Virtual Learning Event for Foster Parents
The National Foster Parent Association announced their 50th Education Conference, FORWARD, will take place online from June 24-26, 2021.
Registration opens on April 15 and costs $99 for the three day event. Videos of the entire conference will be available to watch for three months after it ends, so you won’t have to worry about missing sessions. Attendees will also receive a training certificate at the end!
JFS Connecting Hearts’ own Cate Hawks is the Program Chair for the conference, and gave us a sneak peek into this year’s conference.
Speakers
The first day’s opening session will feature Chan Hellman, Ph.D., the Parent-Child Center of Tulsa, who has focused his life work on using hope with children as a means for improving outcomes.
Bessel van der Kolk, MD, an international expert on the impact of trauma on the body and the brain, will open the second day. Dr. van der Kolk is also the author of the best-selling book, The Body Keeps Score, and other trauma-focused books.
For the third day, Hope Cooper, Program Manager of CHAMPS, and Chris James-Brown, President of CWLA, will host a panel conversation on advocacy and the changes coming to the field of child welfare.
Workshops
- FASD through a Hope Lens with Barb Clark, NACAC. Barb Clark is a nationally recognized expert and trainer on all things related to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders.
- Building Relationships with Hope with Amanda Cruce, foster and adoptive mom and national consultant with the federal Children’s Bureau, will discuss building healthy relationships among birth, foster, kinship, and adoptive families in support of children.
- Caring for your Relationships with Marcus Stallworth, MSW, Vice President of Training, CWLA will provide tips for keeping your marital and partner relationships nurtured and strong.
- Caring for the Grieving Child will be a workshop that provides tips on understanding and promoting healing among children in foster care and the birth children of the foster parents.
- Advocating for Housing for Children leaving your home as Adults with Ruth Anne White, Ph.D., President, Housing and Child Welfare, and national housing advocate that spearheaded new federal initiatives that provide foster care housing options for youth from foster care.
- Advocating for Community Support with Alison Caliendo, Ph.D., Director of Fostering Kinship-Nevada, who will share strategies for building support within your community for your family and other families.
Fireside Chats
Each day will end with a “Fireside Chat” featuring national authors and advocates, including Alexis and Justin, authors of Rising above Societal Expectations; and April Rivera-Curtis, co-founder of Foster Care Alumni of America and a CWLA Senior Fellow.
Interested in attending? Visit The National Foster Parent Association’s website to learn more and register!
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