1. CONFERENCE INVITATION
20th Annual
National Foster Care Conference
“Footsteps to the Future”
16 CE
U’s
Avail
able!
2013 National Foster Care Conference
May 29-31 ~ Clearwater Beach, Florida
Exploring Best Practices and Innovations in Foster Care and Adoption

2. FOOTSTEPS TO THE FUTURE
Exhibitor Opportunities Pre - Conference Institute
Agencies and organizations that would like to showcase their products and
wednesday - may 29
services are encouraged to exhibit at these conferences. Exhibits will be
located in high traffic areas central to all breaks. 8:00am - 4:00pm
Registration/Information
Advantages of being an Exhibitor at Daniel’s conferences: Booth Open
(Continental Breakfast Provided)
w Market your product or service to hundreds of Social Work Professionals
w Network with influential child welfare leaders from all over the country 9:00am Pre - Conference
w Enhance your organization’s prominence in the social service arena Begins
w Renew old contacts and generate new relationships
w Promote your organization in the on-site conference brochure Noon - 1:00pm Lunch
on your own
The Exhibitors fee is $295* per 6-foot skirted table.
4:00pm Conference concludes
*$50.00 - Early Bird Discount available! (Take $50 off of the $295 rate if
received by April 30, 2013) Lifelong Connections
Electricity, projectors, etc. require and additional charge and will need to be
arranged with the Conference Hotel. The Lifelong connections training is
valuable to child welfare professionals
and foster parents alike, in that it goes
beyond standards of adoption or
guardianship and teaches adults how to
assist youth in identifying positive
connections in their lives
and to build relationships
that last long after a youth’s
time in foster care. Most
Everyone has realized that
adolescents in foster care do
care about permanency and
that we need to help them
both find permanent connections and
prepare for adulthood. This training will
also provide information on defining
permanence and how to meet goals set
out in the Adoptions and Safe Families
Act, Fostering Connections and the
John H Chafee Foster Care
Independence Act.
Matt and Lupe are both Program
Development Specialists for the
National Resource Center for Youth
Development. They both have
experience in training in areas involving
youth advocacy and permanency.
Presented by: Matthew Hudson,
Program Development Specialist and
Lupe Tovar, Program Development
Specialist - National Resource Center
for Youth Development, Tulsa, OK

3. PRELIMINARY CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
Foster Care Conference success rates, challenges, evidenced based approach, and how we
mentor birth parents.
Presented by: James Akins, Executive Director - Neighbor To
thursday - may 30 Family, Daytona Beach, FL
8:00am - 4:00pm Registration/Information A-3 Family Finding--Two Years Later--what
Booth Open have we learned
(Continental Breakfast Provided)
Hillside Family of Agencies has been providing Family Finding
services for youth in care over the past two years. Over 100 youth
9:00am - 9:45am Opening General Session in Hillside services have received Family Finding. Hillside will
provide a brief overview of the Family Finding model and will
Keynote Speaker: share its outcomes, successes and challenges in implementing this
Reco Spencer, Trainer service for youth and families. Hillside will share what has worked,
Canton, Michigan what hasn't worked, some of the obstacles to implementing Family
Finding as well as the successes. Hear from a 23 year old youth
You’ve read my file, now what? who was reunited with his family after many years of separation,
and how things are going two years after reuniting with his family
Now that you have the youth in front of you, how do you begin the members.
relationship of helping them repair their life? This is an Presented by: Tess Mahnken-Weatherspoon, Family Finding
understanding of how youth in foster care feel and how workers and Service Leader and Samuel Williams, Youth Advocate - Hillside
those who work with youth can get them to open up and better Children's Center, Rochester, NY
assist them in reaching their dreams. Reco will give some tips on
how to begin that dialogue and the incredible relationship that can
A-4 “Listen to me” How to connect with youth
be built around that dialogue, as well as how organizations that
in Foster Care
work with youth can better tailor their services for youth that are in,
Explaining to Workers, Foster Parents etc. how to quiet the voice in
or aging out of, foster care so that everybody’s needs are met.
their head and listen to the voices and feelings of the youth they
serve. Through a series of role playing and interactive exercises we
will explore ways to shut down the voices in the head of the
10:00am - 11:30pm Workshop Sessions A
professional and clearly and effectively listen to the wants, needs,
(Concurrent Sessions)
dreams and fears of the youth they serve.
