Dominic Carter Before Foster Parents, Kinship Parents, and Adoptive Parents in Michigan. The Michigan Department of Health & Human Services in Traverse City, Michigan. May 5th, 2017. Dominic Carter received a standing ovation

1. 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 physicaland 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 advocatefor 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 EffectsonChildren
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 PuzzleforYouth 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 workingwithDHHS while advocating forfoster children.
Speaker:Sandra Milner, MDHHS Children’s Services Section Manager
Room:Council Room

2. Title:“Is My Child Eligible for Adoption Assistance Funds, Medical Subsidy
Services or Guardianship Assistance Funds”?
Speakers:MarkPrelesnik 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

3. 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 FosterChild’sHeart-WrenchingJourneyofPhysical andSexual Abuse.
KeynoteSpeaker:DominicCarter,Authorand TV Journalist
This is about honoring Foster, Adoptive, and Kinship parents forthe excellent workthey 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 victimof severe Child Abuse
and Child Sexual Abuse. Children are oftenincapable 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 wouldtake them to his grave.
Dominic is deeply thankfulfor 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.

4. Workshop Session A
Friday, May 5
1:30 – 3:00 P.M.
SED Waiver-What it is, howto accessit and advocateforit.
This presentation willprovide a general overview of the SEDW,eligibility criteria, SEDW covered
services, DHHS SEDWFoster Care and Adoption population, Enhanced Determination of Care, How
Wraparound fits in the SEDW,current SEDWparticipating sites and the referral process. There will
also be time forquestions and answers.
Angelo Powell,MDHHSWaiverDataAnalyst
Help!MyChildWon’tStopEating
When children have been fedunreliably, not enough, or had to fend forthemselves (foodinsecurity),
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 lockon the fridgeis not the answer. This
workshopwillexplorewhytryingto getchildrento eat less,ordifferentfoodsoftenbackfires
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.
KatjaRowell,MD
Opiate AddictionandIts EffectsonChildren
Opiate misuse has reached epidemic proportions and has wide reaching ramifications. This
presentation will review the short and long term effectsof opiate use on infants born with Neo-
Natal Abstinence Syndrome, an explanation of how this happens, what to expect forthese children
behaviorally and emotionally, and how all of us can help prevent opiate misuse.
Sara Sircely, SubstanceUse DisorderServices Coordinator
WorkingwithBirthFamiliesto MakeConnections
This session willprovide 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 workand live within the foster care system and what
they can do to make transitions forchildren easier and foster birth and foster families to be
successful.
SandraMilner,MDHHSChildren’sServices SectionManager

5. SolvingtheCollegeFinancialAidPuzzlefor YouthWho HaveExperiencedFosterCare
There are a variety of college/vocational resources for youthwho have experienced time in foster
care. But how do you figure it all out!? This session will walkyou through these resources, how to
access them, and when to do so. Resources include the Educationand 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 offeredat many
colleges and universities statewide. This workshop willexplore the importance of campus based
support programs, and yourindividual role in helping students from foster care access higher
education!
Ann Rossi,MDHHSEducationAnalyst

6. Workshop Session B
Friday, May 5
3:15 – 4:45 P.M.
EffectivelyWorkingwithMDHHSwhile AdvocatingforFosterChildren
This session willprovide 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 conflictbetween workersand foster parents or foster parents and birth parents.
SandraMilner,MDHHSChildren’sServices SectionManager
Is My ChildEligibleforAdoptionAssistanceFunds,Medical SubsidyServicesorGuardianship
AssistanceFunds?
The presentation willprovide an overview of Michigan’s Guardianship Assistance, Adoption
Assistance, & Medical Subsidy programs and the benefits these programs offerto families who
adopt and/or take guardianship of children from the public child welfaresystem. The eligibility
process will be discussed from the point of application to the signed agreement. Information willbe
provided regarding when to apply, eligibility criteria, funding source, rate determination, post
medical subsidy application process and more.
Mark Prelesnik,Adoption&GuardianshipAssistanceEligibilityAnalyst
DawnRay,Adoption&GuardianshipAssistanceEligibilityAnalyst
ErinSetla, Adoption&GuardianshipAssistanceEligibilityUnitManager
School Stability:FosterCare,ESSA,andBeyond
This session focuses on supporting students and will give insight into ESSA guidance as it pertains
to foster care student’s needs, including schoolof origin transportation, advocacy,and college
readiness. This session willalso give practices forproviding support, resources, and information on
special education, birth to 26 years of age.
SusieGreenfelder,GrandTraverseCountyMDHHSEducationPlanner
AbbyJordan,FosterCareLiaison
NicoleMiller, ParentMentor
TheResourceParentsRoleinAchievingPermanency
This training willprovide an overview of the Federally Recognized Permanency Goals. It willalso
discuss the role of the fosterparent specific to each permanency goals as wellas provide
information for the foster parent as to how they can be of assistance to the youthin achieving
permanency. Training would be appropriate forfoster parents or pre-adoptive parents.
DonnaLehman,MDHHSPermanencyResourceMonitor

