AGENDA

NWSN INAUGURAL CONFERENCE

Transforming the Trauma of Homelessness into Windows of Opportunity
TUESDAY // SEPTEMBER 5, 2023
12 p.m. | Registration (open until 8pm)
1:30 p.m. | Lotus Village Site Visit Opportunity

Tour of nearby Lotus Village, the largest women’s shelter in the country providing trauma informed, evidence based, wrap around support services, including in-take sanctuary, children’s wellness center, education center, culinary center, hydroponic farm, healing hands salon, art and activities lab, yoga center, gardens, and supportive residential programs.

6 p.m. | Welcome Reception / Networking & Socializing
WEDNESDAY // SEPTEMBER 6, 2023
7:15 a.m. | Rise and Shine Yoga (30 mins, all levels)
8:30 a.m. | Breakfast Reception: Welcome & Opening Remarks / NWSD Launch

Welcome & Thank You’s / Video: Grettel Jiménez – Singer, Director — NWSN; Keynote: Constance Collins, Exec. Director — NWSN; NWSD Launch: Neha Gajwani, Volunteer Research Associate;
Ms. of Ceremonies: Jatericka Lamons, Lotus House Women’s Shelter Program Coordinator and Alumna

9:00 a.m. | Opening Keynote
Creating Gender Specific, Trauma Informed Environments that Advance Equity, Social Justice and Successful Transitions
9:30 a.m. | Fundamental Principles

Evidence based, best practices for shelter in-take, operations, programming and supports, education, resources, and post-exit follow up addressing the gender specific needs of women and their children for effective solutions to end and prevent homelessness.

Moderator:

Emily Sepulveda Wheeland, Chief Executive Officer — The Delores Project

Panelists:
  • Kimberly Livsey, Vice President of Women and Children Services/Clinical Director — Atlanta Women’s Rescue Mission
  • Jennifer Hanlon Wigon, Executive Director – Women’s Lunch Place

  • Alexis Steel, President – St. Mary’s Center for Women and Children

  • Stephanie Padro, Deputy Director of Clinical Services – Lotus House Women’s Shelter

  • Jatericka Lamons, Alumna and Lotus Village Voices Podcast Host – Lotus House Women’s Shelter

10:30 a.m. | Refreshment Break
10:45 a.m. | Racial Equity, Diversity, Inclusivity and Advancing Social Justice and Success in Your Shelters

Walk the Walk – Basic principles and models for equity, inclusivity, diversity and peer leadership, management and mentorship in women’s shelters and programs. The why’s and how’s of building an effective team of program alumni and diverse and inclusive teams and giving voice to those with lived experience at all levels of your organization, from the Board participation to day to day operations, management, supervision and leadership of operations, programs and facilities.

Moderator:

Isabella Dell’Oca, Executive Director –  Lotus House Women’s Shelter

Panelists:
  • Sharonee Delevante, Alumna – Director of Operations –  Lotus House Women’s Shelter

  • Georgette Madison – Alumna / Asst. Director of Operations

  •  Emily Sepulveda Wheeland, Chief Executive Officer – The Delores Project

  • Teresa Sanders, Chief Program Officer – YWCA Greater Cleveland

  • Kenyatta Brunson, President & Chief Executive Officer – N Street Village 

11:30 a.m. | Refreshment Break
11:45 a.m. | Person-Centered, Trauma Informed Intake/Engagement, Resource Coordination, Therapeutic Supports and Programming to Support Successful Transitions
Principles for trauma informed, gender specific, intake and assessments, therapeutic supports, resource coordination (case management),  and programming from intake to exit and beyond. Understanding the trauma of those we serve. Why doing so will reduce conflicts, advance overall wellbeing, and build the foundation for success for women, youth and children.
Moderator:

Alexis Steel, President – St. Mary’s Center for Women and Children

Panelists:
  • Laura Klinefelter, Director of Intake and Victim Services – Lotus House Women’s Shelter

