Trauma-Informed Montgomery County Task Force Holds Childhood Trauma Impact Conference in Conroe
Community conference examines effects of childhood trauma, explores solutions
The Trauma-Informed Montgomery County Task Force hosted the first Childhood Trauma Impact (CTI) Conference for more than 300 community and state leaders on Wednesday, October 26, 2022. The one-day conference at the Lone Star Convention and Expo Center in Conroe featured five innovative sessions led by notable experts, an exciting keynote address, and an informative closing panel discussion.
In attendance were professionals from a wide array of backgrounds including law enforcement, education, healthcare, the judicial system, child welfare system, and non-profit organizations, all working with children who have experienced trauma.
“As a collaborative group, we are committed to building partnerships and advocating for a more trauma-informed community to provide stronger support for our most vulnerable children,” said Task Force co-founder and President & CEO of CASA Child Advocates of Montgomery County, Ann Marie Ronsman. “This conference is an opportunity for more expansive education within our community, as well as valuable discussion of the pending issues affecting families and generational trauma.”
Judge Wayne L. Mack, Justice of the Peace for Montgomery County Precinct 1, provided welcome remarks while Ronsman gave a brief introduction to the Trauma-Informed Montgomery County Task Force and its efforts since forming last year. Keynote speaker, Daren Jones, Associate Director of Training and Development for the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development at Texas Christian University, spoke on the foundations of Trust-Based Relational Intervention, or TBRI®, a methodology used to support children and families affected by trauma.
Other prominent speakers included the Medical Director for the Texas Department of Juvenile Justice, Scott LePor, D.O.; Associate Director of the Texas Model for the Texas Department of Juvenile Justice, Troy McPeak; Special Agent for the Criminal Investigators Division of the Texas Department of Public Safety, Randy Kaiser; Assistant District Attorney, Chief-Special Victims Division of the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, Shanna Redwine; Presiding Judge for Montgomery County Court at Law No. 3, Amy Tucker; Elementary ELA Teacher at Wilkinson Elementary in Conroe ISD, Ginny Bowles; and Ronsman.
The Trauma-Informed Montgomery County Task Force aims to educate the community about the impact of childhood trauma and the need to come together to better serve vulnerable children. Representatives from about a dozen county agencies make up the Task Force, including the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, the District Attorney’s Office, the County Court at Law No. 3 — Montgomery County’s dedicated child welfare court, the Department of Family and Protective Services, CASA, Montgomery ISD, and Conroe ISD, among others. Since 2021, the Task Force has been raising awareness, providing community education opportunities, hosting an annual appreciation event for Child Protective Services (CPS) caseworkers and school counselors, and working to build relationships between key stakeholders in Montgomery County.
Conference sponsors include The Watford Family Foundation-Mike and Carol Watford and CASA Child Advocates of Montgomery County. The Task Force also acknowledges in-kind donors — Bayside Printing and Houston Methodist Hospital — as well as event partners — the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development and Texas Christian University.
For more information about the Trauma-Informed Montgomery County Task Force or the CTI Conference, visit the CASA Child Advocates of Montgomery County website at www.CASASpeaks4Kids.com or call (936) 441-5437.
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