As a child welfare professional, you're often called upon to wear many different hats. The challenges that families face, in New Jersey and around the country, are varied and various, and range from the material -- housing insecurity, food instability, utility assistance and job readiness -- to challenges around personal physical and emotional safety, substance use recovery, domestic violence issues and healing from complex and intergenerational trauma.

To effectively serve families, you need a full child welfare toolkit.

Join us on Friday, October 21, to hear from some of the leaders in New Jersey's child welfare arena focusing on the many ways in which we can all support and protect children and families throughout the State. You'll learn new strategies and hear about the latest programs focused on broadening the service array, in order to meet families where they are, and providing the resources and supports they need to thrive. And you'll make new connections to propel your practice with children and families forward.

A skilled craftsperson is only as good as the tools at their disposal. Let's build on your knowledge and skills so that you can continue to be your best for the children and families who depend on you.

This free event will be in-person at the DCF Professional Center in New Brunswick and broadcast live online. Lunch will be provided for in-person attendees. 4.0 Social Work CEs available. See the schedule below:

9:00 a.m. DOORS OPEN

9:30 a.m. Opening Remarks – Mary Coogan

9:45 a.m. – Prevention as an Intervention

Project Self Sufficiency

Deborah Berry-Toon, Executive Director

DCF Family and Community Partnership

Sanford Starr, Assistant Commissioner

10:45 – Break

11:00 – The Importance of Infant Mental Health

Kaitlin Mulcahy, Ph.D., LPC, IMH-E®, Director, Center for Autism and Early Childhood Mental Health, Montclair State University

12:00 – Lunch - Resource Table and optional discussion with DOW staff - Domestic Violence and Services available through DCF Division on Women

1:00 p.m. - Dispelling Myths and Removing the Stigma of Mental Health Treatment

Dr. Barbara Prempeh

2:00 - Break

2:15 p.m. - Problematic Sexual Behavior

Renee Roman, LMSW, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center

3:15 p.m. Closing Remarks – Commissioner Christine Beyer

New Jersey Task Force on Abuse and Neglect 2022 Skill Building Conference