Georgia Center for Resources and Support

REAL TALK on Getting a Grip on Stress
2022-08-16 19:00 - 19:45 (America/Indiana/Indianapolis) | https://gacrs.org/courses/real-talk-on-anger-3-2/
We will be discussing, defining and understanding stress and sources of stress as well as strategies for managing stress.
Presented by Chena Blanchard
Come ready to share your experiences.
*All Participants should RSVP separately using their own accounts.
There is no pre test for this training.

Webinar: Kinky Curly Coils: Maintenance and Haircare
2022-08-17 12:00 - 13:00 | https://gacrs.org/courses/webinar-kinky-curly-coils-maintenance-and-hair-care/
Natural hair care class provides instructions and clinical practice in shampooing, hair maintenance routine, and overnight protective wrappings. Model will be used while performing natural hairstyling. Questions will be allowed doing interactive demonstration.
Presented by:
Dora Hills
*All Participants should RSVP separately even if viewing together

Virtual Regional Training: Autism 101: Beyond the Initial Report
2022-08-17 19:00 - 20:30 | Region 13, GA, United States
Description: When individuals are diagnosed with autism, the individual and family are rarely given additional information outside of the initial report. This can lead to confusion and really leaves families in a position to figure things out on their own. This discussion will focus on providing education about autism spectrum disorder as well as information about resources that are available.
This session will help you

Understand your child’s medical diagnosis
List behaviors or strengths in your child’s display
Identifying the strengths in your child’s uniqueness
Describe basic supports and resources availabl

Presented by:
Breanna Kelly,
MS, MSW, LCSW, BCBA, NADD-CC

*All participants should RSVP Separately

Cafe Chat: Talking Openly About Adoption- August
2022-08-25 19:00 - 20:00 | https://gacrs.org/courses/cafe-chats-a-virtual-parent-to-parent-support-group-2-2-2-2-2-2/
Join GACRS for a monthly virtual adoption support group- Café Chats. This event is for adoptive families who share one thing, the journey of adoption. And while adoption is rewarding it also has challenges. GACRS wants to provide a virtual platform for you to exchange information and learn from one another. It’s also your opportunity to share your experiences, what’s in your heart, the challenges, and the success of parenting an adopted child or children. Please see the event calendar for specific dates of each Café Chat- An Adoption Support Event.

Webinar: From Parent/Protector to Friend/Advisor
2022-09-06 19:00 - 20:00 | https://gacrs.org/courses/webinar-from-parent-protector-to-friend-advisor/
Children aren’t the only ones who go through stages. Parents also have their own stages to navigate as they move from parent/protector to friend/advisor. Each stage has challenges and opportunities. Learn the important characteristics necessary for parents to model as you nurture and encourage children to become young adults of character and resilience.
*All Participants should RSVP separately
*There is No Pre-Test for this training.
Presented by: Lynne Watts, Ed.S

REAL TALK on Grief and Loss
2022-09-22 19:00 - 19:45 | https://gacrs.org/courses/real-talk-on-anger-3-2-2/
GACRS is offering a Monthly Virtual Adoption Support Group featuring a New Topic each month presented by a trained adoption clinician. Real Talk is a non-therapeutic conversational experience about issues relevant to adoptive families. It is not presented as a time of therapy; it is for informational purposes only.
We will discuss the Grief you experience when a child is reunified with bio parents or leaves your home to go to an adoptive placement.
*All Participants should RSVP separately using their own accounts.
There is no pre test for this training.
Come ready to share your experiences

Cafe Chat: Juggling Act- A discussion on maintaining a strong family connection when life happens
2022-09-29 19:00 - 20:00 | https://gacrs.org/courses/cafe-chats-a-virtual-parent-to-parent-support-group-2-2-2-2-2-2-2/

Webinar: Mental Health Crisis
2022-10-07 15:00 - 16:00 | https://gacrs.org/courses/mental-health-crisis/
Mental Health Crisis: It Is Real. Learn about not only the increase in the demand of services for mental health services for parents and children, but also about the supply of services including creative efforts and court initiatives.
Presented by: Ashley Willcott, JD
*All Participants must RSVP separately

