2026 Conference Agenda
Day 1 (Monday, August 10th, 2026)
8:00 am - 8:45 am Registration
8:45 am - 9:00 am Welcome
9:00 am - 11:00 am Keynote Presentation
* Sextortion and Online Exploitation
Speaker: Justin Broxterman - FBI VCAC Task Force, Topeka Department
* Detective Justin Broxterman is a 23 year veteran of the Topeka Police Department. Since 2015, Broxterman has been assigned as a Task Force Officer to the FBI's Violent Crime Against Children Task Force. As part of this task force, Broxterman investigates the sexual victimization of children, identifies and rescues child victims, and works to reduce the vulnerability of children to sexual exploitation and abuse. In addition to these duties, Broxterman has been certified and is currently assigned to the FBI's Child Abduction Rapid Response Team for the State of Kansas. Broxterman also investigates human trafficking related offenses pertaining to both juvenile and adult victims.
This training will provide an age-appropriate education and overview on current trends and criminal activity associated with the online victimization of children in our community. TFO Broxterman will discuss specific methods used by suspects who coerce, entice, and blackmail child victims. TFO Broxterman will also provide examples of this type of activity, as it is currently occurring in our community. TFO Broxterman will address trends and real-life examples associated with sextortion of minor victims. At the end of this presentation, attendees will have a better understanding of how and why children are being victimized online, how to recognize the signs of this activity as it is occurring, actions to take if you are a victim or potential victim, how to respond if you become aware of a child who is a victim, and how to work with children and other adults to recognize and prevent this activity before it occurs.
11:15 am - 12:15 pm Lunch; Visit Exhibitors
12:15 pm - 12:30 pm Lunch Speaker: Legislative Updates (KDADS)
12:30 pm - 12:45 pm
* Lunch Speaker: Therapy Dog Introduction
Sherri Bryant - Canine Companions
* Sherri is a Volunteer Puppy Raiser, Therapy Dog Handler and the Chapter Lead for the Heartland Chapter of Canine Companions. As a puppy raiser, she receives an eight-week old puppy from the organization and spends the next 16 months teaching it 30 cues and socializing it in a wide variety of public environments. When the puppy is approximately 18 months old, she returns it to Canine Companions where it works with a professional trainer for another 6-9 months on its journey to become a service dog for an adult, child or veteran with a disability. These service dogs are provided at no cost to the recipients. Sherri is currently raising her 8th puppy, Groff. When a dog isn't qualified to become a service dog, they can become certified therapy dogs if they have the right temperament. One of Sherri's puppies, Kara, became certified as a therapy dog las year and visits a variety of places spreading joy and love to many! As the Chapter Lead, Sherri works with volunteers across Kansas and Missouri, Speaking at and attending events to spread the mission of Canine Companions and educate the public about service dogs. Sherri is also a full-time workers's compensation specialist for a construction company in Overland Park, KS.
12:45 pm - 1:45 pm
Breakout Session #1 (Day 1) - Program Resources
* Margaret Wolfe - Department for Children and Families
12:45 pm - 1:45 pm
Breakout Session #1 (Day 1) - Suicide Prevention Tool Kit
* Trish Backman, MA - Kansas State Department of Education
* Trish Backman is a veteran special educator with 2 years of experience who joined KSDE in 2023 as the School Mental Health Coordinator. Her background spans inclusive, therapeutic, and correctional education, specializing in emotional disabilities, behavior disorders, and severe mental health needs. At KSDE she supports school social workers and psychologists statewide and leads work in areas such as discipline, safety, suicide and addiction supports, accreditation, and interagency collaboration. She is driven by a deep belief in every child's ability to grow and a commitment to creating strong, collaborative systems for Kansas students.
12:45 pm - 1:45 pm
Breakout Session #1 (Day 1) - TBD (KDADS)
12:45 pm - 1:45 pm
Breakout Session #1 (Day 1) - TBD (KDHE)
12:45 pm - 1:45 pm
Breakout Session #1 (Day 1) - Fight Club: Real Talk, Real Support, Real Impact
* Ryan Bevins - Fight Club
* Ryan Bevins is the Founder and President of Fight Club, an organization dedicated to creating confidential peer support spaces where teenagers can connect, grow, and navigate life's challenges together. Built on the belief that meaningful, face-to-face connection is essential for today's youth, Fight Club encourages teens to step away from their screens and engage with one another through honesty, vulnerability, and mutual support. Guided by its core message, "No One Fights Alone," Ryan has witnessed firsthand the powerful transformation that occurs when young people feel seen, heard, and supported by their peers. In addition to this with Fight Club, Ryan brings over 15 years of executive leadership experience as a Chief Financial Officer. A non-practicing CPA, he has built a career grounded in financial strategy, operational leadership, and organizational growth. Ryan lives in Stilwell, Kansas, with his wife, Kortney, and their three children: Ford (19), Saylor (15), and Aspen (13).
