2025 HOPE Summit Schedule
Connect with like-minded professionals through sector-specific tracks
The HOPE Summit returns on June 3 and 4, 2025! The Fifth Annual HOPE Summit – Shaping the Future: A Framework for Every Sector – features two days of keynote addresses, workshop sessions, networking opportunities, and more. Participants created lasting relationships with colleagues from around the country and world and earned continuing education credits.
Day 1 | Tuesday, June 3, 2025 | 11:00 AM – 4:30 PM ET
Keynote address
Robert Sege, MD, PhD
Director of the HOPE National Resource Center
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM ET
Break/Lunch
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM ET
Workshops | Session 1
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM ET
Break/Sector-specific networking
2:30 PM – 3:00 PM ET
Workshops | Session 2
3:00 PM – 4:30 PM ET
Day 2 | Wednesday, June 4, 2025 | 11:00 AM – 4:30 PM ET
Keynote address
Junlie Li, PhD
Faculty Co-Chair of Human Development and Education, Harvard Graduate School of Education
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM ET
Workshops | Session 3
12:15 PM – 1:45 PM ET
Break/Lunch
1:45 PM – 2:30 PM ET
Panel
2:30 PM – 4:00 PM ET
Closing
4:00 PM – 4:30 PM ET
Tuesday, June 3, 2025 | 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM ET
Healthcare
Utilizing HOPE in Primary Care Pediatrics
Child welfare
Empowering Families, Enriching Futures: The HOPE Framework in Child and Family Well Being Departments
Education
Every Child Needs A Hero: Early Childhood Education Providers!
Substance use prevention
Substance Use Prevention through HOPE
HOPE Impact
HOPE Speaks: Stories, Stats, and Measuring Impact
Tuesday, June 3, 2025 | 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM ET
Healthcare
To be announced
Child welfare
Implementing HOPE framework in Screening and Assessment for Successful Outcomes with Families
Education
HOPE in Education Toolkit
Substance use prevention
Reimagining Prevention: Using HOPE to Strengthen Substance Use Prevention Programming
HOPE Impact
Policy Change and its impact on HOPE
Tuesday, June 4, 2025 | 12:15 PM – 1:45 PM ET
Healthcare
Switching Frames: Reimagining Your Pediatric Practice Through HOPE
Child welfare
A HOPEful Approach to Supporting Children in Foster Care
Education
Cultivating Hope: A District-Wide Approach to Enhancing Student Well-being
Substance use prevention
Integrating Science of the Positive and HOPE to Catalyze Your Efforts
HOPE Impact
Unlocking the Power of Positive Childhood Experiences: The Latest Research and Practical Insights
Keynote Addresses
About the speakers
Robert Sege, MD, PhD, FAAP, Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics at the Tufts University School of Medicine, is the Director of the HOPE National Resource Center located within the Center for Community-Engaged Medicine at Tufts Medicine and is the Co-Director of the Community and Stakeholder Engagement program at the Tufts Clinical and Translational Science Institute. He is a Senior Fellow at the Center for the Study of Social Policy, a national, nonprofit public policy, research and technical assistance organization. Dr. Sege is a board-certified general and child abuse pediatrician for over 20 years, leading pediatric primary care at the Tufts Children’s Hospital (formerly Floating Hospital for Children) and Boston Medical Center.
Dr. Sege is nationally known for his research on effective health systems approaches that directly address the social determinants of health. His academic work incorporates community engagement at all stages of design, implementation, dissemination, and improvement. At the HOPE National Resource Center, he has led numerous publications that includes research on the prevalence of positive childhood experiences (PCEs) among adults (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), corporal punishment (Pediatric Reports) amd child physical abuse (JAMA Pediatrics) during the COVID-19 pandemic, and addressing health equity in clinical translational research (Journal of Clinical and Translational Science).
Dr. Sege frequently presents keynote addresses on the HOPE framework and the science of PCEs at national and international conferences, recently The Picower Institute Spring 2023 Symposium, 2024 Frank M. Norfleet Forum for the Advancement of Health, and PAS (Pediatric Academic Societies) 2024. He serves on the board of the Massachusetts Children’s Trust and served for many years on the Board of Prevent Child Abuse America and on American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect and Committee on Injury, Violence, and Poisoning Prevention.