Virtual Regional Training: Mental Health Tool Box
2022-10-13 13:30 - 14:30 | https://gacrs.org/courses/virtual-regional-training-mental-health-tool-box/
This workshop will explore the topic of mental health in adolescents. Training will discuss tools for parents on how to help children with mental health issues. Training will help parents have a better understanding of the effects of mental health illness and triggers.
Presented by:
Jessica Dowdell, LPC

Webinar: Helping Children with Special Needs Cope with Loss
2022-10-13 15:00 - 16:00 | https://gacrs.org/courses/webinar-helping-children-with-special-needs-cope-with-loss/
During this presentation, we will discuss what grief looks like in youth with special needs and the consequent losses they experience after someone close to them dies. Caregivers will gain tools and strategies to assist their children in processing their grief and cope with hard emotions. We will review current best practices supporting grieving children with special needs and discuss how Kate’s Club has expanded to be more accessible to the families supporting them.
Presented by: Ashlie Evans
Ashlie Evans has been at Kate’s Club since December 2019. She graduated from Howard University in 2013 with a B.S. in Psychology. She has earned her Masters in Health Administration in 2020. Initially hired to coordinate programs and manage the membership process, she now oversees the collection, management and analysis of data from surveys, applications and assessments. Prior to working at Kate’s Club, she served as a behavioral specialist directly supporting youth ages 5-18 experiencing emotional, developmental, behavioral and mental health issues and their families for 5 years. While working at Kate’s Club, she created the Half-day Clubhouse program to address the growing need for grief support for youth with special needs. Her favorite part about Kate’s Club is watching sad, angry, and resistant kids leave smiling and hopeful knowing they are not alone in their grief.

Webinar: EPCAT Presents: CSAM Prevention Program Parent Workshops
2022-10-18 15:00 - 16:30 | https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86966241881
A Free, Virtual and Interactive 3- Part Series Covering:
Youth Online Safety
Managing Difficult Conversations
Utilizing the Community Resources
Upon Completing the series Participants receive a $25 Gift Card!
Certificates and Gift Card will be emailed to participants by EPCAT after training.

Presented by : Judith Gomez, EPCAT

REAL TALK on Divided Families: How to Parent Together
2022-10-19 15:00 - 15:45 | https://gacrs.org/courses/real-talk-on-divided-families-how-to-parent-together/
Join us in discussion about Parenting Together. Rather this is a divided family through divorce or if it’s parenting with the biological family of a Foster Care placement. We are here to offer suggestions and support.
Presented by Chena Blanchard
Come ready to share your experiences.
*All Participants should RSVP separately using their own accounts.
There is no pre-test for this training.

Virtual Regional Training: Parenting for the Future
2022-10-20 15:00 - 16:30 | Region 2, Atlanta, GA, United States
You have a short time frame to prepare kids for a challenging and ever-changing future. How do you parent so kids are self-confident, motivated, and ready for the real world? Learn how to parent with healthy control without resorting to threats, nagging or exhausting power struggles.
Presented by: Lynne Watts, Ed.S

Cafe Chat: A Parent to Parent Support Group- The Yin and Yang: Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development
2022-10-27 15:00 - 16:00 | https://gacrs.org/courses/cafe-chats-a-virtual-parent-to-parent-support-group-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2/

Virtual Regional Training: Helping Your Child Cope with Separation Anxiety
2022-11-07 12:00 - 13:00 | Region 7, GA, United States
This virtual training is designed to provide participants information on recognizing the symptoms of separation anxiety. Participants will also be given information on how to help their children cope.
Presented by:
Natasha Hope-Moriarty, LMSW
Please complete the Pre-Test by clicking button below BEFORE the training date.

