10:30am - 11:30am | Keynote Speaker: Nathan Howell, AIA, NCARB, LSSYB

Keynote: Embark on a transformative journey with Nathan Howell, AIA, NCARB, LSSYB in a keynote presentation that delves into the dynamic landscape of behavioral health. Through an inspiring exploration, we'll examine the current state of the care continuum, pinpointing our shortcomings in the realm of behavioral health. With an emphasis on actionable strategies, we'll uncover what steps can be taken in the immediate future to enact positive change. Join us as we peer into the horizon of hope, envisioning a future continuum that promises brighter outcomes for all.

Nathan Howell, AIA, NCARB, LSSYB, Vice President, Health + Wellbeing Market Sector Leader at STV: With deep experience in healthcare and mental and behavioral health, he is an experienced team leader who has worked with clients across the country. He has dedicated his career to designing places of healing and working to foster the commitment to evidence-based design and innovation. Nathan's design work reinforces his belief that care spaces should be designed with a holistic and recovery-focused mindset. This foundation is pursued not only through professional design services but also through advocacy with state and local agencies looking to improve access to care, reduce stigma, and increase the resiliency of every community.

1:30pm - 2:30pm | Project Highlight: Family Service Guidance Center, Topeka KS

Join us for a project discussion with Jacquelyn Rakoski-Diediker, Associate AIA, Senior Project Manager at Architect One, Travis Freed, Director, Crisis and Recovery Services at Family Service & Guidance Center and Ramon Chavez, Crisis Operations Manager at Family Service & Guidance Center on how FSGC collaborated with Architect One to address facility challenges including capacity limits, privacy and safety while creating a natural and supportive setting where children can comfortably address mental health challenges. 

Jacquelyn Rakoski-Diediker, Associate AIA, Senior Project Manager at Architect One: Jackie is a senior project manager with extensive experience and skills focused on facilitating communication to ensure projects stay on schedule and within budget. She earned her degree from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and relocated to the Midwest in 2011 to be closer to her family. Since joining Architect One in 2015, Jackie has been actively involved in numerous community projects. Known for her organization and attention to detail, she specializes in construction administration to deliver polished outcomes for her clients. Jackie has been a dedicated volunteer in various organizations in Topeka, Kansas since 2011, actively seeking ways to contribute to her community. Her strong sense of community involvement is evident in every project and client she collaborates with. 

Travis Freed, LMLP, Director, Crisis and Recovery Services at Family Service & Guidance Center: Since joining FSGC in November 2005, Travis has shown unwavering dedication to supporting children and families. Leading a team of Crisis Clinicians, he offers guidance and oversight in their daily duties while driving forward program development efforts aimed at continuously enhancing services. With a master's degree in psychology from Washburn University, he brings deep insight into mental health dynamics and is certified in Assessing and Managing Suicide Risk (AMSR). Travis recently expanded crisis services statewide in collaboration with the Kansas Department of Aging and Disabilities. He also provides parent trainings as part of FSGC’s Real-World Parenting Conversation Series.  

Ramon Chavez, Crisis Operations Manager at Family Service & Guidance Center: With a steadfast commitment to excellence in mental health care, Ramon oversees the operations of the licensed 24-hour, 365-day residential facility specifically tailored to children aged 5-17. In his role, Ramon orchestrates crisis interventions and ensures the facility's daily operations maintain the highest standards of care and safety. He's a certified practitioner of Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) and a nationally certified trainer for Managing Aggressive Behavior (MAB). Ramon's leadership ensures compliance with licensing standards while fostering a compassionate environment for staff and families.

4pm - 5:15 pm | Children / Adolescent Behavioral Health Panel 

Moderator: Bobby Eklofe, President of Camber Children's Mental Health: Bobby Eklofe is President of Camber Children’s Mental Health where he leads strategy and operations and provides oversight to all leaders within a network of nonprofit children’s psychiatric hospitals and residential treatment centers serving Kansas and Missouri. Bobby earned a master’s degree in health services administration from the University of Kansas School of Medicine. Throughout his 30-year plus career in behavioral health, most of that with Camber and the KVC Health Systems family of nonprofits, Bobby has gained experience working in residential services, psychiatric hospitals, social services, and school settings. He has held positions in a range of disciplines giving him a well-rounded understanding of the psychiatric treatment environment, including direct patient care, human resources, training, staff development, facility design, hospital administration and executive leadership. 

Susan Bartlett, LCSW, Coordinator, School-Based Mental Wellness at North Kansas City School District: Susan brings 23 years of experience in social work and education as the Coordinator of School-Based Mental Wellness at North Kansas City Schools. She oversees mental health, SEL, and prevention programs, managing K-5 behavior support to ensure students' emotional well-being. Dedicated to evidence-based practices, Susan collaborates with mental health resources and researches new strategies to support the diverse needs of over 21,500 Pre-K-12 students. Her leadership aims to foster a nurturing environment, improving mental health outcomes and empowering students to achieve their potential.

Travis Freed, LMLP, Director, Crisis and Recovery Services at Family Service & Guidance Center: Since joining FSGC in November 2005, Travis has shown unwavering dedication to supporting children and families. Leading a team of Crisis Clinicians, he offers guidance and oversight in their daily duties while driving forward program development efforts aimed at continuously enhancing services. With a master's degree in psychology from Washburn University, he brings deep insight into mental health dynamics and is certified in Assessing and Managing Suicide Risk (AMSR). Travis recently expanded crisis services statewide in collaboration with the Kansas Department of Aging and Disabilities. He also provides parent trainings as part of FSGC’s Real-World Parenting Conversation Series.

Sara B. Schlagel, LSCSW, LCSW, Vice President of Administration at Camber Children’s Mental Health: Sara oversees administrative operations for Camber’s children’s psychiatric treatment centers in Kansas.Her role spans programming, staff development, compliance, and quality assurance, focusing on best practices, innovation, and enhancing employee engagement and DEIB. She also held other leadership roles with KVC Kansas, which is a sister organization to Camber Mental Health, and a local community mental health center.  A certified Trauma Systems Therapy trainer with 13 years in mental health, Sara is bilingual and holds a master’s in social work from Washburn University, with licensure as a clinical and specialist clinical social worker.

Kathryn L. Worland, MSW, LCSW, LSCSW, Director of Social Work Child and Family Mental Health Services, at Children’s Mercy Kansas City-Adele Hall Campus: Kathryn is an experienced leader and clinical social worker with 15+ years of experience in the Behavioral Health arena. Kathryn joined Children’s Mercy Hospital in March of 2016 as a Clinical Social Work Supervisor and served as the leader of the Acute Mental Health Screening Team. Since that time, Kathryn has been promoted to Clinical Social Work Manager, Assistant Director of Social Work Child and Family Mental Health and now functions as the Director of Social Work Child and Family Mental Health Services. In her role at Director of Social Work Child and Family Mental Health Services, Kathryn provides leadership and program development efforts for the mental health programming provided by the Department of Social Work. She is responsible for personnel management, continuous quality improvement, program development and expansion of clinical social work services provided within Children’s Mercy Hospital. Kathryn collaborates with stakeholders in the development of mental health strategies, utilizing evidence-based interventions and sound business planning to ensure effective service delivery. Most recently she has been actively involved in the strategic planning efforts at Children’s Mercy Hospital surrounding the expansion of behavioral health services in several key areas.