31st Annual Maine Child Welfare Education Conference

Welcome to the 31st Maine Child Welfare Education Conference! Get ready to join us at the Cross Insurance Center on Thursday June 25, 2026 at 8:00 AM for a day filled with informative sessions, networking opportunities, and engaging discussions surrounding children in Maine. This in-person event is a great chance to connect with parents and fellow professionals in the field and learn about the latest trends and developments related to child welfare. Don't miss out on this valuable experience.

On-site check-in will begin at 7:15am. The Conference begins at 8:00am and ends at 4:30pm.

You will be prompted to select a break-out session for the morning and one for the afternoon during the checkout process.

If you are interested in hosting a resource table or would like to complete a group purchase, please contact Andrew Hersey at Wings via email [email protected]. Questions? Call Andrew at 207-941-2988 ext 113.

To follow us on Facebook, please visit:

https://www.facebook.com/mainechildwelfareeducation/

To see the full brochure, please visit:

https://www.wingsinc.org

Info: Children in the Digital Age: Are We Technically Better? - Meagan Mitchell, DSW ’25, is an experienced social worker and educator with over 13 years in the social work and education field, spanning both direct and indirect practice. Formerly a school social worker, Mitchell now focuses on private practice, specializing in supporting children, teens and young adults. As the founder of Agents of Change, a test preparation and continuing education company, Mitchell is committed to advancing social justice and driving societal change at the micro, mezzo and macro levels through clinical expertise, consultation and an anti-oppressive lens. She loves combining her passion for learning and sharing her knowledge with the child welfare community. Meagan has a strong interest in tech & innovation, specifically exploring the intersection of technology with social work practices.

Info: Digital Media Use & Misuse Among Youth- This session offers an examination of the ways youth are currently utilizing digital media, with an emphasis on how misuse is affecting their lives. The presenter, Dr. Arsenault, will share assessments and potential treatment strategies that can be used with family members and/or clients within the community.

Info: Social Media & Youth Mental Health: A Call to Being Informed- Our interactive presentation explores how artificial intelligence (AI), social media, and digital media more broadly impact youth mental health. During the session, we will translate current research into practical guidance for caregivers, practitioners, educators, and community members. Participants will learn to distinguish between helpful and harmful media use, identify common risks such as algorithmic targeting and misinformation, and debunk popular myths about AI and social media. We will unpack key national and international policies surrounding youth media use and online safety, highlighting what these policies do and do not protect against in the current digital landscape. Throughout, we balance risks with strengths-based examples of how technology can support youth well-being. Attendees will leave with research-informed recommendations they can share with youth and families to promote safer, healthier media use.

Info: Navigating Ethics in a Digital World- In this training, we will explore ethics and boundary considerations related to the use of technology. This training will review general ethical principles and best practices, as well as issues unique to technology-related challenges, including telehealth, use of AI applications and mental health apps in counseling.
Participants will develop a framework for
using technology ethically and for making
sound ethical decisions. This presentation
will also exam emerging ethical challenges
associated with technology use and
considerations for adhering to boundaries
and discuss strategies for maintaining
appropriate boundaries and protecting
client confidentiality when using digital
tools.

Info: A Global Landscape: Current Threats and Trends in Online Child Sexual Exploitation - Responding to tens of millions of CyberTipline reports concerning offenders and child victims around the world, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) and Maine State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) will share the current landscape of online child sexual exploitation on a national and a state level. Emerging threats include a staggering increase in online enticement, child sex trafficking, financial sexual extortion of children, sadistic and violent exploitation groups, and challenges ahead with the rise of generative artificial intelligence. NCMEC's and the Maine State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) response, support of survivors, and resources for child serving professionals will be highlighted.

Info: Provided on-site.

Info: Maine's Director of the Office of Child and Family Services will provide an update on the state of Maine's child welfare program, including relevant metrics, progress toward system-improvement goals, and initiatives being undertaken by OCFS to enhance the safety, permanency, and well-being of Maine's children.

Info: Digital Connection: Ethical Engagement in Youth Telehealth - This workshop explores how child-serving professionals can use telehealth in thoughtful, ethical, and effective ways when working with children and families. As virtual services continue to expand in the post-COVID era, this session moves past the question of whether telehealth is possible and focuses instead on when it makes sense, for whom, and how to do it well. Participants will examine clinical fit, ethical considerations, and practical strategies for building connection and safety, especially for youth and families facing rural access, transportation, or continuity-of-care challenges.

Info: Hijacked: Digital Dopamine, Escapism, and the Power of Human Connection - In today’s hyperconnected world, we are increasingly caring for people presenting with anxiety, depression, insomnia, and attention difficulties. What if many of the symptoms we are concerned about are rooted in a brain overstimulated by endless digital input? In this powerful and deeply personal presentation, psychiatric nurse practitioner Melissa Charette explores how chronic screen exposure disrupts dopamine balance, fuels escapism, and mimics mental health disorders across the lifespan. Blending neuroscience, clinical insight, and lived experience, this session challenges us to look beyond behavior and ask a different question: What is the brain trying to regulate? This engaging and emotionally resonant presentation equips attendees to assess digital media use, differentiate symptom presentations, and leverage the most powerful intervention of all: authentic human connection.

Info: Cleaning Up the Internet: New Image Takedown Possibilities and Realities through NCMEC - Image and video distribution is a continual threat for every victim of child sexual abuse material. With the onset of new generative AI technologies, exploitative distribution is a larger threat than ever before, and pathways for takedown and removal can seem daunting and fruitless. This session will review NCMEC’s Notice and Takedown Program and will cover step-by-step methods for image/video notification to website, companies, registries and more, including the new Take It Down service. Presenters will review different types of notices – from survivor PII to CSAM material and the range in between. Learn how you can change the narrative on image distribution and give victimized children and young adults hope by giving them tools to take content removal into their own hands and by connecting them to NCMEC notice tracking advocates who will notify companies on their behalf.

Info: Crucial Conversations for Today’s Families, Schools, and Providers- Crucial Conversations for Today’s Families, Schools, and Providers focuses on how adults across systems can better support young people as they navigate an increasingly complex digital world. As technology, social media, and AI influence identity, relationships, and wellbeing, this plenary emphasizes the importance of shared language, clear expectations, and collective responsibility. Participants will explore how to have honest, age-appropriate conversations with youth that balance safety and independence, while working collaboratively with young people as partners in decision-making and problem-solving, and acknowledging the powerful role adults, institutions, and platforms play in shaping healthier digital environments.

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Host or Publisher Maine Child Welfare Education