Nebraska Alliance Training Network

This training will be conducted by Dr. Angela Kratochvil-Stava, MD Children's Physicians- Kearney and Family Advocacy Network Medical Director. This training will review medical evaluations of child maltreatment at Child Advocacy Centers.    Objectives 1. Review core principles of child abuse assessment, including forensic examinations, medical evaluation, child sexual abuse concepts, and common myths in abuse evaluations. 2. Recognize physical findings of child abuse, including cutaneous injuries, fractures, and inflicted head trauma. 3. Describe current medical evidence and best practices related to the evaluation of suspected child maltreatment.     Dr. Angie Kratochvil-Stava was born in Kearney, Nebraska where she returned in 2010 to start her medical practice. She attended the University of Kansas and earned a B.A. in Microbiology before moving to Omaha to attend medical school at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. She then completed her Pediatrics residency at UNMC-Creighton-Children's Nebraska joint program. She is employed by Children's Nebraska and sees pediatric patients of all ages at the Children's clinic, CHI Good Samaritan and Kearney Regional Medical Center. She is the medical director of the Family Advocacy Network and has been involved in forensic pediatrics since 2009. She is also the assistant dean of the UNMC College of Medicine regional campus in Kearney.  Read more

This training provides an overview of Conditions for Return and their role in child welfare practice and court oversight. Participants will explore the purpose of Conditions for Return, how they differ from services or case plan tasks, and how they are used to clearly identify what must be demonstrated to support a child’s safe return home. The training emphasizes clarity, alignment with safety concerns, and the importance of Conditions for Return in supporting consistent decision-making across the system. Presented by: Kirsten Perry Kirsten is a Child and Family Services (CFS) Learning & Development Supervisor with Nebraska DHHS, serving the Eastern Service Area. She brings over 15 years of experience in child welfare, including 10 years of ongoing case management and 5 years in training and workforce development. In her current role, Kirsten designs and delivers training for CFS professionals, supporting practice understanding, consistency across the system, and the application of policy and practice frameworks in day-to-day work. She also brings professional and lived experience to her work, including experience as a foster parent. Read more

In many helping professions, workers face moments where they know what should be done, but systemic barriers, conflicting policies, or power dynamics make it difficult or impossible to act. This internal struggle, known as moral distress, can lead to frustration, ethical erosion, and emotional fatigue over time. At the same time, cultivating moral courage - the ability to act with integrity even under pressure - can be a powerful protective factor. It helps professionals navigate ethical complexity without losing sight of their core values. This session will offer practical tools to recognize and respond to moral distress, and build the moral courage needed to act with integrity in complex systems. Presented by: Françoise Mathieu, Executive Director, TEND Read more

Full workdays, trauma exposure, and administrative roadblocks can leave us feeling drained and, at times, disillusioned. Yet, we may remember a time when we felt inspired and energized by our career choice. How do we recapture our sense of satisfaction and fulfilment? What can we learn from those in our fields who seem to stay well no matter the circumstance? Research has shown that by engaging in career-sustaining behaviours, we can stay compassionate and present throughout our careers. This training provides strategies to incorporate these behaviours into our work and lives.  Presented by: Françoise Mathieu, Executive Director, TEND Read more

Featuring: Pat Sailors and Katy Pickel, HopeSpoke Mental Health Consultations are open to all therapists on-site or linked with Nebraska Child Advocacy Centers and offers the following benefits to attendees: Build a supportive network and share ideas Stay updated on mental health research and resources Meets Component I for Mental Health supervision/consultation requirement in the 2023 NCA Accreditation Standards Read more

Featuring: Michelle Book Mental Health Consultations are open to all therapists on-site or linked with Nebraska Child Advocacy Centers and offers the following benefits to attendees: Build a supportive network and share ideas Stay updated on mental health research and resources Meets Component I for Mental Health supervision/consultation requirement in the 2023 NCA Accreditation Standards Read more