Out of the Park Performance

Welcome to the 2026 SC Human Services Providers Annual Conference!

Out of the Park Performance: The Playbook for Exceptional Services
March 9–11, 2026
Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort

Step up to the plate and get ready to knock it out of the park! The 2026 SC Human Services Providers Annual Conference brings together professionals from all over the southeast for three days of learning, collaboration, and inspiration. Out of the Park Performance is your playbook for equipping teams and leaders with the tools, strategies, and motivation to deliver truly exceptional services.

We’re excited to welcome Tracy Spears as our Opening Keynote Speaker, bringing her dynamic leadership insights to set the tone for an energizing event. Barbara Merrill, CEO of ANCOR, will share national perspectives shaping the future of human services. And to close our conference, Indie Bollman will talk about her new book, Leadership Truth Bombs. You will leave inspired to take what you’ve learned back to your organizations with confidence and purpose.

This year’s conference also offers two Preconference Sessions:

Preconference #`1 ProActive Response Group: Recognize, Respond, Survive…Are you Truly Prepared?

ProActive Response Group’s Active Shooter Response Training course educates participants in current trends of active shooter incidents, how to recognize early warning signs of violence, appropriate action to increase chances of survival in an active shooter event and how to use basic medical equipment to save the lives of victims.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn to recognize the potential threat
• Learn to effectively respond to active threats
• Learn to survive violent encounters
• Familiarization with medical equipment and technique that address preventable causes of death.

Preconference #2 DEON Health-A Provider Led Model Built for Stability, Quality, and Real Outcomes

Community Supported Care is a new operating model for Medicaid that does something rare. It aligns the people who deliver care with the people who live with its outcomes. Traditional managed care treats providers like vendors and individuals like compliance problems. The result is predictable. Fragmentation. Workforce collapse. Shallow value-based contracts. No one with real accountability at the table when decisions are made.

The Community Supported Care model replaces that architecture with a shared one. Providers form a joint governance entity, set clear participation rules, and become co-owners of the system they operate. Deon serves as the operating partner, taking on the managed care functions, financial risk, analytics and infrastructure that providers should never be expected to build. Providers bring relationships, workforce knowledge and truth on the ground. Together they direct reinvestment, stabilize the workforce, fix the daily friction that breaks quality and create transparent governance people can actually trust.

The result is a structure that can deliver predictable cost, measurable quality and a stable environment for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Community Supported Care moves beyond value-based contracting. It makes providers responsible for the design of the system itself. And when the people closest to the work help shape the environment, lives improve. This model is simple to launch, scalable across states and grounded in the idea that Medicaid performs best when the community that depends on it has real power in the room

Important Details

Hotel Information:

• Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort
• Rooms: Room Rate: $177/night + $27/ day destination charge = $204/night + $7/day parking, + applicable state and local tax (An additional $10.00 will be added to the above room rates per adult, per room above double occupancy.)
• Booking Deadline: February19, 2026. Rooms are first-come, first-serve, and we anticipate selling out.
• To book, call Reservations at (800) 876-0010 (Option 3) for Hilton Myrtle Beach Option 4 for Royale Palms Condominiums **You will need to identify yourself as attendees of SCHSPA and use the following codes Hilton: SCH Royal Palms: SCS
• Or book online: https://www.hilton.com/en/attend-my-event/schspaannualconference26/

Why Attend?

Every great team has a playbook, and this conference is yours. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or new to the field, you’ll leave ready to elevate your game and make every play count.

Don’t miss this chance to swing for the fences. Register today and be part of the winning team at the beautiful Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort!

Mark your calendars for March 9-11, 2026, and join us at the Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort in beautiful Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, for the Annual HSPA Conference.

Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to join us at the beach!

We can’t wait to see you !

Expert-Led Concurrent Sessions

Monday, March 9th 3pm – 4pm

Got Dashboards

Jeff Covington, Dr. Ishya “Shae” Dotson, & Rich Frettoloso of THERAP

Many of Therap's modules make use of Dashboards for data integrity needs. This includes: Daily MAR, ISP Programs, Billing, Case Notes and Demographics. Come to this exciting session to learn more about how your organization can make use of these Dashboards to meet the quality assurance and quality measure goals and provider high quality services to the individuals you support / QA, Upper Managers & Case Managers

Improving Choice & Independent through Enabling Tech

Jerry Bernard, CEO of the Charles Lea Center

This session will focus on providing a blueprint about how to effectively use and implement enabling technology to support people with disabilities to achieve their personal outcomes. By blending person-centered thinking with the effective use of enabling technology - through a thoughtful and structured planning process- we can achieve better personal outcomes for the people we support. This session will provide a step-by-step process for creating a technology first program aligned with the person-centered thinking approach / All IDD Providers

Leading as Change Agents

Terry Snow, Senior Director of Residential Support Babcock Center

This session inspires DSPs and supervisors to recognize the impact of their daily actions in creating safe, supportive, and empowering environments. It highlights the vital role each team member plays, addresses common misconceptions, and showcases how staff at all levels lead change and empower individuals through their work. Attendees will reflect on their influence, share successes, and leave motivated to embrace their leadership role in driving positive outcomes / DSPs & Middle Managers