  • Rai Johnson, Wellness Director Substance Abuse Program – Lotus House Women’s Shelter

  • Katie O’Brien, Executive Director – Rose Haven

  • Kimberly Livsey, Vice president of Women and Children Services/ Clinical Director – Atlanta Women’s Rescue Mission

  • Shakoya Green Long, Executive Director – Thomas House Family Shelter

  • Patricia Bosman, Executive Director – The Haven of Grace 

12:45 p.m. | Lunch and Learn – Keynote Speaker Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, First Woman Mayor Of Miami Dade County, 14th Largest County in the United States

A social worker, community connector and catalyst for change prior to becoming the first female Mayor of Miami Dade County, the 14th largest in the United States. Mayor Levine Cava is deeply committed to addressing the special needs of women and children experiencing homelessness and an advocate for enriched resources for all children.

2:00 pm | Shelter as Sanctuary: Physical Design Elements to Advance Health and Wellbeing, Universal Accessibility, and Environmental Sustainability

Simple Ways to Create a Welcoming Sanctuary – Basic principles and models for trauma formed, truly accessible, welcoming and efficient design and spaces, even (always!) on a limited budget. Features to promote accessibility for those with special strengths and needs and a cleaner, safer, healthier environment.

Moderator:

Katy Roth, Deputy Director of Operations and ComplianceLotus House Women’s Shelter

Panelists:
  • Laura Rossbert, COO and Supporting Housing Specialist – Shopworks Architecture

  • Carey Dougherty, Chief Development Officer Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa

  • Kimberly Livsey, Vice President of Women and Children Services/Clinical Director – Atlanta Women’s Rescue Mission

  • Emily Sepulveda Wheeland, Chief Executive Officer – The Delores Project

3:00 pm | Refreshment Break
*Left column presentations (Adults) will run concurrently with right column presentations (Children)
Advancing Long Term Success and Breaking the Cycle of Abuse and Homelessness
3:15 pm | Trauma Informed, Wrap Around Supports, Job Readiness Training, Financial Literacy, Securing Benefits, and Enriched Programming for Successful Exits and Long Term Stability

 

Understanding the trauma histories of women experiencing homelessness and the need to provide holistic health and wellness supports and enriched programming to heal, advance whole health and wellness, empower and uplift women and their children. Plus, breaking down barriers to achieving financial stability and long term housing success through financial literacy, educational opportunities, job readiness training and employment assistance, and legal and social services and supports to secure and maintain needed benefits. We know there are systemic challenges and barriers to success, e.g., the absence of adequate truly affordable housing and permanent supportive housing; insufficient rental subsidies; rental subsidies that terminate before long term stability is achieved, to name a few. Here we discuss proven strategies to help program participants successfully exit the shelter system, achieve financial stability and break the cycle.

Moderator:

Stephanie Padro, Deputy Director of Clinical Programs – Lotus House Women’s Shelter;

Panelists:
  • Laura Klinefelter, Director of Intake and Victim Services – Lotus House Women’s Shelter

  • SOAR Program Benefits; Monica Vigues Pitan, Chief Executive Officer – Legal Services of Greater Miami

  • Olga Golik, Privacy Officer / In‑House Counsel Citrus Health Network, Homeless Collaborations with Federally Qualified Health Centers and Community Providers for Health and Mental Health Care

  • Jennifer Watkins, Vice​ President, Emergency Shelters and Housing Problem Solving – Crossroads Rhode Island

  • Ashley Rogers, Director of Family and Domestic Violence Shelter Services – Crossroads Rhode Island

  • Geneva Comeau, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Program Director – Lotus House Women’s Shelter, (Arts and Enrichment)

  • Shakoya Green Long, Executive Director – Thomas House Family Shelter (Holistic Family Supports)

  • Heather Hilligoss, Program Director – Rose Haven

     

