Pre Conference Institute

NEW THIS YEAR!
Choose from three exciting Pre-Conference Institute options — attend in person or virtually!
For just 
$75, you’ll gain access to the Pre-Conference session of your choice.
$150 will give you access to all three pre conference institutes- You can attend one live and

Don’t miss this opportunity to dive deep into specialized topics before the main conference begins!

Workshop Title:  Safety by Design: Preventing Escalation Before It Starts
Date:
Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM 

Cost: $75


Presenters: 

Emilyn Wahl, Parenting Time Director
SomePlace Safe
Chrystal Fische, Executive Director & Founder
Parenting with Grace

Non-Conference Attendees can register to attend virtually 

Conflict in supervised parenting time settings can escalate quickly, but it doesn't have to. This interactive workshop equips participants with tested tools to de-escalate situations before they spiral, grounded in trauma-informed and child-centered practice. Drawing on real-world cases, presenters will share the LEAPS framework (Listen, Empathize, Ask, Paraphrase, Summarize) alongside additional verbal, non-verbal, and environmental techniques staff can use to calm heightened emotions.

Participants will experience scenario-based practice with de-escalation scripts and problem-solve challenging situations in small groups. They’ll also explore common pitfalls (tone, body language, unintentional triggers), adaptations that reduce stress, and clear documentation methods that protect both children and programs. Attendees will leave with a De-escalation Toolkit including scripts, quick-reference prompts, and a reflection practice for staff to use in the moment. The body can't go where the brain hasn't been. This training gives professionals the rehearsal they need to stay calm, centered, and safe.


Workshop Title:  Bridging the Gap: From Therapeutic Supervised Visitation to Reunification Therapy, A Continuum of Care Model
Date:
Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM 

Cost: $75


Presenters: 

Monique Harris-Whitt, LCSW
Aiyyeimah Berry, CPCI
The Therapeutic Solution

Non-Conference Attendees can register to attend virtually 

Families engaged in supervised visitation often struggle with unresolved trauma, fractured relationships, and court-driven timelines. While supervised visitation ensures safety, many agencies lack a clear framework for transitioning families into meaningful therapeutic interventions and reunification therapy. This session introduces a continuum-of-care model developed by The Therapeutic Solution (TTS) that integrates Therapeutic Supervised Visitation (TSV), trauma-informed treatment, and reunification planning.

Participants will learn how to identify transition readiness, implement therapeutic interventions during visits, and create structured reunification roadmaps that courts and families can follow. This model reduces family conflict, promotes child well-being, and shortens the time families spend entangled in the system.

By the end of this session, providers, attorneys, and court professionals will leave with practical strategies and a framework they can adopt within their own programs, while also understanding the long-term financial and relational benefits of therapeutic continuity.


Workshop Title:  Custody Decision-Making When Coercive Control is An Issue
Date:
Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM 

Cost: $75


Presenters: 

The Honorable Victor Reyes (ret)
Mahakaruna Holistic Foundations

Non-Conference Attendees can register to attend virtually 

Visitation providers often find themselves questioning—sometimes silently—the decisions made by judicial officers in cases involving coercive control. This session explores how those judicial decisions are reached and what visitation providers can do to enhance the safety and resilience of victims and children. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the importance of identifying coercive control in custody and visitation cases and addressing it through court processes and carefully prepared orders that safeguard families.

The workshop will also examine strategies to recognize the presence and effects of coercive control using a broader definition of domestic violence—one that extends beyond physical abuse to encompass coercive and controlling behaviors that harm both children and parents. By understanding the judicial decision-making process when coercive control is at issue, providers will be better equipped to collaborate effectively with the courts and contribute to safer, more informed outcomes for families.