- (401) 773-7771
- info@cpnri.org
Click below to see your breakout options. Please pay attention to what breakout session it is in as you will register for one session per timeslot.
SPEAKER(s): Tim Hebert, Dirigo
AUDIENCE: IT & HR Staff
DESCRIPTION: In today’s fast-paced environment, technology can either be a bottleneck or a springboard. This session will explore how Health and Human Services (HHS) organizations can transform IT from a reactive support function into a proactive platform for innovation. Attendees will learn how to assess and increase IT operational maturity, secure their environments against ever-evolving threats and lay the groundwork for sustainable digital transformation.
SPEAKER(s): Tim Hebert, Dirigo
AUDIENCE: IT & HR Staff & All Staff
DESCRIPTION: Technology is reshaping the future of care delivery, administration and operations in the HHS sector. This dynamic panel discussion will explore the most significant megatrends transforming the field, from cybersecurity threats and AI integration to platform interoperability and next-gen applications. Hear directly from IT experts, executive leaders and frontline innovators about what’s next, what’s urgent and what’s possible.
SPEAKER(s): Stephen Farrelly, USI
AUDIENCE: Executive directors, managers & HR
DESCRIPTION: In an increasingly digital world, understanding cyber liability is more critical than ever. This session will provide an overview of cyber risk exposure and how it impacts organizations of all sizes. Participants will explore real-world claim scenarios, key elements of cyber liability insurance, and best practices for managing and mitigating cyber-related threats. Whether you’re new to risk management or seeking to strengthen your current strategies, this session offers essential insights into protecting your organization against today’s evolving cyber risks.
SPEAKER(s): Ariana DeAngelis, The Autism Project
AUDIENCE: All Staff
DESCRIPTION: To create an inclusive workplace is to ensure that all people within the environment feel supported, included, and experience a sense of authentic belonging. For neurodivergent people (autistic people, people with ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, Tourette Syndrome etc.), that sense of belonging comes from being understood, accommodated (where necessary), and supported. Within this training, the audience takes the first step towards a deeper understanding of neurodivergence through education on different neurotypes. How might neurodivergence impact an individual in their work? What strengths and talents are often associated with neurodivergence? Begin the journey towards deeper understanding with Creating a Neuroinclusive Workplace: An Introduction to Neurodiversity.
SPEAKER(s): William E. O’Gara
AUDIENCE: IT & HR Staff
DESCRIPTION: Attorney William E. O’Gara will discuss changes in various labor law topics, including a deep dive into ADA interactive process and decision making, general and sexual harassment investigation process, pregnancy accommodation laws and request process and performance management and termination process.
SPEAKER(s): Tricia Driscoll, Center for Mediation and Collaboration Rhode Island
AUDIENCE: All Staff
DESCRIPTION: Participants will learn to recognize and adapt to characteristics of generational diversity. This knowledge will be used to practice effective communication and engagement with both clients and colleagues. As a result, team members will be empowered to engage with others in a manner that effectively aligns with core values and mission.  
SPEAKER(s): Joe Olwig, 6 Levers
AUDIENCE: All Staff
DESCRIPTION: In today’s workplaces, employee engagement is at an all-time low, and managers, who account for 70% of the variance in engagement, often lack the confidence and skills to cultivate a culture of engagement. The result? Disengaged employees, lost opportunities and unmet potential. This session unpacks the connection between engagement and meeting fundamental human needs, with a focus on how leaders directly shape the conditions for success. You’ll explore how certain leader behaviors build or break psychological safety and learn three essential competencies for unlocking the engagement of your team. Leave with actionable strategies to create environments where trust, belonging, and purpose become the foundation of your team’s success.
SPEAKER(s): Tricia Driscoll, Center for Mediation and Collaboration Rhode Island
AUDIENCE: All Staff
DESCRIPTION: Participants will build on knowledge around communication, learn skills and strategies to engage in challenging conversations, to help create a culture of trust where team members have the skills and strategies to engage in challenging conversations.
SPEAKER(s): Randy Machado, Looking Upwards
AUDIENCE: All Staff
DESCRIPTION: This breakout session will discuss historic and present-day approaches to behavioral programming, behavioral regulations, various behavioral techniques to shape and address behavior, and walk participants through the creation of a behavioral design that encompasses one’s disability level, co-occurring mental health factors and the multitude of other factors that require consideration when constructing a strong behavioral support plan. A practical scenario and example will be discussed, outlining this approach.
