Right now I am up to my eyeballs in data entry. Nancy Spoolstra gave me years worth of business cards that she had collected from contacts that she has made, and let me tell you, they’re quite impressive. My mind is racing of what ATN can do and become through these contacts.
Many of these cards were collected at conferences that we attended. Every time we go to a conference, we collect information from each exhibitor, and we file it for future use.
The conferences we have attended are equally impressive and informative. They work for foster and adoptive parents as well. If you are a foster parent, you must keep up with your continuing education hours and most agencies allow the sessions at the conferences to qualify for your continuing education.
The big question is where do you find the conferences? We have attended both large and small, and learned just as much at both. Following is a list of some organizations and conferences that you might be interested in.
North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC) The conference is generally held at the end of July, and it travels across the country (a traveling conference). There are many parent based sessions.
National Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Even though this conference is geared toward CASAs, the CASAs are volunteers so the information is presented at a “regular” level, rather than a professional level. Many state and county CASA chapters sponsor conferences as well. This is a traveling conference.
American Adoption Congress (AAC) These sessions cover everyone in the adoption triad. This is a traveling conference.
Association for Treatment and Training in the Attachment of Children (ATTACh) The sessions are specifically geared toward attachment and are for both parents and clinicians. This is a traveling conference.
And of course the Attachment & Trauma Network (ATN) conference If you have to choose, this the conference I would choose. All sessions are parent oriented, but work well for professionals as well. Besides, if you come, you get to see Nancy, Julie and me. This is a traveling conference.
Some adoption agencies or post-adoption support groups will offer training sessions or one-day seminars. Check with your agency. If they don’t offer anything, ask them if they know who does, or if they are planning to start.
If you can not travel, and want to find something closer, type “Adoption conference” into Google, and you will come back with thousands of results. If you are still unable to make it, many organizations sell CDs or DVDs of their conference. These are worth the money for the information that you get. You can also ask organizations if they have any scholarships available for foster parents.
Nothing beats the time spent with other foster and adoptive parents, in my opinion. I have made wonderful friendships with people I have met there, and connections that I have called on later. I have also gone back over my notes, or listened to CDs that I have gotten. Having the knowledge at my fingertips is crucial to my parenting.
If you’re at a conference, and see the zebra booth, stop in and say hi.
Photo credit – Copyright 2006 Nancy Spoolstra – Scenes from the 2006 ATN Conference
Photo 1, part of the ATN staff – yes, Nancy made us dance the YMCA
Photo 2, parents having fun
Photo 3, Julie