Agenda
| 8:30 a.m. | Registration/breakfast |
| 9 a.m. | Welcome/Opening remarks (Kim Boynton) |
| 9:15 a.m. | Keynote: Jessica Herzog-Hall, Adverse Childhood Experiences Coalition Director: The HOPE Framework (Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences) is a transformative approach to early childhood development. Our speaker will emphasize that positive childhood experiences (PCEs)—such as nurturing relationships, safe environments, and opportunities for engagement—are foundational to building resilience, brain development, and long-term well-being. Key points: • Ordinary human interactions—like consistent caregiving and community support—can have extraordinary impacts on a child’s development. • The HOPE Framework encourages shifting from deficit-based models to strength-based strategies that focus on what helps children thrive. • The framework is evidence-based and applicable across sectors including healthcare, education, child welfare, and community services. Attendees will be provided with the basic tools to embed HOPE principles into their work by fostering environments that promote connection, belonging, and emotional safety. |
| 10:30 a.m. | Break |
| 10:50 a.m. | Parent Panel To elevate the voices of parents and caregivers, highlighting their lived experiences, challenges, and the positive support that have helped their families thrive. This aligns with the HOPE framework and the summit’s focus on resilience and community. |
| 11:45 a.m. | Lunch/Networking/Vendor Fair |
| 1:00 p.m. | Breakout Sessions: • HOPE Framework Deeper Dive, (Jessica Herzog-Hall, ACE’s Coalition Director) o*need clarification from Jessica on the direction she’d like to take the breakout. • “The ABCs of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health: Attachment, Brain-Building, and Community”. Focus for the content would be research and application around attachment and healthy interactions as well as community-wide supports. (INfancy Onward, Cassie Eberly) • Exploring a Family Friendly Employer Designation for Elkhart County Join us for a collaborative discussion on the potential development of a Family Friendly Employer Designation in Elkhart County. Grounded in evidence-based research, this session will explore how engaging employers in the co-design of family-supportive policies can positively impact early childhood education, childcare access, and the availability of affordable, high-quality care. We’ll examine innovative models such as co-share and tri-share programs, and other potential benefits that help employers support their most valuable asset—their employees. This is a unique opportunity to engage with local employers and community members, share insights, explore implementation strategies, and help shape a framework that fosters a culture of HOPE and promotes family well-being across workplaces in Elkhart County. |
| 2:15 p.m. | Closing Keynote: Dr. Amber Selking – Building Championship Mindsets Dr. Amber Selking, a performance psychology expert and founder of the Selking Performance Group, delivers a powerful message on the science of mindset and resilience. Drawing from her work with elite athletes and Fortune 500 leaders, she shares practical strategies to help individuals and organizations thrive under pressure. Her keynote inspires attendees to cultivate mental toughness, lead with purpose, and build cultures of excellence—empowering Elkhart County to raise strong, resilient children ready to thrive. |
Speakers
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.
Amber Selking, PhD, is chief culture and leadership development officer at Lippert Components, a global manufacturing company headquartered in Elkhart. A former soccer player at the University of Notre Dame, she began her career in human resources before pursuing advanced study in performance psychology. She earned a master’s degree in sport and performance psychology from the University of Denver and a doctorate in applied sport and performance psychology from the University of Missouri.
Dr. Selking founded the Selking Performance Group, which helps athletes, teams and businesses tap into the power of mindset and leadership. She has consulted with organizations including LSU football, the Denver Broncos and Notre Dame athletics, and served as mental performance consultant to the Notre Dame football team during the winningest five-year stretch in program history. She is also a former adjunct professor at Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business.
An accomplished speaker, author and podcast host, she wrote Winning the Mental Game: The Playbook for Building Championship Mindsets and hosts the “Building Championship Mindsets” podcast. In 2020, she was recognized as one of Michiana’s 40 Under 40. She grew up in northeastern Pennsylvania and now lives in South Bend with her husband, Aaron, their daughter, Elleeanna Belle, and their Doberman pinscher, Rockne.