* Kechia Lake - Fight Club
*Kechia Lake is the Executive Director of Fight Club, a peer support program focused on the mental wellness of teens. With 25 years of experience in education—primarily at the secondary level in Olathe Public Schools—she has built her career on developing meaningful relationships with teenagers and understanding the evolving challenges they face. Since stepping into her role as Executive Director, Kechia has helped expand Fight Club’s reach across the Kansas City metro area and beyond, serving over 1,000 teens and doubling the number of active peer support groups. Her work is rooted in the belief that young people are more likely to open up to peers who understand their experiences, creating powerful opportunities for connection, honesty, and support. Fight Club’s model is built on peer support, where teens create safe spaces for one another while being guided by trained leaders and supported through partnerships with mental health professionals. This approach ensures that when deeper needs arise, students are connected to the appropriate resources. Driven by compassion and a deep belief in the strength of young people, Kechia is committed to ensuring every teen feels seen, supported, and valued—and has a place to grow stronger together. She holds a bachelor’s degree in deaf education from the University of Tulsa and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Emporia State University.
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Breakout Session #2 (Day 1) - Creating Learning Environments That Support Behavior Change
* Trish Backman, MA - Kansas State Department of Education
*Trish Backman is a veteran special educator with 2 years of experience who joined KSDE in 2023 as the School Mental Health Coordinator. Her background spans inclusive, therapeutic, and correctional education, specializing in emotional disabilities, behavior disorders, and severe mental health needs. At KSDE, she supports school social workers and psychologists statewide and leads work in areas such as discipline, safety, suicide and addiction supports, accreditation, and interagency collaboration. She is driven by a deep belief in every child’s ability to grow and a commitment to creating strong, collaborative systems for Kansas students.
Many educators feel overwhelmed with student behaviors and how to support students who have big feels due to lived experiences with trauma. Using neuroscience to explore how trauma and emotional and behavioral disorders impact learning helps us to create systems where both the teacher and students feel ready to get to work each day. This session explores the stories behind student behavior, how to set up a successful learning environment with felt-safety, and how to restore learning, even if there has been an off day.
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Breakout Session #2 (Day 1) - From Data to Action: Kansas Child Death Review Board Findings on Youth Suicide
*Sara Hortenstine, MS - Office of the Kansas Attorney General
* Sara Hortenstine has been an advocate of children for more than 15 years. As the Division Chief for Youth Services at the Office of the Kansas Attorney General, Sara leads initiatives aimed at protecting and enhancing the lives of children across the state. Since 2015, she has served as the Executive Director of the Kansas Child Death Review Board, where she has played a crucial role in reviewing and improving child safety measures. Sara's commitment to ensuring that children are safe, protected, and have the opportunity to lead healthy lives drives her work and leadership in these vital roles.
For more than 30 years, the Kansas State Child Death Review Board has conducted comprehensive, multidisciplinary reviews of child fatalities to better understand the circumstances surrounding these tragic losses. Through careful analysis of trends, risk factors, and system gaps, the Board has developed data-driven recommendations aimed at protecting Kansas youth.
This presentation will provide participants with the most current data on youth suicide in Kansas, highlighting key findings from recent case reviews and emerging trends. Attendees will gain insight into key contributing factors and learn how to use this data to guide practical prevention strategies in their work with youth across the state to help prevent suicide.
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Breakout Session #2 (Day 1) - TBA - (KDHE)
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Breakout Session #2 (Day 1) - Exploring the Connection Between Teen Dating Violence and Suicide
*Kaiti Blackburn, Masters of Professional Studies with a Concentration in Organizational Leadership - Jana's Campaign, Inc.
*As the Executive Director of Jana's Campaign, Kaiti Blackburn, MPS, oversees all internal and external operations and provides programming and training to thousands of students and community members. Her work focuses on preventing all forms of relationship-based violence, especially in rural communities, by educating on healthy and unhealthy relationship behaviors, with the ultimate goal of preventing violence before it starts. Blackburn has been deeply involved in the relationship-based violence prevention community since 2015, and holds both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s in Organizational Leadership from Fort Hays State University.