Presented by: Reco Spencer, Trainer - Canton, MI
A-1 The Regulated Parent: Creating Calm and
Healing Relationships using ERH A-5 Engaging Youth in Transition Planning
Emotional Regulatory Healing (ERH), is an integrative, theory
The role of foster parents in the successful transition of a
based, trauma informed and whole culture approach to
youth in care to adulthood can be significant. Transition
healing of trauma. The objective of ERH is toward the
planning is a personal process and young people must fully
maximization of human potential through healing, regulated
participate. The Fostering Connections to Success and
relationship. Created by Juli Alvarado, ERH effectively
Increasing Adoption Act of 2008 includes a requirement
provides a cohesive framework within which the healing
that a youth-directed transition plan be developed ninety
can be addressed at the organizational level as well as in
days prior to a youth reaching their 18th birthday. However
clinical programming. Participants will understand the
it is important that we recognize that transition planning
relationship between trauma and brain development, why
begins well before this time, and foster parents can be a part
the brain is the boss of behavior, the main components of
of that. This training will provide information on defining
the regulatory system in the body and why when we are
transition planning, examining the reasons that youth
dysregulated the capacity to connect and remain rational
engagement transition planning is important, and an overview of the
becomes impossible.
transition planning process.
Presented by: Denise Leffingwell, MSW, LCSW - Coaching for
Presented by: Matthew Hudson, Program Development Specialist
LIFE!, Arvada, CO
and Lupe Tovar, Program Development Specialist - National
Resource Center for Youth Development, Tulsa, OK
A-2 Neighbor To Family's evidenced based
approach to sibling foster care vs traditional
foster care
Do you ever wonder what happens to sibling groups that enter foster 11:00am - 12:30pm Lunch (Provided)
care? Neighbor To Family's approach is to keep all siblings together
in one home. Let us share how our professional foster caregivers
step in and bridge the gap for those large sibling groups that would
otherwise be separated and traumatized. We will discuss successful
approaches to shorten the length of stay in foster care, current

4. FOOTSTEPS TO THE FUTURE Coordinator of Supportive Housing, Julia Leftwich, Advisor of MAC
12:30pm - 2:00pm Workshop Sessions B ATTACK / Director of Shelters, Shawanna Hicks, President of MAC
(Concurrent Sessions) ATTACK / Youth Presenter and Omar Anthony Carter, Vice
President of MAC ATTACK / Youth Presenter - Community Access
B-1 Circle of Keepers: Native American Foster Unlimited, Elizabeth, NJ
Care Warriors
Mountains and Plains Child Welfare Implementation Center, a B-5 Connections to Independence:Guiding
service of the Children Bureau has collaborated with the Shawnee youth down the road to living independently
Native American Child Protection Team (SANACPT) to provide Are you looking for a fresh approach to succesfully prepare foster
TTA in developing a Native American Foster Parent Recruitment care youth to live independently as they age out of the foster care
and Retention program. Recruitment video and curriculum will be system while maintaining stabilized placements? If so, come learn
showcased during this presentation. MPCWIC in collaboration with more about Connections to Independence (CTI) and how our
SANACPT created a Native American Foster Parent recruitment success moved us from a small youth program into our own unique
video that is not tribal specific. This video will be presented along non profit organization. CTI has stabilized 92% of enrolled youth's
with an outline of the curriculum and a discussion of the process. placements, 98% of our youth graduate from high school and six
The curriculum is native sensitive and follows all standard content. months to a year after exiting care 98% of youth were not on
Presented by: Maria Scannapieco, Professor & Director - welfare, 94% of youth had not entered the crimnal justice system,
University of Texas at Arlington/Mountains and Plains Child and 100% of youth have no open child protection cases of their
Welfare Center, Arlington, TX own. Relationship development and youth advocacy, coupled with
education/vocation, independent living skills, and personal
B-2 "The power of control," a different look at development programming has been the key to our success. Come
domestic violence (Part 1) learn more about this unique program model and how it might work
This course discusses the control issues surrounding domestic with your youth.
violence and the difference between domestic violence and anger Presented by: Jessica Rogers, Executive Director, Michelle May,
management. Attendees will be taught the domestic violence cycle, Program Manager and Talicia Jackson, Operations
indicators of abuse, questions to ask parents and children, body Coordinator/Independent Living Skills Counselor - Connections to
language and safety issues especially designed for domestic Independence, Minneapolis, MN
violence. To be continued in workshop C-2.
Presented by: Joseph Coleman, Owner - Odyssey Training
Solutions, Satellite Beach, FL 2:15pm - 3:45pm Workshop Sessions C
(Concurrent Sessions)
B-3 Afrocentric Approach to Therapeutic
Foster Care (Part 1) C-1 Recruitment: Targeted, General and Child
Workshop participants will be provided with the foundations and
Focused
phases of a cultural based approach to therapy with youth in foster
Do you need resource families? Not sure how to develop a
care and independent living. A review of challenges facing effective
recruitment plan? Who will do the work? This workshop will show
placement of youth in foster homes that result in high rates of
you recruitment strategies being used in Vermont which include
placement disruptions will be discussed as well as the role and
general, targeted and child focused. Develop a plan to include target
importance of rituals, and cultural exposure. To be continued in
audiences for specific groups of children. Learn how to make the
workshop C-3.
process real throughout your community.
Presented by: Peter Fitts, LCSW-C, Maryland Regional Director
Presented by: Heather Simmons, Associate Director of Adoption -
for Foster Care and Independent Living, Valery Whitfield, LGSW,
Lund, Burlington, VT
Clinical Social Worker and Lauren Johnson, LGSW, Recruitment
/Training/Licensing Specialist - Progressive Life Center, Inc, C-2 "The power of control," a different look at
Landover, MD
domestic violence (Part 2)
Continuation of workshop B-2
B-4 Living in the System Presented by: Joseph Coleman, Owner - Odyssey Training
Living in the System is an in depth look Solutions, Satellite Beach, FL
at what it is like for Youth to be taken out
of their homes and put in to placements
for the majority of their lives. This C-3 Afrocentric Approach to Therapeutic
presentation helps Staff understand what Foster Care (Part 2)
the Youth goes through and it helps Continuation of workshop B-3.
Youth understand why they develop the Presented by: Peter Fitts, LCSW-C, Maryland Regional Director
behaviors that they do by going from for Foster Care and Independent Living, Valery Whitfield, LGSW,
placement to placement. This Clinical Social Worker, Esther Song, LGSW and Lauren Johnson,
presentation allows Staff and Youth to LGSW, Recruitment /Training/Licensing Specialist - Progressive Life
learn and interact with one another. Center, Inc, Landover, MD
Presented by: Howard Wingard, Advisor of MAC ATTACK /

5. PRELIMINARY CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
C-4 Contributing to the Public Dialogue on
Foster Care 10:30am - 12:00pm Workshop Sessions D
The era of the big print newsroom is over, replaced by slimmer (Concurrent Sessions)
newspapers and magazines, web-based news sources of varying
quality, and of course social media and blogs. Daniel Heimpel and D-1 "What’s this?" Drug and Drug
John Kelly have been involved in the coverage of child welfare and paraphernalia identification training
other youth services for years, and intend to provide attendees with Learn how to identify commonly used drugs and drug
solid tips and recommendations on how to make effective use of the paraphernalia. This course will enable to worker to identify
new media world order. Presenters will also brief attendees about commonly used drug paraphernalia that they might come in contact
Fostering Media Connections’ Blogger Co-Op, which was designed with during home visits. Also discussed are the effects of drugs on
to help child welfare advocates and service providers publicize their the user and how long the drug stays in the system. This course also
opinion and analysis (and share in the revenue from their work). covers Spice, K2 and Bath Salts and the issues with medical
Presented by: Daniel Heimpel, Executive Director and John Kelly, marijuana.