Putting Children First Intensive – Deep Protective Factors to Heal, Support, Uplift and Break the Cycle
3:15 pm | Understanding and Healing Our Children and Youth
 
The need for early, universal assessments for all children and providing evidence-based therapeutic interventions to heal, support and strengthen children, youth and families. Basic principles and models to provide effective therapeutic support for children and families. How you can transform shelter into a window of opportunity and break the cycle.
Moderator:

Dr. Paulo Graziano, Professor of Psychology, Center for Children and Families – Florida International University

Panelists:
  • Dr. Shana Cox, Deputy Director of Children’s Services – Lotus House Women’s Shelter

  • Muriel Ayala, Director of Children’s Services – Lotus House Women’s Shelter

     
4:15 p.m. | Refreshment Break
Advancing Long Term Success and Breaking the Cycle of Abuse and Homelessness
4:30 pm | Post Exit Follow Up and Programs To Secure Hard Earned Successes

Safety plans, resource guides, post-exit case management, financial supports, supportive housing and other models for long term success with effective post-exit follow up strategies.

Moderator:

Patricia Bosman, Executive Director – The Haven of Grace

Panelists:
  • Carey Dougherty, Chief Development Officer Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa
  • Nicole Carnero, Clinical Director of the Families Program, Safety Plans and Exit Resource Guides, Lotus House Women’s Shelter

  • Amy Turk, CEO, Rental Subsidies and Post Exit Support, Downtown Women’s Center

  • Sandra Newson, Vice President Resident Services- CarrFour Supportive Housing

Putting Children First Intensive – Deep Protective Factors to Heal, Support, Uplift and Break the Cycle
4:15 pm | Environments, Operations and Programming that Put Children First
 
From intake to exit, how to make children feel welcome, safe and protected. Children’s welcome and informational video. Deep Protective Factors for Children: welcoming child-friendly spaces; educational supports, after school tutoring and homework assistance; close coordination with support systems; child and family therapies; and arts and enrichment programs that heal, support and uplift children and youth for social and emotional wellbeing and educational success.
Moderator:

 Dr. Shana Cox, Deputy Director of Children’s Services – Lotus House Women’s Shelter

Panelists:

  • Alexis Steel, President – St. Mary’s Center for Women and Children

  • Shakoya Green Long, Executive Director – Thomas House Family Shelter

  • Saliha Nelson, Chief Executive Officer – URGENT, Inc.

7:00 p.m. | Moon Over Miami, A Night On The Bay

Join us for an evening of delicious food, fun, networking and socializing by the water at the historic Miami Yacht Club. Dress is casual and swimsuits welcome.

THURSDAY // SEPTEMBER 7, 2023
7:15 a.m. | Rise and Shine Yoga (30 mins, all levels)
8:15 a.m. | Meet and Greet Breakfast Reception: NWSN Gaps and Needs Report and Policy Agenda
Advancing Your Mission Via Effective Fundraising, Resource Development, Capacity Building, and Community Engagement
9:00 a.m. | The Roadmap to Successful Fundraising Is A Kaleidoscope
 
Elements of Successful Fundraising Plans, Donor Relations and Development, Social Media Campaigns, In-Kind Drives, Friend Raising, Volunteers and Corporate Engagement, Thrift Stores and Social Enterprise; Galas and Other Strategies.
Moderator:

Beatrice Gonzalez, Director and CFO – Lotus House Women’s Shelter

Panelists:
  • Tadd Schwartz, President – Schwartz Media

  • Alexis Steel, President – St. Mary’s Center for Women and Children

  • Ronide Blanc, Director – Lotus House Thrift

  • Amy Turk, CEO – Downtown Women’s Center

  • Tara Armbruster, Executive Director – McKemie Place; Kenyatta Brunson, President & Chief Executive Officer – N Street Village

10:00 a.m. | Refreshment Break
10:15 a.m. | How to Make Your Dream Facilities Come True: Endowments, Charitable Funding and New Market Tax Credit Financing

Learn how a strategic combination of establishing endowments, charitable funding and new market tax credit financing can help you develop new or redevelop aging shelters into state-of-the-art facilities offering comprehensive supportive services. Joint presentation by national new market tax credit experts.