This session explores the link between teen dating violence and suicide, drawing on comprehensive data from an interactive activity conducted through Jana’s Campaign programming. Participants will develop an understanding of how teen dating violence can contribute to suicidal ideation and behaviors, with a focus on overlapping risk factors and protective factors. The discussion highlights data-driven insights and emphasizes the importance of integrated prevention efforts, avoiding isolated approaches. Attendees will leave prepared to promote healthy relationships, engage bystanders, and implement targeted prevention strategies to make a meaningful impact in their own communities.
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Breakout Session #2 (Day 1) - TBA - (KDADS)
3:15 pm - 4:30 pm
Lived Experience Panel
* Melissa Owen, MBA
* Amber Jewell
* Carl Springer
* Rachel Springer, M. Ed
*My name is Rachel Springer. I am a wife and a mother of 7 children. My husband and I have a blended family. 3 his, 1 mine, 1 ours, and 2 adopted. We live on a farm in Eudora with many animals. We love to ride motorcycles and camp when we can. The mountains are usually calling us. I hold an Associates Degree in Sign Language Interpreting, a Bachelors Degree in Applied Behavioral Science for Children with Autism, and finally a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Special Education Birth to 8 years old. I currently work as a Sign Language Interpreter and have done so for the last 22 years. I have worked in a wide variety of settings including but not limited to mental health, medical, legal, post secondary education, and so on. I'm here today to talk about my oldest daughter Hayleigh, the life she led, the struggles she faced, and the impact caused on our lives with the ripple effect she left on us all!
*Whit Downing will be closing the panel with a powerful written reflection.
Panelists will share stories of loss, hope, resilience, recovery, and the importance of connection, offering honest insight from those who have experienced suicidal thoughts, supported loved ones, or work daily in the mental health field. This meaningful conversation is designed to inspire understanding, reduce stigma, and remind participants that every story has the power to create hope and save lives.
Day 2 (Tuesday, August 11th, 2026)
8:45 am - 9:00 am Welcome Back
9:00 am - 10:00 am Keynote Presentation
* The Ripple Effect
Speaker: Damon Parker, MA - The Jones Project
*Coach Damon Parker’s diverse career encompasses 23 years of teaching, coaching, serving as the Executive Director of a non-profit organization, and speaking professionally to audiences nationwide. Coach Parker’s unique leadership style has led his wrestling teams to 5 state championships in the past 6 years. He has 6 times been named the Kansas Coach of the Year, and was twice selected as the Coach of the Year for the Midwest region of the United States. In the classroom, Coach Parker has been honored with Teacher of the Year accolades from five different organizations since 2011. In 2022, Coach Parker left the field of Education to become the Executive Director of The Jones Project, a non-profit organization focused on teen mental health and suicide prevention. Since 2022 he has spoken to over 111,000 students in 265 schools nationwide. Coach Parker lives with his beautiful wife and teammate Lindsay in Auburn, KS with their wonderful 14-year-old twins (Doak and Corinne), foster son (Ar’Treal), and Australian Shepherd (Dr. Bob).
10:15 am - 11:00 am
Breakout Session #1 (Day 2) - Neurodivergent Youth
* Anja Ford, MS, LMLP - Stormont Vail
10:15 am - 11:00 am
Breakout Session #1 (Day 2) - Preteens and Emotional Regulation; Trauma Informed Suicide Risk Conversations; Safety Planning That Actually Works
* Ana Vallecillos, LCPC, NCC, A.R.T. - Healthy Thoughts for Growth Counseling
* Lindsay Bays, LCPC, LCAC - Bays Clinical Counseling Services, LLC
* Lindley Piper, LPC, NCC, A.R.T. - Healthy Thoughts for Growth Counseling
*Ana Vallecillos is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and the owner of Healthy Thoughts for Growth Counseling LLC. She holds a master's degree in clinical counseling from Emporia State University and brings over 20 years of experience working with children, adolescents, and families across a wide range of settings — from foster care and family preservation services to crisis intervention and community mental health. Ana has served as a crisis clinician conducting state hospitalization screenings for teens and adults, worked as an emergency case manager, and pioneered a program to expand therapy access in underserved communities by outsourcing services to centers facing therapist shortages. A trauma-informed practitioner, she has extensive training and experience in treating individuals navigating suicidal ideation and self-harm. At this conference, Ana will be presenting on preteens and emotional regulation, trauma-informed suicide risk conversations, and safety planning that actually works — topics she approaches with both clinical depth and a genuine warmth for the young people and families she serves.
