Each year The Alliance brings together top mental health providers, counselors, therapists and trauma experts around the Greater Sacramento Region to provide valuable training on the effects of childhood trauma and strategies to build connection and promote healing.
Join us in-person for our 9th annual conference with a wide variety of valuable sessions for parents, caregivers, foster/adoptive families, professionals and anyone working or volunteering with kids in our community. Our theme will be moving from CHAOS to CONNECTION.
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We can't wait to see you there!
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*Resource Families are eligible to earn certificates for Parent Training hours. See details below.
EDUCATION &
CONFERENCE BENEFITS
Resource Parent Training Hours
Certificates for
4 hours of Resource Parent Training provided at the end of the conference
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Connection
Time
This year we built in time to process what you learened & connect with our speakers and other attendees over lunch.
In-Person
Extras
Coffee & Healthy Snacks ​
Conference Swag Bag
Prize Give-Aways
Chair Massages
Lunch
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CONFERENCE
SCHEDULE
8-8:30am Conference Check-In
8:30-9:10am Main Session 1
9:20-10:20am Breakout Session 1
10:20-10:40am Coffee Break
10:40-11:40am Breakout Session 2
11:40am-12:20pm Lunch/Connection Time
12:20-1pm Main Session 2
Main sessions
Breakout Sessions
MAIN SESSION 1
​An In-Depth Discussion on
Chaos & Connection​​
Trauma causes chaos in the brain, body and behavior of kids but healthy connections promote healing. Learn valuable insights from psychiatrist, Dr. Melanie Trowbridge, marriage & family therapist, Tyler Harston, and clinical counselor, Amy Foraker in this expert panel.
MAIN SESSION 2
​A Way Forward
Former Police Chief Daniel Hahn ​
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As a child, Daniel experienced significant chaos including witnessing gun violence and murder. In this session he will share his personal story of hope and the deep connection he built with his adoptive mom.
Trauma-Informed Classrooms
Christina Marlow, M.A. | Teacher & Adoptive Parent
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When teachers and school staff understand the attitudes and behaviors exhibited by students with a trauma history, they can be better prepared to respond compassionately. This breakout will help parents and teachers explore how to create trauma-informed classrooms by communicating student's needs and strengths, setting up safe spaces, responding to behaviors appropriately, and implementing positive interventions. Small changes can make a big impact to help kids and teens with a trauma history reach their academic and social-emotional goals.
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Trauma-Informed Classrooms
Christina Marlow, M.A. | Teacher & Adoptive Parent
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When teachers and school staff understand the attitudes and behaviors exhibited by students with a trauma history, they can be better prepared to respond compassionately. This breakout will help parents and teachers explore how to create trauma-informed classrooms by communicating student's needs and strengths, setting up safe spaces, responding to behaviors appropriately, and implementing positive interventions. Small changes can make a big impact to help kids and teens with a trauma history reach their academic and social-emotional goals.
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Everybody Grieves...Let's Talk About It
Kayleigh Chang MS, CCLS | Certified Child Life Specialist
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Loss is pervasive and while everybody grieves, not everyone is comfortable talking about it. This is particularly true for children with a trauma history but, as parents and caregivers, we don’t always know how to identify, validate, and help kids process. In this breakout we’ll define terms related to grief and loss, gain awareness of how a child’s developmental level impacts grieving, and identify practical language to use when talking to children and teens about loss. There can be many different personal, cultural, and religious responses to grief, so come learn new tools and interventions to help kids impacted by loss navigate through hard situations.
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Healing from Trauma Through Faith & Neuroscience
Heidi White, MA | Alliance Edcuation & Church Relations Director​
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Neuroscience confirms the reality of trauma's impact on the brain, body, and behavior. Trauma is a result of a broken world, and when it enters a family system, a society, or a life, fracturing occurs. Using a gospel-centered approach, we will address spiritual practices, from a Christian perspective, that bring wholeness and healing. Rooted in scripture and backed by science, you will walk away from this session with practical applications and hope.
Speakers
Amy Foraker, LPCC
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor | Bayside Counseling & Private Practice
Amy is a licensed clinician working primarily with couples, adults, and teens who are navigating their way into resiliency following a history of trauma. She is skilled in helping her clients make sense of their messy stories, while teaching them to hold both the beauty and pain this world offers. Amy sees clients through Bayside Counseling Center in addition to running her own private practice in Amador County. Amy is a wife and mom in a wild blended family. In her "off" time, she loves the beach, playing golf, and leading worship at her local church.