In recognition of his work identifying the importance of PCEs, Dr. Sege received the 2022 Richard D. Krugman award presented by the National Foundation to End Child Abuse and Neglect (EndCAN) and the 2019 Ray E. Helfer award from the Alliance of Children’s Trusts and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Dr. Sege holds a MD degree from Harvard Medical School, a PhD degree in biology from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a BS degree in biology from Yale University. He is an avid swimmer and lives in the Boston area where he and his wife have raised three adult children.
Junlei Li is the Co-Chair of the Human Development and Education Program, and Saul Zaentz Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
As a developmental psychologist, his research and practice focus on understanding and supporting the work of helpers – those who serve children and families on the frontlines of education and social services. Li studied and learned from a wide range of developmental settings with low resources but high-quality practices, including orphanages, childcare, classrooms, and community youth programs. He developed the “Simple Interactions” approach to help identify what ordinary people do extraordinarily well with children in everyday moments and made that the basis for promoting positive system change.
Li frequently delivers keynote presentations and workshops for national, state, and international conferences focused on improving practices, programs, and policies for children, families, and professionals, with a particular emphasis on early childhood development. He teaches about improving human interactions and supporting adult helpers. He serves on boards and advisory panels for non-profit organizations and various initiatives at the U.S. Administration for Children and Families. Li’s work is significantly influenced and inspired by the pioneering work of Fred Rogers (creator of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood). He previously served as the Co-Director and Rita M. McGinley Professor for Early Learning and Children’s Media at the Fred Rogers Center at Saint Vincent College. He received his MA and PhD in cognitive and developmental psychology from Carnegie Mellon University, and a BS in Computer Science from University of Notre Dame.
Workshops
The 2025 HOPE Summit featured 15 workshops across three sessions led by experts in the fields child welfare, education, healthcare, substance use prevention, and the HOPE Impact.
Child welfare
- Empowering Families, Enriching Futures: The HOPE Framework in Child and Family Well Being Departments
- A HOPEful Approach to Supporting Children in Foster Care
- Implementing HOPE framework in Screening and Assessment for Successful Outcomes with Families
Education
- Cultivating Hope: A District-Wide Approach to Enhancing Student Well-being
- Every Child Needs A Hero: Early Childhood Education Providers!
- HOPE in Education Toolkit
Healthcare
- Utilizing HOPE in Primary Care Pediatrics
- Switching Frames: Reimagining Your Pediatric Practice Through HOPE
Substance use prevention
- Integrating Science of the Positive and HOPE to Catalyze Your Efforts
- Reimagining Prevention: Using HOPE to Strengthen Substance Use Prevention Programming
- Substance Use Prevention through HOPE
HOPE Impact
Child welfare workshops
Empowering Families, Enriching Futures: The HOPE Framework in Child and Family Well Being Departments
About the Workshop
This presentation will explore the integration of the HOPE framework at a county-level child welfare organization, the San Diego County Child and Family Well-Being Department (CFWB). The session will focus on the perceived benefits of integrating the HOPE framework in a child welfare organization by exploring alignment with CFWB values, connections with families, community partnerships, and an early implementation roadmap. It will include practical applications of HOPE into work with families through child welfare and prevention services.
Workshop Session
Tuesday, June 3, 2025 | 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM ET
About the Presenters
Sarah Glass serves as Deputy Director for the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency in the Child and Family Well-Being Department (CFWB), where she leads the Office of Child and Family Strengthening. With over 15 years of dedicated service at CFWB, Glass has held various roles since joining in 2007, bringing extensive experience as a case-carrying social worker across multiple programs and classifications. In her current leadership role, she oversees the implementation of the San Diego County Childcare Blueprint and the San Diego County Comprehensive Prevention Plan, ensuring families have access to a “no wrong door” approach to prevention services.
Amy Isiaho serves as a Policy Analyst for the Child and Family Well-Being Department in San Diego County working to develop community-supporting initiatives. With 14 years of experience in child welfare, she has held roles in both direct practice and administrative capacities across agencies in San Diego and Texas.
