Upcoming Training's
2023 MN D.A.R.E. OFFICER'S ANNUAL CONFERENCE
AUGUST 7-8, 2023
9 AM to 5 PM (both days)
Washington County Sheriff's Office
14949 62nd St. N.
Stillwater, MN 55082
Minnesota D.A.R.E. Summer Conference 2023
Conference Costs is $225
Extra Ticket for Riverboat Cruise is $45
Newly Trained DARE Officers Attending First Conference - Cost is $150
Conference Costs is $225
Extra Ticket for Riverboat Cruise is $45
Newly Trained DARE Officers Attending First Conference - Cost is $150
Hotel Deals
Hotel Reservations can be made by calling for special pricing through The Lowell Inn Stillwater Historic Hotel
call
(651) 439-1100 and mention MN D.A.R.E. as the group.
MUST CALL THE HOTEL TO APPLY THE DISCOUNTED RATE (Online System Issues)
call
(651) 439-1100 and mention MN D.A.R.E. as the group.
MUST CALL THE HOTEL TO APPLY THE DISCOUNTED RATE (Online System Issues)
Conference Agenda Below
(Downloadable Version has daily time breakdowns)
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The MN DARE Officer's Association's summer conference - Prevention and School Safety has been approved for 14 POST credits. Four of those credits are POST approved for autism training. More information on the conference and registration below:
Minnesota D.A.R.E. Autism Training - 4 POST Credits
Course Description: This autism training is designed to meet the Minnesota mandated training objectives, weighing heavily on adolescents. The course will be facilitated, as a discussion, with a team of experienced individuals presenting and encouraging questions and group participation. Topics will include defining autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other co-occurring disorders and disabilities, prevalence, disparities, characteristics, facets of life, strategies and benefits of autism-informed policing, strategies, and practices to promote safe and positive outcomes, tools and technologies, and how to find support in your role. The training will be designed to incorporate videos, case studies, and tools/technologies to keep the course visual, auditory, and experiential. We encourage officers to bring their own stories, experiences, and questions.
Presenters:
Kathi Ackerman, MSW, LICSW, LADC – The Executive Director of Minnesota D.A.R.E. for 26 years. She is also an adjunct instructor for Augsburg University with the Social Work master’s program. Kathi has worked for CentraCare – Recovery Plus and Clara’s House, Fairview Southdale, and Allina Health as a mental health therapist and/or addiction therapist in addition to her position with D.A.R.E. Holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Counseling Psychology. Received a master’s degree in social work specializing in mental health, a master’s level certificate in Addiction Studies, and just completed a master’s certificate in Social Work Supervision from the University of Minnesota. Is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor in the state of Minnesota. Previously worked for the Iowa Supreme Court as the Guardian ad Litem coordinator for Third Judicial District of Iowa representing the most severe cases of child abuse and neglect and was the Executive Director of the American Red Cross in Sioux Falls, SD. Ackerman has had a long career of working with and providing counseling to adolescents with many diagnoses and in a wide variety of situations.
Medical Advisor:
Dr. Les Lofgren, MD – Family physician at Park Nicollet Clinics providing direct patient care in Rogers, MN. Has worked for HealthPartners/Park Nicollet for almost 40 years. Board certified in Family Medicine since 1984 with experience in hospital medicine, diverse outpatient care for all ages including pediatrics, internal medicine, and behavioral health. Education: University of Minnesota Medical School for MD and residency at Regions Hospital 1981-1984. Special interests include behavioral health, cardiopulmonary medicine, and endocrine. Dr. Lofgren has served as the Medical Advisor for Minnesota D.A.R.E. for approximately 14 years, has conducted many in-service trainings for officers, and volunteers for many D.A.R.E. statewide events.
