Our conference promises to be energizing, educational and inspiring!

Co-Sponsored by Science Park High School, Newark NJ.

Full Program Available In-Person and Virtually

Free On-Site Parking Available, but attendee must provide license plate number during registration process.

IMPORTANT FOR ALL REGISTRANTS!!

When you check out during registration...

OPTIONAL TIP: be aware that at the top of the payment page, under the amount of ticket, there is a section with a red heart next to it in which you are asked if you want to give an optional tip to help continue to make the Givebutter platform free for us to use. YOU ARE UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO TIP (the platform just requires us to include this question), SO BE AWARE THAT GIVEBUTTER AUTOMATICALLY SETS A DEFAULT TIP AMOUNT OF 15%. TO DISABLE ANY TIP, CLICK ON THE DROP DOWN MENU WHERE YOU SEE THE "15%", SELECT "OTHER" AND THEN PUT "O" IN THE "AMOUNT". DO THE SAME IF YOU WANT TO LEAVE A TIP SMALLER THAN 15%, PUTTING YOUR CHOSEN AMOUNT IN THE "AMOUNT"

IMPORTANT INFORMATION RE: CREDIT CARD PAYMENTS

Please be aware that if you pay by credit card you will be charged the credit card processing fee.

If this is a problem, paying by check is always an option.

If you have questions about the registration process, please contact Treasurer@armha-nj.org

Parents Are Welcome!

Virtual attendance is free for parents of children (pre-K - 12th grade) in the NJ Public and Charter schools.

PLEASE NOTE: This free virtual attendance DOES NOT APPLY TO:

1) Parents who are professionals in ANY field (e.g., physicians, lawyers, administrators, teachers, mental health professionals).

2) Parents of children attending private schools.

Please note that Session E listed in the afternoon is specifically built for parents but all are welcome. Parents attending virtually may take any or all of the five sessions.

CONTINUING EDUCATION:

Five (5) Continuing Education credits for all licensed mental health professionals are available through Rutgers. The additional fee for those credits is $25 and will be payable directly to Rutgers. People interested in credits must stay the whole day and be present for the two morning programs (Sessions A and B) and your two selected afternoon workshops.

EVENT RECORDING:

Please be aware that this event will be recorded for promotional and documentation purposes. By attending, you consent to having your image, likeness, and voice captured and used in photographs, video recordings, and other media. These recordings may be used in various formats, including but not limited to social media, websites, and promotional materials. If you have any concerns or wish to opt out of being recorded, please contact the event organizers at info@armha-nj.org prior to the start of the event.

Morning Program and Presenters

Session A - Keynote 1: Healing-Centered Racial Literacy: Examining Our Biases to Interrupt Racial Harm and Strengthen Relational Care in Our Work

In this interactive keynote, Dr. Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz invites participants into healing-centered racial literacy as a practice of examining how race and power shape identity, and how unexamined bias can cause racial harm. Grounded in the Racial Literacy Development Model and the Archaeology of Self®, participants will engage in guided reflection that supports accountability, interruption of harm, and practices of repair in therapeutic and school settings. Together, we will consider what relational care looks like when it is rooted in truth, belonging, and humanity.

Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz, Ph.D.

Dr. Ruiz (she/her) is a Professor of English Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. In May, 2024 Yolanda was recognized with the prestigious Dorothy Height Distinguished Alumni Award from New York University. She is co-editor of five books and is co-author of the multiple award-winning book Advancing Racial Literacies in Teacher Education: Activism for Equity in Digital Spaces (2021) where she examines her concept of Archeology of Self ™ in education. Her first full-length collection of poetry, Love from the Vortex & Other Poems, was published in March 2020. Her sophomore book of poetry, The Peace Chronicles, was published in July, 2021.

Dr. Ruiz opened the 2022 TEDx UPENN conference at the University of Pennsylvania with her TEDx Talk: Truth, Love & Racial Literacy. For three years in a row, she was named one of EdWeek's EduScholar Influencers -- a list of the Top 1% of educational scholars in the United States -- a highly selective group of 200 scholars (chosen from a pool of 20,000). At Teachers College, she is the founder of the Racial Literacy Project @TC, and the Racial Literacy Roundtables Series, where for 15 years, national scholars, teachers, and students facilitate conversations around race and other issues involving diversity. Dr. Ruiz appeared in Spike Lee’s “2 Fists Up: We Gon’ Be Alright” (2016), a documentary about the Black Lives Matter movement and the campus protests at Mizzou, and "Defining Us, Children at the Crossroads of Change”, a documentary about supporting and educating the nation's Black and Latinx male youth.