A HOPEful Approach to Supporting Children in Foster Care
About the Workshop
Children who have been removed from their family of origin into the foster care system are amongst the most vulnerable children in our communities, at elevated risk of poor health, development, wellbeing and education outcomes. In response, out-of-home care policy and practice decision making has been driven by an almost exclusive focus on risk mitigation, motivated by an understandable sense of responsibility to protect children from harm.
However, when policy and practice is predominantly focused on adversity and risk mitigation, there can be unintended consequences that hinder optimal outcomes for children. When a deficit approach guides a policy and service response, individual and community strengths are overlooked and a sense of powerlessness is reinforced. Despite an increasing focus on risk mitigation, children in foster care continue to have poorer outcomes relative to their peers. In other words, an exclusive focus on risk identification and mitigation has not led, overall, to improved outcomes for children in care.
There is strong research and anecdotal support for the importance of a strengths-based approach to working with children in foster care, an approach built on the premise that every child has strengths that can be mobilised to promote resilience and overcome adversity. This approach seeks to empower and support self-determination.
The HOPE domains provide an evidence-based foundation to guide the ways in which we support children in care and their foster families. It operationalises an impactful strengths-based approach, emphasising the importance of identifying and purposefully investing in positive childhood experiences (PCEs) to counteract the impact of adversity. PCEs can be potent healing mechanisms. What this means in practice is that significant investment is needed to support children to have PCEs, at least equal to the investment in risk mitigation and intervention. For example, a child in the child protection system may benefit more from opportunities to play, pursue their talents, participate in decision making and stay connected to a loved extended family member, than from a risk-based therapeutic intervention program. Policy and the investment of service resources should reflect this balance.
Workshop Session
Wednesday, June 4, 2025 | 12:15 PM – 1:45 PM ET
About the Presenters
Professor Rebekah Grace has a PhD in Medical Psychology and is the Director of a cross-disciplinary research centre at Western Sydney University focused on the service and support needs of vulnerable or disadvantaged children and their families. She employs a mixed-methods approach to research, including participatory and co-design methodologies, and seeks to move beyond the bounds of disciplinary silos to address complex challenges. Dr. Grace has extensive experience in productive collaboration with government and non-government service organisations. Her expertise is in applied research, and in the translation of that research so that it is meaningful within practice settings, and transformative to policy and practice.
Professor Stacy Blythe has been a Registered Nurse since 2003 with clinical expertise in critical care and infection control. Dr. Blyth’s research focuses on the health and well-being of children in out-of-home care and their families (both birth and foster families), and she has a particular interest in infants and children who were prenatally exposed to harmful substances (eg. illicit drugs).
In addition to her nursing, teaching and research qualifications, Dr. Blyth has post graduate certification in Developmental Trauma and has been an authorised foster carer for 19+ years. Drawing on her skills as a nurse, knowledge as a researcher and experience as a carer, She provides training to health care workers, social service providers, educators and foster/kinship carers in relation to working with children who have experienced prenatal substance exposure and/or developmental trauma.
Implementing HOPE framework in Screening and Assessment for Successful Outcomes with Families
About the Workshop
This presentation will highlight the importance of effective screening and assessment practices, focusing on strengths and experiences of a family to build intentional connections with supports in the community. Also, how a shift in focus during practice can increase prevention efforts. The presenter will describe successful partnerships between assessment centers, schools, child welfare, and juvenile justice- working in collaboration to make sure families receive the right service at the right time by combining and implementing assessment center framework and the HOPE framework.
Workshop Session
Tuesday, June 3, 2025 | 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM ET
About the Presenter
Meredith Velasquez, LCSW, LAC, ACS is the Community Assessment Program Director at the Juvenile Assessment Center (JAC) in the 18th and 23rd Judicial District, Colorado. She obtained a Masters Degree in Social Work from Metro State in Denver, CO and started her career working with youth in residential care. Velasquez began her work with the JAC and youth involved in the Juvenile Justice System and Child Welfare System 9 years ago with the Law Enforcement Program. Shortly after, she moved to the prevention arm with the JAC and assisted with the inception of the formal Community Assessment Program (CAP). Since that time, she has also taken on adolescent clients in private practice.