Law Enforcement and Parent:
Chief Shannon Boerner - The Chief of Police of the City of West Concord MN for 10 years, former Sergeant with the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office, 20 years total Law Enforcement experience with previous experience teaching in elementary classroom setting. Currently licensed with MN POST Board that includes 4 hours of Autism Training. Father of 22-year-old son who was diagnosed on the spectrum since 2006 with high functioning Autism. Shannon serves on the Minnesota D.A.R.E., Inc. Board of Directors and the Minnesota D.A.R.E. Officers Board of Directors. He is a certified D.A.R.E. Officer and volunteers for many Minnesota D.A.R.E. events and activities.
Mental Health and Special Education – High School:
Jack Lofgren, MSW, LICSW – A licensed school social worker with Jefferson High School in Bloomington, MN. Jack focuses on working with adolescents aged 14-18 on social skills and daily living. He helps qualify students for special education services, and works as a liaison between students, their families, and community agencies. Jack has 7 years of school social work experience. He provides special training for educators in special education. Prior to this, Jack worked in mental health and child protection. He holds an MSW (2015) from Durham University (England), a BA from New Castle University (England), an LICSW with the MN Board of Social Work, a licensed school worker with the Department of Education, and a registered social worker with social work England. Jack has worked part-time and volunteers for Minnesota D.A.R.E. and works closely with law enforcement at Jefferson High School - Bloomington.
Mental Health, Cultural Issues, and Public Policy:
Chris Ackerman, MSW, LISW, LADC – Chris is a medical social worker for University of Minnesota Physicians on the east side of St. Paul. Chris provides direct patient care and provides mental health and cultural education to residents in family medicine. Over the last 13 years, Chris has also worked as a drug and alcohol counselor in hospital and community-based clinics working with adult and adolescent patients with chemical and mental health conditions. Chris developed the first hospital-based LGBTQ-specific chemical and mental health treatment program in Minnesota and helped develop the first Karen-specific chemical and mental health treatment program and resource collection in the US. Chris has years of experience working in substance use and mental health disorders in the Somali/East African, Karen, Hmong, and LGBTQ+ communities. Chris currently holds a master’s degree in social work, a post-graduate certification in Addiction Studies, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology and GLBT Studies. Chris is and has been for many years a volunteer for Minnesota D.A.R.E.
Special Education EBD and Autism – Elementary:
Aaron Ackerman, MA – Holds his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from St. Cloud State University. Received a Master of Education from Augsburg University with an endorsement in Autism. From 2016-2020 he worked in special education in the Waconia and Wayzata School Districts. He is a Special Education Teacher in Waconia, working with a variety of special education categories but primarily with ASD and EBD students. Aaron specializes in elementary education but has experience with all ages. As the son of the director of Minnesota D.A.R.E., he has volunteered at D.A.R.E. events and worked with law enforcement for most of his life
Minnesota D.A.R.E. Autism Training - 4 POST Credits
Course Description: This autism training is designed to meet the Minnesota mandated training objectives, weighing heavily on adolescents. The course will be facilitated, as a discussion, with a team of experienced individuals presenting and encouraging questions and group participation. Topics will include defining autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other co-occurring disorders and disabilities, prevalence, disparities, characteristics, facets of life, strategies and benefits of autism-informed policing, strategies, and practices to promote safe and positive outcomes, tools and technologies, and how to find support in your role. The training will be designed to incorporate videos, case studies, and tools/technologies to keep the course visual, auditory, and experiential. We encourage officers to bring their own stories, experiences, and questions.
Presenters:
Kathi Ackerman, MSW, LICSW, LADC – The Executive Director of Minnesota D.A.R.E. for 26 years. She is also an adjunct instructor for Augsburg University with the Social Work master’s program. Kathi has worked for CentraCare – Recovery Plus and Clara’s House, Fairview Southdale, and Allina Health as a mental health therapist and/or addiction therapist in addition to her position with D.A.R.E. Holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Counseling Psychology. Received a master’s degree in social work specializing in mental health, a master’s level certificate in Addiction Studies, and just completed a master’s certificate in Social Work Supervision from the University of Minnesota. Is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor in the state of Minnesota. Previously worked for the Iowa Supreme Court as the Guardian ad Litem coordinator for Third Judicial District of Iowa representing the most severe cases of child abuse and neglect and was the Executive Director of the American Red Cross in Sioux Falls, SD. Ackerman has had a long career of working with and providing counseling to adolescents with many diagnoses and in a wide variety of situations.