7. BeyondPickyEating
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 powerstruggles make picky eating worseand what todo instead. Learn tips and phrases
to neutralize power struggles. Explore and respond to the child’s sensory preferences and support
nutrition while waiting forpicky eating to improve. Note, there willbe some overlap of content with
the “Help! My Child Won’t Stop Eating!” workshop.
KatjaRowell,MD

8. 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. Eventand Impact – Understanding Trauma and Development
Speaker:Andy Soper, Owner – Five Arrows Consulting
10:30 a.m. Break
10:45 a.m. Parenting Children WhoHave 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, Directorand Clinical Psychologistat 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:BrookVanProoyenand 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

9. Title:Kinship Caregiving 101: What youneed to know that no one is telling
you.
Speakers:LynnNee, ProjectCoordinator - 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

10. 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
Eventand Impact - UnderstandingTraumaandDevelopment
KeynoteSpeaker: AndySoper,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 willexplore how childhoodtrauma
impacts biologicaldevelopment of the brain, effectsbehavior of youth and how practitioners and
parents can support children as they heal.
Parenting Who Have Experienced Trauma
KeynoteSpeaker:KarenLiverman,Adoptive ParentandResource ParentTrainer
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.

11. Workshop Session C
Saturday, May 6
2:40 – 4:00 P.M.
AddressingChildren’sMental HealthinCalmandin 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 everyoneknows the child’s history
and addresses the crisis as part of the child’s ongoing path towards wellness and recovery. This
workshopwill start with an overview of the key characteristics of common mental health problems
and how they are affectedby a history of trauma, then describe the kinds of crisis situations that
can occurand 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.
JeanetteM Scheid MD,PhD, AssociateProfessor,Psychiatry,MichiganStateUniversity,Medical
ConsultantMichiganDepartmentofHealthand HumanServices
What is Medical Subsidy,howdoesmychildgetit and what otherservicesareout there?
The presentation willprovide an overview of Michigan’s Adoption Assistance, & Medical Subsidy
programs and how to navigate those services post adoption. Information willbe provided regarding
subsidy payments, medical subsidy, and extensions.
AlyssaStuparek,AdoptionandGuardianshipAssistanceAnalyst,MDHHSandJulieWineland,Adoption
andGuardianshipAssistanceongoingSupportAnalyst,MDHHS
Self-Care:TakingCareoftheCaregiver
Come laugh and learn waysto 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 effectson your life as a caregiver. This fun and interactive
workshopwill help youlearn ways to manage stressors and simplify life in an effortto make us
healthier individuals, parents and families.
BrookeVanProoyenandShelleyGarcia, AdoptiveFamilySupportNetwork
Sexual ExploitationandInternetSafety
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 workto better
understand how traffickingoccurs 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.
AndySoper,Owner – Five ArrowsConsulting

12. KinshipCaregiving101:Whatyouneedto knowthat no oneis 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 workshopwill provide youwith what youneed to know to
be successful, happy, and healthy as a kinship caregiver. We will discuss workingcooperatively
with yoursupport systems, setting boundaries for your ownwell-being, and tips and techniques on
how to take care of you as you take care of yourchildren.
LynnNee, Project Coordinator - KinshipCareResourceCenterandJan Wagner, Chair- Michigan
KinshipCoalition
BorninJune, RaisedinApril:Adoption,IdentityandFamilyThroughouttheYear
Transracially adopted person April Dinwoodie willshare 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 willexplore how holidays/special days,
meaningful life-transitions and celebratory/commemorativemonths 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/commemorativemonths 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.
AprilDinwoodie,ChiefExecutive -TheDonaldsonAdoptionInstitute