Dave Ellis
Our opening keynote, Dave Ellis, will be presenting "Understanding NEAR: Building Self-Healing Communities."
Let’s discuss the impact of childhood trauma and its implications across the course of a person’s life. Together, we’ll explore the basic biological foundation of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), examine key elements of the ACE score (i.e., dose response, highly inter-related), identify the core protective systems and discuss personal steps. This interactive presentation will include small and large group dialog, reflection and time for questions and answers. Come ready to actively participate and engage with others as we delve into ACEs and generational trauma.
Dave Ellis is the founding executive director of the New Jersey Office of Resilience, where he shares his expertise with the State of New Jersey and coordinates statewide efforts to prevent, protect against and heal from the effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). He is a national leader in providing trainings and facilitating conversations on the lasting impacts of ACEs and generational trauma. Ellis is a lead trainer and facilitator on ACEs with the New Jersey Education Association and facilitates community dialogues and public-private partnerships to promote wellbeing across Minneapolis.
Sade Burrell
How Elevating the Family and Children's Voices Creates an Impact
As a person who experienced foster care as a child and then later became a social worker, Sade Burrell brings a unique and intimate perspective to the field of child welfare. Her personal experiences are what ultimately led her to advocate for change within the foster care system. In her key mote, Burrell will walk us through her personal journey within the foster care system. She’ll share what action steps were taken by a social worker who impacted her life beyond anyone’s expectation.
Watch the full recording of this presentation here
Sade Burrell is a Master of Social Work graduate from the University of Southern California. She has been recognized throughout California for her efforts to eliminate child abuse through her advocacy work. Her efforts have led to the passing of Senate Bill 1252, a bill that provides former foster youth with stable housing until age 25 while enrolled in post-secondary education. As an author of two published books, What Are You Reaching For? and The Opportunity Guide, Burrell has traveled the country impacting many lives. Now, as a doctoral student, her research focuses on exploring the impact leadership has on campus-based programs serving students who experienced foster care.
Opening Remarks
Angie Schwartz, J.D., is deputy director of the Children and Family Services Division, California Department of Social Services. In this leadership role, she is responsible for designing and overseeing an array of programs and services for California's at-risk children and families. Her focus is on creating a child and family well-being system to ensure engagement with a family in crisis proactively supports the parent and child, values the child’s family and community, and promotes all aspects of well-being so that the child and family can heal and thrive while addressing disparities and inequities within the system. Angie joined CDSS with nearly two decades of experience in child welfare reform.
Autumn Boylan, M.P.H., is the deputy director of the Office of Strategic Partnerships at the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). In this role, Boylan serves as a key contributor in the formulation of policy to achieve the mission of DHCS. She provides strategic direction to and leads department-wide initiatives, such as the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI). Boylan has over 15 years of experience working in the public behavioral health system, including over 12 years with the State of California. She has been with DHCS since 2015 and has extensive expertise in Medi-Cal’s health care delivery systems, services and programs.
Meet the Institute MCs
Ebony Chambers is the Family & Youth Partnership chief officer at Stanford Sierra Youth and Families and has over 18 years of experience working with issues of social justice, equity, child welfare, mental health and diversity. She brings both professional and personal life experiences to her work and provides the oversight of advocacy and support to youth and families in Northern California. In addition, she is a speaker, educator and workshop leader who has worked extensively throughout the U.S. and has served nationally and locally as an advocate and activist for access to care and the elimination of the stigma of mental illness for underserved and unserved communities.
Cheryl Treadwell has more than 23 years of experience at the California Department of Social Services’ Children and Family Services Division, working on several programs and initiatives that impact providers, resource families, foster youth and tribes. In April 2021, she was appointed as chief of the Safety, Prevention and Early Intervention Branch, which is organized to focus state efforts on the front end of the child welfare system. In this role, she provides leadership to implementing the Family First Prevention Services Act. Her education spans both the social work and legal field along with her extensive experience working in the community and in human services for more than 30 years.