Data at Bat: Tracking Your Way to a Home Run

Susan John, Executive Director of the South Carolina Human Services Providers Association

In today’s human services environment, data is more than just numbers—it’s the playbook for success. This presentation explores the why behind data tracking and how effectively collecting, analyzing, and using data can transform organizational performance, enhance quality of care, and drive better outcomes for individuals served / Executive Directors & Managers

Tuesday, March 10th 10:30am – 11:30am

THERAP’s QA Assistant

Jeff Covington, Dr. Ishya “Shae” Dotson, & Rich Frettoloso of Therap Services

Recently, Therap began harvesting the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into its' platform to help providers and their staff harness the tool to provide more transparency, quality, and substance to the supports they provide and document on a daily basis. Come learn more about Therap's QA Assistant and examine what this powerful new tool can do for you! / All IDD Providers

Dignity of Risk Overview and How to Develop a Risk Agreement

Wendi Patterson, PhD, Founder & Principal Consultant at Logic Unleashed

We will discuss why Dignity of Risk is a foundational principle in person-centered care that affirms every individual's right, regardless of disability, to make choices, take chances, and learn from life's natural consequences. We will talk about how to integrate the culture into real-life situations and discuss how to develop a Dignity of Risk Agreement that will support the person, while protecting the provider. / Everyone from direct care to c-suite level leadership

AAC in Action: Practical Tools to Support Minimally Speaking Individuals Across the Lifespan

Carrie Hinnant, M.A., CCC-SLP, BCBA, LBA, CAS, is a speech-language pathologist and board-certified behavior analyst

Individuals deserve robust, reliable ways to communicate—at home, in school, at work, and in the community. This session demystifies Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC) and equips providers with practical strategies that work across ages and settings. We will outline an efficient process for speech-generating device (SGD) evaluations (feature matching, language representation, access methods, trials/data, and funding documentation) and clarify roles across medical, school, and waiver systems. Participants will learn how to model language on AAC (partner-augmented input), build motor plans with consistent core vocabulary, prevent prompt dependence, and scaffold literacy and participation during daily routines / Early Interventionists, Case Managers, DSPs, OT, PT, SLPs

Quality of Life and Person-Centered Planning

Kelly Bryson, , MA, BCBA at the Babcock Center & Beth Ann Daily, M.Ed, BCBA at the Babcock Center

Participants will learn how to better support people who cannot verbally communicate their wants and needs. Providers can use behavior indicators like smiling, looking, and challenging behaviors to identify areas that may be affecting quality of life. These behaviors can then be used to help providers pinpoint skills that will make the most difference in the individuals’ lives. This allows providers to create plans that are truly person-centered and meaningful / Residential Managers & Program Mangers

Tuesday, March 10th 1:15pm – 2:15pm

Setting Up Remote Supports

Omar Chirinos & Lakeila Jeter of the Charles Lea Center

The presentation provides a comprehensive guide on establishing effective remote support systems for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). It emphasizes the importance of integrating technology to enhance the quality of life and independence for individuals in these environments. Key topics include assessing individual needs, selecting appropriate technology tools, ensuring accessibility and usability, training staff and individuals, and safeguarding privacy and security. The presentation also highlights case studies demonstrating successful implementations and offers practical tips for overcoming common challenges faced during the transition to remote supports.

Everything There is to Know @ Working While Receiving Medicaid & SS Benefits

Amber Lydford, South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation

The largest fear beneficiaries have in regard to working while receiving Social Security benefits (SSI/SSDI), and Medicaid (including Medicaid Waiver), is that they will lose those benefits. This presentation will ease that fear by providing factual information on how beneficiaries are able to work and maintain the benefits received / Case Managers, Residential Managers, Consumer Funds Specialists

IDEA & Least Restrictive Environment in South Carolina: A Guide for Families and Professionals

Carrie Hinnant, M.A., CCC-SLP, BCBA, LBA, CAS, is a speech-language pathologist and board-certified behavior analyst

This session translates the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) into practical steps South Carolina families and professionals can use to ensure services are delivered in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). We’ll connect the dots across early intervention (Part C) and school-age (Part B), clarifying roles, timelines, and documentation that support inclusive participation in natural environments and general education settings. Using clear flowcharts and SC-specific examples, attendees will learn how to formulate measurable outcomes/goals, align supports with functional needs, and write plans that prioritize access, engagement, and progress / Early Interventionists, Case Managers, DSPs, OT, PT, SLPs