Her clinical work with youth allowed her to obtain hours towards licensure and she completed her License of Clinical Social Work (LCSW) as well as her Licensed Addictions Counselor (LAC) credential. Since the inception of CAP, Velasquez has moved into the Director role and obtained an Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS) national credential. She spends her time as director developing and improving the clinical program, creating relationships within the community, and providing clinical supervision and support to the clinicians. Velasquez is passionate about the growth and innovation that can happen within assessment centers and enjoys supporting her team while they do the hard and necessary work. She finds peace and gratitude spending time with family, doing yoga, walking outside, and traveling.
Education workshops
Cultivating Hope: A District-Wide Approach to Enhancing Student Well-being
About the Workshop
This workshop will explore the power of fostering the HOPE initiative across a school district and its community partners. We will delve into Harford County Public Schools’ concept of HOPE, its critical role in student success, and practical strategies for cultivating a HOPE across all levels of the educational system.
Workshop Session
Wednesday, June 4, 2025 | 12:15 PM – 1:45 PM ET
About the Presenters
Joe Harbert is the Director of Health and Wellness in the Student Support Services office for Harford County Public Schools (HCPS). He holds a bachelor’s degree in education, holding a certificate in Physical Education and Health from Fairmont State University, a master’s degree in educational leadership from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland. He is in his 26th year in education.
During that time, Harbert has served as a teacher, and an administrator holding assistant principal and principal positions at both the Middle and High School levels. He was appointed to the role of Coordinator of Athletics, Physical Education, and Health in Cecil County Public Schools. Harbert transitioned to HCPS in the role of Supervisor of Physical Education and Health, most recently he was appointed to his current role of Director of Health and Wellness.
As the Director of Health and Wellness, Harbert works closely providing support to their School Psychologists, School Nurses, School Counselors and the Mental Health Specialist. He collaborates with district and community partners to strengthen and create a supportive network for students and school communities. Harbert serves on the Local Health Coalition Committee, Chair the School Health Council, Instructional Leadership Team, Local Interagency Coordinating Council, General Curriculum Council, Maryland State School Health Council, Domestic Violence Coordinating Council, Wellness Committee, Healthy Harford Planning Board, Community Partnerships Committee, Emergency Response Team, Facilitates the Blueprint Student Supports Sub-Committee, and a Reunification Team member. He takes pride in his ability to work with others in a collaborative approach, always looking for solutions that support students, families and staff.
Bernard Hennigan is the Executive Director of Student Support Services for Harford County Public Schools. He oversees the departments of Special Education, Title I, and Student Support Services. Hennigan has spent the last 26 years in education serving in the roles of Teacher, Pupil Personnel Worker, Assistant Principal, Director of Student Services, and in his current role. He is also a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor who has delivered mental health therapeutic services to children and adults in Harford County for the past 14 years.
Every Child Needs A Hero: Early Childhood Education Providers!
About the Workshop
This workshop will introduce participants to the principles of HOPE, highlighting how Early Childhood Education (ECE) is a vital space for implementing these foundational building blocks in the lives of children and families. We’ll explore the science behind HOPE, its research, and how quality childcare supports these principles. We will cover the TED Talk “Every Child Needs a Hero” to understand the importance of caregiving relationships. Additionally, we will hear from Executive Director, Maria Soter in a video interview, where she will discuss how the Sammy Center integrates HOPE’s Four Building Blocks into daily practices for children who have faced early adversity.
Workshop Session
Tuesday, June 3, 2025 | 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM ET
About the Presenters
Maria Soter has immersed herself in the world of Early Childhood for over 25 years, from the inception of Salt Lake City’s first Preschool for Homeless children in 1998 to, more recently, the creation of the Coaching Model and program for Head Start. Soter has always had a passion to serve children and their families, especially where a need is unmet.
