SFTI: Strengthening Families Training Institute

Every year the Idaho Children’s Trust Fund convenes the Strengthening Families Training Institute (SFTI) which brings together over 200 child advocates, prevention practitioners, educators, and parents from throughout Idaho to learn how to prevent child abuse and neglect from national and local experts and to share their experiences with each other.

2024 SFTI Wrap-Up

Theme: It Takes A Whole Community

The meeting format was very familiar to previous SFTI attendees: an opening keynote, followed by a workshop by the keynote, 4 parallel workshop sessions, a final panel discussion, and the conference culminated in an awards ceremony where several organizations were commended for their contributions to preventing child abuse and strengthening families in their Idaho communities.

Jeff Todahl delivered the keynote speech on the 90by30 Initiative. This was based around Oregon’s 90by30 Initiative, an 11 year ongoing effort with one aspirational goal- a 90% reduction in child abuse and neglect in one U.S. County. Jeff outlined Lane County’s process of community engagement, core beliefs and strategies, successes, challenges/barriers, and key lessons learned. This keynote included evaluation efforts, a recent 10-year retrospective, and current shifts underway. The presentation emphasized reasons for optimism, a role for inclusion, and encouraged participants to acknowledge and celebrate Idaho’s efforts as we look ahead to next vital steps.

Dr. Todahl also led the all-Institute workshop to continue to develop plans for how you could implement a similar approach where you live. What if we could really prevent 90% or –let’s think even bigger—100% of child abuse and neglect? They call that a BHAG for a big hairy audacious goal.
Attendees engaged in small group discussions to share ideas and experiences and left with some BHAGs of their own to build communities focused on child wellbeing.

Participants then had their choice of 10 workshops. On Day 2, there were more workshops and we closed the event with awards and an inspiring panel of relatives raising their grandchildren or their siblings’ children that highlighted the challenges families face today and what they wish others knew to help better support them and their needs. The panel was moderated by Debora Kasten and panelists were Racquel Broncheau, Feather Holt, and Tammy Creswell.

The Ed Van Dusen Legacy Award

The Ed Van Dusen Award for Exemplary Practice in Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention, or The Ed! for short, is presented each year to a program selected by the Idaho Children’s Trust Fund‘s Board of Directors, which exemplifies deep commitment to and successful practice in preventing child abuse and neglect. This year we celebrated the work of the Idaho Coalition for Community Schools.

The Idaho Coalition for Community Schools is a group of Community Schools practitioners, leaders, and partners who are committed to promoting the Community School strategy throughout the state of Idaho. Their purpose is to provide a means for local and state community schools stakeholders to connect, deepen knowledge and skills, and advocate for supportive policies.

The Pinwheel Awards

In 2016, the Idaho Children’s Trust Fund Board began a new tradition to recognize people and groups who have made significant contributions in the past year. The Pinwheel Awardees for 2023 -2024 are:

Children’s Village— Children’s Village, Inc. is a nonprofit children’s residential care facility in Coeur d’Alene, serving children displaced from their families due to abuse, neglect, or severe family crisis. Children’s Village has taken on the development of northern Idaho’s assessment center.

Idaho Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics— The Idaho Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics mission is to promote the health and welfare of Idaho’s children by influencing policy on any and every issue affecting child health: immunizations, air pollution, and so much more. The AAP has been a supporter of CAP Month for several years and has committed to increasing their involvement.

Lakeside Pediatrics—Lakeside Pediatrics in Coeur d’Alene strongly believes in well-childcare and preventative medicine. Lakeside was an early adopter of practice recognizing the importance of ACEs and resilience in overall health. They have integrated behavioral health into their practice, understanding that physical and behavioral health are integrally connected.

Nez Perce Child Support Program—The Nez Perce Child Support Program has chosen a unique and culturally significant approach to parenting education by using cultural practices to teach parenting. While building hand drums or sewing moccasins, the parenting curriculum is presented. The practice itself is healing as many have struggled with their cultural identity and parenting roles that were upended through historical trauma and dislocation. Culture is prevention when it helps to heal the wounds that have made it hard to parent.

