About the Conference The NYSCCC 26th annual conference, Uniting Families, will focus on programs and initiatives to unite families of all kinds to work together in order to ensure a permanent loving family for every child. The NYSCCC statewide family of parents, professionals, and advocates will gather together in Albany to explore and share ideas, tools, and resources to form new families through adoption; support reunification and connection with birth families; create linkages between foster families; and build relationships between parents and agencies. Nationally known speakers and 30 workshop presenters, selected for their knowledge and expertise, will reflect on emotional and professional commitment to unifying families and will assist participants to gain perspective, increase skills, and learn to appreciate the positives. Accommodations The conference will be held at the Marriott Hotel in Albany, New York. The hotel must receive reservations no later than April 17, 2015 for attendees to receive the special conference rate of $111 plus applicable taxes (reservation code: CCC). Reservations made after that date are subject to availability only. Albany Marriott Hotel 189 Wolf Road • Albany, NY 12205 518-458-8444 • 800-443-8952 About NYSCCC The New York State Citizens’ Coalition for Children provides support, information, and advocacy to foster and adoptive parents and professionals. We believe every child has the right to a permanent, loving family. Our activities include: ss adoption and foster care reform ss administrative and legislative advocacy ss parent group development and support ss information and referral services ss education and training NYSCCC Richard Heyl de Ortiz, Executive Director 607-272-0034 • fax: 888-482-9112 [email protected] • www.nysccc.org Useful Information ss Extra copies of the conference brochure are available online at: http://nysccc.org/conference/2015-uniting-families/ ss Temperature in conference rooms can vary widely, so be sure to bring a sweater or jacket to ensure your comfort. ss The conference will feature a large adoption and foster care bookstore, plus sales of many popular NYSCCC items. VISA, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover credit cards and checks are welcome. ss Children are not permitted to attend workshops and plenary sessions. We appreciate your cooperation with this necessity. ss Please silence all cell phones during conference sessions! We have received many complaints about cell phone disturbances. ss Recordings of conference proceedings will be for sale at the conference and afterwards. The record ings provide an excellent opportunity to “attend” all of the workshops and to share the information with others. ss Continuing education credit is available for $25. See registration information for details. ss Door prizes will be awarded at the closing session. You must be present to win! 2 Uniting Families 2015 Showcase Your Services and Products at Conference Explore our program ad, exhibitor, and sponsorship opportunities or send us materials for our free resource tables. Visit http://nysccc.org/sponsorship-exhibitopportunities/ or call 607-272-0034 for details. Featured Speakers Sheila Poole currently serves as executive deputy commissioner at the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (NYS OCFS). Previous to this appointment, she served as associate commissioner in the OCFS Division of Child Welfare and Community Services and commissioner of the Albany County Department for Children, Youth and Families—New York State’s first integrated local social service district providing child welfare, early intervention, youth development, and children’s mental health services. Sheila’s early career began in the not-forprofit mental health sector and focused on creating communitybased housing and rehabilitative services for consumers leaving institutional settings. She subsequently spent five years working in the child welfare system in Tennessee, prior to returning to New York. She is the adoptive parent of two “incredible” teens, is a graduate of Siena College, and holds a master’s degree from Russell Sage College. Ms. Poole will open our conference. Heather Forbes, LCSW, our Friday keynote speaker, is co-founder and owner of the Beyond Consequences Institute. Ms. Forbes has worked with nationally recognized professionals in the field of trauma and attachment since1999. She is an internationally published author on the topics of adoptive motherhood, raising children with difficult and severe behaviors, and self-development. Ms. Forbes lectures, consults, and coaches parents throughout the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, working to create peaceful, loving families. She is passionate about supporting families by bridging the gap between academic research and “when the rubber hits the road” parenting. Much of her experience and insight on understanding trauma, disruptive behaviors, and adoption-related issues comes from her direct mothering experience of her two adopted children. Demetrius Johnson, our Saturday luncheon speaker and foster youth advocate, moved from foster home to foster home— over 25 in all. Demetrius was adopted at six years old, but returned to the foster care system when he was thirteen. With the tragedy and constant instability in his life, it is no surprise that Demetrius disregarded schoolwork, turned to drugs and gangs, and eventually landed in a juvenile detention center at the age of sixteen. But that’s when it finally hit him—he needed to make a change. And that is exactly what he did at Freedom Academy High School in Brooklyn. Once he realized he had the support of school administrators and teachers, he looked through a new lens on life. Demetrius excelled in all of his classes, was selected as a NYC DOE 2013 Remarkable Achievement Award winner, and today is a full-time student at St. John’s University. He hopes to move on to law school, become a lawyer, and advocate for children in the foster care system before eventually becoming a judge. He reflected on that future: “Imagine when I become a judge and, after all I’ve been through, kids in the same situation can look up to me and say, ‘If that man, Demetrius Johnson, can make it, why can’t I?’” Schedule at a Glance Thursday, May 7, 2015 2:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. LINK Family Gathering NYSCCC Annual Meeting for NYSCCC individual, agency, and parent group members Friday, May 8, 2015 9:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. Registration/Exhibits Opening Session Welcome Pat O’Brien Opening Remarks Sheila Poole Workshop Period 1 10:30 a.m. 12:00 p.m. Lunch Plenary Address Heather Forbes 1:30 p.m. Workshop Period 2 2:50 p.m. Beverage Break 3:15 p.m. Workshop Period 3 5:00 p.m. Conference Reception 8:00 p.m. Movie Night: Closure Saturday, May 9, 2015 8:00 a.m. Registration/Exhibits 8:30 a.m. Workshop Period 4 9:50 a.m. Beverage Break 10:05 a.m. Workshop Period 5 11:40 a.m. Workshop Period 6 1:00 p.m. Lunch Closing Address Demetrius Johnson Disclaimer While every effort has been made to provide accurate and complete information, the Office of Children and Family Services and the State of New York assume no responsibility for any errors or omissions in the information provided herein and make no representations or warranties about the suitability of the information contained here for any purpose. All information and documents are provided “as is,” without a warranty of any kind. 2015 Uniting Families 3 Friday, May 8, 2015 Workshop Period 1 ¤ 10:30 a.m. – 11:50 a.m. 1. Developmental Trauma Trauma profoundly impacts a child’s ability to develop in a predictable and succint manner. A discussion of how trauma may lead to negative and acting out behaviors and what it takes to help children move forward onto a healing path. Heather Forbes 2. Traumatic Brain Injury: The Silent Epidemic Though abuse accounts for 64% of brain injuries in children under one year of age, caregivers and caseworkers are all too often unaware of a child’s injury. Resources and tips on identifying TBI and working with affected children will be provided. Margo Singer 3. Understanding and Addressing Nutritional and Special Feeding Needs Children in foster care or those with an adoption history are at increased risk of a variety of feeding challenges. Workshop participants will learn about the unique feeding needs of these children. Elaine Schulte 4. Let’s Just Talk: Strategies for Breaking the Ice This workshop will provide attendees with strategies and techniques to build timely bridges of communication between foster parents, birth families, and caseworkers. Barbara Green-Flood 5. Fantasies and Fears Adopted children may fear being placed for adoption again, imagine life with birth parents, or worry more than others about their parents dying. Find out if your child’s worries are typical for his/her age or related to adoption and learn how you can help. Joni Mantell Workshop Period 2 ¤ 1:30 p.m. – 2:50 p.m. 6. Parenting the Adopted Child Parenting children with histories of abandonment and rejection requires us to go beyond consequences, logic, and control. This workshop will explore how to reach children at the heart level and help them heal and grow. Heather Forbes 7. Reducing Racial and Ethnic Disproportionality in New York State An overview of the NYS OCFS/Casey Family Program effort to address racial disparities in child welfare and promote culturally competent practice within OCFS and its stakeholders will be provided. Gregg Owens 8. Medical and Developmental Considerations in Adopting Sibling Groups Adoption of sibling groups may bring special medical and 4 Uniting Families 2015 developmental challenges. Workshop participants will understand how to best address these with children and support their families. Elaine Schulte 9. Talking to Kids About Tough Stuff: How to Have Difficult Conversations This workshop will provide strategies on how to help children hear and understand difficult information about their past and their birth families by using developmentally appropriate “tough truth.” Barry Chaffkin 10. Challenges of the Agency-Client Relationship Prospective parent mindsets often interfere with optimal relationships with adoption agencies and their capacity to deal with the adoption process. This workshop will provide help with managing family anxieties and expectations and ways for increasing pre- and post-adoption family-agency trust and communication. Joni Mantell Workshop Period 3 ¤ 3:15 p.m. – 4:35 p.m. 11. Open Q&A on Childhood Trauma Even If you took a lifetime to understand all that neuroscience has to offer, would you really know what to do when your child is exhibiting outlandish and unbelievable behaviors? Join Heather as she helps parents bridge the gap between neuroscience and “when the rubber hits the road” parenting. Heather Forbes 12. See Us, Support Us!: Voices and Needs of Children of Incarcerated Parents One in every 28 children in the U.S. has an incarcerated parent. Hear their voices and learn strategies for improved practice and positive outcomes for children whose parents are incarcerated. Tanya Krupat 13. Working Together: Health Services for Medically Fragile Youth Ideally, caregivers and agencies work together with health care providers for the benefit of the child. This workshop will provide a discussion of support for caregivers to maintain and monitor children’s health, relate to health care providers, and share information appropriately. Joan Siegel 14. New York State Fair Hearings A refresher course on NYS fair hearing regulations and procedures to ensure that foster and adoptive parents understand their fair hearing rights and agencies provide them with clear information and support to exercise them. Steve Connolly 15. Untangling the Web It’s critical for parents and professionals alike to understand the Internet’s transformative impact on adoption and determine how best to use it to assure the rights and wellbeing of all parties. Recent research and recommendations from the Donaldson Adoption Institute will be provided. April Dinwoodie Saturday, May 9, 2015 Workshop Period 4 ¤ 8:30 a.m. – 9:50 a.m. 16. Unwed Fathers of Children in Care Agencies have a responsibility to identify, locate, and offer services to all fathers of children in care to assure children of their right to a parental relationship and shorten their time in care. A review of father’s rights will be provided. Margaret Burt 17. Adoption and Hollywood Members of the adoption triad and adoption professionals see adoption-related story lines and plots through a different set of glasses. View clips and engage in a fun and thought-provoking discussion. Zachary Fried 18. Responding to Unnecessary Comments with Education and Humor Misinformed attitudes and insensitive questions and comments are an all too common experience for adoptive and foster families. This workshop will offer suggested responses and resources to promote understanding, while at the same time protecting children’s privacy. Marie Dolfi 19. What to Expect from an Assessment A comprehensive assessment is necessary to develop an effective treatment plan. This workshop will describe the essential components of an assessment and what you should expect from the provider. Arthur Becker-Weidman 20. Laughter for the Mental Health of It In this workshop you will experience how laughter can bring joy and alleviate some of the stress, tension, and pain of everyday parenting and everyday life. Pat O’Brien Workshop Period 5 ¤ 10:05 a.m. – 11:25 a.m. 21. Help, I Think my Child Needs to be in Care! What are the options for parents who fear their children can’t live safely at home, but aren’t (or can’t) get help from the mental health system? This workshop will provide a look at situations in which a parent wants the local district to provide out-of-home care via PINs, voluntary placement, or even surrender. Margaret Burt 22. Yoga: A Sensorimotor Approach to Healing and Attachment Trauma is experienced in the mind, body, and spirit. This interactive workshop will demonstrate how traumasensitive yoga practice can provide a nurturing environment leading to self-regulation and inner calm for parents and children alike. Lisa Maynard 23. Dealing with Quibbling Siblings Based on the bestselling book Siblings Without Rivalry, this workshop challenges the idea that conflict among siblings is unavoidable. Learn how to steer clear of taking sides and promote cooperation with practical and easy-to-use techniques. Helen Shin 24. Post-Adoption Services That Grow Up with Your Family This workshop will support all families, at any stage of adoption, to make a long-term plan for their family’s postadoption needs and identify services that can grow up with their family. Stella Gilgur-Cook 25. Marriage As a Balance Beam Being married isn’t always easy—even on a good day. Then add in foster care and/or adoption, and some days everybody just has to hold on tight. A look at the realities of partnered family life. Maris Blechner