*My name is Lindsay. I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and Licensed Clinical Addictions Counselor (LCAC). I've been practicing as a therapist since 2005, and have past experience working in the child welfare system, Vocational Rehabilitation, Higher Education Mental Health, and now I am in Private Practice full-time. I am trained in EMDR and consider myself clinical focus to be specialized in trauma support. I am also a Kansas Board Approved Clinical Supervisor and provide advanced clinical supervision to other therapists in Kansas. Over the years I've had the privilege of supporting people through many different seasons of life. I truly consider it an honor to support my clients as they face challenges, gain personal discovery and self-compassion, and move towards growth and healing.
Preteens are struggling — and the adults in their lives need real tools. Drawing on over 20 years of experience working with youth and adolescents, Ana Vallecillos explores how trauma shapes emotional regulation in preteens, how to have honest and compassionate conversations about suicide risk, and how to build safety plans that young people will actually use. This session offers a trauma-informed framework for navigating these critical conversations with confidence — going beyond the checklist to create meaningful, lasting change.
10:15 am - 11:00 am
Breakout Session #1 (Day 2) - Grief Counseling Supports
10:15 am - 11:00 am
Breakout Session #1 (Day 2) - Substance Use Trends Among Youth
*Benjamin Meier, BS - Mirror, Inc.
Benjamin Meier has worked in substance use prevention at Mirror for the last eight years, starting as the Coalition Coordinator for the local drug free communities coalition, taking over Mirror's nationally-recognized STAND youth development model, and eventually leading the prevention department and overseeing all of those things. With a Bachelor's in Family Studies and Human Services from K-State, Benjamin is actually, surprisingly, using his degree in helping his hometown and communities all over the region invest in youth, changing environments and cultures that may lead to substance use. For that reason, and much to his chagrin, he has been called "the drug guy" but kids in public because it. Overall, he has a passion for helping people to understand the importance of healthy youth in their community and to realize their full potential, whether physically, mentally, or most importantly, spiritually.
10:15 am - 11:00 am
Breakout Session #1 (Day 2) - Kansas Family Mobile Crisis Helpline
11:15 am - 12:00pm Lunch; Visit Exhibitors
11:30 am - 12:00 pm - Lunch Speaker
I see YOU: The Role of an SRO as a Community Resource
* Brandon Depew, BS - Dickinson County Sheriff's Office
*Deputy Brandon Depew is a School Resource Officer with Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office, bringing nine years of law enforcement experience. In his role, he focusses on building positive relationships with community resources, students, supporting staff, and helping create a safe, connected school environment. Known for his approachable and consistent presence, Deputy Depew is passionate about early intervention and student well-being. His work is grounded in a simple belief: every student deserves to be seen, heard, and supported. This presentation highlights how School Resource Officers build safer schools through connection, presence, and trust. Centered on the simple message “I see you,” it emphasizes the impact of noticing and supporting students before challenges become crises. Through personal insight and practical examples, the speaker illustrates how SROs serve as approachable, consistent resources for students, staff, and families—while also connecting individuals to vital school and community support systems. The session leaves audiences with a clear takeaway: small moments of awareness and intentionality can make a lasting difference in a student’s life.
This presentation highlights how School Resource Officers build safer schools through connection, presence, and trust. Centered on the simple message “I see you,” it emphasizes the impact of noticing and supporting students before challenges become crises. Through personal insight and practical examples, the speaker illustrates how SROs serve as approachable, consistent resources for students, staff, and families—while also connecting individuals to vital school and community support systems. The session leaves audiences with a clear takeaway: small moments of awareness and intentionality can make a lasting difference in a student’s life.
12:15 pm - 1:00 pm
Breakout Session #2 (Day 2) - When Youth Don't Trust Systems
* Carolee Conway, MS, ATR-BC - Bloom House Youth Services
*Carolee is the Executive Director at Bloom House Youth Services, Inc and occasional adjunct art therapy instructor at Emporia State University. She works with youth and families to address root causes of youth’s runaway or homeless status, or contributing risk factors for youth facing homelessness or considering running away. Her areas of expertise within the intersection of RHY services and art therapy is dialectical behavior therapy and addressing the family system using strength-based strategies for support.
* Abby Stephens, LPC, ATR-P - Bloom House Youth Services
*I am the Director of Services and Mental Health at Bloom House Youth Services. I assist teens and their families who are at risk of becoming homeless or running away. I help clients get connected to services such as therapy, case management, life skills building, and educational programs. I have a passion for community resources and child advocacy.