Session B - Keynote 2: It Takes A Village: Creating Alternatives to Suspensions and Expulsions in Early Care and Early Childhood Programs Through Family and School Partnerships

This workshop will provide an overview on suspensions and expulsions in early care and early childhood programs and we will explore options that various states have taken to avoid harsh disciplinary practices with young children. Participants will work together to identify strategies for partnering with families before an issue arises to strengthen the partnership through both good and challenging times.

A person in a pink suitAI-generated content may be incorrect.

Tara Kirton, Ed.D.

Dr. Kirton holds an EdD in Curriculum and Teaching with a specialization in Early Childhood Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. She has held various positions in early childhood education over the past twenty years. Dr. Kirton began her teaching career at a
private nursery school in Manhattan. While working as a preschool teacher she developed a strong interest in supporting children with dis/abilities and later worked as a special education itinerant teacher (SEIT) providing support for children with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). As a SEIT Dr. Kirton advocated for young children with dis/abilities to have access to joyful learning experiences every day and to be fully integrated into their classroom environment. She has partnered with parents and caregivers as they navigate the IEP process and advocate for their children.

Dr. Kirton’s partnership and collaboration have also extended to school administrators, teachers, and therapists to consider various approaches to support learning and development. She has written curriculum, facilitated workshops to help educators center and affirm racial and cultural identity, and coached early childhood teachers through ongoing professional development opportunities on play based learning in kindergarten through 2nd grade. Dr. Kirton taught courses and supervised pre-service and in service teachers in early childhood and special education at Bank Street College, The Center for Worker Education at City College, The City University of New York (CUNY), and Teachers College, Columbia University. She is a Doctoral Lecturer in the Early Childhood General Education program at Hunter College, CUNY where she teaches courses and works as the Early Childhood faculty liaison to the Hunter College Office of Clinical Experiences for the undergraduate and graduate programs. Dr. Kirton is the proud parent of two teenagers.

Afternoon Programs and Presenters

ATTENDEES SELECT TWO (2) OF THREE (3) BREAKOUT SESSIONS TO ATTEND:

Session C: Rooted in Respect: Building Community Through Restorative Practices

This workshop invites professionals who serve children to explore restorative justice as a foundation for nurturing a healthy, inclusive school culture where the needs of both children and adults are honored. Rather than focusing on managing behavior, the session emphasizes proactive community-building strategies, deep listening, and practices that foster mutual care. Participants will engage in collaborative activities and skill-building exercises that highlight how restorative approaches create environments where people feel seen, valued, and supported. By centering the concept of collective well-being, this workshop encourages participants to cultivate spaces where authentic connections thrive and where healing and growth are prioritized over punishment.

Facilitator: Shan Byrd, M.S.

A person smiling with her arms crossedAI-generated content may be incorrect.

Shan Byrd is an educator with over 20 years of experience in teaching the “whole child”. As a community organizer and global peacekeeper, she understands that academia is only one aspect of a child’s development, and believes that student success is a product of healthy communities. She specializes in Restorative Justice Practices, is an ACE Interfaces Advanced Trainer, and is the co-founder of NJEA’s REAL Movement. Shan's personal motto is “Make it happen!” Compelled by the love of God, Shan is a fierce defender of human rights and is passionate about eradicating the school to prison pipeline. Currently, she is working on several self healing community based projects. She considers one of her greatest accomplishments to be the mother of her three magnificent children--her baby “Byrds”. Shan is also a true music enthusiast with an eclectic taste of rhythms! Her zest for life is incredibly contagious--affecting everyone around her in the most positive way!

Session D: From Trauma to Transformation: Healing-Centered Engagement for Professionals

This interactive one-hour workshop introduces professionals to the transformative framework of Healing-Centered Engagement (HCE), pioneered by Dr. Shawn Ginwright. The session will provide an introduction to the evolution of trauma-informed care to healing-centered engagement, providing a holistic view of healing from traumatic experiences. HCE approach emphasizes a person’s inherent strengths and resilience, shifting from “what’s happened to you?” to “what’s right with you?” rather than solely on trauma (Flourish 2022). Participants will learn techniques to build healing-centered spaces that honor cultural identity, promote agency, and support holistic wellbeing for those they serve.