SPEAKER(s): Cody Morris, Salve Regina University
AUDIENCE: Frontline Staff
DESCRIPTION: Services for individuals with developmental and related disabilities should prioritize each client’s independence and autonomy. One essential component of supporting independence and autonomy is involving clients in therapeutic decisions. However, client involvement in therapeutic decisions can be difficult to facilitate in contexts where the clients have limited communication skills. The purpose of this talk is to describe adaptive strategies to involve clients in therapeutic decisions in an effort to maximize client involvement in therapeutic decisions for all clients served.
SPEAKER(s): Cody Morris, Salve Regina University
AUDIENCE: Frontline Staff
DESCRIPTION: Approximately 12.5% of individuals with developmental disabilities engage in challenging and disruptive behaviors, such as aggression and self-injurious behavior, that put themselves or others at risk of harm. In particular, engaging in these challenging and disruptive behaviors puts individuals with developmental disabilities at higher risk of losing access to educational opportunities, visiting emergency departments in hospitals for non-medical emergencies, and living in restrictive settings. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) has decades of research demonstrating its effectiveness in assessing and treating severe behaviors in individuals with developmental disabilities and other disorders. One reason for the success that ABA has had in helping individuals address their challenging and disruptive behaviors is that many ABA practitioners assume a constructional approach to the treatment that prioritizes skill development as the foundation of any treatment. This talk will explain the constructional approach and discuss how it might be applied across clinical contexts beyond ABA.
SPEAKER(s): Kelly Petersen & Christine Allenson, BHDDH
AUDIENCE: All Staff
DESCRIPTION: In this session, we will discuss what roles the services system could play in encouraging more relationships and friendships between individuals with disabilities and other community members. We will also explore what roles citizens play in increasing the inclusiveness of their community. Managers and supervisors are critical to having the work of community-building be successful. BHDDH will provide tips related to management of staff, and talk about how to start shifting focus and thinking, from “activities” to “people” when thinking about helping people achieve their goals. Attendees will leave with worksheets to use with staff in training or for use with individuals we are working with directly such as creating a circle of support, relationship mapping and others.
SPEAKER(s): John Raffaele, NADSP
AUDIENCE: Frontline Staff
DESCRIPTION: The knowledge and skills of direct support practice must be joined with the ethical principles to create the environment needed to fully support people in making life choices. To do so effectively, we must all recognize Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) as professionals who have values, skills and knowledge that constitute a unique and important profession, and who can infuse these beliefs into practice. This is an introduction to the NADSP Code of Ethics and will explore the nine parts (tenets) of the code and offer participants ideas for incorporating the use of the Code of Ethics in everyday direct support practice.
SPEAKER(s): PJ Harder, Perspectives Corporations
AUDIENCE: All Levels of Staff, Primarily Direct Support Professionals
DESCRIPTION: Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) make countless decisions every day, each one carrying the potential to significantly impact the lives of the individuals they support. This engaging session will introduce attendees to the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) Code of Ethics and demonstrate how it serves as a valuable guide for ethical decision-making in direct support. Through an interactive panel discussion, Certified Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) from Perspectives Corporation will describe how the NADSP Code of Ethics guides their daily work. DSPs will share stories that reflect key tenets of the Code, offering participants meaningful insights into how ethical reflection and values-based practice can elevate the quality of direct support and contribute to their personal and professional growth.
SPEAKER(s): John Raffaele, NADSP
AUDIENCE: All Staff
DESCRIPTION: Relationships, privacy, sexuality, well-being, and in many other areas, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities should be supported in making informed decisions. This must take place while helping them understand the associated risks and responsibilities that are tied to those decisions. The skill of informed decision-making will be introduced to participants in this session.
SPEAKER(s): John Raffaele, NADSP
AUDIENCE: Frontline Staff
DESCRIPTION: In this engaging and interactive training session, participants will learn the latest best practices in direct support that go well beyond the regulations and state-level requirements for this profession. Most training and development for direct support professionals (DSPs) focuses on regulatory and mandated topics. By embracing the NADSP Code of Ethics and focusing on nationally-validated NADSP Competency Areas, direct support professionals and organizations can ensure that they are supporting personal autonomy, access to integrated settings, informed choices, and person-centered practices.
6 Levers
Joe Olwig is the Managing Partner and co-founder of 6 Levers, where he helps leaders build thriving, human-centered organizations. He specializes in leadership development, executive team training, and organizational design—and co-authored the best-selling book At the Heart of Work.
Joe’s background includes leading organizational consulting at Mission Matters Group and serving as a school teacher and principal. He began his career as a teacher and holds dual Master’s degrees in Business and Education Leadership.
BHDDH
Christine Allenson is a Programming Services Officer at BHDDH’s Division of Developmental Disabilities. With a background in education, healthcare, and evidence-based practice, she brings a practical, empathetic approach to training and development.
