CWVE 2022: Agenda

Methods and Strategies for Engaging People With Lived Experience

Lived experience can be defined as the “representation and understanding of an individual’s human experiences, choices, and options and how those factors influence one’s perception of knowledge” based on one’s own life. The opening session presents the results of an 18-month research project conducted by an ICF team, on behalf of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE), intended to draw out common themes across 27 federal initiatives that engage people with lived experience to identify successes, barriers to engagement, necessary resources, and practices for scaling the work. This work was done in partnership with a team of lived experience expert consultants representing diverse human service areas. Join this session to hear an exploration of the findings from the methods brief and a discussion of lessons learned from partnering with lived experience experts on this project.

Presenters

• Andy Arias, Lived Experience Expert Consultant
• Dee Balliett, True Colors United
• Kiersten Beigel, Office of Head Start
• Laura Erickson, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE)
• Lupe Finckward, JBS International, Inc.
• Rebecca Jones Gaston, Oregon Department of Human Services
• Jim Gregory, Children’s Bureau
• Christina Love, Alaska Network on Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault

View the Presenters Bios

Networking Break

Visit the Exhibit Hall, Networking Lounge, and Resource Gallery

Session A-1

Listen, Engage, and Reflect: How to Authentically and Respectfully Engage Individuals With Lived Experience in Storytelling Practices

In this session, participants will learn about the benefits and potential challenges of engaging those with lived experience in telling their stories. Through building on preestablished empathy lenses and teaching strategic sharing and trauma-informed approaches, participants will learn new, actionable ways to engage in authentic, nonexploitative storytelling endeavors with those with lived expertise. Lastly, participants will learn proactive strategies to authentically engage people with lived experience and mitigate harm to those asked to tell their stories. 

Presenters

• Huyanna Clearwater, Division X Targeted Technical Assistance Project
• Jeremiah Donier, Capacity Building Center for States
• Alex Gaither, SaySo (Strong Able Youth Speaking Out) North Carolina
• Michaela Guthrie, Capacity Building Center for States
• Marcella Middleton, SaySo (Strong Able Youth Speaking Out) North Carolina
• Keri Richmond, American Academy of Pediatrics and Unbelievably Resilient
• Dakota Roundtree-Swain, Capacity Building Center for States

View the Session A-1 Presenters Bios

Session A-2

Authentic Youth and Family Engagement: Deploying Individuals With Lived Experience as Advisors

Lived experience experts commonly serve as advisors—often for groups, committees, and boards—for initiatives that develop national strategies, congressional reports, policy recommendations, and capacity building efforts. This session will highlight various ways to engage persons with lived experience as advisors, jurisdictional examples of this practice, and resources for doing so. 

Presenters

• Dee Bonnick, Capacity Building Center for States
• Joey Cordero, Capacity Building Center for States 
• Gabriel Foley, Division X Targeted Technical Assistance Project
• Kristine Gunningham, Division X Targeted Technical Assistance Project
• Palm Ramirez, Children, Youth and Families Department, New Mexico
• Michelle Rosenthal, Capacity Building Center for States

View the Session A-2 Presenters Bios

“Intersecting Identities and Experiences” Discussion Sessions 

Sessions A-3, A-4, A-5, and A-6 are concurrent, facilitated discussion sessions that will explore areas of interest related to Block A sessions. CWVE attendees will select which of several concurrent sessions to attend based on their learning needs and interests. Topics will be posted closer to the date of CWVE 2022.

Visit the Exhibit Hall, Networking Lounge, and Resource Gallery

Session B-1

Productive Partnerships With Youth and Families: Commitment to Lived Expertise 

Productive partnerships that bring together lived experts with agency and federal staff are essential for transforming the child welfare community. In this session, presenters will discuss growing education around engagement that aims to increase commitment to true partnership. The goal is to establish the idea that the simple presence of people with lived expertise at the table is the first step in engagement and should initiate the next steps—training, support, creation of an authentic environment, and ongoing development. The session will discuss training agencies’ need to grow their capacity to effectively partner with youth and families and will feature success stories, problem-solving strategies, action planning, and considerations for establishing fair compensation. 

Presenters

• Heather Cantamessa, Children’s Home Society of Washington
• Pasqueal Nguyen, Capacity Building Center for States
• Ashley O’Bryan, Capacity Building Center for States
• Colleen Puckett, Families’ Anchor, LLC
• Jennifer Rhodes, Capacity Building Center for States
• Ryan Young, Lived Experience Expert Consultant 

View the Session B-1 Presenters Bios

Session B-2

Setting the Stage: Creating the Space for People With Lived Expertise to Thrive

In this session, attendees will hear from a variety of individuals with personal or professional experience integrating people with lived expertise into the workforce. They will learn why integrating lived expertise into the workforce is so beneficial to child welfare agencies, as well as considerations for integrating people with lived expertise into the workplace. Discussion topics will include how to secure leadership and field buy-in, the interview process, compensation, technical knowledge, and organizational culture.

Presenters

• Katie Biron, Capacity Building Center for States 
• Eshawn Peterson, Capacity Building Center for States 
• Shawn Powell, Parents for Parents, King County, Washington

View the Session B-2 Presenters Bios

“Intersecting Identities and Experiences” Discussion Sessions 

Sessions B-3, B-4, and B-5 are concurrent, facilitated discussion sessions that will explore areas of interest related to Block B sessions. CWVE attendees will select which of several concurrent sessions to attend based on their learning needs and interests. Topics will be posted closer to date of CWVE 2022.

Session C-1

The Power of Lived Expertise in Research and Evaluation: Child Welfare Edition 

Individuals with lived experience collaborate with agencies in conducting and leading research and program evaluation findings to inform policy and practice. This work includes such complex activities as conducting peer or grant reviews, recruiting study participants, and actively designing and leading research. This session will focus on key considerations to sustain research and evaluation partnership with people with lived expertise and minimize harm, as well as offer concrete strategies to collaborate and share power with youth and families in the practice and process of data collection, research (including Participatory Action Research/Youth Participatory Action Research), and evaluation.

Presenters

• Gina Brown, Capacity Building Center for States
• Tiffany Haynes, Division X Targeted Technical Assistance Project
• Bryan Samuels, Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago
• Alex Wagaman, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Social Work

View the Session C-1 Presenters Bios

Session C-2

Living Leadership: Valuing Our Lived Expertise

This session will discuss strategies for moving from engaging with people with lived expertise as tokenized representatives and storytellers to valuing youth and families for their expertise through power sharing and co-designing for systems improvement at a child welfare agency. This session will present critical insights for thinking through the types of support that are needed for this important step. The ultimate goal of this session is to help child welfare professionals understand the value and expertise that youth and families bring to the table and what it might take to support the development of lived experience leaders to shift the workforce demand from story to skills. 

Presenters

• Louie Gasper, Capacity Building Center for States
• Jeremy Harvey, Capacity Building Center for States
• Geraldo Pilarski, Capacity Building Center for States
• Judy Tudor, Clark County Department of Family Services
• Antwan Turpeau, One Hope United

View the Session C-2 Presenters Bios

“Intersecting Identities and Experiences” Discussion Sessions 

Sessions C-3 and C-4 are concurrent, facilitated discussion sessions that will explore areas of interest related to Block C sessions. CWVE attendees will select which of several concurrent sessions to attend based on their learning needs and interests. Topics will be posted closer to the date of CWVE 2022.

Presenters

• Jim Gregory, Children’s Bureau
• Madison Sandoval-Lunn, Capacity Building Center for States