Webinar: Sleep Hygiene, Circadian Rhythm, and Light Healing
2022-11-08 12:00 - 13:00 | https://gacrs.org/courses/webinar-heart-centeredness-neurobiology-of-love-and-heart-rate-variability-to-ease-the-stressed-brain-2/
Getting the right amount of sleep and sunlight exposure at the right time can trigger deep healing and growth in all humans. Sleep, exposure to sunlight, and the body’s natural 24-hour sleep-wake cycle play a huge role in the human experience and can determine overall health and wellbeing or illness and dysfunction. Learn how these factors can make or break human physical, emotional, and mental health and wellbeing. Discover ways to improve your child’s Sleep-Light practices of daily living. Explore how to coordinate your child’s Sleep-Light practices with your child’s pediatrician, school, sports activities, technology usage, and family engagement.
Presented by: Darleen Claire Wodzenski, MS ESE, MA CMHC, QPPE, PhD, LPC, NCC
*All Participants should RSVP separately

Virtual Regional Training: Cost of Care
2022-11-09 19:00 - 20:30 | Region 13, GA, United States
Finance is almost as taboo to discuss in open forums as mental health, ALMOST. Here we come in that awkward space in between to discuss the relationship between behavioral health and finances and how to develop a better relationship with one if not both of them. During the session, we will discuss the Cost to Care, what is the financial, emotional, and physical impact of caring for a loved one with a diagnosis. This leads us to discuss the Cost of Doing Good, and how caregivers and providers are impacted financially and emotionally by the work they do. Each of these aspects is affected by each person’s own Personal Relationship with Money. That in turn affects how one manages Mental Health and Money.
Please Join Us!!
Presented by: Shanta Hayes, LCSW

CAFE CHAT: A Virtual, Parent to Parent Support Group-November
2022-11-10 12:00 - 13:00 | https://gacrs.org/courses/cafe-chats-a-virtual-parent-to-parent-support-group-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2-2/

8th Annual November Adoption Event
2022-11-12 09:30 - 13:30 | https://novadoptionevent2022.eventbrite.com
*PLEASE SELECT 1 TICKET PER FAMILY
The Georgia Center for Resources and Support (GACRS) is hosting its 8th annual adoption month celebration. Your family is invited to join in on our VIRTUAL celebration. There will be games and prizes with opportunities for families, children and adults, to participate in the activities. Please take a moment to REGISTER. This year we would like as many families as possible to enjoy this day of celebration.
Save the Date, Register and Attend the Georgia Centers day of celebration for adoptive families.

Webinar: New Adoption Laws Explained
2022-11-15 12:00 - 13:00 | https://gacrs.org/courses/webinar-new-adoption-laws/
November is National Adoption Month
The Adoption laws have recently changed. It’s important that you understand the recent changes will impact your adoption in Georgia. This Webinar will update you on the new adoption laws, and the Foster Care Adoption Process to include:
*Updates on the Revocation Laws in Georgia
*The Lower Age Requirement for Petitioners to Adopt
*What happens after the Termination of Parental Rights
* The legal process for a Foster Care Adoption
*How to obtain a new birth certificate and social security number following an adoption.

Presented by:
Christina E. CampbellThe Campbell Law Practice, LLC

REAL TALK on Adolescent Identity Development
2022-11-16 19:00 - 20:00 | https://gacrs.org/courses/real-talk-on-divided-families-how-to-parent-together-2/
Join us in discussion about Adolescent Identity Development. The development of a confident and stable sense of self is one of the key tasks of being a teenager. Identity refers to one’s sense of self as an individual and how they define themselves in terms of values, beliefs, and role in the world. Self-identity in adolescence forms the basis of our self-esteem later in life. Let’s discuss our roles as parents in this important time of our teen’s lives. We are here to offer suggestions and support.
Presented by Chena Blanchard
Come ready to share your experiences.
*All Participants should RSVP separately using their own accounts.
There is no pre-test for this training.

Virtual Regional Training: Introduction to Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI®)
2022-12-01 19:00 - 20:30 | Region 3, Altanta, GA, United States
TBRI® is an attachment-based, trauma-informed intervention that is designed to equip caregivers to meet the complex needs of vulnerable children. Gain a better understanding of the basics of trauma’s impact on the developing brain and learn practical, effective strategies for caring for children from hard places.
Presented by:
Kelsey Harrison, MS, LAPC, NCC,
TBRI ® Practitioner
* Complete Pre Test prior to attending training by clicking on the Pre/Post test link below.

