Speaker: Organizers

Location: Washburn Hall

Time: 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Duration: 1h 0m

Tags: registration, breakfast

Description: Start your day by checking in at our registration desk, where you’ll receive your summit materials and schedule. Enjoy a light breakfast while connecting with fellow attendees in a relaxed, welcoming environment. Visit our vendor showcases to explore innovative services, resources, and partnerships designed to strengthen your leadership journey. This is the perfect opportunity to network, spark new collaborations, and set the tone for a day of inspiration and growth.

Speaker: Stephen Osei-Bonsu

Location: Great Hall

Time: 9:00 AM - 9:05 AM

Duration: 0h 5m

Tags: Leadership

Description: The summit begins with a warm welcome from SCENSOB Leadership, joined by distinguished special guests who will set the stage for the day. Together, they will highlight the vision behind The New Blueprint: Innovative Leadership for a Better Tomorrow, share key insights into the future of leadership, and inspire attendees to engage fully in the conversations and collaborations ahead. This session sets the tone for a transformative day of learning, connection, and impact.

Speaker: General

Location: Great Hall

Time: 9:05 AM - 9:15 AM

Duration: 0h 10m

Tags: DDS

Description: DDS Commissioner/Sec Human Services

Speaker: Ken Bates

Location: Great Hall

Time: 9:15 AM - 10:00 AM

Duration: 0h 45m

Tags: keynote

Location: Great Hall

Time: 10:00 AM - 10:15 AM

Duration: 0h 15m

Tags: Break, Networking

Description: Break & Networking

Speaker: Yaw Abrokwa

Location: Great Hall

Time: 10:15 AM - 11:15 AM

Duration: 1h 0m

Tags: Financial, Managing, Costs, Compromising, Care

Description: Managing Costs Without Compromising Care explores practical strategies for balancing fiscal responsibility with high-quality service delivery in human services. This session will highlight innovative budgeting approaches, cost-effective training models, and resource management techniques that ensure compliance and sustainability without sacrificing client outcomes. Attendees will gain actionable tools to strengthen financial efficiency while continuing to deliver compassionate, person-centered care across Massachusetts’ human services sector.

Speaker: Kwasi Asare

Location: Great Hall

Time: 10:15 AM - 11:15 AM

Duration: 1h 0m

Tags: AI, Digital, Technology

Description: AI & Technology in Human Services examines how emerging technologies are transforming care delivery, workforce management, and client engagement. This session will showcase real-world applications of AI and digital tools that improve efficiency, enhance compliance, and expand access to services—while addressing the ethical and practical challenges of implementation. Participants will leave with insights on leveraging technology to strengthen human connections and drive innovation across Massachusetts’ human services sector.

Speaker: Alicia Jacques

Location: Great Hall

Time: 10:15 AM - 11:15 AM

Duration: 1h 0m

Tags: Landscape, Navigating, Rise, Complex, Needs

Description: The Shifting Landscape: Navigating the Rise in Complex Needs will explore the growing challenges faced by human services professionals as they support individuals with increasingly complex behavioral, medical, and social needs. This session will address evolving service demands, staffing pressures, and regulatory expectations, while sharing strategies for adaptability, resilience, and innovative care models. Attendees will gain practical tools for navigating complexity without losing focus on person-centered, compassionate service delivery in Massachusetts’ human services sector.

Speaker: Roland Dennis

Location: Great Hall

Time: 10:15 AM - 11:15 AM

Duration: 1h 0m

Tags: Staffing, Smarter, Innovative, Solutions, Stability

Description: Staffing Smarter: Innovative Solutions for Staffing Stability In my role as a Division Director of Operations in healthcare and human services, I have seen firsthand how workforce shortages and high turnover affect both staff morale and quality of care. Stabilizing this process requires more than just filling vacancies, it means building a collaborative system where recruiters and program managers work hand in hand. By creating strong recruiter–program manager partnerships, organizations can streamline the hiring process, ensure timely follow-up with applicants, and better align staffing decisions with program needs. This approach not only reduces delays in onboarding but also strengthens retention by making sure candidates feel supported and engaged from the start. This session will highlight innovative strategies that I have used and observed across Massachusetts’ human services sector: • Creative recruitment pipelines that connect with local colleges, training programs, and community partners. • Retention-focused practices such as coaching, mentorship, and recognition programs. • Workforce development models that balance compliance with culture, ensuring that staff feel valued as part of the mission. • Technology-driven solutions to track applicants, monitor follow-ups, and reduce administrative gaps. These strategies offer leaders scalable tools to enhance staffing resilience while maintaining high quality of care. The aim is to develop a smarter staffing model that helps organizations attract talent as well as retain and grow it, ensuring long-term workforce stability for both the workforce and the communities we serve.

Speaker: Rose Siebold Fasano & Jessica Reid

Location: Great Hall

Time: 10:15 AM - 11:15 AM

Duration: 1h 0m

Tags: Balanced, Leader, Sustainable, Strategies, Self Care

Description: The Balanced Leader: Sustainable Strategies for Self Care” Abstract: This proposal explores holistic strategies to establish a resilient care community for program managers, focusing on self-care practices, therapeutic support, supervision assistance, and integrating mind-body connections. Attendees will gain insights into fostering a supportive environment that enhances well-being and professional effectiveness. Introduction: As a dedicated social worker committed to promoting holistic well-being, we recognize the critical need for robust support systems within the helping profession. This presentation aims to explore innovative approaches to nurturing a care community that prioritizes self-care, therapy, supervision, and the mind-body connection. Objectives: • Understand the importance of a resilient care community in supporting program managements and leadership’s well-being and professional growth. • Explore practical strategies and resources for promoting self-care and therapy within various settings. • Discuss the integration of holistic approaches and the mind-body connection in supervision and professional development. Content: • Overview of current challenges and stressors faced by program management and leadership and the impact on well-being. • Introduction to holistic approaches including mindfulness, yoga, and expressive therapies for self-care and therapeutic support. • Case studies and practical demonstrations of effective supervision models that incorporate holistic and mind-body techniques.

Location: Great Hall

Time: 11:15 AM - 11:30 AM

Duration: 0h 15m

Tags: Networking, Exhibitors

Description: Networking & Exhibitors 1

Speaker: General

Location: Great Hall

Time: 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Duration: 1h 0m

Tags: Panel, Session

Description: The New Blueprint: Innovative Leadership for a Better Tomorrow

Speaker: General

Location: Great Hall

Time: 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

Duration: 1h 0m

Tags: Lunch, Awards, Ceremony

Description: Lunch & Awards Ceremony

Speaker: General

Location: Great Hall

Time: 1:00 PM - 1:45 PM

Duration: 0h 45m

Tags: Networking, Exhibitors

Description: Networking & Exhibitors II

Location: Great Hall

Time: 1:45 PM - 2:15 PM

Duration: 0h 30m

Tags: OB, Presenting

Description: Stephen OB Presenting