2026 Chief Justice Max Baer Children’s Summit Materials
Conference Program
2026 Summit Keynote Speakers and Presentation
Be the Difference: Belonging is the Support We Need
Gaelin Elmore, Professional Keynote Speaker, Trainer, Consultant
Wednesday, April 22, 2026; 1:45 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
What determines if an individual is a “success” story or a “cautionary” tale? Is it talent? Is it resilience or grit? Is it simply luck? Gaelin Elmore knows that stories of caution and success have more things in common than we’d care to admit. He knows because he lived it. Mr. Elmore’s powerful story has motivated and inspired thousands, but instead of using his story to focus on “success,” he uses it to shed light on the importance of belonging and “support.” Throughout this keynote, attendees will be challenged and inspired to be individuals who CARE about belonging, because belonging is ‘the difference’ between a story of success and a tale of caution.
Attendees will learn:
The fundamental difference between stories of “success” vs tales of “caution”
- The transformational power of belonging
- How to support others using the CARE model
Speaker Highlight Introduction Video
Better Together: Communication That Builds Trust and Changes Outcomes
Shannon Smith, M.D., Leadership Strategist & Communication Coach
Thursday, April 23, 2026; 8:45 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
Communication is the cornerstone of successful relationships in professional settings and at home. Yet communication is often more complex than it appears, leading to misunderstandings, defensiveness, and stalled progress.
In this engaging session, Dr. Shannon Smith introduces practical, trauma-informed communication tools that help participants better understand behavior and respond in ways that build trust and connection. Drawing on neuroscience and real-world experience, participants will learn how stress and past experiences influence reactions in difficult conversations. Attendees will gain simple, immediately applicable strategies, including active listening, acknowledgment, curiosity-driven questions, and clear next steps that help move conversations from defensiveness to collaboration. Through real-world examples and interactive reflection, participants will leave equipped to apply these skills with colleagues, families, and the individuals they serve.
From Silos to Solutions: Helping Children and Families Thrive
Thursday, April 23, 2026; 11:15 a.m. - 12:15 a.m.
Panel Presentation:
Pennsylvania is facing a mental health crisis. Together, we must respond. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 2025 Pennsylvania Fact Sheet, there are 2,352,000 adults in Pennsylvania with a mental health condition. That is 7X the population of Pittsburgh. Furthermore, 193,000 Pennsylvania adolescents experience a major depressive episode each year. We can no longer stay in our professional silos. This issue is impacting everyone. We must come together and allow for difficult conversations about the real barriers facing dependent children and their families. The answers and solutions won't come from within our individual silos, but by coming together to find a different way for the children and families we serve. During this presentation, you will hear from four counties doing just that. In the Fall 2025, with the leadership of the Dependency Judge and Child Welfare Administrator, these counties volunteered to test the resources and recommendations of the Mental Health Workgroup. They will share their system gaps and priorities, lessons learned, and suggestions for success as you move from silos to solutions in your own county’s quest to address systemic issues for children and families facing mental health challenges.
Helping the Helpers: Working Better Together
Ken Montrose, Director of Training & Publications, Steel Minds Training Academy
Thursday, April 23, 2026; 2:45 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Families involved in the dependency system often rely on a network of supporters—relatives, friends, mentors, and others—whose influence can either strengthen or complicate someone's recovery journey. This session will help professionals examine strategies to identify, encourage, and develop healthy support systems for individuals struggling with substance use, We will emphasize that supporters recovering from their own substance use can be powerful resources.
Participants will explore why willing supporters sometimes hesitate to engage—especially when past experiences with the recovering individual have been painful—and how courts and service providers can respond with understanding, guidance, and appropriate expectations.
We will emphasize the conference theme, Better Together, and how we can work collaboratively toward the shared goal of promoting safety, stability, and long‑term permanency for children.