Upcoming Webinars
The Handle With Care webinar series equips educators, healthcare professionals, counselors, social workers, and community partners with tools to recognize trauma, foster resilience, create supportive environments, and improve outcomes for children and families.
✅ PDHs available for educators
✅ CEUs available for RN, LCSW, MSW, LCPC, and LPC professionals
REGISTER NOW!
Handle With Care: Supporting Students Through Trauma-Informed Response
11/18/26 @ 2:30-4:00PM
Presented by Katie Kelly – Katie is the Co-founder & CEO of knowtifyED.
This webinar provides an overview of the Handle With Care initiative, a collaborative approach that connects first responders, schools, and community partners to support students who may have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event. Participants will learn how Handle With Care notifications help schools respond with trauma-informed practices, recognize signs of trauma, and connect students to appropriate supports while promoting safety, well-being, and academic success. The training will also highlight how technology solutions like knowtifyED can enhance the initiative by automating the notifications, ensuring no student slips through the cracks.
Impact vs. Intent: When Good Intentions Miss the Mark
01/12/27 @ 2:30-4:00PM
Presented by Dr. Sydney Greenwalt – Dr. Greenwalt is a licensed psychologist and Assistant Professor of Psychology at SIUE.
This webinar explores the concept of impact versus intent and how unconscious biases, communication styles, personal experiences, and cultural perspectives can influence interactions. Participants will learn how to recognize when impact differs from intent, respond constructively to feedback, and engage in conversations that promote understanding, accountability, and respect. Through real-world examples and practical strategies, attendees will develop skills to navigate difficult conversations and create more supportive and inclusive environments.
Psychoactive Drugs: Exposure and Use Harm for Children in Different Environments
01/25/27 @ 10:00-11:30PM
Presented by Brent Van Ham – Brent is the Research Project Coordinator for the Department of Population Science and Policy at SIU School of Medicine.
This webinar will explore the different types of psychoactive drugs, how children and adolescents are exposed to them, and the potential short- and long-term harms associated with exposure and use. Participants will examine environmental risk and protective factors, recognize signs of substance exposure and misuse, and learn evidence-informed strategies to promote safety, resilience, and healthy development. Through practical examples and discussion, attendees will gain tools to support prevention efforts and reduce substance-related harm among children and youth across diverse settings.
Recorded Webinars
Presented by Liesl Wingert. Ms. Wingert is a Program Coordinator for the SIU School of Medicine – Center for Rural Health and Social Service Development. She holds a bachelor’s degree in human development and Family Studies, and a master’s in health administration. She is a Certified Drug Endangered Children’s Trainer with the National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children and is the Co-Chair for the Illinois Alliance for Drug Endangered Children, as well as a board member for Take Action Today and the Illinois Association of Problem-Solving Courts. In addition, she is an advisory council member for the Statewide Citizen’s Committee on Abuse and Neglect for DCFS., this training will focus on the impact of trauma on child development, behavior, and learning.
Presented by Jay Hughes. Jay Hughes is an influential community leader with a unique path to success, shaped by 18 years of incarceration. As the owner of Committed Consulting LLC, he excels at simplifying complex concepts in addiction, mental health, and recovery, making them clear and compelling. An engaging presenter and content expert, jay is a certified peer specialist in addictive diseases and mental health, as well as a TEDx coach. He envisions a world where recovery is the standard for everyone.
Presented by Kym Laube. Kym Laube serves as the Executive Director of Human Understanding Growth Services, Inc. (HUGS, Inc.), based in Westhampton Beach, NY. With over 35 years of experience in substance use prevention, Kym has dedicated her career to promoting innovative strategies that empower individuals and communities. Since stepping into the Executive Director role in 2002, she has spearheaded the organization’s efforts to deliver comprehensive prevention services and recovery supports, while passionately advocating across the continuum of care.
Presented by Keith Brotheridge. Keith Brotheridge, MSW, LCSW, a clinical social worker for over 30 years, has devoted much of his career to helping those impacted by trauma. Mr. Brotheridge has worked at The Baby Fold – an agency providing special education, adoption support, foster care programming and numerous other services to children and families – since 2009, serving as the Therapy Supervisor and Assistant Director of the Residential Treatment Center for the first eight years of his career there. Currently, as Training Coordinator, Mr. Brotheridge is tasked with providing trauma-informed training and consultation to the entire agency to ensure that all programs operate in a trauma-sensitive manner. Mr. Brotheridge has also provided a wide range of trauma-informed trainings to various schools and agencies across the Central Illinois area.