Georgia Center for Resources and Support

REAL TALK on Core Issues in Adoption Pt. 2
2022-06-16 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Indiana/Indianapolis) | https://gacrs.org/?post_type=courses&p=19940&preview=true
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.
Join Chena Blanchard in this Two-Part discussion about the Core Issues in Adoption. (Loss, Rejection, Shame/Guilt, Grief, Identity, Intimacy, & Mastery/Control) Whatever the Journey that led you to adopt you may still have some unresolved feelings. Your experiences are valid and can help others through their Journy’s. We invite you to join us to dive into some of these core issues.
Presented by: Chena Blanchard
*All Participants should RSVP separately using their own accounts.
There is no pre test for this training.

Cafe Chats: A Parent to Parent Support Group- June
2022-06-23 12:00 - 13:00 | https://gacrs.org/?post_type=courses&p=19582&preview=true
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.
All Participants should RSVP separately.

Webinar: Circle of Care
2022-06-27 19:00 - 20:00 | https://gacrs.org/courses/webinar-circle-of-care/
Having a Trauma-Informed Lens in the Home. Empathy is not just a skill; it’s a broad and deep sense of care and humanity—and that’s what we need to develop in children. When a youth discloses an experience that may have caused trauma, you as a guardian have to be prepared in your reaction. This webinar will showcase how to communicate, accept, and validate these emotions in others providing a safe, open, trauma-informed home.
Presented by:
Janae Roberts, MPH, CHES
*All Participants should RSVP separately even if you will be listening on the same device.

Virtual Regional Training: Financial Planning for Your Special Needs Child
2022-06-28 18:00 - 19:00 | Region 12, GA, United States
This virtual training is designed to provide participants information on the importance of financial planning for special needs children. Topics will include; wills, special needs trust, naming a guardian, naming a trustee, life insurance, and building your savings
Presented by: Jeff Anderson, ABJ

Virtual Regional Training: Knowing When to Ask for Help And How To Utilize Mental Health Services
2022-06-28 19:30 - 20:30 | Region 10, GA, United States
Training will discuss the follow topics:

Stressors of Caregivers

The importance of MH services
How to Navigate through services and resources
MH through a child’s point of view

Presented by:
Mario Mitchell, BA, M.S Psy.
Mental Health Counselor

Mindful Self-Care: A Guardianship Caregiver Event
2022-06-29 19:00 - 20:00 | https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUqfuGrpzMrGNz8DrkxqtGtSxY2Rkkmbc4J
Mindful Self-Care offers and overview of why self-care is especially important for Guardian Caregivers. We will discuss different ways to apply self-care principals in daily living.

Presented by:
Shanta Hayes, LMSW
Mindfulness and Self-Care Coach
Founder and CEO of SL Hayes Group, LLC

Virtual Regional Training: Building Resiliency in Children
2022-07-07 19:00 - 20:30 | Region 3, Altanta, GA, United States
Resilience is the ability to recover from difficulties and children more than ever, need to develop resilience in today’s world. This session will cover the seven character traits that develop resistance and how you can best nurture it.
All Participants should RSVP even if you will be listening on the same device.

Webinar: Heart-Centeredness, Neurobiology of Love, and Heart Rate Variability - To Ease The Stressed Brain."
2022-07-12 12:00 - 13:00 | https://gacrs.org/courses/webinar-heart-centeredness-neurobiology-of-love-and-heart-rate-variability-to-ease-the-stressed-brain/
Learn about the serious science behind the Neurobiology of Love; explore the healing power of Heart-Centeredness of parents, teachers, and children; learn what Heart Rate Variability is and how it can impact your child’s learning, growth, and development. Walk away from this training with solid knowledge, skills, and insight to use your power of Love and Heart-Centeredness as a practical scientific and technical tool to boost your child’s behavior, mood, mental wellbeing, and development.
Presented by: Darleen Claire Wodzenski, MS ESE, MA CMHC, QPPE, PhD, LPC, NCC
*All Participants should RSVP separately.