Her vision for The Sammy Center became a reality in 2018 when she heard the CEO of a local program speak on behalf of the Early Childhood mental health crisis that was on an uprising. Soter has made a commitment to herself, the community, and the children of Salt Lake City to give them an added level of support through The Sammy Center.
Royale Lockhart is the Region 1 Lead Quality Child Care consultant on the IdahoSTARS project for the University of Idaho’s Center on Disabilities and Human Development. In this role, she uses her 30 years of experience as a child care director to support child care providers in building quality programs that support the needs of the children and families in their community. Throughout the years, Lockhart has noticed the key role early learning plays in helping families identify and celebrate their positive childhood experiences and at the same time, connect them to vital community resources when they are faced with adverse childhood experiences. As a HOPE Facilitator and Champion, she is looking forward to supporting child care programs as they utilize the tools of the HOPE framework along with other strengths-based approaches to support their children and families. Lockhart has a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction and a master’s in business administration. In her free time, she enjoys being creative, spending time with her husband, and watching her young adult children explore adulthood and expand their horizons.
HOPE implementation in Education – a toolkit
About the Workshop
Join Amanda Winn and Laura Gallant from the HOPE National Resource Center as they review a newly developed toolkit for K-12 educators. They will walk through the resources available within the toolkit, and there will be opportunities for discussion. Time will also be reserved for participants to share innovative ways they have used the HOPE framework in educational settings.
Workshop Session
Tuesday, June 3, 2025 | 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM ET
About the Presenters
Amanda Winn, macro-level MSW, received her degree from UC Berkeley with a joint focus on Health and Children and Families. She’s spent her professional career working at the intersection of parenting, gender, and poverty. Amanda directed a National Resource Center out of UC Berkeley’s School of Social Welfare providing training and technical assistance to providers around the country supporting families affected by substance use and/or HIV. She’s also worked extensively supporting LGBTQ+ families at the school district, medical, and community levels.
Laura Gallant is a research associate at the HOPE National Resource Center in the Center for Community-Engaged Medicine. She manages the HOPE blog, coordinates the HOPE National Advisory Board and the Family and Community Experts Council (FACEs) networks, and works on several research projects. Laura received her Master of Social Work in 2020 from Boston University School of Social Work. There she studied macro social work specifically focusing on policy analysis, social change, and advocacy. She is passionate about equitable systems change both within governmental programs and policies, and within organizational structures. Before starting at HOPE Laura worked in HigherEd for 7 years focusing on project management, working closely with both undergraduate and graduate students.
Healthcare workshops
Utilizing HOPE in Primary Care Pediatrics
About the Workshop
In this session, attendees will learn how the HOPE framework was implemented in a primary care pediatric office. The program will discuss how HOPE was set up in the office, how well it worked in the office and lessons learned through this process. It will also cover questions such as cost, documentation, and time commitment for the program.
Workshop Session
Tuesday, June 3, 2025 | 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM ET
About the Presenter
A pediatric Nurse Practitioner since 1997, Nicole Boucher, PhD, RN, CPNP’s focus is in pediatric nursing with particular expertise in primary care of children and their families. Recently, she completed her Facilitator training in the HOPE framework. Dr. Boucher has initiated HOPE in her primary care practice. She maintains an active faculty practice in Auburn Hills, MI.
Switching Frames: Reimagining Your Pediatric Practice Through HOPE
About the Workshop
This session details Tufts Medicine Pediatrics’ journey from a HOPE-Inspired to a HOPE-Informed pediatric primary care clinic. You will learn practical insights and strategies for adopting and implementing the HOPE framework into your practice. We will share our experiences engaging and educating staff across clinical roles and applying HOPE to transform our practice habits. We will review how quality improvement methodology can be applied to develop team-based competency and confidence in HOPE . We will highlight strategic tips for using the Four Building Blocks of HOPE to bring focus to implementation efforts and drive change.
