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2025 HOPE Summit
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2025 Hope Summit | Hope-Centered. Trauma-Informed. Child and Youth-Focused.
November 6, 2025 | 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Houston CityPlace Marriott at Springwoods Village | 1200 Lake Plaza Dr, Spring, TX 77389
The 2025 HOPE Summit, facilitated by Dr. Chan Hellman, Ph.D., one of the world’s leading hope scholars and co-author of Hope Rising: How the Science of Hope Can Change Your Life, is a transformative experience designed to deepen understanding of hope as a powerful tool for overcoming adversity.
Based on Dr. Hellman’s evidence-backed research, this summit explores his Hope Centered™ curriculum, equipping attendees with practical strategies to foster resilience and healing in children and families.
The HOPE Summit is designed to be impactful for everyone, whether you’ve attended a previous CTI Conference or are completely new to these concepts. This powerful event will lay the foundation for understanding the science of hope and how it intersects with trauma-informed care, equipping attendees with evidence-based strategies to support and empower children and families in need. Whether you work with children in any capacity or lead within an organization, the HOPE Summit will offer valuable tools and perspectives on building resilience in both children and adults.
If you’ve previously attended a CTI Conference, this summit is a vital next step, tying together insights on trauma, TBRI® (Trust-Based Relational Intervention®), and the science of hope, empowering professionals, caregivers, advocates, and others serving children and families to create lasting change. However, no prior experience is necessary—just a commitment to learning, growing, and bringing hope to those who need it most!
HOPE SUMMIT PACKET
Due to Hurricane Melissa’s impact last week, our printer experienced delays in shipping the printed packets. As a result, we are unable to provide complete printed packets on-site. If possible, please print the packet and bring it with you to the conference to ensure you have all the materials.
Benefits Included with Summit Attendance:
Breakfast, lunch, snacks, and beverages are included.
Continuing education credits will be available.
Travel Information and Lodging:
If you will be traveling to the conference from outside of the area and would like to book a room at the Houston CityPlace Marriott at Springwoods Village, we can extend a discounted room rate. Please use the link below to access our room block and lock in the discounted rate. The block covers room reservations for Wednesday, Nov. 5 and/or Thursday, Nov. 6. PLEASE NOTE: Room block reservations must be made prior to October 22. Reservations made after October 22 will be subject to the hotel’s standard rates.
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Agenda: Leading with Science and the Power of Hope
Primary Outcomes:
- Participants will understand the Science of Hope
- Participants will gain a common language of Hope.
- Participants will understand the connection between hope and collective hope to well-being.
8:30 – 8:40 AM
Welcome & Invocation (Ann Marie Ronsman, President & CEO, Child Advocates of Montgomery County and Judge Wayne L. Mack)
8:40 – 9:30 AM
Building a Hope-Centered and Trauma-Informed Community with the Foundations of TBRI® (Ann Marie Ronsman)
9:30 – 10:45 AM
Introduction to the Science and Power of Hope (Dr. Chan Hellman)
10:45 – 11:00 AM
Break
11:00 – 11:20 AM
Goal-Setting Worksheet (Dr. Chan Hellman)
11:20 – 11:45 AM
Hope Worksheet (Dr. Chan Hellman)
11:45 AM – Noon
Break
Noon – 12:45 PM
Lunch
12:45 – 2:00 PM
Hope-Centered Organization, Collective Hope, and Leadership (Dr. Chan Hellman)
2:00 – 2:15 PM
Break
2:15 – 2:45 PM
Small Group Break-Out (Dr. Angela Pharris)
2:45 – 2:55 PM
Share-Out Small Group Discussions
2:55 – 3:30 PM
Next Steps: Visioning Priorities for Implementing Hope (Dr. Angela Pharris)
3:30 – 4:00 PM
Closing Remarks (Ann Marie Ronsman)
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ABOUT THE SPEAKERS:
Chan M. Hellman
Chan M. Hellman is a professor at the University of Oklahoma and Director of The Hope Research Center and has published over 80 research studies. Chan joined the University of Oklahoma in 2002 teaching graduate courses in research methods, statistics, and more recently Hope Theory to Practice. Chan was inducted into the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame in 2025.
Chan’s research is focused on hope as a psychological strength helping children and adults overcome trauma and adversity—he presented on this work with TEDx. His on-going research informs the development of the “Hope Centered and Trauma Informed™” training program used to promote Hope Centered Organizations across the US. Chan has Co-Founded Hope Rising Oklahoma along with First Lady Sarah Stitt in their effort to make Oklahoma a hope-centered state. Chan is the co-author of the award-winning book “Hope Rising: How the Science of Hope Can Change Your Life” published by Morgan James. Chan was one of five invited workshops for Jane Goodall’s Activating Hope Summit (2021). In 2023, Chan was invited to a main stage presentation at the American Psychological Association convention. Chan’s work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, American Psychological Association Monitor, CNN, and TIME Magazine. The OU Hope Research Center received the 2024 “Building Knowledge Through Research” award by the US Department of Justice – Office for Victims of Crime based on the effect the science of hope has on helping organizations serve victims of crime.
Angela D. Pharris
Dr. Pharris is an Associate Professor in the Anne & Henry Zarrow School of Social Work at the University of Oklahoma, Director of the Child Welfare Impact Institute, and Senior Researcher at the Hope Research Center. Her research is focused on the application and implementation of hope-centered and trauma-informed practices that impact human service programs. Angela’s current research is in child welfare and human service organizations and the application of the hope as a framework for practice. This research informed the development of the “Hope Centered and Trauma Informed™” training program. Hope is a psychological strength, a buffer to stress, adversity, and burnout, and a hopeful mindset that improves organizational and individual outcomes.
Sponsorships & Event Registration Form:
Presenting Sponsor
Lunch Sponsor
Breakfast Sponsor
TBRI® Tools Sponsor
Supporting Sponsors
Grimes & Fertitta Law Firm
Judge Scharlene Valdez
Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands
Table Sponsors
CASA of Galveston County
Conroe ISD
Margaret Hollinger
Miracle Farm Boys Ranch
