2025 Autumn Institute for Public Assistance Professionals

Thank you for your interest in the 2025 Autumn Institute for Public Assistance Professionals! Please use the "Enroll now" link on this page to register.

To learn more about this year's Institute, please visit our event website.

Academic Units

Section Number

252INS900

Instruction Method

Online class

Section Notes

Early Enrollment Fee (ends October 17th): $297.50 or .07 training units per person for those utilizing their county training days.
Standard Enrollment Fee (registration closes on November 3): $340 or 0.08 training unit per person for those utilizing their county training days.

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Section Schedule

Wed., Thur., Fri., Nov 12th, 2025 to Nov 14th, 2025, 8:00am to 12:00pm

Wed., Nov 12th, 2025, 8:30am to 10:00am

Wed., Nov 12th, 2025, 10:30am to 12:00pm

Thur., Nov 13th, 2025, 8:30am to 10:00am

Thur., Nov 13th, 2025, 10:30am to 12:00pm

Fri., Nov 14th, 2025, 8:30am to 10:00am

Fri., Nov 14th, 2025, 10:30am to 12:00pm

Fees

$297.5

Instructors

Laurie Cozart

Laurie Cozart, MBA, MCC, is a coaching instructor and founder of Brain Squared Leadership Solutions. With more than 30 years of experience, she helps leaders and teams elevate performance, trust and collaboration. Cozart mentors new and seasoned coaches to lead with clarity, empathy and impact. Her brain-based, relational approach blends systems thinking with practical tools for transformational conversations. Known for high-energy, human-centered teaching, Cozart creates space for deep learning and real growth.

Jeremy Duvall

Jeremy Duvall, M.A., is a workforce development specialist with more than 10 years of experience in academic development and social services program coordination. Duvall is passionate about empowering staff and clients within human services departments to live their best lives. He specializes in Growth Mindset over Fixed Mindset, secondary trauma management, Cal-OAR and staff training methodologies, and he cares deeply about helping those most in need and providing staff with all the tools they need to affect positive change in the lives of those most in need.

Lamar Henderson

Lamar Henderson is a longtime fatherhood advocate and respected supervisor with Merced County’s All Dads Matter program. For more than 20 years, he has shaped a countywide model for father engagement recognized at the state and federal levels. Henderson facilitates evidence-based parenting programs and trains professionals statewide through UC Davis and Fresno State. A certified ACE Overcomers and Helping Men Recover trainer, he has also served 13 years as Chair of Merced County’s Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Commission. A proud father and grandfather, he honors the memory of his late wife, Virginia, with whom he shared 33 years of partnership and parenting.

Avni Panchal

Avni Panchal, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker with over 10 years of child welfare and behavioral health experience. She has her own private practice where she offers individual, couples’ therapy and services for organizations like dialogue circles, coaching and consulting. She offers a wide range of trainings for professionals in the field, including trauma-informed practice, mindfulness, assessing for safety and risk, fairness and equity, SOGIE, engagement and interviewing, sexual harassment, workplace violence, introduction to social services and more. As a person of color, Panchal works to decolonize social work and mental health so that there can be more than one approach for a thriving life. Panchal also teaches part-time with San Francisco State University's Social Work Department.

Jay David

Jay David is a staff development specialist for Contra Costa County, where he designs, develops and facilitates training programs for a diverse workforce, utilizing instructional design methodologies, curriculum development strategies and e-learning technologies to enhance professional growth and organizational effectiveness. With more than 20 years of experience in public service and workforce development, David brings a collaborative, learner-focused approach to continuing education. His passion lies in empowering individuals through accessible, high-quality training and advancing equity in professional development.

Daniel James Witherell

Daniel James Witherell has more than 20 years of experience working in human services. Formerly an eligibility worker, supervisor and trainer for the Siskiyou County Department of Human Services, he has trained staff on CalWORKs, CalFresh food stamps, Medi-Cal, CMSP and general assistance, as well as automated eligibility systems, including ISAWS. An instructor for UC Davis' Human Services Programs since 1992, Witherell is the recipient of an Outstanding Service Award for Teaching.

Cathy Hoyle

Cathy Hoyle, M.A., MBA, has more than 20 years of combined leadership development experience from her work at Intel, Blue Shield of California, and Adventist Health. Her leadership style fosters a supportive, collaborative environment that encourages growth through open dialogue and peer learning. A skilled coach and facilitator, she has led more than 200 leadership sessions for professionals at all levels. As a compassionate coach and engaging facilitator, Hoyle listens deeply and builds trusting relationships, empowering her clients to grow and thrive.