Editor-in-Chief - Fostering Media Connections, San Francisco, CA Presented by: Joseph Coleman, Owner - Odyssey Training
Solutions, Satellite Beach, FL
C-5 Learning to say goodbye: Attachment,
grief and loss, and the role of foster parents D-2 How To Succeed In Any Field Or Stage of
Youth in Foster Care experience attachment disruptions and often Life
have limited skills to understand and process their current feelings Most people want more meaningful and impactful lives. This is true
or cope effectively with their past traumas, leaving them ill-prepared for foster parents, therapists, case managers, and others in the social
for their futures. In this session, participants will learn how foster services field. Everyone is looking to achieve more and live better.
parents can help youth build healthy attachment skills and assist By doing so, you become more balanced and empowered. Tony
them as they grieve. Participants will understand the relationship offers proven techniques to show you how to become more self-
between grief and loss and attachment formation, and how it is actualized, confident, and goal oriented.
never too late to work on unresolved grief. Presented by: Tony Baker, Trainer - Jacksonville, FL
Presented by: Sally Guyer, Program Supervisor, Child & Family
Services - Boys & Girls Aid, Portland, OR D-3 Forgiveness Workshop for Foster and
Adoptive Parents (Part 1)
Why Forgiveness? As foster or adoptive parents, there are
situations that arise on a daily basis where forgiveness is necessary
friday - may 31 to maintain a healthy relationship with all family members. This
workshop will explore the importance of forgiveness, how carrying
a grudge will affect physical health, mental health and relationships.
8:00am - 3:00pm Information Booth Open
The workshop is based on research by Dr. Robert Enright as well as
(Continental Breakfast Provided)
other foremost researchers in the field of forgiveness. To be
continued in workshop E-3.
9:00am - 10:15am Opening General Session
Presented by: Roxanne Thompson, LPC, Psychotherapist/Trainer -
Denver Therapy and Consultation Group, LLC, Denver, CO
Keynote Speaker:
Tony Baker, Trainer
Jacksonville, Florida D-4 What is Permanency Anyway...and How Do
We Get There? (Part 1)
Football Friends Forever This workshop will challenge your thinking and assumptions about
what permanency in foster care really means. The distinctions we
Tony Baker has more than 20 years of combined make about what permanency is or isn't creates the placement
experience as a speaker, educator, therapist, and substance abuse outcomes we get. Re-defining permanency in practice and what we
counselor. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and master's can do to get there will be highlighted and explored. To be
degree in Mental Health Counseling. Tony is also a registered continued in workshop E-4.
counselor in the State of Florida and online instructor with the Presented by: Diane Stegman, Social Work Manager and Stephanie
University of Phoenix. He has been a featured speaker across the King, Social Work Manager - Kennedy Krieger Institute Therapeutic
country at International Bully Prevention Conferences, Nationwide Foster Care Program, Baltimore, MD
School Safety Summits, Colleges and Universities, as well as
Middle and High Schools.
