The opinions, statements, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this session are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the conference hosts.

Children with disabilities and/or mental health concerns represent several distinct subgroups that require specialized services and care within our communities. This presentation will discuss the increased risk of maltreatment for children with disabilities and/or mental health concerns. Research supports that children with disabilities are at an increased risk of experiencing trauma and having higher Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) than typically developing children. This is important to consider in regard to long-term ACE related health conditions and service considerations. Participants will gain understanding of what a disability is, common mental health concerns in children, and approaches to addressing trauma with this population.

Kyla Krogman-Glirbas, CSW, Post Masters Fellow/Licensed Certified Social Worker, USD Center for Disabilities
Aimee Deliramich, PhD, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, USD Center for Disabilities
Madysen Pravecek, CSW, Integrated Health Counselor, Sanford Health

Community Response to Child Abuse Conference 2023

Kyla received her Bachelor’s in Psychology at South Dakota State University and began her career working at a psychiatric residential treatment facility counseling youth. During graduate school, she completed two graduate assistantships, including the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities (LEND) program. Kyla received her master’s in social work at the University of South Dakota and has a certificate in Child and Adult Advocacy Studies. She is currently employed at the Center for Disabilities as a Post Master’s Fellow and engages in policy advocacy, interagency collaboration, and interdisciplinary clinical work. In 2022, Kyla was awarded a SD Change Network fellowship from the Bush Foundation. This leadership program, along with her previous experience as an advocate for children and families experiencing domestic violence and child welfare involvement, inspired her to engage in research and community education on the topic of increased risk of maltreatment for children with disabilities.

Dr. Deliramich is a licensed clinical psychologist and an assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics at University of South Dakota, Center for Disabilities, in Sioux Falls, SD. In her role at the Center for Disabilities, Dr. Deliramich evaluates children and adults as part of an interdisciplinary diagnostic team within the Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinic and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Clinic. These training clinics allow LEND (Leadership, Education, and Excellence in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities) graduate students across 12 disciplines to observe and participate under the direction of Dr. Deliramich. She is also part of the outreach education team working in partnership with Departments of Education, Social Services, and Health creating continuing education and graduate level courses within the areas of disabilities, mental health, and evidence-based treatment. Dr. Deliramich was the project co-coordinator for a new ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) series focusing on disability cultural competence within a community of practice and was selected as a 2022-2023 AUCD/CDC Childhood Mental Health Champion. Dr. Deliramich received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from University of Wyoming, her master’s degree in counseling psychology from University of Hawaii, Hilo, and her doctorate degree in clinical psychology from University of South Dakota. Dr. Deliramich completed her pre-doctoral internship at the University of Kansas Medical Center and her post-doctoral training at LifeScape.

2022 USD graduate, Mady Pravecek, is a certified social worker in SD. She currently works with individuals of all ages. She provides crisis intervention services, diagnostic evaluations, mental health therapy, behavioral health education, and helping address barriers to an individual’s health. Pravevek’s additional experience includes: inpatient mental health, rural healthcare, and serving as a LEND trainee within an interdisciplinary diagnostic team. Pravecek is passionate about child welfare, suicide prevention, trauma-informed care, and quality improvement of mandatory reporting education and procedures.