Navigating IEPs: Insights from School and Home (Danielle Friedrich & Karin Wright)​

We'll explore the ins and outs of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) from the perspectives of both a parent and a special education teacher. This session aims to bridge the gap between home and school while gaining a deeper understanding of the education processes. Information will include stages of IEP transitions in different grade levels as well as real life examples and samples. There will be plenty of time for questions!

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Finding Balance in Brain, Body, and Behaviors (Karen Wood)​

Learning about the neurology of trauma, what actually happens to the brain tissue, can help us have curiosity about behaviors, our own reactions, others' reactivity, what can heal in the brain and how we can invite that healing.  We'll color on a map of the brain, make some boxes to break down what we are processing, and find new acceptance to go back home.​

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The Art of Loss, Grieving, and Victory (Karen Wood)​

Sometimes words are hard to find or can fail us. This session will be an exploration of art thinking: ripping paper and making a collage about discovery of tension and new acceptance. It isn't about creating art. It is about turning off words and engaging the picture parts of our brain. We'll make a big mess and leave changed.

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So What Are the Kids Up To in the Digital World These Days? How Can I Keep Up? (Jon Moffat)

Learn about some of the latest phone apps that could put you and your child at risk, and tips to keep your family on the same page. Learn more about Instagram, Snapchat, Tiktok, Discord, Twitch, BeReal, Roblox, and many more!! What are the latest tech trends in my community, what might my child be up to?  Learn some simple techniques to better connect with your child and the tech. Walk away with the tools to create a technology contract for your family.

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Their Trauma, Our Self-Blame (Tiffany Knowlton)

God calls us to meet our foster and adopted children where they are. This includes trauma that existed even prior to us meeting them. In this session, we will address the question, "Why does it seem like I'm doing so many things right, yet something is still so wrong?" In our quest to answer this question, we may find that we blame ourselves and feel like failures as mothers. In addition to this cycle, we can absorb stigma and judgment into our identities as foster and adoptive mothers. Let's obliterate this and call out those lies! Come hear how this judgment is stealing our joy and what we can do about it. 

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Equine Ministry: An Interactive Session with Amelia Grace Farm (Heidi Newell)

Come experience how the Lord uses equine ministries such as Amelia Grace Farm to orchestrate healing in the lives of vulnerable youth and their families. You will have the opportunity to hear true stories from the farm and to interact with two of the sweetest miniature horses. This session will be outside, so bring your hats and closed toed shoes! 

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​Choosing to Thrive (Maria Hansen-Quine)

Are you hard pressed on every side?  Is trauma wearing you down?  Are you struggling to give your children what they need because you find yourself on empty, with little to nothing to give?  Is your marriage struggling?  Then spend an hour walking through some simple but life changing principles of choosing to thrive.  As trauma parents and parents of jewels with special needs and medical needs, our time is often consumed by the needs of our jewels.  In the midst of the chaos of our life, we unintentionally neglect the most important things.  Choosing to thrive is a passion for our presenter Maria, who lives it out every single day.  As a mom of nine jewels and as an inner city school counselor, it is something she has had to intentionally go after.  The two year cancer journey of one of her jewels & the mental illness of another especially taught her.  Walk away renewed in your vision to thrive (not just survive), with your own individualized plan of how you can do it.

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 Being a Family that Values Unity (Maria Hansen-Quine)

The Bible clearly tells us the intentionality of God to create each one of us in His image.  What this means is that every single one of the precious jewels that God has given us has their God-ordained purposes all wrapped up in the things that make them both similar and different to us.  Learning the differences of our new jewels can at times be a steep learning curve.  Unexpectedly we find ourselves having conversations around special needs, race, culture, adoption identity, and other topics.  Our call as adoptive parents is to be intentional with these conversations, while simultaneously creating a home environment that celebrates differences.  Come and engage in a practical conversation on how to increase the togetherness of your family, fulfilling Jesus’s prayer for unity for all of us.

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