Christina Marlow, MA
Elementary Teacher | Adoptive Parent
Christina is a teacher in the Rocklin Unified School District and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the classroom. She hold a Masters in Elementary Education and has been dedicated to the field for many years. Outside of work, Christina has been married to her husband Josh for 19 years they have four children, two of whom we adopted through foster care. She has first hand experience finding strategies to help her adopted sons find success in the classroom and applying trauma-informed methods with her own students. The Marlow family enjoys spending time together hiking, swimming, reading, and playing board games together.
​Corinne Brodnicki, MA, LMFT
Marriage & Family Therapist | Adjunct Professor
Corinne has been a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist for the past 12 years, working with children, teens adults and families. She is also an Adjunct Professor of Psychology at Jessup University, and serves as the Clinical Training Coordinator and a Clinical Supervisor at Wellness Together, a school-based mental health organization. Outside of her professional life, she is a wife and a mom to a dynamic 3-year-old daughter and an energetic 5-year-old son. She also loves traveling and can often be found with a cup of coffee in hand.
Daniel Hahn, MPA
Former Sacramento/Roseville Chief of Police
Chief Hahn retired from a distinguished career of over 34 years in law enforcement. He served as the first African American police chief in the cities of Roseville and Sacramento. Daniel was raised in the Oak Park neighborhood of Sacramento after being adopted at three months old. Daniel holds a Bachelor’s Degree from California State University, Sacramento and a Masters of Public Administration from National University. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy, P.O.S.T. Command College, Sierra HealthFoundation Leadership Program, American Leadership Forum (ALF), and Stanford University’s Local Governance Summer Institute. Daniel is an adjunct professor at California State University, Sacramento, and has developed a History and Implicit Bias course through years of research.
Heidi White, MA
Educator & Church Relations Director | The Alliance
Heidi holds Master's Degree in Human Services with a focus on trauma and crisis counseling. Prior to joining The Alliance team, Heidi worked for 4 years in the foster care system as an adoption clerk and group home staff followed by 6 years at Bayside Church's Thrive College as the Women's Student Life Director. Heidi is a certified Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) Practitioner and a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). She is passionate about equipping families and churches to bring hope and healing to the kids in their care.
Kayleigh Chang MS, CCLS
Certified Child Life Specialist
Kayleigh is a Certified Child Life Specialist who is passionate about supporting vulnerable children, youth and families in a variety of settings. Clinically, Kayleigh has worked with children in the hospital setting - educating, preparing and advocating for patients experiencing hospitalization, trauma and end-of-life legacy building. Academically, Kayleigh teaches grief and loss courses at multiple universities with the goal to build the knowledge, skills and abilities of students surrounding loss. At home, Kayleigh and her husband are a licensed resource family welcoming foster children alongside their biological children, navigating ongoing grief and loss through the world of foster care.
Melanie Trowbridge, M.D.
Private Practice Psychiatrist
Melanie Trowbridge is thankful to hold a medical doctorate specializing in psychiatry. Her undergraduate degree was completed at Mount Vernon Nazarene University. Her M.D. degree was earned from the Medical College of Ohio (now University of Toledo). Internship was taken at U.C. Irvine. Residency continued at U.C. Davis with Sub-Specialty Fellowship in Child/Adolescent Psychiatry. Her career has included serving in clinical, professorial, and speaking roles. Her current Roseville private practice supports a private-pay population where both psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy are offered. Melanie enjoys engaging with her community in conference and group settings. More about Melanie can be found at www.TheIntegrativePsychiatrist.com.
Tiffany Loeffler, DPT
Founder & Executive | The Alliance
Tiffany is the Founder and Executive Director of The Alliance. She and her husband Matt began advocating for vulnerable kids in 2010 after a mission trip to Haiti and went on to lead over 20 short term mission teams over the next 7 years. Tiffany has been involved in church leadership and the local foster/adoption community since 2012 and now works with over 50 local churches, agencies and nonprofits in the Greater Sacramento Area. As an adoptive mom with 2 teens that came home from Haiti in 2017, Tiffany is well versed in understanding and navigating the world of childhood trauma. She holds a degree in biology with an emphasis in neurobiology, physiology and behavior plus a doctorate in physical therapy. When not treating patients or doing nonprofit work, she loves animals, reading, and spending time in nature.
Tyler Harston, LMFT
Marriage and Family Therapist | Harston Psychotherapy
Tyler has a clinical background in adoption and trauma in both group home and outpatient settings. He also has clinical experience with those in the criminal justice system. Tyler has a keen eye for detail and a knack for translating emotional language. He works primarily with individuals, couples, and families on grief, anxiety, depression, childhood trauma, reactivity, emotional expression, trust-building, communication, trauma-informed parenting, empowerment, and some brainspotting. Tyler has a private practice in Fair Oaks and received his Master’s degree from Alliant International University. He and his beautiful wife Jessica have been married for 10 years. They have 2 wonderful children and a snuggly puppy.