The Building Strong Brains Coalition invites parents, partners, and community members to gather for our Annual Early Childhood Summit. Together, we’ll explore how positive experiences build resilience and shape the future for children and families across Elkhart County.
Event Details
Date: Tuesday, November 11, 2025
Time: 8:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Location: Goshen College Fellowship Hall, 1900 S. Main St., Goshen, IN 46526
Breakfast and lunch provided. Registration is open.
Keynote: Jessica Herzog-Hall
The HOPE Framework (Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences)
Jessica Herzog-Hall, MSW, is a trauma-informed leader and educator dedicated to advancing community resilience and healing. She earned a master’s degree in social work from Indiana University School of Social Work in 2021 and holds a graduate certificate in applied educational neuroscience from Butler University. As director of the ACEs Indiana Coalition at the Indiana Youth Services Association, Herzog-Hall led statewide initiatives to educate, equip, and unite organizations around adverse childhood experiences and the science of resilience. She now serves as chief executive officer of Together We Flourish LLC, expanding her mission to help communities thrive by promoting positive childhood experiences and the HOPE (Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences) Framework as tools for lifelong well-being. She is a certified ACE Interface master trainer, a healing-centered engagement practitioner, and trained in mind-body medicine. Herzog-Hall is deeply committed to equipping communities with the knowledge and practices needed to build trauma-informed, resilient, and HOPE-centered environments.
Key Takeaways:
- Ordinary interactions, like consistent caregiving and community support, can have extraordinary impact.
- HOPE shifts the focus from deficits to strengths, highlighting what helps children thrive.
- The framework is practical and applicable across healthcare, education, child welfare, and community services.
- Attendees will leave with tools to embed HOPE principles into their daily work, creating environments that foster connection, belonging, and emotional safety.
Parent Panel
The voices of parents and caregivers will take center stage in this powerful session. Panelists will share their lived experiences, challenges, and the supportive relationships that helped their families thrive. Their stories will bring the HOPE Framework to life, reminding us of the importance of resilience and community.
Breakout Sessions
– HOPE Framework Deeper Dive
Jessica Herzog-Hall, ACEs Coalition Director
A chance to go deeper with the keynote speaker, exploring practical ways to apply HOPE principles in different settings.
– The ABCs of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health: Attachment, Brain-Building, and Community
Cassie Eberly, Infancy Onward
Learn how attachment, healthy interactions, and community-wide supports shape infant and early childhood mental health.
– Family Friendly Workplaces in Elkhart County
A collaborative discussion on developing a family friendly workplaces in our community. This proposed initiative focuses on:
- Supporting pregnant employees in accessing timely prenatal care.
- Creating supportive return-to-work environments for new mothers.
- Empowering fathers to take part in their children’s health care.
Participants will help shape strategies to promote a culture of HOPE and family well-being across workplaces in Elkhart County.
– Closing Keynote: Dr. Amber Selking – Building Championship Mindsets
Dr. Amber Selking, performance psychology expert and founder of the Selking Performance Group, will close the summit with an inspiring keynote on the power of mindset and resilience. Drawing on her work with elite athletes and Fortune 500 leaders, Dr. Selking will share practical strategies to:
- Cultivate mental toughness.
- Lead with purpose.
- Build cultures of excellence.
Her message will empower us all to raise strong, resilient children and create communities where families thrive.
Continuing Education
Participants can earn 3 hours of CEUs (Keynote, Parent Panel, and Breakouts) offered by: