F O S T E R / A D O P T I V E / K I N S H I P P A R E N T C O N F E R E N C E

A G E N D A

Friday, May 5, 2017

10:00 a.m. Registration

10:30 a.m. Introduction and Welcome

10:40 a.m. One Foster Child’s heart-wrenching journey of physical and sexual abuse.

Speaker: Dominic Carter, Author and TV Journalist

12:30 p.m. Lunch will be provided

1:30 p.m. Workshop A

Title: SED Waiver- What it is, how to access it and advocate for it. Speaker: Angelo Powell, MDHHS Waiver Data Analyst Room: Level 17

Title: Help! I Can’t Get My Child to Stop Eating Speaker: Katja Rowell, MD Room: Governors A&B

Title: Opiate Addiction and Its Effects on Children Speaker: Sara Sircely, Substance Use Disorder Services Coordinator Room: Directors Room Title: Working with Birth Families to Make Connections Speaker: Sandra Milner, MDHHS Children’s Services Section Manager Room: Council Room

Title: Solving the College Financial Aid Puzzle for Youth Who Have

Experienced Foster Care Speaker: Ann Rossi, MDHHS Education Analyst Room: Club Room

3:00 p.m. Break

3:15 p.m. Workshop B

Title: Effectively working with DHHS while advocating for foster children.

Speaker: Sandra Milner, MDHHS Children’s Services Section Manager Room: Council Room

Title: “Is My Child Eligible for Adoption Assistance Funds, Medical Subsidy Services or Guardianship Assistance Funds”? Speakers: Mark Prelesnik and Dawn Ray, Adoption& Guardianship Assistance Eligibility Analysts; Erin Setla, Adoption & Guardianship Assistance Eligibility Unit Manager Room: Directors Room Title: School Stability: Foster Care, ESSA, and Beyond Speakers: Susie Greenfelder, Grand Traverse County MDHHS Education Planner; Abby Jordan, Foster Care Liaison; Nicole Miller, Parent Mentor Room: Level 17

Title: The Resource Parents Role in Achieving Permanency

Speaker: Donna Lehman, MDHHS Permanency Resource Manager Room: Club Room

Title: Beyond Picky Eating Speaker: Katja Rowell, MD Room: Governors A&B

4:45 p.m. End of Day 1

6:00 p.m. Dinner

F O S T E R / A D O P T I V E / K I N S H I P P A R E N T C O N F E R E N C E W O R K S H O P D E S C R I P T I O N S

Friday, May 5, 2017

One Foster Child’s Heart-Wrenching Journey of Physical and Sexual Abuse.

Keynote Speaker: Dominic Carter, Author and TV Journalist

This is about honoring Foster, Adoptive, and Kinship parents for the excellent work they do, day in

and day out, saving lives. While at the same time, the presentation is about putting a “human face”

on what Foster Children and victims of Child Abuse go through. Dominic Carter will relay his own

personal experience of being in Foster Care as a toddler and being a victim of severe Child Abuse

and Child Sexual Abuse. Children are often incapable of expressing their emotions, and suppressed

feelings are real. In Dominic’s case, feeling dirty from age 7 through adulthood and believing his

life-long secrets were so horrendous and embarrassing that he would take them to his grave.

Dominic is deeply thankful for Foster, Adoptive, and Kinship parents. Due his mother’s severe

mental Illness, as a “chronic paranoid schizophrenic,” who was often institutionalized, Dominic was

raised by his Grandmother in the Bronx, New York.

Workshop Session A

Friday, May 5

1:30 – 3:00 P.M.

SED Waiver- What it is, how to access it and advocate for it.

This presentation will provide a general overview of the SEDW, eligibility criteria, SEDW covered

services, DHHS SEDW Foster Care and Adoption population, Enhanced Determination of Care, How

Wraparound fits in the SEDW, current SEDW participating sites and the referral process. There will

also be time for questions and answers.