Moderator:

Constance Collins, President, Lotus Endowment Fund, Inc.

Panelists:
  • Debbie Kleban, Esquire, Applegate Thorne -Thompsen

  • Tony Smith, Partner/Executive Vice President, SB Friedman Development Advisors, LLC

  • Jennifer Westerbeck, Vice President, US Bancorp Community Development Corporation

  • Kevin Byrne, Chief Executive Officer – The Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation 

     

11:15 a.m. | Refreshment Break
11:30 a.m. | Innovative Ways to Expand the Pie: Legislative Initiatives, Judicial Solutions, Public Private Partnerships

This session will present some of the most innovative legislative, philanthropic, and public private partnership initiatives to end homelessness in the country. Learn from experts about: Miami-Dade County’s establishment of a homeless trust to fund shelter, supportive services and housing initiatives; the establishment of a county wide children’s trust to support the needs of vulnerable children; and New York’s judicially established right to shelter and the funding that flowed to shelter vulnerable women and children; and utilizing Federal low income tax credit financing for permanent housing.

Moderator:

Constance Collins, NWSN Executive Director

Panelists:
  • Stephanie Berman, Chief Executive Officer, CarrFour Supportive Housing

  • Ron Book, Esq., Chairman, Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust

  • Joshua Goldfein, Esq., Legal-Aid, New York

  • Lori Hanson, Ph.D., Chief Evaluation, Research and Strategic Planning Officer, Miami-Dade County Children’s Trust

  • Catherine Trapinni, Executive Director,  Homeless Services United.

     

12:30 p.m. | Luncheon: A conversation with Gloria Estefan

Gloria Estefan is a Cuban-American singer, songwriter, actress,
and businesswoman. Estefan is a seven-time Grammy Award winner, a Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, and has been named one of the Top 100 greatest artists of all time by both VH1 and Billboard.

1:45 p.m. | Organizational Capacity Building and Continuous Improvement

Policies and Procedures; Talent; Resources; Oversight, Monitoring and Continuous Quality Improvement, Succession Planning; Cross Training & Benefits of Becoming CARF Accredited.

Moderator:

Katy Roth, Deputy Director of Operations and Compliance, Lotus House Women’s Shelter

Panelists:
  • Gloria Lee, Chief Program Officer – Our Lady’s Inn; Belinda James, MSW and LCSW, Director of Counseling  –  Our Lady’s Inn

  • Meredith Damboise, Chief Quality and Compliance Officer – New Reach, Inc.

  • Chasity Chamberlin, Managing Director – CARF Representative

2:45 p.m. | Meet and Greet Social break
Workshops (5 min to change tables between sessions)
3:00 p.m. |Are You Ready to Succeed? Strategic Planning, Organizational Capacity and The Fundamentals for Success:

Open Forum with Breakout Tables for Sharing and Innovation – Pick and Choose: Each table has leaders, large pads to share ideas and innovation, the pads are posted for everyone to rotate and look at, and content typed up and shared for attendees; 20 Minutes per Table.

  • Organizational Vision, Mission and Strategic Business Plans.
  • Development Strategies for the Bread and Butter Givers (Operating/Short Term).
  • Strategies for Long Term Financial Stability: Government versus private funding ratios; establishing reserves; building an endowment; capital campaigns; and more.
  • Tailoring HMIS and Electronic Health Record Systems to Meet Your Needs: Wellsky Representative – HMIS Tailored EHR Systems.
  • Your Talent – Strategies for Investing in and Supporting your Team.
  • Getting The Most From Your Board: Board Functions, Composition, Recruitment and Management.
  • How Research Can Help You Better Serve, Improve Outcomes and Fund Your Services: Establishing collaborations with universities; development of your service driven research; training and fidelity; maintaining your data basis; your own institutional review and policies.
  • How to Become CARF Certified: A CARF representative will be present to answer questions and further explain the benefits and process for certification.
  • Policies and Procedures: Building the foundation for your work, from the basics to the sublime. Examples to consider.
Facilitator:

Amy Turk, CEO –  Downtown Women’s Center

Participants:
  • Jennifer Hanlon Wigon, Executive Director – Women’s Lunch Place
  • Patricia Bosman, Executive Director – The Haven of Grace
  • Constance Collins, NWSN Executive Director / President – Lotus Endowment Fund
  • Alexis Steel, President – St. Mary’s Center for Women and Children
  • Marta VegaDirector of Grants Management, Compliance & Quality Assurance The Sundari Foundation, Inc.
  • Sarah Wedderburn, Management Information Systems and Reporting Coordinator – Lotus House Women’s Shelter.
  • Dorlie Banbanaste, Program Director & MBSR Facilitator – Mindful Kids Miami, Inc.
  • Angela Versane, Director of Human Resources – Lotus House Women’s Shelter
  • Michaelson, Vice President Women’s and Children’s Programs – Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities
  • Dr. Shana Cox, Deputy Director of Children’s Services –  Lotus House Women’s Shelter
  • Paulo Graziano, Professor of Psychology, Center for Children and Families – Florida International University
  • Amy Turk, Executive Director – LA Downtown Women’s Center
  • Chastity Chamberlin, Managing Director — CARF
  • Taylor Tannehill – Associate General Counsel – Lotus House Women’s Shelter
  • Anna Frusciante, Esq. – FC Law
  • Charlotte Cassel, Esq. – FC Law 
  • Jennifer Watkins, Vice​ President, Emergency Shelters and Housing Problem Solving
  • Ashley Rogers . Director of Family and Domestic Violence Shelter Services Crossroads Rhode Island
  • Victoria Valera, Community Outreach Director – Lotus House Women’s Shelter
  • Marie Alcinieus, Director Quality Assurance – Lotus House Women’s Shelter
  • Sarah Wedderburn, Management Information Systems and Reporting Coordinator | Lotus House Women’s Shelter
  • Gabriela Saenz, Research Coordinator – Lotus House Women’s Shelter
  • Katy Roth, Deputy Director of Operations and Compliance | Lotus House Women’s Shelter
  • Debbie Kleban – Esquire, Applegate Thorne -Thompsen
  • Tony Smith, Partner/Executive Vice President – SB Friedman Development Advisors, LLC
  • Jennifer Westerbeck, Vice President – US Bancorp Community Development Corporation
7:00 p.m. | NWSN Wrap Up: Next Steps and Closing Dinner Reception and Socializing

 

FRIDAY // SEPTEMBER 8, 2023
8:30 a.m. | Steering Committee Meeting
10:00 a.m. | Breakfast on the Bay: Closing Remarks, Take-A-Ways, and Action Steps
12:00 P.m. | Conference Concludes
2:00 P.m. | Optional Lotus Village Tour

Tour of nearby Lotus Village, the largest women’s shelter in the country providing trauma informed, evidence based, wrap around support services, including in-take sanctuary, children’s wellness center, education center, culinary center, hydroponic farm, healing hands salon, art and activities lab, yoga center, gardens, and supportive residential programs.

*As a member of the NWSN, we are waving your registration fee, but spaces are limited. REGISTER TODAY!

Please consider making a donation to help cover the expenses and discounted hotel.

REGISTRATION

All registrations include full access to all sessions and exhibit, breakfasts, lunch, refreshments served during conference and offsite dinners.

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Sponsorship opportunities to support the NWSN Inaugural Conference of 2023

HOTEL RESERVATIONS

Doubletree by Hilton Grand Hotel Biscayne Bay 1717 North Bayshore Drive Miami, FL 33132-1180|