Third Annual Prevent Child Abuse Illinois ACEs and Resilience Conference

Join us in Champaign, Illinois on April 30, 2024, for the Third Annual Prevent Child Abuse Illinois ACEs and Resilience Conference. Featuring preliminary speakers Elliott Hinkle, BS, Ginger Meyer, MSW, LCSW, CCTP, and Chaz Franke, MSW, LCSW.

"Introduction to HOPE: Empowering Families and Communities through Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs) and the Building Blocks of HOPE.”

Elliott Orrin Hinkle (they/them) is a skilled consultant, facilitator, trainer, speaker, advisor, and national expert focused on elevating lived experience and expertise in systems that serve children, youth, and families. As Principal and Founder of Unicorn Solutions LLC, they are an advocate and professional that brings 12 + years’ experience on topics such as child welfare, youth mental health, and the LGBTQIA2S+ community through training, advising, and facilitating culture change efforts. They are a graduate of Portland State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Women, Gender, Sexuality, and Queer studies. While completing their degree they worked at the Portland State University, School of Social Work, Regional Research Institute (RRI) at as a coach on the My Life and Better Futures Projects. At PSU they also held the role of the Youth/Young Adult Coordinator on the Oregon Healthy Transitions grant funded via the Oregon Health Authority and SAMHSA. Since August of 2019 the have been certified as a Traditional Health Worker, Youth Peer Support Specialist in the state of Oregon through the Oregon Health Authority. They have served as Vice Chair and Commissioner to the Oregon Governor’s Child Foster Care Advisory Commission. They currently serve in their 3rd year as a Federal Lived Experience Expert Partner for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) - Equity Technical Assistance Center (ETAC). To learn more and reach Elliott visit www.unicornsolutions.org or @unicornsolutionsllc on Instagram.

“Protection or Connection: The Space Between.”

Ginger Meyer is the Clinical Director for Children’s Medical and Mental Health Resource Network a program of SIU School of Medicine. She has worked with children and child welfare issues for over twenty-five years. She has been a leader in the Southern Illinois community in developing a Children’s Mental Health Network to increase professional development opportunities for professionals who work with traumatized children and their families.

She is a graduate of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale with a Master of Social Work and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional and a member of the International Association of Trauma Professionals. Ms. Meyer is a trained forensic interviewer and is a Nationally Certified TF-CBT clinician. She serves as the immediate past President and Board Chair of the Academy on Violence and Abuse (AVA) and is a member of the American Professional Society on The Abuse of Children. (APSAC). Ginger’s mission statement is to provide the framework to help people become the people they are meant to be. Her work with the wellness space and training is part of that mission. She is most proud of her two small children and husband who show her grace every day.

"Holding Space in a New Era: Creating Safety in Challenging Times."

Chaz has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from McKendree University and a Master of Social Work degree from Saint Louis University (SLU). Chaz received his clinical license in 2009.

Chaz is a therapist and clinical supervisor for Light Source. A small group practice in Belleville, Illinois. Chaz is also adjunct faculty in the Saint Louis University MSW program.

Chaz has been practicing therapy full-time since 2007. Since the beginning of his career as a therapist, Chaz has worked with trauma and its long-reaching effects. This work has included extensive work with all ages and all walks of life. Chaz specializes in self-compassion and integrating Eastern thought and philosophy into the therapeutic process. Chaz has presented on topics including, but not limited to Trauma, Wisdom and Self Compassion, Mindfulness, Self Care, Transference and countertransference, and Expanding the Self of the Helper. Chaz provides both clinical and reflective supervision to clinicians across many settings to help further their ability to find their voice in the field and maintain engagement in their work.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

I Hotel & Illinois Conference Center, 1900 South 1st Street, Champaign, United States