Angelo Powell, MDHHS Waiver Data Analyst

Help! My Child Won’t Stop Eating

When children have been fed unreliably, not enough, or had to fend for themselves (food insecurity),

this can have a long-lasting impact on how they relate to food. Children may hoard, gobble food,

sneak, eat large amounts and never seem to know when they are full. Trauma, chaos and food

insecurity can also impact weight in unhealthy ways. A lock on the fridge is not the answer. This

workshop will explore why trying to get children to eat less, or different foods often backfires

and what to do instead. Through relationship-building strategies parents can implement right

away, Rowell reviews how Responsive Feeding can help a child heal anxiety and learn to trust that

she will be fed, learn to tune in to cues of hunger and fullness, be free from constant worry about

food, and grow in a healthy way. Note, there will be some overlap of content with the Beyond Picky

Eating workshop.

Katja Rowell, MD

Opiate Addiction and Its Effects on Children

Opiate misuse has reached epidemic proportions and has wide reaching ramifications. This

presentation will review the short and long term effects of opiate use on infants born with Neo-

Natal Abstinence Syndrome, an explanation of how this happens, what to expect for these children

behaviorally and emotionally, and how all of us can help prevent opiate misuse.

Sara Sircely, Substance Use Disorder Services Coordinator

Working with Birth Families to Make Connections

This session will provide insight in working with birth and foster families to help develop positive

relationships develop between them while ensuring both feel supported in the reunification

process. Attendees will hear how it feels to work and live within the foster care system and what

they can do to make transitions for children easier and foster birth and foster families to be

successful.

Sandra Milner, MDHHS Children’s Services Section Manager

Solving the College Financial Aid Puzzle for Youth Who Have Experienced Foster Care

There are a variety of college/vocational resources for youth who have experienced time in foster

care. But how do you figure it all out!? This session will walk you through these resources, how to

access them, and when to do so. Resources include the Education and Training Voucher (ETV), the

Tuition Incentive Program (TIP), the Fostering Futures Scholarship, and important FAFSA

information. It is not ONLY financial resources that help students who have experienced time in

foster care achieve success in college, but the comprehensive and tailored support offered at many

colleges and universities statewide. This workshop will explore the importance of campus based

support programs, and your individual role in helping students from foster care access higher

education!

Ann Rossi, MDHHS Education Analyst

Workshop Session B

Friday, May 5

3:15 – 4:45 P.M.

Effectively Working with MDHHS while Advocating for Foster Children

This session will provide insight in working with staff from the Department of Health and Human

Services and private agency partners so that foster parents will better understand how to navigate

the foster care system. The session is designed to assist foster parents in resolving issues they may

have, managing conflict between workers and foster parents or foster parents and birth parents.

Sandra Milner, MDHHS Children’s Services Section Manager

Is My Child Eligible for Adoption Assistance Funds, Medical Subsidy Services or Guardianship

Assistance Funds?

The presentation will provide an overview of Michigan’s Guardianship Assistance, Adoption

Assistance, & Medical Subsidy programs and the benefits these programs offer to families who

adopt and/or take guardianship of children from the public child welfare system. The eligibility

process will be discussed from the point of application to the signed agreement. Information will be

provided regarding when to apply, eligibility criteria, funding source, rate determination, post

medical subsidy application process and more.

Mark Prelesnik, Adoption& Guardianship Assistance Eligibility Analyst Dawn Ray, Adoption & Guardianship Assistance Eligibility Analyst Erin Setla, Adoption & Guardianship Assistance Eligibility Unit Manager

School Stability: Foster Care, ESSA, and Beyond

This session focuses on supporting students and will give insight into ESSA guidance as it pertains

to foster care student’s needs, including school of origin transportation, advocacy, and college

readiness. This session will also give practices for providing support, resources, and information on

special education, birth to 26 years of age.

Susie Greenfelder, Grand Traverse County MDHHS Education Planner Abby Jordan, Foster Care Liaison Nicole Miller, Parent Mentor

The Resource Parents Role in Achieving Permanency

This training will provide an overview of the Federally Recognized Permanency Goals. It will also

discuss the role of the foster parent specific to each permanency goals as well as provide

information for the foster parent as to how they can be of assistance to the youth in achieving

permanency. Training would be appropriate for foster parents or pre-adoptive parents.

