Youth-in-Care with Disabilities Webinar Series: Part 1 - Understanding Systems and Effective System Collaboration (1.5 CEs & Non-CE)

Overview

The Youth-in-Care with Disabilities Webinar Series begins by setting the foundation for understanding the systems that youth-in-care with disabilities are involved with and offering practical strategies to effectively collaborate across systems. Having worked at both the state and local level in special education for over 30 years and now serving as a leader of the Center of Excellence in Child Welfare, Ms. Barbara Moore’s presentation will exude her passion and experiences in supporting youth-in-care with disabilities. Ms. Moore will be joined by Megan Mutti, MA, Executive Director of Family Matters Parent Training and Information Center and Dr. David Strauser, Director of the Illinois Institute of Rehabilitation and Employment Research at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Objectives

1. Understanding Systems Involving Youth-in-Care with Disabilities: Participants will gain foundational knowledge of the different systems involving with youth-in-care with disabilities, with specific focus on child welfare and special education systems.
2. Enhancing Cross-System Services: Learners will be equipped with information on resources available within different systems to support youth-in-care with disabilities.
3. Applying Effective Cross-System Collaboration Strategies: Participants will learn how to apply strategies for effectively collaborating across systems.

Registration and CE Information

• Register here for both the CE and Non-CE version. To earn 1.5 CEs, you will need complete the post-webinar quiz. The post-webinar quiz is optional for those not wanting CEs.
• The live webinar will be held October 16, 2025, from 12:00pm - 1:30pm
• Once registered, you will be able to access the course site to complete the Zoom registration to receive the link for the webinar.

Presenter: Barbara Moore

With a Master of Education in Educational Organization and Leadership from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), Barbara Moore has dedicated over two decades to serving in various capacities in child-serving organizations. Most recently she served as the State Director of Special Education for the Illinois State Board of Education. In her current role as Director of the Center for Excellence in Child Welfare, she provides overall leadership for the development, planning, revision, and execution of the scope of work of Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (IDCFS) and University of Illinois School of Social Work collaborations. She serves as Supervisor to senior program and project leaders on each of these grants and contracts. Her goals are to strengthen research and practice integration to support children and families across Illinois, leverage research findings to advocate for legislative and regulatory changes to shape child welfare policy, conceptualize innovative workforce development training, and actively promote the work of the School and IDCFS Partnerships.

Presenter: David R. Strauser

David R. Strauser, Ph.D., serves as director of the Illinois Institute of Rehabilitation and Employment Research and is a researcher and faculty member at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. His work focuses on vocational development and employment outcomes among individuals with disabilities and chronic health conditions. He earned his doctorate in Rehabilitation Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1995.

Presenter: Megan Mutti

Megan Mutti is the Executive Director of Family Matters Parent Training Center, where she onboarded in August of 2023. She was most recently a member of the Ligas Family Advocate Team at the Arc of Illinois. Megan attended the University of Missouri-Columbia, where she completed both her BS and MA in Human Development and Family Studies. She spent many years as a member of the Pediatric Supportive Care Team at Children’s Hospital of Illinois, where she focused on patient and family-centered care. She recently completed a LEND Fellowship at UIC, focused on Neurodevelopmental education and advocacy. She is currently a Ligas Family Advocate with the Arc of Illinois. Megan, who resides in Germantown Hills, IL, is the mom to two daughters, one of whom is a young adult with autism and an intellectual disability. Megan has a strong interest in developmental disability advocacy, transitioning from school to adult services systems, family centered communication, and community-based inclusion.