Department of Criminal Justice and Social Work, 308.865.8741
UNK – Federal policy is the focus of this year’s Social Policy Conference, which will take place Friday, Nov. 30, at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, according to Dr. Maha Younes, UNK social work professor.
“The conference is open to anyone, but will be of special interest to people in human service, criminal justice, counselors and teachers,” Dr. Younes said. The event will take place in the Nebraskan Student Union Ponderosa Rooms C, D and E.
Policies that will be covered at the conference will include the Family Medical Leave Act, the Adam Walsh Child Protection & Safety Act 2006, the Indian Child Welfare Act, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Violence Against Women Act. Each presentation will be followed by discussion and commentary provided by individuals who are experts on the topic and have direct experience with the implementation and implications of the law.
“It’s going to be amazing,” Dr. Younes said of the conference. “ These are policies that impact children and the population in general. Our goal is to promote an informed citizenship. All these laws we are covering affect you or someone you know.”
Nancy Montanez-Johner, Undersecretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services for the United States Department of Agriculture, and a UNK graduate, will give the keynote address at 8:15 a.m. Her topic will be “Social Policy: The Act of Committed Citizens.”
Johner was appointed by President George W. Bush and sworn in as Undersecretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services on Aug. 21, 2006. Before her appointment, she served as director of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. As undersecretary, Johner is responsible for the administration of 15 nutrition assistance programs with a combined budget of $58 billion for the Food and Nutrition Service and the Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion. FNCS programs provide nutrition assistance, dietary guidance, nutrition policy coordination, nutrition education and work to end hunger in the United States.
Following is a schedule for the conference.
8-8:05 a.m. – Welcome
Dr. Maha Younes, Social Work Professor
8:05-8:15 a.m. – Promoting Student Engagement
Dr. Francis Harrold, Dean of College of Natural and Social Sciences
8:15-9 a.m. – Keynote address: Nancy Montanez-Johner, Undersecretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services, USDA
9:05-9:30 a.m. – Family Medical Leave Act
Tracy Brant, Ashley Colburn, Mandy Troyer, Danielle Thoene, Sarah Garringer
9:30-9:55 a.m. – Business Implications of FMLA
John, Lakey, Director of UNK Human Resources
9:55-10:10 a.m. – Break
10:10-10:30 a.m. – Adam Walsh Child Protection & Safety Act 2006: Protecting Children from Sexual Exploitation & Crime
Becky Huber, Heather Camby, Kristina Bergmark, Megan Gettert, Whitney Jarzynka, Emily Wolfe
10:30-11 a.m. – Panel Presentation
11:15-11:35 – Understanding the Indian Child Welfare Act
Danell Will, Ayaka Kondo, Holli Yager, Kodi Krugman, Kelsey Sherich
11:35-12:05 – Implication of ICWA on Practice
Dr. Kurt Siedschlaw, Professor of Criminal Justice
12:05-1 p.m. – Lunch
1:05-1:25 p.m. – Individuals with Disabilities Education Act: Educational Equality for All
Lisa Ryan, Sarah State, Rumi Goto, Mary Streeter
1:25-2 p.m. – Panel Presentation
2:10-2:30 p.m. – Americans with Disabilities Act: Striving for a more Inclusive Society
Aleshia Kaup, Jim Rogers, Michael Moore, Denise Dos Santos, Doris Younes
2:30-2:55 p.m. – ADA on the UNK Campus
Cheryl Bressington, Director Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity, Americans with Disabilities Act at UNK
2:55-3:05 p.m. – Break
3:05-3:25 p.m. – Violence Against Women Act: Confronting Crimes against Women
Anteshia Switzer, Laura Whitesel, Elizabeth Darling, Joni Fischer, Asami Yamazaki
3:25-4 p.m. – Nikki Gausman, Director, Spouse/Sexual Abuse Family Education Center
4 p.m. – Close