Workshop Resources:

Workshop 1A: Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Jeff Todahl

Workshop 1B: Everything I needed to know about protective factors I learned from… Amanda Mills

Workshop 1E: Trauma Stewardship KJ Brant

2A: Data in the Real World Kim Hemmert

Workshop 2B: Picture Books Build Protective Factors Jen Redford

3A: Population Health Data for Idaho Joe Pollard

2024 PROGRAM

2024 SFTI REGISTRATION OPEN NOW

2023 SFTI Wrap-Up

Theme: Building Blocks of HOPE

Dr. Robert Sege delivered the keynote speech on HOPE – Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences provides a new framework to work with children and families. Based on years of research, HOPE puts the positive childhood experiences that children need to thrive at the center. By identifying, honoring, and promoting family and personal strengths, HOPE creates the conditions for trust and respect that help providers, parents, and children address challenges. In this keynote address, Dr. Sege will discuss new knowledge of the scientific basis of HOPE, offer examples of HOPE in practice from far and wide, and help attendees take the leap and put HOPE into practice! The keynote and accompanying workshop will offer the knowledge and skills needed to bring HOPE into practice.

Dr. Sege also lead the all-institute workshop: Continuing the discussion of HOPE from the keynote address, focusing on organizational transformation into HOPE-informed practice. The presenter will be joined by Idaho HOPE trainers with a focus on the four steps to transformation: (1) Leadership support, (2) examination and revision of key policies and practices, (3) staff training, and (4) Continuous quality improvement. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in small group discussions to share ideas and experiences and will leave with 30- and 90- day goals to bring HOPE into practice.

Through collaboration across health, education, social services and with families and communities, we can implement the science of thriving and create a joyful process that establishes the transformational resilience needed to face current challenges with hope, creativity and commitment to the well-being of all children, families, communities and ourselves.

Participants then had their choice of 8 workshops. On Day 2, there were more workshops and we closed the event with awards and an inspiring panel of youth speaking about mental health and the increased stress they are experiencing–especially post-pandemic. This “What I Wish You Knew” presentation will be one of many to be presented statewide this next year.

The Ed Van Dusen Legacy Award

Full Circle Health, formerly the Family Medicine Residency of Idaho, trains pediatricians and family medicine practitioners to work in Idaho with emphasis on underserved and rural areas. Members of this teaching faculty have committed to screening for parental ACEs and PCEs and developing the skills to assist parents who may be parenting with their own ACEs to find support or interventions to strengthen their parenting. By starting early in parents’ parenting journeys with early well baby checks physicians can play a powerful role in the trajectory of that journey. Screening for both positive and adverse childhood experiences provide the starting point for a conversation with the parent that builds on strengths rather than deficits so as to build resilience. This work will impact generations of new parents.

The Pinwheel Awards

Foster + Heart— Foster + Heart’s mission is “to ignite the hearts of our community to foster + meet the needs of children in foster care.” They operate a home for children who are transitioning to foster care. The home was created to provide a place for children to go while the Department of Health and Welfare finds children the right home for them based on their unique and individualized needs.

Hope on the Homefront– The Coeur d’Alene School District 271’s McKinney-Vento program/Team is called “Hope on the Homefront”. Their goal is strengthening students and families by removing barriers to academic excellence, building bridges to improve family situations, and establishing community connections to support families.

Second Chance Family Resource Center, Coeur d’Alene— 2nd Chance Ministries Family Resource Center officially opened in Jan 2022 as part of the 2nd Chance Disciples Ministry in Coeur d’Alene. 2nd Chance FRC is located in downtown CDA and provides necessary services to low income and homeless families.

The Village— The Village is a foster care closet serving the 17 counties of Southeastern Idaho and operated by the Idaho Foster & Adoptive Parent Association. Their mission is easing trauma, building self-esteem, and showing love to Idaho foster children.

Voices for Children— Idaho Voices for Children provides voice for people without a vote and without a lobbyist: the children of Idaho. Their work has resulted in expansion of home visiting, improvements in the foster care system, and critical funding for childcare programs.