Medical Advisor:
Dr. Les Lofgren, MD – Family physician at Park Nicollet Clinics providing direct patient care in Rogers, MN. Has worked for HealthPartners/Park Nicollet for almost 40 years. Board certified in Family Medicine since 1984 with experience in hospital medicine, diverse outpatient care for all ages including pediatrics, internal medicine, and behavioral health. Education: University of Minnesota Medical School for MD and residency at Regions Hospital 1981-1984. Special interests include behavioral health, cardiopulmonary medicine, and endocrine. Dr. Lofgren has served as the Medical Advisor for Minnesota D.A.R.E. for approximately 14 years, has conducted many in-service trainings for officers, and volunteers for many D.A.R.E. statewide events.
Law Enforcement and Parent:
Chief Shannon Boerner - The Chief of Police of the City of West Concord MN for 10 years, former Sergeant with the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office, 20 years total Law Enforcement experience with previous experience teaching in elementary classroom setting. Currently licensed with MN POST Board that includes 4 hours of Autism Training. Father of 22-year-old son who was diagnosed on the spectrum since 2006 with high functioning Autism. Shannon serves on the Minnesota D.A.R.E., Inc. Board of Directors and the Minnesota D.A.R.E. Officers Board of Directors. He is a certified D.A.R.E. Officer and volunteers for many Minnesota D.A.R.E. events and activities.
Mental Health and Special Education – High School:
Jack Lofgren, MSW, LICSW – A licensed school social worker with Jefferson High School in Bloomington, MN. Jack focuses on working with adolescents aged 14-18 on social skills and daily living. He helps qualify students for special education services, and works as a liaison between students, their families, and community agencies. Jack has 7 years of school social work experience. He provides special training for educators in special education. Prior to this, Jack worked in mental health and child protection. He holds an MSW (2015) from Durham University (England), a BA from New Castle University (England), an LICSW with the MN Board of Social Work, a licensed school worker with the Department of Education, and a registered social worker with social work England. Jack has worked part-time and volunteers for Minnesota D.A.R.E. and works closely with law enforcement at Jefferson High School - Bloomington.
Mental Health, Cultural Issues, and Public Policy:
Chris Ackerman, MSW, LISW, LADC – Chris is a medical social worker for University of Minnesota Physicians on the east side of St. Paul. Chris provides direct patient care and provides mental health and cultural education to residents in family medicine. Over the last 13 years, Chris has also worked as a drug and alcohol counselor in hospital and community-based clinics working with adult and adolescent patients with chemical and mental health conditions. Chris developed the first hospital-based LGBTQ-specific chemical and mental health treatment program in Minnesota and helped develop the first Karen-specific chemical and mental health treatment program and resource collection in the US. Chris has years of experience working in substance use and mental health disorders in the Somali/East African, Karen, Hmong, and LGBTQ+ communities. Chris currently holds a master’s degree in social work, a post-graduate certification in Addiction Studies, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology and GLBT Studies. Chris is and has been for many years a volunteer for Minnesota D.A.R.E.
Special Education EBD and Autism – Elementary:
Aaron Ackerman, MA – Holds his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from St. Cloud State University. Received a Master of Education from Augsburg University with an endorsement in Autism. From 2016-2020 he worked in special education in the Waconia and Wayzata School Districts. He is a Special Education Teacher in Waconia, working with a variety of special education categories but primarily with ASD and EBD students. Aaron specializes in elementary education but has experience with all ages. As the son of the director of Minnesota D.A.R.E., he has volunteered at D.A.R.E. events and worked with law enforcement for most of his life