Donna Lehman, MDHHS Permanency Resource Monitor

Beyond Picky Eating

Roughly one in ten American children eat so little variety or amount that it interferes with physical,

social or emotional development (“extreme” picky eating). With labels including “failure to thrive,”

selective eating, ARFID (avoidant restrictive food intake disorder), sensory disorders and just plain

picky eating-- families are struggling. Children who come from hard places often face additional

challenges. This workshop will explore why children struggle and importantly, share relationship-

building strategies to support the child’s appetite and intake. In addition: Learn why pressuring,

bribing, and power struggles make picky eating worse and what to do instead. Learn tips and phrases

to neutralize power struggles. Explore and respond to the child’s sensory preferences and support

nutrition while waiting for picky eating to improve. Note, there will be some overlap of content with

the “Help! My Child Won’t Stop Eating!” workshop.

Katja Rowell, MD

F O S T E R / A D O P T I V E / K I N S H I P P A R E N T C O N F E R E N C E A G E N D A

Saturday, May 6, 2017

8:15 a.m. Registration

9:00 a.m. Introduction and Welcome

9:10 a.m. Event and Impact – Understanding Trauma and Development

Speaker: Andy Soper, Owner – Five Arrows Consulting

10:30 a.m. Break

10:45 a.m. Parenting Children Who Have Experienced Trauma

Speaker: Karen Liverman, Adoptive Parent and Resource Parent Trainer

12:00 p.m. Lunch will be provided

1:00 p.m. Trauma and Attachment: How Can You Help?

Speaker: Dr. Caelan Soma, Director and Clinical Psychologist at the National Institute

for Trauma and Loss in Children

2:30 p.m. Break

2:40 p.m. Workshop C

Title: Addressing Children’s Mental Health in Calm and in Crisis Speaker: Jeanette M Scheid MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Psychiatry, Michigan State University, Medical Consultant Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Room: Council Room Title: What is Medical Subsidy, how does my child get it and what other

services are out there?

Speakers: Alyssa Stuparek, Adoption and Guardianship Assistance Analyst,

MDHHS and Julie Wineland, Adoption and Guardianship Assistance ongoing

Support Analyst, MDHHS

Room: Mackinac A

Title: Self-Care: Taking Care of the Caregiver Speakers: Brook VanProoyen and Shelley Garcia, Adoptive Family Support Network Room: Mackinac B & C

Title: Sexual Exploitation and Internet Safety Speaker: Andy Soper, Owner – Five Arrows Consulting Room: Governors A & B

Title: Kinship Caregiving 101: What you need to know that no one is telling you.

Speakers: Lynn Nee, Project Coordinator - Kinship Care Resource Center

and Jan Wagner, Chair - Michigan Kinship Coalition Room: Peninsula B & C Title: Born in June, Raised in April: Adoption, Identity and Family throughout the Year Speaker: April Dinwoodie, Chief Exectutive - The Donaldson Adoption Institute Room: Peninsula A

4:00 p.m. End of Day 2

F O S T E R / A D O P T I V E / K I N S H I P P A R E N T C O N F E R E N C E W O R K S H O P D E S C R I P T I O N S

Saturday, May 6, 2017

Event and Impact - Understanding Trauma and Development

Keynote Speaker: Andy Soper, Owner – Five Arrows Consulting

Trauma is not simply a single event and immediate response. Abuse and neglect have biological and social impacts long after the threat has gone. Together, we will explore how childhood trauma impacts biological development of the brain, effects behavior of youth and how practitioners and parents can support children as they heal.

Parenting Who Have Experienced Trauma

Keynote Speaker: Karen Liverman, Adoptive Parent and Resource Parent Trainer

What about discipline? What about attachment? What about PTSD? What about anxiety and

attunement? What about resiliency and healing from trauma? These topics and many more will be

covered as we leave our "old school" methods of parenting children, and retool with a unique

approach to parenting traumatized foster children!

