#20191203 – WEBINAR: Handle With Care: Navigating Children’s Birth Family Connections

Description

(December 2019) In this workshop we will learn about the historical context of foster care and permanency and the importance of children maintaining direct and/or indirect connection with their primary families. We will explore issues of loyalty, attachment, communication, roles and responsibilities, levels of contact, boundaries and transitions between caregivers. We will allow time to learn from one another by discussing case examples and personal stories of challenge and success as we identify practical tools and strategies to maintain connections and ultimately improve long term outcomes for children. You will leave this workshop with confidence and tools to navigate these complex relationships effectively.

Wendy Wolff, MS, conducted a three year qualitative research project with Hennepin County in Minneapolis on family visiting and maintaining healthy birth family connections, which led to  the creation of family visit guides for foster parents, children and birth families, published by  Northwest Media, Inc. She has consulted with county and private agencies about the complex relationships between primary families and resource families and has developed training for resource parents and social workers on best practices and strategies to overcome challenges in these relationships. She has been a school counselor for almost 20 years and she and her husband have three adopted children and 2 dogs. They spend their time hiking, playing soccer, skiing, canoeing and exploring the outdoors together.

Watch time: 77 minutes

Eligible Certificate of Completion time: 75 minutes