Presented by: Derek Clark

Participants will explore the higher risk of traumatic stress exposure as resource parents and the warning signs of traumatic stress. Strategies to manage traumatic stress and resilience-building approaches to buffer against the development of traumatic stress reaction will be provided. Participants will have the opportunity to practice self-care techniques to cope with the demands of resource parenting.

Learn to: Recognize traumatic stress as a risk in child welfare (comprehension); Identify the symptoms of traumatic stress reaction; and (comprehension) and Explore strategies to manage traumatic stress and promote resiliency (application).

Presented by: Kurt Miller, CWRC

This workshop serves as an introduction for Resource Parents on the topic of childhood mental health issues and its connection to child welfare. As Resource Parents come into contact with a child/adolescent who has mental health diagnosis, it is imperative that they be able to identify and connect issues related to the diagnosis to the casework process. In this workshop, best practice in the areas of assessment, service planning, collaboration and referral will be related to the case process for a child/adolescent with mental health issues.

Learn to: Understand mental health disorders such as emotional disorders, behavior disorders, and developmental disorders in adolescents (comprehension). Recognize the symptoms of commonly diagnosed mental health disorders in adolescents (comprehension). Identify the latest methods of treatment and assessment (knowledge).

Presented by: Elizabeth Coyle, CWRC

In this workshop, resource parents will learn the typical development of children’s sexual knowledge and behavior. The definition of child sexual abuse will be discussed. The workshop will focus on how to identify sexually reactive behavior and sexual acting out behavior. Additionally, parenting techniques for children who exhibit sexually reactive behavior will be provided.

Learn to: Define sexual abuse (knowledge), identify age-appropriate sexual behavior (knowledge), describe how to create a safe space (comprehension) and identify appropriate interventions for children exhibiting sexually reactive and acting out behaviors (comprehension)

Presented by: Elizabeth Coyle, CWRC

During this three-hour workshop, participants will receive information about indicators of opioid use and addiction. Participants will discuss and identify the impacts opioid use and addictions have on the development of children. Additionally, participants will recognize the resource parent’s role in preventing opioid use and identify strategies to engage youth in meaningful conversations.

Learning to:  Identify the impact of opioid use, addiction, and recovery on child development. Identify warning signs of opioid use and abuse. Recognize the resource parent’s role in preventing opioid use and identify strategies to engage youth in conversations about opioids and drug use.

Presented by: Kaci Griffin, CWRC