Presenter Info
Sarah Boll is the Director of Minnesota Safe Families for Children. Sarah. She is a working wife and mother of three with 20 years of experience in the human services sector in a wide range of roles. She is passionate about child development, trauma healing, early intervention programs, restorative justice practices, holistic healing, and positive childhood experiences (PACES). Sarah is a certified Person Centered Planner, Restorative Justice Circle Keeper, NEAR Science ACE trainer, HOPE Framework presenter, and QPR Suicide Prevention facilitator. Sarah is dedicated to the important work of bridging the gaps between professional services and the needs of the greater community so that all families can thrive.
Julie Desautels volunteers as a Senior Mentor with Life Connections. Her focus is getting clients connected with services that will help them become stronger parents. She is a licensed teacher, certified Red Cross instructor, and a car seat safety technician.
Breanna Grundmeieir, BA, is the Lead Case Manager with the Pathway of Hope program at The Salvation Army of Otter Tail County. In her role with The Salvation Army, Breanna works to help prevent families from involvement with child protection and out-of-home placements for children. In addition to a BA in Psychology from the University of Minnesota – Duluth, Breanna also holds a Life Coach for Families and Marriages Certificate and a Financial Educator Certificate. She is trained to teach 8 different parent curriculums.
Jessica Hoeper, MSW, LISW, IMH-E, Infant Family Specialist, Ray of HOPE LLC, is a licensed independent social worker with over 15 years of experience in the roles of consultant, child and family services supervisor, child protection social worker, juvenile justice social worker, and mental health practitioner. Jessica currently offers reflective coaching to child welfare social workers, human service supervisors, and management teams. She is passionate about making reflective practice accessible to practitioners.
Ashley Kellen, LSW, has been working in child protection for almost five years. She graduated from St. Cloud State with her bachelor's in social work and became licensed after graduation. She currently works for Western Prairie Human Services, which serves Grant and Pope counties.
Anne LaFrinier-Richie works as a Safe Harbor Regional Navigator for Someplace Safe in West Central Minnesota. She is a 2020 graduate of NHTTAC's Human Trafficking Leadership Academy Class 5, which developed recommendations on how culture can be used as a protective factor against human trafficking among Indigenous youth. Anne has been working in the anti-trafficking field in direct services and training and technical assistance since 2016. Anne is an active member of the YWCA Cass Clay Racial Justice Committee and is a board member for the Indigenous Association of Fargo-Moorhead and Mending the Sacred Hoop. Anne also provides training and technical assistance on the state and federal levels on providing culturally responsive services to Indigenous youth and families.
Tracy Neusser, MSW, is an Associate Professor of Social Work at Minnesota State University – Moorhead. She is also the co-chair of MSSA’s Region 4 Chapter.
Ronna Severson, MSW, LICSW, has been a therapist for over ten years, working in multiple settings, including schools, in-home, and outpatient. She now works in private practice. Ronna uses brainspotting in her private practice to help her clients improve themselves, heal from trauma, and gain a better understanding of their mind and body connection.
Thad Shunkwiler, LMFT, LCPP, ACS, CCMHC, is a licensed behavioral health professional who works as an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Science at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Professor Shunkwiler’s research interests include prevention science, adolescent drug use trends, and the intersection of substance use and mental health. Having presented at numerous state and national conferences along with holding appointments to multiple government, non-profit, and healthcare industry boards, he is an established leader in the areas of mental health and substance use.
Sara Sherman is a highly accomplished NeuroRelational Coach™ and co-founder of Discovery Horse, a leading behavioral health and mental wellness agency located on a farm in Minnesota. Sara integrates equine related modalities into her coaching practices to support healing. Sara is passionate about creating inclusive communities that prioritize human-informed care and tackle toxic stress. Her work combines a unique blend of relational neurobiology, equine experiential learning, and trauma-informed coaching.
Brian Skogen has nearly 30 years of experience in crisis and grief work. He is the school social worker at Canby Public Schools, and founding member of the SW/WC School Crisis Response Team which serves 18 counties in southwest and west central Minnesota. Brian is certified through the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF). Brian offers a variety of crisis response trainings, including compassion fatigue, suicide prevention, and responding to tragedy.