Workshop Period 6 ¤ 11:40 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 26. Foster Parent Rights: A Review New York State law assures the right of foster parents to participate in permanency hearings and intervene in specific family court proceedings. Attend this workshop to learn what other rights foster parents have. Margaret Burt 27. A Model of Hope Come learn concepts and strategies about real hope for change. This workshop will provide help for responding to multiply-betrayed kids who have experienced adoption disruptions, reentry to care, or extended waits for permanency. Jack Brennan 28. Conversations with Birth Parents: The Birth Parent Perspective A frank and honest discussion from the birth parent’s point of view - realities vs. stereotypes, myths, beliefs; and how to improve pre and post placement support. Claudia Corrigan d’Arcy 29. Parent Group Cracker Barrel: Three Sessions in One! Come learn from the experts! Parent group leaders from across the state will discuss strategies and tools to inform and support local foster/adoptive families. 30. Enough is Enough and Too Much is Plenty! Is there a “right” or “best” size for foster or adoptive families? When is a family “too large”? This workshop will consider how families and agencies can work together to assess the right fit for each child without overloading families to the breaking point. Sue Badeau. 2015 Uniting Families 5 Special Conference Events Thursday, May 7, 2015 Taking Your Place at the Table 2015 LINK Family Gathering: Linking Information Networks for Kids 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Foster parents have a unique awareness and understanding of the complex issues surrounding decisions about their child’s future and service needs. While the law provides foster parents with opportunities to assume important roles in the permanency and service planning process, parents themselves must accept primary responsibility for understanding and exercising their codified rights and responsibilities. In other words, they must be prepared to Take Their Place at the Table. The workshop will discuss how trends in law and practice are changing foster parent roles and responsibilities and encourage participants to develop new ways of thinking about, understanding, and using the language of law to enhance their effectiveness. Come join us for a thought-provoking presentation by our special guest, Michael Neff, P.C., a family law attorney practicing in New York City. Mr. Neff will discuss the framework of NYS foster care and adoption law, foster parent legal status and roles, defining parents as professionals, and using the language of the law to enhance caregiver communication and advocacy skills to achieve the best interests of the children. The gathering will be held on Thursday afternoon, May 7, 2015, prior to the opening of the NYSCCC conference on Friday for a nominal fee of only $10. All foster and adoptive parents are encouraged and welcome to attend. Use the online or printed conference registration form to add $10.00 to your conference registration fee or send in a registration for the single event. Friday, May 8, 2015 Movie Night Join us after dinner on Friday evening for a free screening of the award-winning documentary, Closure, a story about identity, the complexities of transracial adoption, and, most importantly, closure. Angela, an African-American, was raised by a Caucasian couple in a large, multiracial family in Washington State. She was adopted at the age of one from foster care in the state of Tennessee, under the terms of a closed adoption. As Angela grew older, it became apparent that the unanswered questions about her birth story would continue to haunt her if she did not attempt to find some answers. Filmed and edited by her husband, Bryan Tucker, the film follows Angela for two years during the search for her birth family. Several twists and surprising revelations ultimately lead Angela and her family across the country to her place of birth. It is here that Angela comes face to face with her birth mother for the first time and meets family members who had never known she was even born—including her birth father. Uniting Families Register at http://nysccc.org/registration-information/ or use the attached form. Submit a separate registration form, including workshop selections, for each attendee. Feel free to make copies of the registration form. Registration fees include all instructional materials, refreshment breaks, two lunches, reception, and any other scheduled conference activities for the two-day conference. Continuing Education Credit is available for an additional fee of $25. A certificate granting one continuing education credit (10 contact hours equal 1 CEU) will be awarded by Tompkins Cortland Community College to anyone attending the full twoday conference. A NYSCCC certificate of attendance is available for all upon request after the conference. NYSCCC is currently exploring the possibilities for offering MSW continuing education