Build Stronger Community Partnerships

Adam Hurst and Molly Betts, WI Balance of State Continuum of Care

Breakout 2.3 Family Keys – Housing Support as Safety Intervention for Families Involved with Child Welfare

Dustin Koury, Department of Children and Families; Christa Jensen, Marathon County

Breakout 2.4 Sponsored Talk: CASPR Portal for Online Client Services

Michael De La Rosa, Exemplar Human Services

10:45am - 11:00am Break with Exhibitors

11:00am - 12:00pm Making decisions as a team through stress

Jill Chaffee, Lutheran Social Services

12:00pm - 1:00pm Lunch with Exhibitors

1:00pm - 1:45pm State Legislative Update 

Chelsea Shanks, Wisconsin Counties Association

1:45pm - 2:30pm National Legislative Update

Rachel Mackey, NACo

2:30pm - 2:45pm Break with Exhibitors

2:45pm - 3:45pm 

Breakout 3.1 Recovery Stories

Renee Sutkay, CSW, MS, LPC, Wisconsin Collaborative for Healthcare Quality

Breakout 3.2 Transitioning Youth into Adult Services

Ryan Bamberg, Green Lake; Hannah Ulwelling, Winnebago County; Abby Tschech, Winnebago County

Breakout 3.3 Supporting Youth with Complex Care Needs: Chileda’s STEP Program

Terri Gowey, Chileda Institute; Kate Lopas, Chileda Institute; Tabitha Farr, Chileda Institute; Katie Davis, Department of Children and Families; Mary Morse, Department of Children and Families

Breakout 3.4 Sponsored Talk: AI in Behavioral Health

Dennis Morrison, PhD, Eleos Health

3:45pm - 4:45pm

Breakout 4.1  What are the Ethical Considerations that Policy Makers Should Explore for AI Implementation in Social Work

Jen Schanen-Materi, MSW, APSW, UWGB Field Coordinator; Thalia Carreno, Daniel Kozak, Abby Lamere, Jose Plascencia-Arciniega, Kate Thompson, Dezi Sobiesczyk; UWGB Students

Breakout 4.2 Pathways Home: Leveraging Human Services to End Homelessness

Jason Witt, La Crosse County

Breakout 4.3 Sponsored Talk: Enhancing Patient Care in Wisconsin with AI & Automation: Smarter Workflows, Stronger Workforce

Jill Vogel, Netsmart

Friday, May 2 

7:30am - 12:00pm Registration

7:30am - 8:15am Breakfast with Exhibitors

8:30am - 9:15am Building the Dream Team

Kelly Bell, LCSW, Washington County

9:15am - 10:00am Unlocking your Gifts: Cultivating Mindset as a Leadership Superpower

Dr. Angela Pittman-Vanderweide, Allies4Outcomes (A4O); Chuck Price, MS, Blue Collar Consulting; Diane Cable, Blue Collar Consulting

10:00am - 10:15am Break with Exhibitors 

10:15am - 11:45am Choose to Soar

Annie Meehan, AM Speaking

11:45am - 12:00pm Conference Closing

Matt Strittmater, WCHSA President; John Tuohy, WCHSA Executive Director