New Jersey Adoption Resource Clearing House

FREE!

Hear from adoptive families and adoption professionals and meet and mingle with other prospective parents while learning about the different ways to adopt.

Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders.

Anyone can take the 8-hour Mental Health First Aid course — first responders, students, teachers, leaders of faith communities, human resources professionals, and caring citizens.Sometimes, the best first aid is YOU.

Open to those who live or work in Morris Plains and surrounding towns. Space is limited and the $50 fee for registrants is fully covered by the Morris Plains Municipal Alliance.  Please be sure you are committed to attend before registering, as we will be unable to fill spots that are already paid for close to the training date. 

Intergenerational shared sites make common sense. Using spaces and places to connect generations reduces social isolation, creates livable communities and positively impacting people’s lives.

Join Generations United and The Eisner Foundation to learn how public policies, including the Older Americans Act, can encourage spaces and places for all ages. Enjoy food and beverages while hearing report highlights and stories from shared site programs.

An activity based counseling group for children ages 7-9

The group will meet for eight sessions on Thursdays September 26, 2019 – November 21, 2019 (not October 31st)

Group Goals:

• Improve skills in self-regulation and using effective coping strategies
• Identify personal stress responses and coping styles
• Build self-esteem and increase self-awareness
• Gain appreciation of similarities and differences with others
• Improve conflict resolution skills
• Establish group unity and have fun!

Registration fee:  $18

Adoptive parent and lactation consultant Alyssa Schnell helps parents and prospective parents navigate the world of infant feeding. Adoptive parents are not limited to formula and bottles. And if neither formula nor breastfeeding quite fit, let us help you find other options.

Topics will include:
•    Nutrition Options – including parent’s own milk, donor milk, and infant formula.
•    The basics on inducing lactation – induction, transitioning, latching for breast/chestfeeding.
•    Supporting & Supplementing with the use of nursing supplementers, finger feeding, and bottle feeding
•    Comfort Nursing & Milk Sharing –  Details, resources and how to access support for this choice.
•    Guidance for each option –  Parental health, infant health and development, time factors, financial resources, support required for each option.

PRIDE MODEL OF PRACTICE
to Develop and Support Resource (Foster and Adoptive) Parents as Team Members in Child Protection and Trauma-Informed Care of Children

What is PRIDE?  Parent Resources for Information, Development, and Education (PRIDE) is a “model of practice” to help ensure that staff who interact with resource parents through recruitment, orientation, preservice training, home studies/assessments, approval, matching, and ongoing teamwork reinforce agency mission, program objectives, values, and best practice skills.  The in-person/online edition of PRIDE integrates the benefits of in-person group training, family assessment (home study/approval), and online self-paced training while meeting the needs of diverse families and agency resources. It features innovative, cost-effective strategies with proven effective techniques, interactive vignettes, and is adaptable for both public and private agencies. The in-person/online edition of PRIDE strengthens the family assessment (home study) process with a focus on potential disruption indicators. Teamwork in child protection and trauma-informed practice and parenting is integral. The in-person/online edition of PRIDE emphasizes evidence-informed competency categories including: (a) protecting and nurturing children; (b) meeting children’s developmental needs and addressing developmental delays; (c) supporting children’s relationships with birth families; (d) connecting children to relationships that are safe, nurturing, and enduring (permanency); and (e) working as a member of a professional team.  For additional information, please visit  PRIDE Model of Practice.

ZERO TO THREE’S Annual Conference is the premier destination for early childhood professionals from all disciplines to explore the most up-to-date research, best practices, and policy developments available.

This three-day conference will provide cutting edge training from the most prominent names in the field of trauma and attachment. In addition to the conference, we will have a welcome reception, silent auction, parent night, and networking opportunities for parents and professionals. Our conference tracks are designed for: Intermediate & Advanced Therapeutic Training, Child Welfare/Social Services, Educators, Parents & Caregivers, and Sensory/Occupational Therapy.