Christine holds two Master’s degrees, is a Certified Health Education Specialist, and is DiSC certified. She’s proud to be part of the Division’s training team, where she designs and delivers accessible, learner-centered programs that help people grow and thrive.
The Autism Project
Ariana delivers trainings across Rhode Island, the country and the world. Her workshops have been delivered to teachers, doctors, nurses, community health workers, administrators and more.
Ariana has an undergraduate degree in Developmental Psychology and a graduate degree in Special Education.
Ariana has served as the training manager for The Autism Project for the last four years.
Center for Mediation and Collaboration Rhode Island
Tricia is an innovative executive with extensive experience in Operations Management, Customer Relationship Management and Budget Preparation for non-profit health and community-based organizations.
She demonstrated ability to establish and foster strong relationships with collaboration partners. Highly skilled in developing and implementing comprehensive strategic planning to facilitate continuous business growth and organizational collaboration capabilities.
Proven ability in directing cross-functional teams through daily
operations and meeting agency operational objectives through effective relationship management, communication and collaboration.
USI
Stephen proudly serves as Senior Vice President of USI’s Human and Social Services Practice. He is responsible for the design, implementation and delivery of programs for Elder Care, Human and Social Services to support individuals with developmental disabilities, physical disabilities, mental illness, substance abuse and addiction, and homeless or low-income populations.
With over 35 years of service at USI, Stephen educates clients on controlling their current risk management program costs by recapturing potentially significant premium dollars through innovative loss control and claims management.
Perspectives Corporation
PJ Harder is the Director of Training and Development at Perspectives Corporation, where she leads leadership, employee, and workforce development initiatives. With over 20 years in human services, she began her career as a DSP and has held roles in employment services and statewide training.
In addition to her human services work, PJ has a background in HR, wellness coaching and mindfulness. Originally from a small farm in Nebraska, she now lives in Rhode Island and enjoys spiritual retreats, nature, and making earthstone mindfulness bracelets.
Dirigo Leadership Consulting
Tim is the CEO and founder of Dirigo Leadership Consulting, and an experienced entrepreneur, prolific public speaker, published author and leadership activator. Through keynotes, workshops, and coaching services, Tim inspires business leaders to shatter self-imposed limitations, unleash their dormant potential and achieve breakthrough outcomes.
Those who work with Tim learn how to strategically edge towards their exploratory zone, where the most profound learning and growth occur.
Looking Upwards
Randy is one of the founding members and Co-Chairs of Ocean State Trauma Informed Community Coalition (OSTICC). He is a Consulting Behavioral and Psychological Clinician for Looking Upwards Inc., the James L. Maher Center and numerous other agencies in the State of Rhode Island.
He also operates a private psychotherapy practice in Middletown, RI and has been a staunch advocate for the decreased use of restraint and restriction in the IDD population. He has been involved in targeted national projects in collaboration with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Salve Regina University
Dr. Morris is an Assistant Professor, Graduate Programs Director of Behavior Analysis and Chair of the Office of Research Integrity at Salve Regina University. He is a behavior analyst whose research and clinical practice focus on client involvement in therapeutic decisions, assessment and treatment of challenging behavior and organizational practices.
His work in these areas has been widely recognized, with over 25 publications and nearly 100 presentations at professional conferences. Dr. Morris is the Director of the Executive Board for the Rhode Island Association for Behavior Analysis and is the Executive Producer and Host of Behavior Analysis in Practice: The Podcast.
Attorney
William E. O’Gara is Managing Principal at Pannone Lopes Devereaux & O’Gara, where he focuses on employment and labor law, workplace investigations, and dispute mediation. With over 25 years of experience, he advises employers on issues ranging from discrimination claims to contract negotiations.
A trusted legal partner, Attorney O’Gara also provides training for managers and has successfully mediated a wide range of employment disputes before trial. He also conducts workplace investigations and provides training for managers and supervisors on employment-related issues.
BHDDH
Kelly Petersen is the Chief of Training, Staff Development and CQI at BHDDH’s Division of Developmental Disabilities. With 20 years of experience in both public and private human services, she’s worked across direct service, casework and leadership roles.
Kelly holds a master’s in business administration and a background in psychology. She brings a strong commitment to inclusive training and system change, empowering professionals to better support individuals with developmental disabilities.
National Alliance for DSPs
John Raffaele is the Director of Educational Services at the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP). With over 30 years of experience, he has trained thousands of professionals across the country in ethics, competencies, and leadership in direct support.
John began his career supporting people with I/DD, at-risk youth, and individuals with chronic illnesses. A former training director and founder of his own consulting company, he now leads national training efforts that shape the future of the direct support workforce.
