Bill Benson serves as the Independent Living Coordinator for the Alabama Department of Human Resources with more than 20 years of experience working in the foster care system. The primary focus of his role is to develop and provide resources to DHR county staff, current youth in foster care and live- experience youth who have left or aged out of the Alabama foster care system. The goal of the work done through Alabama ILP is to help youth successfully prepare and enter adulthood. Some of the resource programs that Bill coordinates include the Fostering Hope Scholarship, Educational Training Voucher program and Foster Youth to Independence. These resources provide ongoing assistance to current and prior Alabama foster youth through obtainment of post-secondary education services, certifications for employment and housing vouchers.

Brock Sellers, LICSW, PIP, is a nationally recognized speaker, trainer, and clinician with over 23 years of experience supporting children, families, and professionals in adoption, foster care, and permanency work. He currently serves as the Training for Adoption Competency (TAC) Coordinator and Trainer with the Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.), providing consultation, training, and systems-level support nationwide. Brock has worked within Alabama’s child welfare and permanency systems since 2002 and has maintained close ties to the Alabama Permanency Conference for many years, offering a unique blend of historical perspective and deep relational understanding of the field. Known for his grounded and engaging style, Brock integrates research, decades of practice-based experience, and insight into resilience, belonging, and professional sustainability. His work supports clinicians, organizations, and caregivers as they navigate complex systems while remaining connected to purpose, well-being, and the long arc of permanency-focused work.

Dayna Guido, MSW, LCSW, ACSW maintains a private practice in Asheville, NC. Working in human services for over 47 years she specializes in clinical supervision and ethics. Dayna is the author of Creative Ways to Learn Ethics, co-author of The Parental Tool Box for Parents and Clinicians, and co-author of Using AI in Social Work Supervision: Ethical Tools for Human-Centered Practice with Marina Badillo-Diaz, forthcoming April 2027.

Dr. Jason Newell is professor, program director, and the Dr. Jeannine Cannon Bozeman Endowed Chair of Social Work Education at The University of Montevallo. He received his B.A. in Psychology from Auburn University, M.S.W., with concentration in services to children youth and families, and Ph.D. in Social Work from the University of Alabama. Dr. Newell is a licensed independent clinical social work-supervisor (LICSW-S) and a private individual practitioner (PIP) with an endorsement in clinical and social casework. His research and specialty areas include clinical social work practice, self-care and professional resilience, practice with veterans and military families, men’s health and wellness, and child welfare.

Michael has worked as a licensed social worker for more than 30 in the child welfare, adoption, and foster care areas of practice. He currently runs a private practice working with adoptive families and birth parents in the adoption process. He is a former Chair of the Alabama Stated Board of Social Work Examiners and former writer for the social work licensure exams administered through the Association of Social Work Boards.

Jamole Callahan is a transformational leader, national trainer, and strategic advisor with over two decades of experience at the intersection of child welfare, housing, and systems reform. A graduate of the AdoptUSKids Professional Leadership Development Program, Jamole brings lived experience in foster care and a track record of catalyzing change through equity-focused coaching, policy influence, and cross-sector collaboration. Known for delivering results through relational leadership, culturally responsive training, and empowering public systems to serve families more effectively.

Samantha Whitley is a native of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and a former foster youth who was in the foster care system from age 13 until aging out at 21. During her time in care, she lived in multiple group homes before moving in with a foster family at age 18, where she remained until age 23. Samantha graduated from The University of Alabama in May 2021 with a degree in Criminal Justice and double minors in Cybercriminology and Social Welfare. She currently serves as the Independent Living Youth Consultant Team Lead at Children’s Aid Society, where she supports foster youth in developing the skills and resources needed for successful transitions to adulthood. Driven by her lived experience, Samantha’s mission is to improve the foster care system by transforming personal challenges into opportunities for education and advocacy. Her guiding motto is “turn messes into messages,” reflecting her commitment to sharing her story to uplift and empower foster youth.