Tony’s keynote “Football Friends Forever” is about his childhood
friendship with several boys from the foster care system. He
discusses how one particular boy impacted his life and taught him
the true meaning of friendship, comradery and brotherhood. For
more information about Tony visit his website at
www.tonybaker.org

6. FOOTSTEPS TO THE FUTURE
D-5 A Year In Review of Legal Decisions E-3 Forgiveness Workshop for Foster and
Impacting Foster Care Providers and Foster Adoptive Parents (Part 2)
Parents Continuation of workshop D-3
An interactive presentation where the audience will witness a trial Presented by: Roxanne Thompson, LPC, Psychotherapist/Trainer -
involving a foster care agency that is a named defendant in the Denver Therapy and Consultation Group, LLC, Denver, CO
lawsuit. Participants will hear testimony and watch a cross
examination of staff working for the foster care agency. Audience E-4 What is Permanency Anyway...and How Do
members will have a chance to discuss how they would decide the We Get There? (Part 2)
case. Additionally, the presenters will review legal cases that were Continuation of workshop D-4
decided in 2012 that impact the operations, finances and business Presented by: Diane Stegman, Social Work Manager and Stephanie
practices of foster care agencies. King, Social Work Manager - Kennedy Krieger Institute Therapeutic
Presented by: Timothy Kelley, M.A. Director of The Devereux Foster Care Program, Baltimore, MD
Foundation Therapeutic Foster Care - Massachusetts and Rhode
Island, Holden MA and Judy Starr, Esq. Assistant General Counsel - E-5 Molding A Brand
The Devereux Foundation, King of Prussia, PA Molding a Brand is a Workshop conducted by a former foster child
of 17 years. In this workshop professional speaker Kevin Brown
focuses on life through the lens a foster care child, what its like to
12:00pm - 1:30pm Lunch (On Your Own) live in homes, go to school etc., building self-efficacy in foster care
children and the key factors that create successful foster care
1:30pm - 3:00pm Workshop Sessions E children both nationally and internationally.
(Concurrent Sessions)
Presented by: Kevin Brown, President - Legacy Thinking Labs,
New York, NY
E-1 Recruitment & Marketing: A Partnership
with Foster Families
A comprehensive look at effective strategies for recruiting foster 2:45pm - 3:15pm Conference Closing
families in the 21st Century. By marrying social work theory and Certificates, Evaluations,
CEU Forms and Prizes!
research with the latest marketing analysis from the private sector, Door
non-profit organizations can much more effective in attracting and Prizes!
retaining quality foster families within their community. By taking
both a grass roots, bottom up approach to support our existing foster
families and in launching a community wide awareness and
recruitment campaign to utilize a top down approach, the race is to travelinformation
the middle to build a foster care system designed to meet the needs
of the children we serve. Conference Hotel
Presented by: David Brown, Director of Programs and Aimee Hotel charges are not included in conference registration fee. All
McLaughlin, Director of Communication and Development - hotel reservations should be made directly with the Hilton Clearwater
Children's Network of Southwest Florida, Fort Myers, FL Beach. Attendees should reference “Daniel Memorial Institute” when
making reservations.
E-2 Child Welfare - Early Education $125.00 per night (single or double) - Reservations must be made by
Partnership, Communicating For the First Time Sunday, May 5, 2013 in order to guarantee the discounted group
One of the biggest reasons that children in the child welfare system rate. After that date, guest rooms will be released back to the hotel
have poorer educational outcomes, is a lack of emphasis on early and accepted on a space available basis only.
education. The Child Welfare-Early Education Partnership was
formed to create an sustainable system-of-care that would ensure The Hilton Clearwater Beach
that children under five, who come into contact with the child 400 Mandalay Avenue, Clearwater Beach, FL 33767
welfare system, are quickly and appropriately referred to high- 1-800-753-3954
quality early education programs. Putting the pieces of this puzzle
together was difficult yet remarkably rewarding experience that Parking: As with most metropolitan areas, parking is at a premium.
every community should undertake. Discounted parking fees: $5.00 +tax per entrance (self park), $14.00
(Valet), $7.00 +tax (Nightly)
Presented by: Ray Holt, Project Coordinator - Child Welfare-Early
Education Partnership, Roberta Zipperer, Project Director, Chad
Sykes-Burns, Director - Child Care Resource and Referral, Early
Learning Coalition of Duval and Vicki Waytowich, Director -
SAMHSA System of Care Initiative, Family Support Services of Travel tip: Please bring a
North Florida, Jacksonville, FL sweater or jacket to ensure your
comfort. Room temperatures
vary greatly.

