Foster and Adoptive Parent Conference

Presenter Biographies:

Rhonda Abban, MSW, LISW
Ms. Abban has 30 years of child welfare experience focusing on permanency for children.  Her positions include adoption caseworker , adoption supervisor and Licensing and Adoption Section Chief at ODJFS. 

Bonnie Bazill-Davis
Bonnie Bazill-Davis speaks from the heart of experience as both a survivor of child abuse and as a former clinical counselor in the field of chemical dependency.  She has over 15 years of training experience specializing in child abuse awareness topics.  Her presentations empower audiences to feel and experience the "inside world" of the child abuse victim.  But beyond victimization, she leaves a message of hope for recovery, resilience, and re-claiming life.

Mel Gravely
Mr. Gravely has had over twenty years of experience in training and consulting on issues of child welfare.  He is a foster parent and is a respected speaker and trainer for Head Start and foster parent associations.  

Dan Houston, MA
Mr. Houston is the director of Daniel Houston and Associates and co-manager of the IHS Center for Culture and Diversity (CCD). Mr. Houston is an organizational development consultant with specializations in program evaluation and the management of culture and diversity

 Ronna Johnson, RN, NP
Ms. Johnson is a pediatric registered nurse and pediatric nurse practitioner with expertise in supporting families in caring for children with specialized health and development needs. She is also a foster and adoptive parent for children with specialized health and development needs.

Jody Johnston-Pawel, LSW, CFLE
Ms. Johnston is president of Parent’s Toolshop Consulting and a second-generation parent educator with almost 30 years’ experience in the field of child protective services. For over 25 years, she has provided training for parents, foster parents, child-care professionals, family-service professionals and parent educators.

Jim Marlow, MSW, LISW
Mr. Marlow is a Senior Social Worker at Toledo Children’s Hospital and coordinator of its Child Protection Team. He is a former family caseworker and treatment specialist at Lucas County Children Services.

Anthony President
Mr. President is the president of Presidential Consultants, LLC a consortium of training professionals serving both the private and public sector on foster parent and staff development issues.  He has served as a senior training officer and social service worker for Cuyahoga County Department of Job and Family Services.

Stacy Simera, MSSA, LISW-S, SAP
Ms Simera is an independent social worker, certified Substance Abuse Professional, and is certified in mediation.  She is a psychotherapist and facilitates depression management groups.

David Zidar
Mr. Zidar has been working in child welfare since 1982. He has served as an administrator, trainer and therapist.  His work has taken him to Cleveland and then to Kentucky to serve as vice president of residential services at one of Kentucky’s largest residential treatment facility.  He moved back to Ohio several years ago and took an executive position in a public child welfare agency in Northeast Ohio.  He is currently training and consulting full time.