Virtual Regional Training: Trauma Systems Therapy
2022-07-12 18:30 - 19:30 | Region 11, GA, United States
Training will discuss the follow topics:
*Trauma effects
*Shift thinking
*Role of a caregiving team
*Trauma Response
Presented by:
LaTanya Keaton, LPC
Mental Health Therapist

Webinar: Special Needs and Medically Fragile Children, What You Need to Know
2022-07-20 19:00 - 20:00 | https://gacrs.org/courses/webinar-special-needs-and-medically-fragile-children-what-you-need-to-know/
Special Needs and Medically Fragile Children: What you need to know, what you think you know, and what others should know about caring for, fostering, or adopting. Navigating services and daily living requires a special set of skills in providing for special needs and medically fragile children. Learn about resources, services, and how to navigate potential landmines.
Presented by: Ashley Willcott
J.D., Certified Child Welfare Law Specialist
Top Legal Analyst, Consultant, Juvenile Court Judge &Trial Attorney

Cafe Chat- July "Struggles vs Strengths when parenting"
2022-07-21 19:00 - 20:00 | https://gacrs.org/courses/cafe-chats-a-virtual-parent-to-parent-support-group-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.

Virtual Regional Training: Helping Your Child Cope with Grief
2022-07-25 12:00 - 13:00 | Region 12, GA, United States
Children grieve differently than adults. This training will help participants learn the key differences, how to recognize grief in children, and how to help children through the grief process. This training will also discuss the 5 stages of grief.
Presented by:
Natasha Hope-Moriarty, LMSW
*All participants should RSVP separately even if you will be viewing on the same device.

Virtual Regional Training: Parenting Difficult Behaviors
2022-07-25 19:00 - 20:30 | Region 4, Atlanta, GA, United States
This Training will assist parents in identifying the possible causes of difficult behavior, and discuss techniques that may be effective.
Please Join Us!!
Presented by:
Linda Watson,
BA, CEO

REAL TALK on Flight
2022-07-28 19:00 - 19:45 | https://gacrs.org/courses/real-talk-on-anger-3/
In April, we talked about anger – how our children feel and express it, and how we do too. In July, we’ll spend time talking about another common response to stress or threat – flight! We’ll look at how temperament and life experience combine to influence how and when people feel the urge to run, what that can look like in our children and in ourselves, and explore ways to return to feeling safe.
Join, L. Kathryn Smith, LCSW in a discussion about flight. Come prepared to share your experiences.
*All participants should RSVP Separately
** there are no pre tests for Real Talks

Virtual Regional Trainings: Parenting for the Future
2022-08-04 19:00 - 20:15 | https://gacrs.org/courses/virtual-regional-training-parenting-for-the-future-2/
Parenting for the Future: 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 using healthy strategies without resorting to threats, nagging or exhausting power struggles.
Presented by:
Lynne Watts, LPC
*All Participants should RSVP

Webinar: Family Bonding of New Family Formations
2022-08-09 12:00 - 13:00 | https://gacrs.org/courses/webinar-family-bonding-of-new-family-formations/
What happens when we have to “make a family” sometimes from scratch? Learn how to use intentional activities and discussion to help new family formations bond. Understand the unique challenges of creating this family. Grief, past trauma, and prior losses can all affect the family and how it rebuilds. Come and learn the “ingredients” of building a family and make your own recipe that works for your family.
*All Participants should RSVP separately
Presented by Liz Carson, Kates Club

Virtual Regional Training: Parenting-Self-Care
2022-08-09 18:30 - 19:30 | https://gacrs.org/courses/virtual-regional-training-parenting-self-care/
Join us as talk about self-care through the areas of physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional on a daily basis.
Presented by:
Becca Stackhouse Morson, M.S., CFLE
All Participants should RSVP separately.

Virtual Regional Training: Strategies to Deal with Lying
2022-08-11 17:30 - 19:00 | Region 1, Atlanta, GA, United States
While all of us tell lies now and then, it can be problematic behavior in parenting kids from hard places. in this training, you will learn some reasons why kids lie as well as some practice strategies to deal with the
behavior and maintain your sanity.
Presented by:
Christine Dalton, LCSW
*All Participants should RSVP Separately

REAL TALK on Getting a Grip on Stress
2022-08-16 19:00 - 19:45 | 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/

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.
