| April | SMART Approach to Caregiver Stress |
Date: Apr. 4, 2023
Time: 6:00 - 8:30 p.m. PST
Course Description: Simple and sustainable, Mindful, Accessible, Renewing; Rejuvenating Timely and Tuned. This training is built around the SMART approach to relieving stress. Resource Families face many stressors while taking care of children in their care, this training will help caregivers become mindful of relieving this stress, so they can continue to bring the best practices of care to the children who are in their care. The most effective stress relievers must be simple, meaning they’re easy to do and require no special equipment, clothing, memberships, classes, or meetings. When caregivers are less stressed by using the SMART approach to relieving stress, they can experience actively bringing their mind, body and life into harmony. During this training Resource families will have an opportunity to complete a Customized Stress Relief Profile, so they can document the many skills and techniques they will learn during this training, and hopefully use in the future as they care for Oregon’s most vulnerable children.
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| April | The Impact of Trauma on the Mind and Body |
Date: 4/5/2023
Time: 10:30 a.m. - Noon PST
Course Description: During this training, participants will learn and discuss ACE’s (Adverse Childhood Experiences) and their impact on health outcomes; understanding how trauma rewires the brain; the stress responses of fight, flight, freeze or fawn; and the window of tolerance concept. Participants will also learn tips and tools for assisting children in regulating their nervous system to minimize the body’s stress response.
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| April | FACT- Intro to Special Education Services Part 1 | Date: 4/5/2023
Time: 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Course Description: The Individualized Education Program (IEP) describes your child's special education needs and services. Learn more about how the IEP is developed, and how your involvement is critical! Attendees will: - Understand the purpose of an IEP
- Explore each step of the IEP Process
- Learn the important role of parents and caregivers in the IEP development
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| April | FACT- Intro to Special Education Services Part 2 | Date: 4/12/2023
Time: 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Course Description: The Individualized Education Program (IEP) describes your child's special education needs and services. Learn more about how the IEP is developed, and how your involvement is critical! Attendees will: - Understand the purpose of an IEP
- Explore each step of the IEP Process
- Learn the important role of parents and caregivers in the IEP development
Registration |
| April | Domestic Violence (DV) 101 | Date: 4/11/2023
Time: 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. PST
Course Description: Presented by Sarah Greenwood, CPS Coordinator, Domestic Violence (DV) 101 is a foundational course that offers insights into the world of a survivor of DV. Participants will learn about the dynamics of domestic violence, different types of abuse, warning signs of abusive behaviors, deconstructing myths, examining barriers to leaving an abusive partner, impacts to children, ways to support survivors and their family, community services and supports available, including domestic and sexual violence (DSV) advocates and advocacy programs.
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| April | Trauma-Informed Responding and Answering the Tough Questions |
Date: 4/11/2023
Time: 10 – 12:00 p.m. PST
Course Description: Gain practical information about responding to disclosures of sexual abuse and ways to support youth in your care who have been sexually abused. This presentation is being facilitated by CARES NW.
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| April | Adoption and Guardianship Assistance Programs |
Date: 4/12/2023
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. PST
Course Description:
This course is specific to currently certified ODHS Child Welfare resource families. Learn about the purpose of Adoption and Guardianship Assistance Programs, the application process, and determination of Adoption/Guardianship Assistance benefits.
Registration |
| April | Supporting Youth Who’ve Experienced Domestic Violence | Date: 4/17/2023 Time: 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. PST
Course Description: Understand the effects of Domestic Violence on children and youth, as well as examine some proven ways to support their healing journey. This presentation is facilitated by CARES NW.
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| April | Impact of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. |
Date: 4/18/2023
Time: 10:00 a.m. – Noon PST
Course Description: Understand the short and long-term impact on children exposed to substances prenatally including FASD*; recognize issues that may be present if parents use(d) substances; aware of medical issues that can arise due to substance exposure including higher risk of later addiction; understand the genetic component of addiction and addiction as a chronic disease; aware of parenting strategies for children exposed to substances prenatally.
