2026 Spring Conference Schedule

Thursday, April 23 

8:00 - 5:00 p.m. — Registration
The 1848 Room

10:00 - 11:45 a.m. — Welcome and Keynote
Mission Accomplished: Navigating Change with Purpose
The 1848 Room
Lena Scullard, Keynote Speaker and Trainer, LMS Productions

11:45 a.m. - 1:15am — Lunch and WCHSA Awards
The 1848 Room

Todd Romenesko, County Administrator, Calumet County
Vicki Tylka, Behavioral Health Manager, North Central Healthcare
WCHSA Leadership

1:15 - 2:15 p.m. — How Trends in County Finances Are Affecting Human Services
The 1848 Room
Todd Romenesko, County Administrator, Calumet County
Kevin Dospoy, Director Forward Analytics, Wisconsin Counties Association Forward Analytics

2:15 - 3:15 p.m. — Current Legal Issues Impacting County Human Services
The 1848 Room
Andy Phillips, JD, Attorney, Attolles Law, S.C.

3:15 - 3:45 p.m. — Break and Visit with Exhibitors
Farley/Madison Room

3:45 - 4:45 p.m. — DCF and DHS Program Update
The 1848 Room

John Elliott, Division of Safety and Permanence Administrator, Department of Children and Families
Sam Austin, Assistant Deputy Secretary, Department of Health Services
Amanda Dreyer, Division of Medicaid Services Administrator, Department of Health Services

4:45 - 5:00 p.m. — Break
Farley/Madison Room

5:00 - 7:00 p.m. — Reception
Farley/Madison Room

Friday, April 24 

7:00 - 1:00 p.m. — Registration
The 1848 Room

7:00 - 8:00 a.m. — Breakfast
Farley/Madison Room

8:00 - 9:15 a.m. — Keynote Speaker
Spark your ARC (Awareness, Regulate, Connect)
The 1848 Room

Sarah Ciavarri, President, Level Up Leadership

9:20 - 10:15 a.m. — Concurrent Sessions 1

10:15 - 10:45 a.m. — Break and Visit with Exhibitors
Farley/Madison Room

10:45 - 11:40 a.m. — Concurrent Sessions 2

11:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. — Legislative Update: What Happened in 2026 and What to Expect for 2027

The 1848 Room
Marcie Rainbolt, Wisconsin Counties Association

12:15 - 1:00 p.m. — Lunch
The 1848 Room

1:00 - 1:55 p.m. — Concurrent Sessions 3

• CCS in Action: What Works, What Doesn’t and Why It Matters
  The 1848 Room
  Jill Ellinwood LPC, LCSW Integrated Services Program Manager, Sauk County Human Services
  Gretchen Hintz, Community Programs Manager, Portage County Health and Human Services
  Cecilia Marx, LPC, Fond Du Lac County
  Julie Meister, LCSW, CCS Administrator, Dane County Department of Human Services
  Kate Meyer, CCS/CLTS Coordinator, Green Lake County Department of Health and Human Services
  James Tabatt, CSW, MS, LPC, Master ART Practitioner, St. Croix County Health and Human Services
• Youth to Adult transition: Best Practices for Counties
  The Loft
  Roby Fuller, Specialist Program Manager, DHS ADRC
  Beth Gullickson, Section Manager, Bureau of Children’s Services
  Samantha Isbell, Advanced Youth Transition Worker, Milwaukee County
  Nicholas Raabe, ADRC Option Counselor, Milwaukee County.
  Deborah Rathermel, Director, Bureau of Children’s Services
  Hannah Ulwelling, CLTS Supervisor, Winnebago County
• Bridging the Information Gap: What Counties Should Know About Health Data Exchange
  The Farley Room
  Ben Rosen, BSN RN, Director of Interoperability, Netsmart
  Clayton Harrison, Manager, Public Sector States & Counties, Netsmart

1:55 - 2:05 p.m. — Break

2:05 - 3:00 p.m. — Concurrent Sessions 4

• Best Practices for Community Engagement and Bridging the Divide
  The 1848 Room
  Shawna Hanson, Family & Community Services Manager, Waupaca County
  Mary Solheim, Director, Waupaca County
• Vernon County Community Collaboration Initiative: Domestic Violence Interventions
  The Loft
  Melony Hansen, MA, CSW, CSAC, ICS, Vernon County Department of Human Services and Hansen Assessment and Educational Services
  Susan Townsley, LCSW, Stonehouse Counseling
• SpeakWrite: Human Powered Transcription Makes Time for What's Important
  The Farley Room
  Jonathan Drew, Director of Protective Services, SpeakWrite