Workshop Session
Wednesday, June 4, 2025 | 12:15 PM – 1:45 PM ET
About the Presenters
Shirley Huang, MD is an academic primary care pediatrician at Tufts Medical Center whose work reflects a commitment to child wellness that extends beyond traditional clinic boundaries. With a focus in population health and children with medical complexity, this expertise has led to a nuanced understanding of healthcare’s broader social context. She has a long-standing interest in resiliency, which aligns well and integrates with the HOPE framework, to emphasize her belief in comprehensive, community-centered care. Dr. Huang’s work embodies the principle that “it takes a village to raise a child” by actively building collaborative networks and engaging community resources to support children’s overall well-being. Starting within her clinic and her team and extending to the families they serve, She represents an innovative model of pediatric care that not only promotes health but also empowers children and families to navigate challenges effectively.
Charles Hannum, MD is a general pediatrician who practices primary care at Tufts Medicine Pediatrics. He is the overall Clerkship Director for the Pediatrics Clerkship at Tufts University School of Medicine and additionally spends some of his time improving the local medical record. Dr. Hannum has a passion for medical education and teaching in the clinical setting.
Substance use prevention workshops
Integrating Science of the Positive and HOPE to Catalyze Your Efforts
About the Workshop
What happens when you intentionally integrate the spirit, science and actions of the Science of the Positive and the HOPE framework? Join us for an interactive workshop on maximizing the power of Science of the Positive and HOPE in your prevention work.
Workshop Session
Wednesday, June 4, 2025 | 12:15 PM – 1:45 PM ET
About the Presenter
Stephanie Patton, MPH, has been the Prevention Coordinator for the Stoughton OASIS Coalition since 2012 and has been managing the Town Prevention Department for the past 5 years. A primary focus of her work is using community-based strategies that center on growing the positive to address adolescent substance use. During her tenure in Stoughton, the town has been recognized for its substance abuse prevention work in National and Statewide settings.
Patton has been working in the field of prevention since 1998. She has a Master’s Degree in Public Health from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and a Bachelor’s Degree from Wellesley College. In her free time, you will find her cross county skiing, hiking or paddleboarding in the wilds of New England with her family.
Reimagining Prevention: Using HOPE to Strengthen Substance Use Prevention Programming
About the Workshop
This session will focus on the practical application of the HOPE framework in substance use prevention programming. We will share insights from our work and highlight examples of HOPE integration in strategies to prevent harms associated with substance use, including substance use disorder, overdose, and adolescent substance use. Participants will have the opportunity to share real-world applications, explore available resources, and discuss how they are, or could be, using HOPE in their own work. This session will balance structured content with open discussion to provide attendees with concrete ideas, shared experiences, and new connections to support their work.
Workshop Session
Tuesday, June 3, 2025 | 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM ET
About the Presenters
Amie Myrick, LCPC, is a Maryland-licensed clinical professional counselor and the Director of Evaluation and Quality Improvement at the HOPE National Resource Center. She leads evaluation strategies to measure and enhance the impact of the HOPE framework. An ACE Interface Master Presenter, national HOPE facilitator, and technical assistance provider, Amie has trained professionals and communities on trauma-related topics for nearly 20 years. She supports organizations in implementing trauma-informed and resilience-building practices and is a published author and co-editor of peer-reviewed works on trauma and advocacy. Her why is to create a compassionate world where all feel seen.
Camille Adams, MSW, LICSW is a Senior Program Analyst on the Overdose, Injury & Violence Prevention team at the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO). In this role, she supports local health departments and their communities nationwide to strengthen their public health prevention capacity. Specifically, Adams manages projects and provides technical assistance related to adverse childhood experience (ACEs) prevention, suicide prevention, overdose prevention, and positive childhood experiences (PCEs) promotion. Camille has a background in clinical social work and received an MSW from New York University.
Substance Use Prevention through HOPE
About the Workshop
EASTIE is a multi-sectoral coalition working to prevent and reduce substance misuse in East Boston. EASTIE staff and members will present how the HOPE framework informs their overall approach to prevention and is integrated into all their programming. They will discuss how promoting positive childhood experiences (PCEs) is a powerful way to engage youth and families in prevention work. EASTIE will also share their experience implementing HOPE en Espanol in East Boston’s Latinx community, and the ways they have spread HOPE with partner organizations in the greater Boston area.