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| April | Guardianship Plans | Date: 4/18/2023
Time: 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. PST Course Description: Learn about Guardianships and the difference between durable and permanent Guardianship plans with the Permanency Consultant Cindy Logan. Registration |
| April | Cultural Continuity Agreements - Why Culture Matters |
Date: 4/19/2023
Time: 1 – 3:00 p.m. PST
Course Description: As resource or adoptive parents, celebrating and exploring a child’s cultural identity is essential in one’s strengths, resiliency, and sense of pride. Learn more about Cultural Continuity Agreements in relation to caring for American Indian/Alaskan Native youth, how these agreements are developed, and the importance of ongoing cultural connection.
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| April | Independent Living Program (ILP) Services Overview | Date: 4/20/2023 Time: 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. PST Course Description: Learn about the variety of skill development options that youth in foster care can access when connected to the Independent Living Program and your role as a resource parent in advocating for youth in your care. Registration |
| April | All About Me Books | Date: 4/20/2023
Time: 9:00 – 11 a.m. PST
Course Description: Marvel at the potential of the All About Me Books! These are engaging tools that help children and young adults make sense of their lives, create a snapshot of their lives at a moment in time, enhance their self-worth, and express their thoughts and feelings productively.
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| April | Mental Health Considerations | Date: 4/27/2023
Time: 10 a.m. – Noon PST
Course Description: Have a basic understanding of mental health disorders and conditions that commonly occur in childhood; recognize that not all ‘survival’ behaviors, or symptoms of grief are connected with mental health disorders; know about commonly administered psychotropic medications; know how to obtain consistent, adequate and appropriate access to mental health services.
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| April | Trauma Informed Co-Parenting for Success (Parents and Resource Parents) | Date: 4/27/2023
Time: 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. PST Course Description: Resource Parents: Have you ever wished you could have talked to family members about how to support children in your home? You may have wondered about their favorite food or stuffed animal, sleep schedules, or school struggles. Join a panel discussion of Oregon Parents and Resource (Foster) Parents as they answer your questions and share their lived experiences of relationship building, establishing healthy communication and partnering together for trauma-informed co-parenting to best support resilience for children in care and their families. Registration |
| April | Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) 101: Your Role as a Resource Parent | Date: 4/28/23
Time: 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. PST Course Description: Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) will provide resource parents with further information on CSEC and serving youth in care. Youth in foster care are at a higher risk of exploitation. Participants will gain information on risk factors, signs of exploitation and strategies to support youth who may be at risk or have been exploited. Registration |
| May | Supporting Children with Sexual Behaviors | Date: 5/2/2023
Time: 10:00 a.m. – Noon PST
Course Description: Many children engage in sexual behaviors. Most of the time, this behavior falls into the “common” or “healthy” range. Sometimes, children engage in “concerning,” “problematic,” or “harmful” sexual behaviors. This is a sign that they are off-track developmentally and need their caretakers and possibly a professional to help them change their behaviors and get back on track. Learn user-friendly methods to identify if the behavior is common/concerning/harmful and tips to respond. This presentation is facilitated by CARES NW.
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| May | Vicarious Trauma | Date: 5/2/2023
Time: 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. PST Course Description: Learn about what it means to experience vicarious trauma, understanding and ways to address compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma, by recognizing the signs, and coping with stress. Registration |
| May | Parenting Ages 0-3: High Risk Infants | Date: 5/4/2023
Time: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. PST
Course Description: Spend the day with Sarah Faulkner, a long-time resource parent for
infants in the ODHS Child Welfare foster care system. Debbie will share their
experiences and the hard-won knowledge they have gained through their work.
Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and hear about the many
challenges that resource parents face when caring for children between birth to
age three. Some example topics will include preemies and low birth weight;
genetic or developmental disorders; attachment; effects related to explore to
drug, alcohol and smoking; medically fragile infants and risk factors; and
self-care for resource parents. |
| May | Trauma-Informed Responding and Answering Tough Questions |
Date: 5/9/2023
Time: 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. PST
Course Description: Gain practical information about responding to disclosures of sexual abuse and ways to support youth in your care who have been sexually abused. This presentation is being facilitated by CARES NW.