Facilitators: Denise P. Davis, MHS and Lorraine D’Sylva-Lee, MA

Denise P. Davis, MHS, is a Senior Training & Consultation Specialist with Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, University Behavioral Health Care, Behavioral Research & Training Institute, NJ Children’s System of Care Training & Technical Assistance Program. Denise has 25+ years of experience in consultation, training, coaching, administrative, and treatment experience in the field of mental health, crisis management, substance abuse, and criminal justice across the life span. As a former director of NJ Children’s System of Care, Children’s Mobile Response and Stabilization Services in six counties, she utilizes her expertise in the implementation of MRSS programs nationally. She employs a relational and attitudinal approach emphasizing culture to support, educate, and empower professionals through workforce development, technical assistance, and coaching. Denise is an advocate for youth/family voice and empowerment. She has years of experience as a national and state conference presenter and lifelong learner. Areas of certification include CANS train the trainer, Competent Trauma Professional, Healing Centered Engagement Practitioner, and Nurtured Heart Approach advanced trainer. She received her Master of Human Services from Lincoln University.

Medium shot of a personAI-generated content may be incorrect.

Lorraine D’Sylva-Lee is the President and Chief Executive Officer for (Learning Enrichment Experiences) LEE Services, an intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) provider agency with a trauma informed care approach to service provision for people with (IDD). She is a dynamic, highly motivated, and exceptional leader with more than 30 years of promoting excellence in the quality of support services for people with IDD and their families. Ms. D’Sylva-Lee has provided national and statewide training and technical assistance on innovative person-centered approaches including, trauma informed care practices, nurtured heart approach, and healing centered engagement.

Session E: Advocating for Mental Health System Change in New Jersey Schools: Empowering Parents, Elevating Student Wellness.

Through partnership with youth, caregivers, educators, and system administrators and through advocacy movement, we envision a future where no student in New Jersey is left without the mental health support they need to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. We will examine rates of anxiety, depression, trauma, and behavioral health needs among students which continue to rise. Schools must evolve from reactive discipline-based models to proactive, supportive frameworks that prioritize student well-being alongside academic success.

Overall Activity Objectives:

1. Examine rates of anxiety, depression, trauma, and behavioral health needs among students K-12.

2. Explore parents’ advocacy and create a future where no student in New Jersey is left without the mental health support they need to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

3. Explain how parents can engage schools to evolve from reactive, discipline-based models to proactive, supportive frameworks that prioritize student well-being and academic success.

The target audience for this activity is: parents, behavioral health, advocacy, education and human service professionals from New Jersey.

Facilitators: Doris Key, M.A. and Sherley Desrouleaux. B.A.

Doris Key holds an MA in Child Advocacy and Policy, and sh is the Administrative Coordinator of the Family Support Organization of Essex County. She has been part of the organization for the last seven years, initially as a Family Support Partner with lived experience. Her specialty is Decision Making and Guardianship. She has been trained in The Nurtured Heart Approach and the Parent Café model. She is a member of ARMHA-NJ.

Sherley Desrouleaux is a Family Support Partner with the Family Support Organization of Essex County. Sherley has three years of experience supporting caregivers. She holds a BA in Behavioral Health Science, with a focus on trauma-informed care, family systems, and advocating for families with cultural sensitivity while addressing systemic barriers. She is trained in The Nurtured Heart Approach and the Parent Café model and is a member of ARMHA-NJ.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

8:30-9:00 am Breakfast for in-person participants; Welcome.

9:00-10:30 am Session A, Keynote 1: Healing-Centered Racial Literacy: Examining Our Biases to Interrupt Racial Harm and Strengthen Relational Care in Our Work Yolanda Sealy-Ruiz, Ph.D.

10:30 am-12:00 pm Session B, Keynote 2: It Takes A Village: Creating Alternatives to Suspensions and Expulsions in Early Care and Early Childhood Programs Through Family and School Partnerships. Tara Kirton, Ed.D.

12:00-1:00 pm Lunch for in-person participants

1:00-3:00 pm One Hour Break-out Sessions (choice of two)

Session C: Rooted in Respect: Building Community Through Restorative Practices. Shan Byrd, M.A.

Session D: From Trauma to Transformation: Healing-Centered Engagement for Professionals, Denise Davis, M.H.S. and Lorraine D’Sylva-Lee, M.S.

Session E: Advocating for Mental Health System Change in New Jersey Schools: Empowering Parents, Elevating Student Wellness, Doris Key and Sherley Desrouleaux

Fostering Healing Relationships: Anti-Racist Practice and Racial Literacy in Therapeutic and School Settings

By Anti-Racist Mental Health Alliance-NJ Inc

Fostering Healing Relationships: Anti-Racist Practice and Racial Literacy in Therapeutic and School Settings

Keynote Speakers: Dr. Yolanda Sealy-Ruiz and Dr. Tara Kirton