Complex Care Webinar October 2026: Harm Reduction for Youth with High-Risk Behaviors: The Role of the Caregivers in Supporting Youth Toward Safety

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Caregivers play a critical role in promoting safety, connection and resilience for youth with complex care needs. This webinar will help service providers and caregivers partner effectively to respond to youth safety concerns while maintaining supportive relationships. Participants will explore harm reduction principles and practical strategies to reduce risk, strengthen connections and support youth toward safer and healthier outcomes. 

Participants will be able to: 

• Describe how caregivers can support professionals who are working with youth to implement harm reduction strategies.
• Discuss practical and relevant harm reduction strategies that caregivers can implement directly.

Presenters

Dawn Blacker, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist and director of training and operations at the UC Davis CAARE Center at UC Davis Children's Hospital. For more than 25 years, Blacker has focused her clinical research work on abuse, neglect and trauma in family systems, along with training clinicians in evidence-based practices. She provides therapy and evaluation services across diverse communities and oversees Sacramento County contracts supporting sexually exploited youth and their caregivers. She co-developed web courses and caregiver skills curriculum on sexual exploitation and serves as co-chair of the NCTSN Child Trafficking Workgroup. 

Brandi Liles, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist working at the UC Davis Children's Hospital CAARE Diagnostic Treatment Center. Liles is the Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral therapy coordinator and has been nationally recognized as a master trainer since 2016. Her work centers on trauma-informed care for system involved and sexually exploited youth, including training for probation and child protective services staff. She provides evidence based treatment for youth ages 3-21 and their families.