Training:

[Spring Summit] Compassionate Accountability: Supporting Self-Efficacy in Children's Mental Healthcare

Mar 3
Tuesday, March 3, 2026 – 10:30am
10:30am - 12:00pm

Audience: All Caregivers (Adoptive, Foster & Kinship Parents)

Level: Intermediate
Ages addressed: 12-18

PLEASE NOTE: To receive a certificate of attendance for the live webinar, attendees must register individually, attend the entire training, and watch from their own device to ensure proper tracking.

Compassionate Accountability: Supporting Self-Efficacy in Children’s Mental Healthcare is an engaging, interactive session designed to help caregivers and professionals strike the critical balance between empathy and responsibility. Participants will explore how building self-efficacy strengthens motivation, resilience, and long-term outcomes for children and adolescents—without minimizing real mental health challenges. Through practical frameworks, real-world case examples, and hands-on discussion, attendees will learn how to foster accountability with children rather than for them. This session equips attendees with concrete language, strategies, and confidence to support growth, autonomy, and resilience in the youth they serve.

Objectives:
  • - Recognize warning signs and risk factors.
  • - Explore techniques to reduce stigma and foster effective and empathetic conversations.
  • - Build confidence in understanding and responding to various levels of suicidal ideation.
  • - Develop skills to navigate challenging emotional responses and provide support during crises involving suicidal ideation and self-injury.

Register Here

Location:

FosterEd Adopt Minnesota - Webinar

https://www.fosteradoptmn.org/

Thad Shunkwiler is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Science at Minnesota State University, Mankato. In addition to his academic work as a counselor educator, he is a licensed behavioral health provider with over a decade of experience in providing treatment and clinical supervision.

His professional accolades include being named a Presidential Teaching Scholar, a Fellow of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, and a Fellow of the National Rural Health Association. In addition to his awards, he holds a Governor's appointment to the Board of Marriage and Family Therapy where he currently serves as Board Vice-Chair. Additionally he has the privilege to serve on the board of directors for the Minnesota Association for Children's Mental Health and the Minnesota Rural Health Association.