Webinar: What Does Judicial Removal Do to a Child? How Adoption Effect Children
2022-12-06 19:00 - 20:00 | https://gacrs.org/courses/webinar-what-does-judicial-removal-do-to-a-child-how-adoption-effects-children/
All too often judicial removal orders based on probable cause only tell a small part of the story. Join us to learn how families and children are affected by this first removal legally, emotionally and factually up to and including adoption.
Presented by: Ashley Willcott, JD

Webinar: Mission Possible
2022-12-07 19:00 - 20:00 | https://gacrs.org/courses/webinar-mission-possible/
Craft the five statements that will guide and inspire your family to work and play together cooperatively. Identify the key virtues or characteristics and actions that will create focus and success in the upcoming year.
Presented by:
Lynne Watts, Ed.S
Dream Achiever Coaching and Wyatt the Wonder Dog

Cafe Chat: A Parent to Parent Support Group-Helping your Adoptive child make it through the Holidays
2022-12-08 12:00 - 13:00 | https://gacrs.org/courses/cafe-chats-a-virtual-parent-to-parent-support-group-december/

REAL TALK on When Kids Tune Out and Shut Down
2022-12-08 19:00 - 20:00 | https://gacrs.org/courses/real-talk-on-divided-families-how-to-parent-together-2-2/
Join us in discussion about the times our kids “go offline”: why it happens, what it communicates, and how we can support them in coming back.
We are here to offer suggestions and support.
Presented by:
L. Kathryn Smith, LCSW, RPT
Certified EMDR Therapist
Arbor Cove Therapy, LLC
Come ready to share your experiences.
*All Participants should RSVP separately using their own accounts.
There is no pre-test for this training.

Virtual Regional Trainings: Caregivers Need Care
2022-12-13 18:00 - 19:00 | Region 11, GA, United States
Training will discuss the follow topics:
*self-care an important aspect of resiliency
*how to develop a self-care routine
*Whitespace
*Social health for care givers
*All Participants should RSVP separately even if watching training together
*Please complete the Pre test prior to the training.

For Guardianship Families: Parenting Time to Refresh and Refuel- A Monthly Support Event
2022-12-14 19:00 - 20:00 | Region 11, GA, United States
The Holidays: Time to Reflect, Support and Create New Memories

During this month’s Support group we will discuss some tips, suggestions and ways in which you can prepare for the holidays. This season can bring up a lot of feelings and emotions for both yourself and your children and we want to help you feel energized and prepared.

Things to Keep in Mind over the Holiday Season:
Honor and incorporate some of the child’s traditions and customs into your holidays
Don’t Overschedule Yourself…or Your Children
Never Insult or Complain about the Birth Parent(s)

Take Time for Yourself During the Holiday Season
Encourage visitation (if allowed) and help child prepare for the visit
Encourage sharing of Feelings
We look forward to your presence and participation as we Refresh and Refuel!!!

Presented by:

Janae Combs M.A., LPC

A Good Life Counseling LLC

Webinar: Kinky Curly Coils: Natural Hair Braids and Extensions
2023-01-12 12:00 - 13:00 | https://gacrs.org/courses/webinar-kinky-curly-coils-maintenance-and-hair-care-3/
Natural hair care class provides instructions in clinical practice in natural hair twisting, braids extensions, weaving extensions and crochet extensions. Model will be use while performing natural hairstyling. Questions will be allowed doing interactive demonstration
Dora Hills
*All Participants should RSVP separately even if viewing together

Virtual Regional Training: One Family Voice
2023-01-17 18:45 - 19:45 | Region 14, GA, United States
*All Participants should RSVP Separately. Please complete your Pre Test prior to the training.
Improving the lives of Family, children and adolescents experiencing mental health conditions can be accomplished through advocacy at all government levels and assisted by community involvement. Legislators are often unaware of children’s mental health issues and what families really experience. Learning how to share you and your child’s lived experience can make a major difference in the direction of change for children’s mental health policy. Participants will gain an understanding of Advocacy, the 7 steps to tell your story, organizations that advocate, and gain knowledge on how to search for legislators.
Presented by:
Dr. Lakliesha Izzard,
Ed.D, LPC, NCC,ACS
Shekinah Counseling
Author, Professor