7. CONFERENCE REGISTRATION
DANIEL MEMORIAL INSTITUTE ~ May 29 - 31, 2013 ~ Clearwater Beach, Florida
Please complete this form for each participant. Photo copy this page as needed.
Name: (as it will appear on name badge)
Title:
Agency:
Address:
City: State: Zip:
Phone: Fax:
Email:
Registration Fees: (check selection)
Total Amount Due: $
Early Rates: Registered on or before April 30, 2013
q $195 - Pre-Conference Institute: May 29 Payment Options: (check one)
q $195 - Foster Care Conference: May 30-31 q Check Enclosed (Make payable to Daniel Memorial, Inc.)
Federal ID# 59-3067752
Register for both and save!
q $280 - Pre-Conference & q Purchase Order Number: (Attach PO)
q Foster Care Conference: May 29-31
q Credit Card (American Express, MasterCard, Visa, Discover)
Late Rates: Registered on or after May 1, 2013
Card #:
q $140 - Pre-Conference Institute: May 29
q $245 - Foster Care Conference: May 30-31 Expiration Date: Security Code:
Name on Card:
Register for both and save!
q $375 - Pre-Conference & Signature:
q Foster Care Conference: May 29-31
Transfer/Cancellation policy: Transfer of registration to another person may be done at any time without
a fee. Please notify the Conference Coordinator of all changes. All requests for cancellation must be
received in writing and postmarked by the following dates to receive a refund. A full refund (less a $50
To be eligible for the early registration rate, your registration and processing fee) is available through April 24, 2013. A 50 percent refund (less a $50 processing fee) is
payment MUST be received by April 30, 2013. available through May 8, 2013. No refunds thereafter.Please note if you do not cancel or attend the
conference you are still responsible for payment.
Workshop Preferences (optional):
Please indicate your first choice workshop selection for each session. Providing selections assists in room assignments only and
does not guarantee seating. Popular workshops may be crowded, so please arrive early. Thank you. Daniel Memorial Institute reserves the
right to cancel any workshop at any time.
Foster Care Conference: Thursday: Session A____ Session B____ Session C____
Friday: Session D____ Session E____
How did you hear about this conference? Check all that apply
For inquires or to submit forms:
Email/Scan: conferences@danielkids.org
qEmail marketing qAdvertisement in publication -or-
qBrochure via mail qSave the date postcard Stephanie Waugerman, Associate Director of Conferences
qDaniel Memorial Institute website qOther_____________________ 4203 Southpoint Blvd. Jacksonville, FL 32216
Phone: (800) 226-7612 ~ Fax: (904) 353-3472
Easy online registration available at www.danielkids.org

8. FOOTSTEPS TO THE FUTURE
Invitation from the President/CEO
Dear Colleagues,
I would like to extend an invitation to each of you to the 20th Annual National Foster Care Conference
hosted by Daniel Memorial Institute.
I am personally delighted with the array of individuals and agencies that support this important event.
We have gathered speakers and educators from around the country to make this the "must attend" foster
care event of 2013.
Over the course of the conference, you will learn about exciting program developments and share best practice information.
You can attend workshops and discussions addressing the critical issues that affect young people, families and those who
serve them, and the actions that lead to results.
I invite you to participate fully in the conference by attending all sessions, taking notes, meeting new people, and most of all,
having some fun!
I hope you will join us in Clearwater Beach, FL, May 29-31, for “Footsteps to the Future.”
With warm regards,
Jim
Please let us know if you received duplicate mailings or if any contact information needs to be corrected. Email to: conferences@danielkids.org
Profes
other F sionals
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itation
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Jacksonville, FL 32216
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