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| May | LGBTQIA+ Teen Support Basics |
Date: 5/9/2023
Time: 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. PST
Course Description: What do those letters mean, and more importantly, what do they mean for how you show up for youth? This workshop will explore the past, present, and future of LGBTQ2S+ communities. Participants will leave this session with an expanded understanding of inclusivity and the importance of gender and sexuality in youth development.
Registration |
| May | Youth Thrive: Social Connection and Cognitive and Social Emotional Competencies | Date: 5/10/2023 Time: 9:00 a.m. – Noon PST Course Description: This Youth Thrive training is intended to provide resource parents, relative resource parents and adoptive parents with an increase awareness of the importance of young people forming social connections and the knowledge needed to understand young people and promote long-term well-being. Gain a better understanding of how the relationship process is different for young people who have experienced trauma or come from challenging backgrounds. Participants will leave this training with a better understanding of how cognitive and social emotional competencies are a essential developmental task in adolescence because they lay the foundation for forming an independent identity and having a productive, responsible, and satisfying adulthood. Registration |
| May | Adoption and Guardianship Assistance Programs |
Date: 5/10/2023
Time: 10:00 a.m. – Noon PST
Course Description: This course is specific to currently certified ODHS Child Welfare resource families. Learn about the purpose of Adoption and Guardianship Assistance Programs, the application process, and determination of Adoption/Guardianship assistance benefits.
Registration |
| May | Adoption - Oregon Overview | Date: 5/11/2023
Time: 9 a.m. – noon PST
Course Description: Understand the ODHS adoption process in more detail in terms of process and what to expect. This training is coordinated by the Oregon Child Welfare Permanency and Adoption program.
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| May | Connection with Birth Families after Adoption | Date: 5/16/2023 Time: 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. PST
Course Description: Recognize the benefits for children being aware of their adoption story and maintaining connection with their birth families; aware of strategies for maintaining and promoting connections; understand the continuum that exists for connection; know how to negotiate relationships with birth families; recognize the impact on children's loyalty and identity toward birth parents and parents who are adopting.
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| May | Supporting Youth Who’ve Experienced Domestic Violence | Date: 5/18/2023 Time: 10 a.m. – noon PST
Course Description: Understand the effects of Domestic Violence on children and youth, as well as examine some proven ways to support their healing journey. This presentation is facilitated by CARES NW.
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| May | Youth Transition Planning 101 | Date: 5/18/2023 Time: 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. PST
Course Description: Are you caring for a youth age 14 and up? This training will focus on the preparation for transitioning youth to adulthood and out of foster care utilizing various supports and services that are accessible.
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| May | Healthy Relationships for Teens | Date: 5/24/2023
Time: 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. PST
Course Description: Healthy relationships are healing for youth who have lived through trauma. How can adults help support youth in seeking healthy relationships? How can you support youth as they navigate their personal boundaries as well as those of others? We will look at the foundations of healthy relationships, as well as consider the signs of unhealthy relationships.
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| June | Top 10 Tips for Parenting Teens |
Date: 6/1/2023
Time: 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. PST
Course Description: Are you parenting a tween or teen? If so, this training is for you! Recognize the importance of collaborating with a tween or teen in your home, find additional tools on communication with your tween/teen, and learn the top 10 tips to parenting teens!
Registration |
| June | Developing Open and Effective Communication in Resource and Adoptive Families | Date: 6/5/2023
Time: 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. PST
Course Description: Understand the definition of effective communication including both verbal and non-verbal language; understand how to use open communication with children; recognize the importance of active listening skills; aware of strategies to convey compassion and attunement; recognize how to talk to children about difficult and/or sensitive issues with openness; know how to develop and maintain open communication.
Understand how to honor the child’s privacy; familiar with strengths-based language to introduce the child into the community; understand strategies to manage intrusive questions and support children in responding to questions while preserving their privacy.
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