The Maternity and Early Childhood Foundation is excited to announce our fourth annual Pathways to Positive Parenting Training Seminar for professionals serving children, families, and expectant parents. The training seminar will be held on Thursday, November 7, 2019 at the Hearst Media Center in Albany. This event is free and open to all professionals serving children, families, and expectant parents. Please register for the event.
*Pending approval, there will be an opportunity to receive six Continuing Education credit hours for Licensed Social Workers and Licensed Mental Health Counselors through a partnership with University at Albany School of Social Welfare and School of Education. These credit hours will be free for all eligible participants. You must attend the full training seminar to receive Continuing Education credit.
AGENDA
9:00 – 9:15 – Registration and Coffee
9:15 – 9:30 – Opening Remarks
9:30 – 12:30 – Keynote Presentation
Toxic Stress in Childhood and How to Heal from Adversity
Renee Hettich, LMSW, Adoptive and Foster Family Coalition of New York
This workshop will engage practitioners of all skill levels in learning about trauma-responsive care for children from adversity. Participants will explore the impact of trauma and toxic stress on a child’s developing mind, reframe children’s behavior using a trauma-responsive and brain-based analysis, and learn techniques that promote neuroplasticity and neurogenesis so to heal children from traumatic histories. Renee not only has decades of professional experience, but has also been parenting children with adverse histories for almost 25 years as a foster, adoptive, and kinship parent. Her unique perspective will provide valuable insight into this topic.
12:30 – 1:30 – Lunch (provided)
1:30 – 4:30 – Breakout Workshops
Vicarious Trauma and Self-Care
Renee Hettich, LMSW, Adoptive and Foster Family Coalition of New York
All practitioners (new and experienced) are at risk for vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue. This workshop will give individuals an opportunity to self-reflect and recognize the impact their clients’ traumas have on them (vicarious trauma). Participants will also develop strategies to prevent vicarious trauma and design a self-care plan to mitigate the impact of compassion fatigue. Learners will be engaged through lecture and case examples, but most importantly in personal reflection and the development of an individualized plan for the prevention of vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue.
Working Across Cultures
Lauren Ford, LMSW, SATRI at Northern Rivers Family of Services
This workshop will explore approaches that can be used for effectively communicating, listening, and developing an awareness of clients from different cultures and diverse backgrounds. Utilizing cross-cultural perspectives, participants will explore diversity within a community and specific populations. A particular focus on the needs of refugee and other immigrant populations will be covered.