Trauma and Attachment: How Can You Help?

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Caelan Soma, Director and Clinical Psychologist at the National Institute for

Trauma and Loss in Children

This workshop will present specific activities for parents and caregivers to promote attachment

while reducing post- traumatic stress symptoms and reactions in children of all ages.

Workshop Session C

Saturday, May 6

2:40 – 4:00 P.M.

Addressing Children’s Mental Health in Calm and in Crisis

Parenting children with mental health issues can be a challenge even when things are going well.

When crises come up it’s especially important to make sure that everyone knows the child’s history

and addresses the crisis as part of the child’s ongoing path towards wellness and recovery. This

workshop will start with an overview of the key characteristics of common mental health problems

and how they are affected by a history of trauma, then describe the kinds of crisis situations that

can occur and how the crisis response might change depending on the specifics of the mental health

diagnosis. Finally, there will be time to discuss integrating ongoing and crisis services.

Jeanette M Scheid MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Psychiatry, Michigan State University, Medical

Consultant Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

What is Medical Subsidy, how does my child get it and what other services are out there?

The presentation will provide an overview of Michigan’s Adoption Assistance, & Medical Subsidy

programs and how to navigate those services post adoption. Information will be provided regarding

subsidy payments, medical subsidy, and extensions.

Alyssa Stuparek, Adoption and Guardianship Assistance Analyst, MDHHS and Julie Wineland, Adoption

and Guardianship Assistance ongoing Support Analyst, MDHHS

Self-Care: Taking Care of the Caregiver Come laugh and learn ways to take care of yourself first to stay strong enough to care for others! Parents who practice strong coping techniques will adapt to situations easier, helping families adjust and grow through all the challenges and celebrations of foster/adoptive/kinship parenting! Identify and become more mindful of common sources of stress within the foster & adoptive community and how to limit the effects on your life as a caregiver. This fun and interactive workshop will help you learn ways to manage stressors and simplify life in an effort to make us healthier individuals, parents and families.

Brooke Van Prooyen and Shelley Garcia, Adoptive Family Support Network

Sexual Exploitation and Internet Safety

The internet can be a tool or a weapon. For youth recruited and sexually exploited online, the internet has been weaponized against them. By using real case studies, we’ll work to better understand how trafficking occurs online - both recruitment and ‘advertising.’ However, our session will explore how we as parents and professionals support our youth as they navigate their online interactions.

Andy Soper, Owner – Five Arrows Consulting

Kinship Caregiving 101: What you need to know that no one is telling you.

Kinship is a special form of foster care, one that often comes with not only a child but also a

completely new set of needs, expectations, appointments, confusion, and quite a bit of extended

family input (both good and bad). This workshop will provide you with what you need to know to

be successful, happy, and healthy as a kinship caregiver. We will discuss working cooperatively

with your support systems, setting boundaries for your own well-being, and tips and techniques on

how to take care of you as you take care of your children.

Lynn Nee, Project Coordinator - Kinship Care Resource Center and Jan Wagner, Chair - Michigan

Kinship Coalition

Born in June, Raised in April: Adoption, Identity and Family Throughout the Year

Transracially adopted person April Dinwoodie will share both her personal and professional

experiences surrounding the uniqueness and special meaning of the calendar related to adoption,

foster care, identity and family. This presentation will explore how holidays/special days,

meaningful life-transitions and celebratory/commemorative months can impact children and

young people and bring added layers of complexity as well as also opportunity. We’ll talk about

practical realities of key holidays like Birthdays, Mother’s/Father’s Day, Thanksgiving, transitions

like back-to-school, changing schools, transitions to college and how to leverage

celebratory/commemorative months like Black History Month, Adoption Awareness Month and

Women’s History as opportunities to have transformational conversations and experiences with

our children and extended families.

April Dinwoodie, Chief Executive - The Donaldson Adoption Institute