We will be defining the different systems that youth encounter, explaining how these systems interact and influence each other, the reasons these relationships typically break down, and how the loss of these systems affect youth in need. We will then learn about strategies to build trust, including participation in an art experiential.
12:15 pm - 1:00 pm
Breakout Session #2 (Day 2) - NAMI on Campus
* Tayla Naden, BA, Development and Outreach Director - NAMI Kansas
Tayla serves as the Development and Outreach Director for NAMI Kansas, supporting the growth of mental health programs and partnerships across the state. Her work focuses on building sustainable systems that connect people to peer support, education, and community. Tayla is especially passionate about helping young people find spaces where they feel understood and not alone. She approaches her work with a strong belief that connection is a key part of mental health recovery.
12:15 pm - 1:00 pm
Breakout Session #2 (Day 2) - Self-Harm
* Holli Shipley - Florence Crittenton
12:15 pm - 1:00 pm
Breakout Session #2 (Day 2) - 988 and Other Crisis Services
* Brooks Robertson, BSW - Headquarters Kansas
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Brooks Robertson has worked within the mental health sphere and suicide prevention for the better part of a decade. Currently Statewide Prevention Coordinator with HeadQuarters Kansas, Brooks brings his expertise in crisis de-escalation and system interoperation to communicate the grand vision of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and how it supports Kansans in need
12:15 pm - 1:00 pm
Breakout #2 (Day 2) - Creating a Community of Suicide Postvention Response: Defining the Response, and Strategies to Mitigate Risk
* Josh Boydston, LSCSW, LCSW - Kansas Suicide Prevention Coalition "Member", Six Feet Over
* A native Kansan, Josh Boydston is a proud Jayhawk with his Bachelor's in Social Welfare from the University of Kansas and his Master's Degree in Social Work from the University of Missouri, Kansas City. Josh served in child welfare and community mental health over the last 25 years in Kansas and Missouri. Josh's service in the field began in 2001, in adoption case management, recruitment and licensure of foster and adoptive families, foster care case management and educational advocacy. With this foundation, Josh served as a therapist, then clinical director in a residential psychiatric center. He concurrently joined a private practice in Merriam, Kansas, in 2010. As a person with multiple suicide loss lived experiences, his focus shifted to suicide postvention and community support. He joined Six Feet Over as the Kansas Lemon Aid Client Advocate in October of 2023. Josh and his wife Ashley reside in Roeland Park, Kansas, with their two children Nola and Crosby. They are an active family in supporting and serving their community in education, faith, local political engagement and involvement in the arts. In his free time... he appreciates rest, the company of friends, eclectic music, being active with his family and a good laugh.
Attendees will gain an understanding of suicide postvention, the growing need for common language that ensures continuity of care and reduced stigma, and explore the varying needs across the State for upstream efforts for communities faced with suicide loss.
1:15 pm - 2:30 pm
Instilling Hope and Building Resilience - Arkansas City Hope Squad Youth Panel
*Eric Burr - USD 470 Arkansas City Public Schools Hope Squad
* Eric Burr is a retired Police Chief with nearly 30 years of law enforcement experience. He spent most of his career working in schools as a D.A.R.E. Officer, S.A.D.D. sponsor, and Hope Squad Advisor. In 2022, he was instrumental in introducing the Hope Squad program to Arkansas City Public Schools. Today, he is the Safety and Security Coordinator for USD 470 Arkansas City Public Schools and continues his work with youth mental health as the lead Hope Squad Advisor for both middle school and high school programs in Arkansas City. He worked closely with IXL Elementary staff to develop a program called YELL (Youth Empowered by Life Lessons) that focuses on developing soft skills and exploring community connections with fifth grade students. Eric is a Big for Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters serving 2 matches, he is a board member for the Northwest Community Center in Arkansas City, a board member for Cowley County Crimestoppers, on the selection committee for the Joe B. Avery Community Spirit Award, and is a board member for the newly constructed Cowley County Opioid Support Advisory Group.
What does hope look like when life feels overwhelming? This interactive panel discussion highlights the teen perspective with Hope Squad members to talk openly about building hope and resilience. This session provides attendees with the opportunity to hear teens share their experiences with mental health, social pressures, and personal challenges. The panel will focus on the power of connection, the importance of "using your voice," and practical ways to support yourself and your friends.
2:30 pm - 2:45 pm Closing Remarks
Exciting Perks
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