Multiple COI staff and partner organizations will be presenting at the 2026 Children's Law Institute Conference covering various topics! Don't miss these workshops! View the workshop offerings and read their full descriptions below.
Learn More About Evidence Based-Practices in These Workshops
Strengthening Families Through Collaboration: Expanding Functional Family Therapy Across New Mexico | April 15 | 3:30PM-5:00PM
Presenters: Dr. Thomas Sexton; Pierce Ferriegel
Presentation Description: This session highlights the collaborative efforts behind the implementation and adaptation of Functional Family Therapy (FFT) across New Mexico. Using examples from communities statewide, presenters will highlight how strong partnerships among service providers, funding partners, and state agencies have supported the expansion and adaptation of FFT to new settings while preserving its core clinical mechanisms and enhancing its cultural relevance. In New Mexico, FFT implementation reflects a deeply collaborative approach. FFT training and delivery have expanded in the state as part of a broader effort to increase access to evidence-based practices for youth and families experiencing behavioral health challenges.
The Importance of Collaboration and Partnerships in Supporting Multisystemic Therapy Success for Teens | April 16 | 10:30AM-12:00PM
Presenters: Chris Mason, Deidre Gordon; Alvin Phan, LCSW; Antonio Maestas; Stacey Scanlon
Presentation Description: Improving outcomes for youth engaged in anti-social behavior and substance use requires an approach that treats the whole ecology of the youth, including the individual, family, school, peers, community, and provider organizations. This session will focus on how collaboration between service systems indirectly impacts youth behavioral outcomes. The Multisystemic Therapy (MST) process for ensuring engagement and alignment with service systems such as probation, protective services, and community mental health providers will be explored utilizing a real-life case example.
Learn More About Working With Youth in These Workshops
Nothing About Us Without Us: Co-Creating Authentic Support for LGBTQ+ Youth | April 16 | 1:30PM-3:00PM
Presenters: Shelby McDaniel; Valerie Valles-Pedroza; Youth Leaders from Health Leadership High School
Presentation Description: How can professionals and caregivers move beyond performative allyship to provide genuine, life-affirming support for LGBTQ+ youth? This interactive workshop, developed and co-facilitated by youth, answers that question directly. Participants will engage in a powerful session grounded in the lived experiences of New Mexico's LGBTQ+ young people. We will begin by establishing a shared foundation of knowledge, including current LGBTQ+ terminology and the importance of gender-neutral language. The core of the workshop is an experiential role-play activity where youth will demonstrate common, often well-intentioned, missteps in adult-youth interactions, followed by a collaborative group problem-solving session to model affirming alternatives. With a specific focus on suicide prevention, we will explore how authentic engagement and validation are critical protective factors, helping adults recognize that identity is not "a phase" but a core aspect of a young person's being. Leave with practical tools and a renewed commitment to creating spaces where LGBTQ+ youth not only survive but thrive.
Building Strong Foundations with Youth & Family Peer Support | April 16 | 8:30AM-10:00AM
Presenters: Shelby McDaniel; Spence Spencer, MPA, Certified Family Peer Support Worker; Chasity LeBlanc, Certified Family Peer Support Worker; Heaven Valdez, Certified Youth Peer Support Specialist
Presentation Description: Join us for an engaging workshop designed to address the challenges and benefits of integrating Youth Peer Support and Family Peer Support Specialists (YPSS/FPSS) into youth and family-centered programs. This session allows participants to collaborate and reflect on the organizational evolution required to successfully embed these vital roles. We will explore how to reframe integration challenges as opportunities to build a more competent, collaborative, and resilient workforce and service system. Through interactive group activities, attendees will identify common obstacles and benefits, and brainstorm innovative strategies to enhance collaboration between staff, YPSS, and FPSS. This workshop will feature group collaboration, poster presentations, and a live poll to capture collective insights and experiences. Designed for a multidisciplinary audience including administrators, service providers, and advocates from child welfare, juvenile justice, and behavioral health, this session will equip participants with practical, solution-focused strategies to leverage the unique skills of peer specialists. Leave with actionable methods to build a stronger foundation of support for the youth and families of New Mexico.
Learn More About High-Fidelity Wraparound in This Workshop
What Makes High-Fidelity Wraparound Powerful: Harnessing Youth/Family Voice & Choice to Build Collaboration, Accountability, and Empowerment | April 16 | 10:30AM-12:00PM
Presenters: Endorsed Coaches with NM High-Fidelity Wraparound Program at NMSU-COI: Caitlin Goodwin; Renee Reyes; Jessica Orozco
Presentation Description: High Fidelity Wraparound (HFW) is a value-based approach to working with individuals with complex needs. This training will provide a brief introduction to HFW, examining the evidence backing the effectiveness of High-Fidelity Wraparound before doing a focused dive into the top five core elements and values that help make Wraparound powerful. We will discuss tips and tools that can be used by anyone serving and supporting the youth and families of New Mexico. We will look at the developmental importance of "empowerment" and explore ways to build opportunities for youth and families to practice decision making skills. When young people and families' Voice and Choice is effectively leveraged, we see an increase in-personal accountability and ownership of care plans. This training will incorporate strategies used in the Wraparound model- like robust strategizing as well as examine tools used in other behavioral health practices- such as Stephan Karpman's Drama Triangle.
Learn More About Quality Service Review in This Workshop
Utilizing File Review and Qualitative Inquiry to Develop Case Workers | April 17 | 8:30AM-10:00AM
Presenters: Kate Gibbons, Ph.D., LCSW, LISW; Matthew Claps, MSW
Presentation Description: Case file reviews are required across all human service organizations for oversight and quality assurance purposes. Case consultation and supervision that supports both the professional development and the well-being of staff is also the expectation. Combining these could create a powerful quality improvement process and a structure for ongoing learning opportunities while also meeting agency oversight and regulatory requirements. New Mexico State University’s Center for Innovation has been implementing the Quality Services Review (QSR) as a case review process in New Mexico’s behavioral health and child protection systems in partnership with two state agencies. Learn how qualitative inquiry and Quality Service Reviews (QSR) advance case work, skills of staff, improve the quality of the work with youth and families, and advance agency and youth and family outcomes through the supervision setting. This presentation will include an overview and application of tools, highlight the use of data and implementation strategies to develop practice, and share stories on how they may advance a culture of best practice.
Learn More About Overcoming Burnout in This Workshop
Staying Human in the Hard Work | April 17 | 8:30AM-10:00AM
Presenters: Quinn Donnay, MA; Brooke Tafoya, MSW
Presentation Description: This workshop will focus on finding ways to heal from burnout, secondary trauma exposure and overwhelm. This is done by shifting our paradigms, even those most cherished views of accomplishment and success. We will focus on ways to stay present and embody our authentic selves within the work of advocating, supporting and nurturing young people. Centering our humanness is the first step. Deepening our understanding of ourselves and the need to regulate our emotions allows us to show-up in powerful ways for those we serve, our families and ourselves. Through this we can find ways to authentically show-up, recharge, and make change. Knowing ourselves and showing up authentically allows us to not only stay PRESENT in our work, but to be healthier, happier, and accomplish more while doing it. We will focus on the following topics: Debunking the “do-more” culture, providing an overview of brain science and how humans operate in a state of overwhelm, systematic understanding of the state of overwhelm, and what we can do about it – learn more about who we are as people in professional roles and how we operate best, practice regular self-regulation, honoring others, being honest with ourselves and learning how to reset and move forward, even in the most challenging situations.
Visit the CLI website for more details and to register for the conference.