Workshop Session
Tuesday, June 3, 2025 | 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM ET
About the Presenters
Sara Ladino Cano’s passion for Central and South American literature and history has shaped her dedication to supporting the Latinx community. Since her undergraduate studies, she has actively participated in youth organizations, advocating for community resilience and education on critical issues such as immigration, access to public services, and state-level representation. In her current role as Youth Project Coordinator for the EASTIE Coalition at NeighborHealth in East Boston, Cano promotes community engagement and facilitates year-round employment opportunities for Latinx youth.
Liliana Obando has a lifelong passion for human services and is a dedicated advocate for healthy Latinx communities. Her work at NeighborHealth over the past ten years has leveraged her unique understanding of Latinx culture and community needs gained from her experience in both Colombia and the U.S. As the Drug Free Communities Project Coordinator for the EASTIE Coalition, Obando’s substance use prevention efforts focus on fostering leadership development and empowering Latinx families and youth. She is a trusted voice and advocate, driven by her commitment to creating healthier, more resilient communities.
Nancy Slamet is passionate about transformation and healing at the individual, family, community and societal levels. She has over thirty years of experience in the fields of community development, social services, and public health. Slamet has worked for non-profit and community-based organizations around the world and is currently employed by NeighborHealth as the director of EASTIE, the substance misuse prevention coalition in East Boston, Massachusetts. In all her work, Slamet is committed to fostering collective leadership and creating spaces where people can reconnect with their bodies, minds, spirits, each other, and the earth. She is constantly inspired by human resilience and the strength of community in the face of great adversity.
Reina Reyes is a long-time community leader, organizer and activist whose early life experiences in El Salvador molded her and rooted her firmly in the values of equity and justice. She is committed to promoting collaboration, mutual care, cultural diversity, and a sacred relationship to the natural world as forms of resistance and social change. Over the past 14 years, she has worked with diverse communities in East Boston and social movement organizations across the country. Her prevention work with the EASTIE coalition as the Youth and Parent Support Coordinator focuses on bringing civic education and engagement opportunities to youth and adults. Reyes also offers resilience trainings for parents and their children to build their sense of empowerment and to ability to serve as role models for one another and the wider community.
Nelson Correa is a passionate community leader and co-founder of De Nosotros Foundation, a Boston-based nonprofit dedicated to empowering youth and families through leadership development, civic engagement, and fostering a sense of belonging. With a strong background in mentorship, program development, and community organizing, he works to create supportive environments where young people can thrive. Correa is an advocate of HOPE believes in the transformative power of positive childhood experiences (PCEs) to promote mental health and resilience. Through his work with De Nosotros Foundation, he integrates the HOPE framework into youth leadership initiatives, emphasizing strengths-based approaches that build emotional well-being, social connections, and a sense of purpose. By fostering safe and inclusive spaces, Correa ensures that immigrant youth and families have access to the resources, support, and opportunities needed to overcome adversity and lead fulfilling lives. His dedication to social justice and holistic well-being continues to drive meaningful change in the communities he serves.
HOPE Impact workshops
HOPE Speaks: Stories, Stats, and Measuring Impact
About the Workshop
We believe the HOPE framework makes a difference – but how do we measure its impact? HOPE focuses on fostering positive experiences, but evaluating its effects – on prevention, on families and communities, on staff wellness, and in provider-client relationships – is a new and evolving process. In this session, we’ll share hot-off-the-presses data from our early evaluation efforts, including insights from focus groups, surveys, and initial implementation experiences. We’ll explore emerging strategies for assessing both the presence of meaningful change and the prevention of adversity, offering practical ideas for measuring impact in your own work. You’ll leave with strategies to gather, analyze, and share data that captures the true impact of HOPE.
Workshop Session
Tuesday, June 3, 2025 | 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM ET
About the Presenter
Amie Myrick, LCPC, is a Maryland-licensed clinical professional counselor and the Director of Evaluation and Quality Improvement at the HOPE National Resource Center. She leads evaluation strategies to measure and enhance the impact of the HOPE framework. An ACE Interface Master Presenter, national HOPE facilitator, and technical assistance provider, Amie has trained professionals and communities on trauma-related topics for nearly 20 years. She supports organizations in implementing trauma-informed and resilience-building practices and is a published author and co-editor of peer-reviewed works on trauma and advocacy. Her why is to create a compassionate world where all feel seen.