The 7^th Biennial Trauma conference sponsored by the Center for Child and Family Traumatic Stress at Kennedy Krieger Institute aims to bring the voices of mental health providers together to examine how we conceptualize social justice within clinical practice, develop and expand confidence-building and advocacy skills and for employing practice approaches that support social equity and cultural democracy for those impacted by trauma across the lifespan.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Discuss the complexity of traumatic exposure to social injustice and recovery in children, adults, and families
• Describe effective trauma informed, evidence supported and contemporary interventions that can be used to incorporate a social justice lens in clinical and non clinical settings
• List specific confidence building and advocacy skills that can be used to address issues related to social justice and cultural democracy for those impacted by trauma

Have you wondered if you have a place in your family for a child with special needs?

The DCP&P (Division of Child Protection & Permanency), Office of Adoption Operations and Office of Resource Families will be hosting and information session for families to learn more about the DCP&P licensing process and the unique need and services available both pre and post adoption for our legally free youth with significant medical and developmental needs.

Refreshments will be provided.

Information and networking from 6 to 9 pm with speakers at 7 pm

Please RSVP by 10/3/19

Whether you are just getting started or have been working on the issue for years, we have something for everyone. Our training conference strives to provide intermediate or advanced presentations including core subjects as well as hot topics, criminal trends, and material rarely-seen at other events. With new speakers each year and an array of powerful new workshops, JuST 2019 will not only educate you, but also inspire action and expand your network. Join experts and professionals from across the nation to learn practical ways you and your agency can create sustainable changes and leverage your resources to tackle sex trafficking from all angles.

Attendees will explore a range of topics in the youth justice field — such as race and ethnic equity; probation transformation; youth, family and community engagement and partnership; and deep-end system reform — in addition to detention reform fundamentals and innovations.

The Training Institute is a full-day program designed to improve participants’ capacity to identify and manage cross-border permanency planning and child welfare cases.The training will help participants develop key skills to solve the problems that will be the focus of the conference on the following day.

Two day tickets are available as well as individual tickets for each day. Two day Early Bird Registration passes include free tickets to our Welcome Reception on the 17th. Register before it’s too late! Early Bird prices are only available until August 31.

CEUs will be offered through the University of Maryland School of Social Work.

An information session to learn more about different types of adoption offered through Bethany Christian Services, including Domestic Infant Adoption, Foster Care Adoption, and International Adoption.
Please RSVP to office at 201-703-4371.

The Families Learning Conference is the premier event focused on innovative strategies and practices in family literacy and learning, two-generation education, and parent and family engagement. Attending the conference will equip educators, program staff, and librarians with tools and strategies to use right away with the students, families, and communities.

This conference is open to attorneys, social workers, foster parents, CASA staff/volunteers, CAC staff, law enforcement, faith-based leaders, nonprofits, university students, and more! We look at the full picture of impact from child abuse and neglect, including trafficking, substance abuse, domestic violence, and prevention efforts. It is held in Lafayette, Louisiana and has an average attendance of 650. This is the 17th year.

This year’s conference theme, “Layered Vulnerabilities,” focuses on the young people whose identity or history challenges mainstream perception and policy around CSEC. Some of these populations include youth in the child welfare system, young people who identify as LGBTQ, children with intellectual or developmental disabilities, and boys. Join mental health practitioners, law enforcement professionals, academics, researchers, educators, and others who seek to broaden their understanding of the topic and make valuable connections with others in the field.

CEU’s provided

An information session to learn more about different types of adoption offered through Bethany Christian Services, including Domestic Infant Adoption, Foster Care Adoption, and International Adoption.
Please RSVP to office at 201-703-4371.

Thinking about starting a birth parent search? Curious about search and reunion? Want to hear stories from others who have reunited with birth relatives?

Join us for a night of conversation about the complexities of search and reunion. No matter where you are in the search process, you’ll walk away having connected with other adoptees who can relate to your experiences and understand the questions you may have.

This event is for adult adoptees 18 and older. Advance registration is required.

To learn more, please contact us at (646) 539-2167 or postadoptionservices@spence-chapin.org

APC’s annual conference serves to promote a better awareness and understanding of adoption and provide members with accurate information concerning adoption and parenting issues.

Conference participants will have the opportunity to attend numerous workshops, seminars, lectures and panel discussions. Led by professionals and experts in the adoption field including attorneys, social workers, physicians, adoptive parents, agency representatives, adoptees and educators, the workshops provide up-to-date information as well as a forum for discussions.