1. family and parenting
2. children

FFTA – ARKANSAS CHAPTER
Arkansas Therapeutic Foster Care Provider Association
PRESENTS
Empowering Lives and Building Futures
BY
John DeGarmo, Ed.D
Author, Speaker, Trainer, Foster Parent, Adoptive Parent
8:00AM – 3:00PM
Friday - May 1, 2015
Bess Chisum Stephens Center for Youth and Families
12th and Cleveland Streets
Little Rock, Arkansas
FFTA – ARKANSAS CHAPTER
8:00AM – 8:30AM………………………………..…………….…..……..…………….…………. Registration
8:30AM - 3:00PM………….………………........... (Lunch provided)...........................................INSTITUTE
The morning presentation, Trauma and Stress: The Emotional Challenges that Foster Children, Birth Parents,
and Foster Parents Face will focus on the trauma that foster children, foster parents, and biological members
face during the transition of a foster child from one home to another. Participants will examine how this time of
transition is often one of anxiety. Participants will be equipped with strategies designed to best address the
stress that comes with this time of loss and in learning how to help both themselves and the children they care
for when facing feelings of trauma and grief. The afternoon presentation, The Dangers of Online Technology
and Social Networking for Foster Children, focuses on the many dangers currently associated with foster
children and online technology. Social networking is also a main focus of this session. During the presentation,
participants will be informed of the dangers associated with online technology and be equipped with strategies
designed to better protect foster children and to aid foster children as they face these dangers.
Six (6) hours of CEU’s will be provided by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC). For more information
contact: Consevella James, Treatment Homes (501-372-5039) or Lori Vandagriff – Children’s Homes, Inc. (501-268-4330).
John DeGarmo, Ed.D.
Dr. DeGarmo has a B.A. in History, a Masters in Media Technology, a Masters in
Educational Leadership, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Walden
University. Dr. DeGarmo wrote his dissertation on Responding to the Needs of Foster
Children Face While in Rural Schools. He is the author of several books, including the
highly inspirational book Fostering Love: One Foster Parent's Journey, and the foster care
children's book A Different Home: A New Foster Child’s Story. He is the host of the weekly radio show Foster
Talk with Dr. John. Dr. DeGarmo is a dynamic speaker and informative trainer on the foster care system, and
travels extensively, meeting with foster parents, child welfare workers, churches, schools, and organizations. He
writes regularly for many magazines, and is a regular contributor to several publications and newsletters, both in
the United States and in Europe. Dr. DeGarmo is married to Dr. Kelly DeGarmo, who hails from Australia, and
the two of them have six children, both biological and adoptive. Dr. DeGarmo and his wife are also currently
foster parents to five siblings, bringing their household to eleven children. Dr. DeGarmo has been a foster parent
for dozens of children for over a decade now. He has a passion for foster children, and is driven to bring education
and insight into general society about all things foster care.
REGISTRATION FORM
DEADLINE FOR PRE-REGISTRATION: April 24, 2015 **ONSITE REGISTRATION AVAILABLE
NAME____________________________PHONE________________FAX____________
ADDRESS________________________________CITY_________________________STATE_____ZIP___________
AGENCY________________________EMAIL ADDRESS_______________________________PHONE__________
INSTITUTE FEE:
$50
FEES ENCLOSED $________
TO BE PAID BY MY AGENCY_______
NAME OF AGENCY__________________________________ Contact Person_______________________________
MAIL REGISTRATION TO: FFTA INSTITUTE
C/O Children’s Homes, Inc.
1126 Benton Street
Searcy, AR 72143
FAX: 501- 368-0883
PHONE: 501-268-4330
Make Check Payable to:
FFTA-Arkansas Chapter