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

Research shows that clinicians struggle with knowing when clients are not progressing, and that the difference between effective and ineffective practitioners outweighs the difference between good and bad treatment models. Yet our ethical frameworks have been slow to address practitioner self-awareness as a core competency.  Ethical practice demands more than good intentions — it requires honest self-examination of the gap between what we believe we are doing in the clinical hour and what is actually happening. This presentation uses structured protocols, case scenarios, and clinical interaction analysis to examine the ethical obligations that underpin effective practice. Participants will explore how clinical judgment and bias — left unexamined — can compromise the therapeutic relationship, distort intervention choices, and undermine our ability to accurately evaluate client progress. Engaging directly with scenarios drawn from supervision and feedback-informed approaches, attendees will have the opportunity to identify interaction patterns associated with both positive and harmful outcomes. Presented by: Geoffrey C. Sidoli, MSW, LCSW is a nationally recognized clinical social worker, consultant, and trainer with over three decades of experience in childhood trauma, child abuse prevention, and the assessment and treatment of children and youth exhibiting Problematic Sexual Behaviors (PSB). He is widely sought for his expertise in trauma-informed approaches, coordinated community responses to PSB, and ethical practice in the field of sexual abuse. Based in Asheville, NC, Geoff's career has spanned direct clinical practice, organizational leadership, and national training and policy work. He maintained a private practice in Asheville for over two decades, providing individual and family therapy, assessments of sexualized behaviors, and evaluations for juveniles and adults involved in the legal system. He served as Executive Director of the Mountain Child Advocacy Center and oversaw the clinical operations of seven evidence-based treatment models. He co-developed an enhancement of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) for children with Problematic Sexual Behaviors, chaired NCA's annual national mental health conference "Seamless," and facilitates NCA's national work group on Youth with Problematic Sexual Behaviors. He also operates his own national consulting practice, providing training, clinical supervision, and expert testimony to Child Advocacy Centers, multidisciplinary teams, and communities across the country. 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