Policy Change and its impact on HOPE
About the Workshop
Because of the variety and complexity of the policy issues before legislators, they often rely on their staff, researchers, experts in the field, lobbyists, and community members to gather information and develop policies that address a need or respond to an opportunity. Legislators rely on their constituents, community members, and experts for information and firsthand perspectives about the effects of laws and needed policy changes that will positively impact children and families and help promote healthy outcomes and positive childhood experiences. During this session, participants will hear from Prevent Child Abuse America to learn about effective solutions and policies across America that support families, the role of advocacy in advancing prevention-focused policies, how to engage with your legislator, and how your voice can make a difference in impacting policy.
Workshop Session
Tuesday, June 3, 2025 | 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM ET
About the Presenter
Kelly Crane has worked in the field of prevention and child welfare for over 20 years. Her policy activities center on providing leadership, strategic planning, guidance, and support to advance the goals and mission of Prevent Child Abuse America and Healthy Families America. Crane facilitates informative advocacy and educational campaigns, cultivating positive public and political will, and connecting allied political champions and stakeholders to each other. She mobilizes support for the organization’s federal policy priorities and distills national priorities into effective state advocacy strategies for the PCA America network.
Crane holds a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago and BA in Psychology and Business Administration from Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana. She resides outside of Minneapolis, Minnesota with her husband and two children.
Unlocking the Power of Positive Childhood Experiences: The Latest Research and Practical Insights
About the Workshop
Discover the transformative power of positive childhood experiences (PCEs) in our engaging and interactive workshop! Explore the latest groundbreaking research from the HOPE National Resource Center, alongside other cutting-edge studies, to learn how nurturing relationships, safe and equitable environments as well as opportunities for social and civic engagement shape lifelong health and well-being. Through hands-on activities and expert insights, you’ll gain first-hand knowledge of the power of PCEs.
Workshop Session
Wednesday, June 4, 2025 | 12:15 PM – 1:45 PM ET
About the Presenters
Dina Burstein, MD MPH is an experienced physician, healthcare project designer, and leader with over 20 years of success in scientific research, grant writing, analysis, training, and clinical practice. Her aim is to enhance the well-being of individuals and the community by presenting and promoting programs while leveraging proficiency in research, care management, injury prevention, and clinical effectiveness.
Dr. Burstein is the Project Director at the HOPE National Resource Center located within the Center for Community-Engaged Medicine at Tufts Medicine and an Associate Professor of Medicine at the Tufts University School of Medicine (TUSM). At the HOPE National Resource Center, she oversees its operations, leads the research team on grant and manuscript writing, and mentors undergraduate, graduate, and medical students through its internship program.
Dr. Burstein has co-led numerous research projects focused on positive childhood experiences (PCEs). With the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, she helped launch the Positive and Adverse Childhood Experiences (PCEs & ACEs) Data dashboard and provided input in creating a statewide awareness campaign on promoting PCEs. This collaborative project was funded through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Essentials for Childhood: Preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences through Data to Action grant program.
Dr. Burstein was also a co-investigator on the Measuring the Impact of Violence against Children and Women during a Pandemic – Family Snapshot Survey project with the American Academy of Pediatrics and Prevent Child Abuse America and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey Data Analysis project with the CDC. These projects resulted in three publications in 2024 on the prevalence of PCEs among adults (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), corporal punishment during COVID-19 (Pediatric Reports), and childcare disruptions and parental stress during COVID-19 (Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics).
Kelsey Hannan, a research assistant with the HOPE National Resource Center at the Center for Community-Engaged Medicine at Tufts Medical Center, earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a Clinical Concentration from Boston College in 2021. Following her graduation, she served as a research program assistant at Johns Hopkins in their Center for Reproductive Mental Health. Hannan joined the HOPE team in 2023. During her time with HOPE, she has honed her research focus on child health equity and strengths-based approaches.