credits for conference attendance. We will let you know if our plans become a reality. Cancellation Policy: A $50 administrative fee will be charged for all cancellations. The balance of the registration fee will be refunded if written cancellation is received by April 24, 2015. Refunds will be issued after the conference. Any registration may be transferred to another person with advance notice to NYSCCC. No-shows will be billed! Agencies are responsible for paying purchase orders for any no-shows. NYSCCC Members are those who currently hold a 2015 membership or those who join NYSCCC when registering for the conference. Important: Parent groups and agencies that are 2015 members are entitled to send three representatives at the NYSCCC member price. All other representatives from the same parent group or agency must either join as individuals or pay the nonmember rate. Do not use the member rate unless you are certain you are a paid-up 2015 NYSCCC member. To verify membership status, contact the NYSCCC office: [email protected] or 607-272-0034. Please calculate registration fees carefully! Any overpayment will be considered a donation to NYSCCC. Do not fax or mail any registrations after May 1st, 2015. After May 1, registrations are only accepted at the door. 8:00 p.m. 6 Registration Information 2015 Thank You! NYS Office of Children and Family Services through a training and administrative services agreement with SUNY Buffalo State/Center for Development of Human Services Institute for Community Health Promotion Redlich Horwitz Foundation NYS Citizens’ Coalition for Children Register online before 5/1/2015 http://nysccc.org/registration-information/ mail, fax, or email form to: NYSCCC Elmira Office, 465 West Church Street, Elmira, NY 14901 Fax: 888-482-9112 ¤ [email protected] Do not send any registrations after May 1, 2015. 26th Annual Foster Care and Adoption Conference Uniting Families May 8–9, 2015 ¤ Albany, New York Name (enter above) Job Title Parent Group or Agency Affiliation Agency Address, City, State, Zip Code, Phone Number Mailing Address, if different (i.e. F/A Parent home address) Daytime Phone Email Job Type Code Enter all codes (refer to code listing on back page): __________ Functional Area Code __________ Event Registration Member Nonmember Amount Due 2-Day Conference (Friday & Saturday) $150.00 $205.00 $ Friday Only $125.00 $180.00 $ Saturday Only $125.00 $180.00 $ Individual Membership - Add $40.00 $ Parent Group Membership - Add $60.00 (includes member discounts for 3 registrants) $ Agency Membership - Add $100.00 (includes member discounts for 3 registrants) $ Continuing Education Credits for Registrant - Add $25.00 $ Link Family Gathering, Thursday May 7, 2015 - Add $10.00 $ Late Registration Fee After 4/17/2015 - Add $50.00 $ Total Amount Enclosed $ Method of Payment r Check - Payable to NYSCCC r Visa r MasterCard r American Express r Discover Card# _______________________________________________________________ Exp. Date_____________ Security Code___________ Name on Card _______________________________________________________ r Signature_____________________________________ Purchase Order/Voucher - Payable in 30 days - Payment contact, email, and phone: ________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ Circle the number of the workshop you plan to attend in each period Friday Workshops Period 1 Period 2 Saturday Workshops Period 3 Period 4 Period 5 Period 6 1 6 11 16 21 26 2 7 12 17 22 27 3 8 13 18 23 28 4 9 14 19 24 29 5 10 15 20 25 30 Accommodations: Marriott Hotel, 189 Wolf Rd., Albany, NY • 518-458-8443, 800-443-8952. Contact the hotel directly to make your reservation at the conference rate of $111 plus applicable taxes. Reservations must be received prior to 4/17/15 to guarantee availability at the special rate. Use reservation code: CCC. 2015 Uniting Families 7 Application Codes Job Type Codes Functional Area Codes 15. Energy Programs 16. Food Stamps 29. F-30 Non Admin/Local 14. Legal Affairs/Counsel 28. Dept of Labor/Other 13. Services/Other 27. Welfare to Work 12. Adult Services 26. Dept of Health/Other 11. Indian Affairs Services 25. Managed Care 10. Prev/Family Support Srvc 24. Medicaid Eligibility 9. Blind & Visually Handicap 23. Medicaid Skills 8. Residential Child Care 22. Fraud & Abuse 7. Foster Care 21. Homeless Services 6. Domestic Violence Prev 20. Transitional Services 5. Day Care 5. Caseworker/Case Mgr/Social Work 4. Child Protective Services 4.Consultant 3.Adoption 3. Clerical/Support Staff 2.DJJOY 2.Supervisor/Manager 1.Administrative 1.Administrator 6. Direct Child Care Worker 7. Eligibility Worker 8. Foster/Adoptive Parent 9.Investigator 10. Volunteer Worker 11. Health Care Worker 12. Teacher Vocational Specialist 13. Professional (Policy, Prog Dev) 17. Temporary Assistance 18. Child Support Enforce 19. Disability Determinations 14. Recreation Specialist NYS Citizens’ Coalition for Children Elmira Office 465 West Church Street Elmira, NY 14901
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