MAKING CONNECTIONS NORTH TARRANT
Saturday, March 4, 2023 | 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Northwest ISD Administration Building
2001 Texan Drive, Justin 76247
Download copy of Exhibitor Directory
Schedule of Events
9 A.M.
Exhibitor Hall Opens
Visit with a variety of Exhibitors providing services and resources for people with disabilities and their families.
9:30 - 10:30
Breakout Session 1
Breakout descriptions
Choose to attend a breakout session on:
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Guardianship: Rush to the Courthouse or Last Result?
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Help Me Grow / Help Me Thrive
10:45 - 11:45
Breakout Session 2
Breakout descriptions
Choose to attend a breakout session on:
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Medicaid Waiver Programs and Financial Planning
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Basic Behavior Management Techniques
12:00 - 1:00
Breakout Session 3
Breakout descriptions
Attend a breakout session on:
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Post Secondary Options for People with Disabilities
1:00 P.M.
Exhibitor Hall Closes
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Download Flyers
English en Español
Breakout Sessions:
9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
Guardianship and Alternatives: What is Best for My Child?
An overview of the laws applicable to guardianship in Texas, the evidence and standard of proof needed to obtain a guardianship and the many alternatives to guardianship. By Judge Brooke Allen, Tarrant County Probate 2 Court.
Help Me Grow / Help Me Thrive
Description coming soon
10:45 - 11:45 p.m.
Basic Behavior Management Techniques
Many families with children with disabilities encounter behavior concerns in the home and community, such as not following directions and aggression. Parents and caregivers will obtain information and the understanding of why children engage in behaviors of concern and how to respond to these behaviors. Problem solving examples and strategies that can be implemented in the home will be discussed. By Megan Thompson, PBS Corp.
SSI, Medicaid Waiver Programs, Trusts and Wills
Waiver programs, SSI, wills and trusts discussed. By TJ Kroehle, Life Planning for Families of Special Needs
About our Presenters
TJ Kroehle
For Families of Special Needs
TJ Has been working with Families of Special Needs since he was age 16. TJ and Tracey are parenting Lauren, a person of Special Needs. TJ helps clients understand their need to develop the appropriate wills and trusts. He helps them see the need for a "Letter of Intent" which defines their special needs person's hopes, dreams and desires through a lifetime strategy. He is knowledgeable in government programs that aid special needs families, and he coaches families in how to obtain government aid, such as SSI. More importantly he helps the family understand how to maintain those government programs throughout their loved one's lifetime. Life Planning for Families of Special Needs is a non-profit group created by TJ to specialize in assisting individuals with disabilities and their families. TJ frequently speaks to state and local groups such as ARC, Life Path, Down Syndrome Guilds, Autism Societies, Region X and XI, various ISD's, and other similar organizations. Whether it is insurance and estate planning, a secure retirement, or leaving a legacy, every person, family and situation is unique and requires customized and highly personalized solutions.
Tiffini Smith
My Health My Resources of Tarrant County
Tiffini Smith is the Community Alignment Coordinator for “Help Me Grow North Texas.” She is a native Fort Worthian, who loves working with children and families in the most vulnerable and underserved communities. She has been with Help Me Grow for 9 months and has had the amazing opportunity to act as a conduit between the available community resources and the families that live in the communities we serve. Her passion is streamlining and relaying information, resources, and services that are obtained through connection and collaboration with other child serving agencies to other professionals and the families she encounters.
Autumn Schumacher
My Health My Resources of Tarrant County
Autumn Schumacher has been with My Health My Resources of Tarrant County for five years. She has held many hats with the company, the longest term, serving as Youth Service Coordinator, where she oversaw their substance use program for teens ages 13-18. The program also included “The Youth Recovery Campus.” This is a residential program for adolescent boys to provide them help and resources they need to overcome what may be going on in their lives. These young men were typically referred by juvenile services. Fast forward, with that program thriving, she is now a part of the “Help Me Thrive” team, where she is able to go out into the community to help assist and support youth and families with resources for whatever needs the families have.
Judge Brooke Allen
Tarrant County Probate Court #2
Judge Brooke Allen was appointed by the Tarrant County Commissioners to serve as Judge of Probate Court No. 2 in October of 2016, and elected for a full term in 2018.
Judge Allen has presided over hundreds of bench and jury trials in the areas of estates, guardianship, mental health and litigation related to estates and guardianship. Prior to taking the bench, she litigated complex cases through Texas and in Federal court. For her work as an attorney, Judge Allen was voted a "Top Attorney" by Fort Worth Magazine and a "Rising Star" by Texas Lawyer. She was also named "Attorney of the Year" by the Fort Worth Paralegal Association.
In addition to her judicial responsibilities, Allen is an active speaker on guardianships and preventing fraud on our senior citizens. Her staff of 12 often joins her or speaks on her behalf when she is in the courtroom. Together, they have reached thousands of citizens.
Megan Thompson, BCBA
Positive Behavior Supports Corp.