Tammy Rice

Tammy Rice, M.S., is an innovative educator, consultant, trainer, coach, manager and leader with more than 20 years of experience in diverse corporate, non-profit, city, state and federal government sectors. She strives for optimal performance in her experiences as a deputy probation officer, social work supervisor, program specialist and unit manager which reflects her broad lens and abilities in policy development, training, coaching, budgeting and program operations. Rice is an ongoing advocate and consultant for diversity, equity and inclusion throughout the U.S. and is dedicated to inspiring others to understand their purpose.

Kelly West-Binning

Kelly West-Binning is a dedicated training instructor with over 15 years of experience in health and human services. She specializes in creating and delivering training programs that empower staff to succeed, showcasing proven customer service excellence and leadership in supervisory roles. Known for her friendly, empathetic approach, West-Binning excels in active listening and information exchange. She is skilled in systems like CalSAWS, Microsoft Suite and multimedia tools for virtual and live training. West-Binning has led programs including CalFresh, Medi-Cal, CalWORKs, employment services, clerical and diversity, ACE’s and trauma-informed care, collaborating with experts to enhance staff development.

Mandi Brum

Mandi Brum has more than twenty years of experience in the field of health and human services. In addition to leading as a division director, she has served as a program administrator, administrative analyst, and has supervised Public Assistance, Housing and Homelessness, and Staff Development Training programs. As an instructor, Brum emphasizes the need for helping professionals to apply a strengths-based approach, keeping integrated service delivery at the forefront. Brum has developed and facilitated training for various audiences, levels of leadership and professional development topics. She values and promotes the importance of building capacity through effective leadership.

Kimberle Smith Austin

Kimberle Smith Austin, MBA, DTM, QS, is a business strategist, international speaker, bestselling author and seasoned business professor with over 25 years of expertise in leadership development, organizational development and sales. Throughout her career, she has earned a reputation as a go-to professional for solving complex challenges and facilitating transformative changes from the boardroom to the classroom. Recognized as a thought leader, she employs a dynamic engagement style and a strategic consultative approach to empower organizations and take them to their next level.

Catherine Payne

Catherine Payne is a professional trainer, facilitator and coach with extensive experience in public service and leadership development. With more than a decade of experience in curriculum design and interactive facilitation, she specializes in social services, executive teaming and employee coaching. Payne is dedicated to creating engaging learning experiences that foster growth, strengthen team dynamics and equip professionals with the tools for success.

Stacy Bradford

Stacy Bradford has developed and led training programs for new eligibility workers, covering a broad range of topics including CalFresh, CalWORKs, Medi-Cal, CalSAWS, CalHEERS, Welfare to Work, Foster Care, General Assistance, case management, diverse learning styles and phone communication skills. She brings over 17 years of customer service experience, with more than 8 of those years dedicated to eligibility worker and analyst roles within the human services field. Her expertise spans intake, continuing care and foster care eligibility.

Kelly Bazzani

Kelly Bazzani, M.A., is a certified master life coach specializing in and dedicated to destigmatizing mental health by promoting emotional wellness. Bazzani shares her wisdom worldwide, inspiring change and fostering healing through her unique insight into the human psyche. Her work is dedicated to mentoring and transforming lives through mental health advocacy and resilience, empowering others to find their inner strength and to achieve lasting inner freedom. The Coach Foundation has ranked Bazzani among the top 10 resilience coaches. She was also awarded Best Life Coaching by Style Magazine for four consecutive years. Recently, Bazzani was awarded Top Instructor and Mental Health Advocate of the Year by the International Association of Top Professionals.

Keisha Stephney

Keisha Stephney is a staff development specialist with Contra Costa County, where she specializes in training frontline staff on both technical policies and essential soft skills—including communication, time management, and customer service. With more than 30 years of experience in social services, she applies her deep knowledge of public assistance programs and a passion for professional development to her work. Known for her engaging, real-world approach, she empowers teams to provide high-quality, client-centered services while promoting equity and accountability.

Steve Cozart

Steve Cozart, PCC, is a seasoned facilitator, speaker and coach with broad experience in public and private sectors. As president of Brain Squared Leadership Solutions, he integrates neuroscience and coaching to support thriving leadership. His background as a talent agent and acting coach informs his mission to help others embrace visibility and express their natural gifts. Cozart is also skilled in translating technical content for non-technical audiences, making his trainings accessible and impactful.

Derrin Ford

Derrin Ford, M.Ed., is a visionary coach and workforce development consultant who serves those in need of clarity and structure for their future professional goals. Inspired and mentored by leaders across several industries, he coaches clients to improve their self-awareness through a technique he calls mastering internal dialogue. With more than 9 years of professional experience (including roles as a career counselor and a workforce development coach & trainer in CWDS), he brings critical thinking and self-awareness strategies into group environments to improve everyone's internal validation and autonomy.