Rooted in Resilience Summit

Presented by: FamilyTime Crisis and Counseling Center, Harris County DEEO, HCDVCC

Rooted in Resilience is a one-day summit focused on early childhood development and domestic violence.

Designed for advocates, educators, mental health professionals, and cross-sector systems, including legal, law enforcement, local officials, and child-serving organizations, the event explores how early adversity shapes development and what we can do to foster healing and resilience in young children and their families.

Through engaging presentations led by trauma experts, live demonstrations, and collaborative panel discussions, participants will explore neurodevelopment, attachment, and system-level support and gain practical tools to help children and their caregivers build lasting resilience in the face of trauma.

Keynote speaker Victor Rivers, advocate and actor best known for his roles in Blood In, Blood Out and The Mask of Zorro, will share his powerful story of surviving childhood domestic violence and the life-changing impact of a community that showed up.

AGENDA

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Registration | Resource Fair | Immersive Virtual Reality Therapy Demos | Grounding Station

Breakfast Provided

10:00 AM – 10:15 AM
Welcome & Opening Reflections – “Rooted in Purpose”
Presenter: Christina J. Allen, JD
Chief Executive Officer, FamilyTime Crisis & Counseling Center

10:15 AM – 11:15 AM
Keynote: “How Are the Children? Understanding Domestic Violence as a Community Issue”
Presenter: Victor Rivas Rivers
Actor, Athlete & National Spokesperson for the National Network to End Domestic Violence

11:15 AM – 12:05 PM
Session 1: Breaking Intergenerational Cycles of Trauma Through Caregiver Supports
Presenter: Dr. Leila Wood, PhD, MSSW
Professor, UTHealth McGovern Medical School & Director of Research and Evaluation, Center for Violence Prevention

12:05 PM – 12:30 PM
Break | Resource Fair | Immersive Virtual Reality Therapy Demos | Grounding Station

12:30 PM – 1:20 PM
Lunch + Panel Discussion: Pathways to Resilience – Building Stronger Networks for Children and Caregivers
Lunch Provided

1:30 PM – 2:20 PM
Session 2: When Home Isn’t Safe – The Neurodevelopmental Impact of DV on Children Under 5
Presenter: Diane Vines, MA, LMFT-S, LPC-S, RPT-S
NMT Program Director, The Neurosequential Network

2:20 PM – 2:35 PM
Break | Resource Fair | Immersive Virtual Reality Therapy Demos | Grounding Station

2:35 PM – 3:20 PM
Session 3: Attachment Disruptions & Healing Pathways
Presenter: Dr. Leslie Taylor, PhD, MSSW
Director of Research and Evaluation, VIPR and Center for Violence Prevention, McGovern Medical School (UTHealth Houston)

3:20 PM – 4:00 PM
Closing Session – Connecting the Roots: Services & Supports