Maintaining Connections & Navigating Relationships

Our Children’s Roots: Simple Questions, Complicated Answers

In this training, Presentor, Barb Clark will discuss the importance of maintaining a child’s connection to family, culture, and community in order to support their development of a strong and positive sense of self, a deeper understanding of who they are and their authentic story, and a sense of continuity in their relationships. Whether adopted at birth or at an older age, whether adopted internationally or domestically, our children have a history that precedes our welcoming them in our family. In some form or another, at some time, our children will have questions regarding their past and the circumstances of their adoption. How do we handle these questions? What to respond? What if we don’t have the answers? This session will discuss the various thoughts and questions adopted children may have and how to address them as adoptive parents. Sibling connections will be covered as well as how to support siblings in families where there may be big behaviors.

Participants will learn:

• Attendees will understand how family is defined and understood by children and youth in foster care, kinship care, and adoption
• Attendees will identify why ongoing connection to family matters to children and youth
• Attendees will be able to give strategies for maintaining positive connections

This training will include a panel discussion with participants with legal, clinical and family perspectives.

4.5 CEUs pending approval by the Connecticut chapter of the NASW

Barb Clark is the Director of Training for Families Rising (formerly NACAC). Barb has over 30 years of experience working with a diverse group of at-risk youth and families.

Barb manages, promotes, develops, and provides trainings offered by Families Rising for child welfare professionals including physicians, social workers,therapists, families and caregivers .

Barb is an adoptive parent. She has four adopted children. She provides training on trauma-responsive strategies, post-adoption support, and her personal passion, FASD. She uses humor and real-life experiences to help professionals and parents challenge the use of traditional strategies and to push them to think outside of the box. Barb Clark has a B.I.S. in Youth Studies from the University of Minnesota but has learned more through parenting than any degree could ever teach.

CONFERENCE CO-SPONSORS:

CT Department of Children and Families

UCONN Health Adoption Assistance Program