Parents of children with special needs spend countless hours advocating for health and educational support. Advocating for a child at church presents a whole new set of challenges…and some parents find that by Sunday, they’re just too worn out…it’s just easier to stay home. In this session, we’ll examine ways to understand a church’s culture, discuss methods of positive, proactive communication, and identify strategies for making church a successful experience for all involved.

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Katie Wetherbee

Katie completed her undergraduate work at Vanderbilt University, where she majored in Special Education and Human & Organizational Development. She holds a master’s degree in education from Hood College, where she served on the adjunct faculty for the Reading Specialist program. Katie began her teaching career in the Washington, DC, area working at a public school. She has worked in a variety of settings, including a hospital, a community college, and as the director of a learning center.

In her role with Key Ministry, Katie helps churches learn how to understand and welcome families affected by disabilities. Her own experiences as a teacher and also a mother of a child with a disability provide Katie with a unique perspective that she hopes will help families and churches work togther.

Katie and her husband live in Chagrin Falls, OH with their two teenagers, and their quirky mutt named Mitzie. She enjoys travelling, cooking, and reading.

Email:katie@keyministry.org
Website:www.keyministry.org
Blog:http://katiewetherbee.wordpress.com
Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/KatieLWetherbee

Allow Amanda to help you get “unstuck” when the task of getting started on this new important journey seems too big! Once you have gotten on board with the mission of serving ALL the children and families in your church, it can still be overwhelming to think about HOW to get started. This session will help you see and explore ways to include children in your already existing programs, come up with first action steps to possibly begin new programming and most importantly, still work within the curriculum or catechesis requirements of your church or Diocese. You will come away with concrete ideas, action steps and resources to take back to your church to get you started right away!

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Amanda Mooney

Amanda received her Bachelor’s degree, majoring in Multi-handicapped Education from Bowling Green State University, along with a Master’s Degree in Education, with a concentration on Early Education of the Handicapped. Amanda spent five years as a Special Needs Preschool Teacher in Ashtabula and Wood Counties in Ohio, and was honored as Teacher of the Year in 1998 by the Northeast Ohio Special Education Resource Center.
Amanda has been a member of St. Gabriel’s Parish in Concord, OH for 33 years, and has served on staff as the Principal of St. Gabriel’s Parish School of Religion (PSR) since 2008. In her staff position, Amanda oversees a team of 40 volunteers offering programming for 300 children in grades 1-5 on a weekly basis, along with a comprehensive Special Needs ministry serving members of the church of all ages. This past summer, her team completed their second “One Day Voyage,” a unique event in which Vacation Bible School was used as a model to create a “mini version” that would be compatible and comfortable for kids with disabilities and offer a respite experience for the families. This was made possible because of the partnership and training of her team by Key Ministry.
Amanda employs a visionary approach to religious education to more fully involve parents as the lead teachers in their child’s faith journey. She lives in Concord, OH with her husband, Dave and their two kids, Tommy, 9 and Lilly, 6.

Email: amandamooney@yahoo.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/amandamooney.stgabriel

In this workshop we will explore ways we can create inclusive ministry environments that engage and empower children with hidden disabilities. You will learn practical tips to make your ministry area a magnet for families with special needs.

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Harmony Hensley

Harmony Hensley is Pastor and Director of Outreach and Inclusion Ministries at Vineyard Cincinnati. The Vineyard has been ranked as one of the 50 most influential churches in America and is known for a strong outward focus and servant culture. Harmony has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Cincinnati Christian University with a double major in Ministry Leadership and Biblical Studies. She is currently pursuing her Graduate degree majoring in Church Growth and Planting.

Harmony has a background in marketing and design and has leveraged these skills to develop volunteer strategies and creative ministry approaches. She has a personal interest in ministering to individuals with disabilities as she spent four years in high school in the Special Education system. These experiences have shaped her systemic inclusion ministry approach.

Email: harmony@keyministry.org

Website: www.keyministry.org

In this session, we will explore the why’s as well as the how’s of creating a respite care ministry at your church.

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Rebecca Hamilton

Ms. Hamilton earned her Master’s Degree in Public Administration from West Virginia University in 1990 and has worked in the field of non-profit management ever since. She has worked in fund development for organizations like the American Red Cross, Lawrence School, and Malachi House, among others. Since September 2006, Ms. Hamilton has served as Executive Director of Key Ministry. In her role with Key Ministry, she has worked on building a network of Christian churches to provide free, rolling respite care for children with disabilities; she has served her home church, Fellowship Bible Church in Bainbridge, Ohio in organizing their monthly respite events, which are called ‘Breathe.’
Ms. Hamilton resides with her husband and two teenage daughters in Auburn, Ohio.

Email: rebecca@keyministry.org
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1018335056&ref=profile#!/profile.php?id=1018335056

Approximately one in five kids in the U.S. experiences significant difficulty in day to day functioning as a result of a mental health disorder, such as anxiety, ADHD, depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD or autism spectrum disorders. Kids with conditions like these and their families face many barriers to connecting with or staying active in the worship services and ministries of a local church. In this presentation, Dr. Grcevich will share strategies and resources with pastors, church staff, volunteers and parents seeking to serve, welcome and include kids with mental health disorders through their local church.

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Steve Grcevich

Steve is a child and adolescent psychiatrist, having graduated from Northeast Ohio Medical University, and completed training at Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals of Cleveland. He juggles many professional interests, including teaching, research and clinical practice. Steve was a 1999 recipient of the Exemplary Psychiatrist Award from the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, and has delivered over 35 presentations at national or international professional conferences.

Steve has served as the President of Key Ministry’s Board of Directors since its’ inception in 2002. He hopes to have lots of friends in Heaven someday who came to know Jesus through churches served by Key Ministry’s team.

Steve and his wife Denise live in Chagrin Falls, Ohio with their two daughters, Leah and Mira. He’s a passionate fan of Cleveland sports and Ohio State, and hopes to experience a Super Bowl or World Series victory parade sometime prior to meeting Jesus face to face.

Email:steve@keyministry.org
Blog:drgrcevich.wordpress.com
Website:http://www.keyministry.org
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/drgrcevich
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/drgrcevich