Get IN my Lane: How Understanding Beh Improves Health Outcomes

Ley Linder, Founder and CEO of Crescent Behavioral Health Services

Interdisciplinary teams have long been a defining characteristic of high-quality service providers. The role of behavior analysts within ID Teams continues to evolve as all types of service providers navigate shifting healthcare needs, advances in technology, and changes in the systemic support systems. Through these changes, Behavior support will continue to play a key role in supporting the global and dynamic care needs of people with intellectual disabilities. This presentation crashes through the tiresome philosophy of “stay in your lane” using behavior-based case studies to highlight successful outcomes through robust, cohesive, and inclusive interdisciplinary approaches, with an emphasis on the behavioral presentations of medical issues / Providers who support individuals with intellectual disabilities

Tuesday, March 10th 2:45pm –3:45pm

Safer Supports, Stronger Systems: Modernizing Med Management in IDD Care

Adam Chittam Pharm D at Tarrytown Expocare Pharmacy & Evan Keesey, Account Executive at Impruvon Health

Medication administration in IDD care remains one of the highest areas of clinical risk, operational complexity, and regulatory scrutiny. This session will present a unified approach to safer medication practices through coordinated pharmacy oversight and real-time digital administration workflows. Tarrytown Expocare Pharmacy and Impruvon Health will outline how IDD organizations are reducing missed doses, preventing avoidable errors, strengthening nurse-to-pharmacy communication, and supporting DSP reliability with clearer accountability systems / IDD Residential Providers

The Person–Centered Playbook: 10 Winning Strategies for Supporting Challenging Behaviors

Johnathon Crumley, Chief Operations Officer at IntellectAbility

We all have behaviors—and most of us even have a few "behavior" curveballs that can be challenging. For people with IDD, these behaviors can sometimes seem like a mystery and are too often dismissed as “just part of having an IDD diagnosis.” In reality, they’re often powerful forms of communication—signals of pain, discomfort, frustration, or unmet needs. While medications and behavior plans can help, they’re not the only plays in our playbook. In this session, we’ll cover 10 proven strategies to better understand and support people who display challenging behaviors. You’ll leave ready to step up to the plate with practical, effective approaches you can start using right away to help the people you support knock it out of the park / All IDD supporters, especially provider staff and case management

Coaching for Confidence: Supporting Individuals to Take the Lead in Their Goals

Laura McBride, Executive Director, OneWell Health Care, Grace Laing- RN Regional Manager, OneWell Health Care, & Abigail Wilson- RN Regional Manager, OneWell Health Care

Empowerment begins with confidence. When individuals believe in their ability to succeed, they are more engaged, resilient, and motivated to achieve their goals. This session explores how coaching techniques that can be used to inspire self-confidence and foster independence among those supported / DSPs & Case Managers

Team Building for Better Success (Teamwork Makes the Dream Work)

Dr Earl Suttle, founder and CEO of Leadership Success International, LLC

In this highly interactive group session, participants will be introduced to team building models that promise to create better ways to strengthen their team cohesiveness, communication and connection to increase work performance. They will learn how to better enhance relationships in their workplace and play a stronger role as a leader to create a happier, work environment as well / All Leaders

Wednesday, March 11th 8:30 – 9:30

The Ecosystem of Support & Mentorship: Rooted in Connection

Bonnie Shaw, Regional Director at Bright Start & Linda Kunz, Regional Director at Bright Start

We invite you to explore how we’ve built a thriving ecosystem of support and mentorship within our teams. In the ever-demanding world of Case Management, our focus has been on truly understanding the unique needs of our team members, the individuals who pour their hearts into serving others every day. Through that understanding, we’ve developed a sustainable system that not only supports mental health and professional growth but also recognizes and celebrates the incredible work our case managers do / Case Managers, Direct support Professionals, Administration

THERAP Users Group

Jeff Covington, Dr. Ishya “Shae” Dotson, & Rich Frettoloso of Therap Services

This presentation will review all the recent changes that have come to Therap since we last got together in Myrtle Beach in October of 2026. This will include an in-depth look at new functionality both present and future available to providers in the Great State of South Carolina. There will be ample time for a Q&A Session as well; so bring all your questions! / All IDD Providers

EQ at Bat: Leading with Emotional Intelligence in Human Services

Dr. Daniel Hoppe

Emotional Intelligence is a critical skill for human services providers where leadership, communication, and collaboration directly impact organizational effectiveness. This session explores the five components of Emotional Intelligence (EQ): self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills, and how they strengthen advocacy, teamwork, and professional relationships.

Participants will gain practical strategies to manage emotions, lead with intention, navigate challenging situations, and support strong teams across human services organizations.

The Field Of Employment: It's A New Ballgame

Joel Smart, Employment Services at the Burton Center

The safe norms of employment opportunities for people with disabilities and special needs are often limited to janitorial or fast food type work environments. While we are grateful for those opportunities, the reality is much more exciting and colorful in career options for the population that we serve. With a little imagination, creative thinking, and community engagement, we can open up new realms of great employment pathways for our consumers / DSPs, Job Coaches, Day Directors, etc.

Exhibitors & Networking

Explore an array of vendors and exhibitors showcasing innovative services and tools tailored for the IDD field. Enjoy opportunities for networking, knowledge sharing, and collaboration throughout the conference.