April 20th Session: Q&A on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
With Barb Clark of NACAC
The MRPA does not have formal membership.
There are no fees of any kind to enjoy our resources. They are freely available to all Resource Parents! You are welcome to attend our Zoom sessions and to utilize anything you find on our website. We’re glad you found us and look forward to assisting in your journey as a Resource Parent.
So…. how do you get involved? There are many options!
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First Tuesday
Attend a First Tuesday session. Schedules are right below!
Download Library
Review docs we’ve made available to our audience to find resources you need.
Still Have Questions?
Contact us by email, we’d be happy to assist.
Resource Parent Surveys
Resource Parent Training Opportunities
Watch here for notifications of a new series of webinars called ‘First Tuesday’, where we will host a special learning seminar on the first Tuesday evening of each month at 8pm. Make plans to join us each month, and watch our website and Facebook for notifications of that month’s topic!
MRPA Trainings & Webinars
Closed
First Tuesday 05/04/21: Trauma Informed Strategies with Barb Clark, NACAC
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
About Our Trainer
BIO: Barb Clark is an adoptive parent who has made a ton of mistakes and has lived to tell. She is now passionate about sharing her mistakes with other parents and professionals to make their journey smoother than hers was. Through humor and real life experiences, she shares information about how trauma impacts children’s brains, and how to move away from consequence based strategies and instead use strategies that promote relationship and attachment building. She has a particular passion for educating others on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, trauma informed parenting strategies and parent support networks which she does through her position at the North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC) as well as through her work as an FASD Consultant.
Third Tuesday 4/20/21: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder with Barb Clark, NACAC
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
About Our Trainer
BIO: Barb Clark is an adoptive parent who has made a ton of mistakes and has lived to tell. She is now passionate about sharing her mistakes with other parents and professionals to make their journey smoother than hers was. Through humor and real life experiences, she shares information about how trauma impacts children’s brains, and how to move away from consequence based strategies and instead use strategies that promote relationship and attachment building. She has a particular passion for educating others on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, trauma informed parenting strategies and parent support networks which she does through her position at the North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC) as well as through her work as an FASD Consultant.
First Tuesday 4/6/21: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder with Barb Clark, NACAC
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYkdOippzsuH9fZyewzFdlWp7QnVYtQbZwv
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
About Our Trainer
BIO: Barb Clark is an adoptive parent who has made a ton of mistakes and has lived to tell. She is now passionate about sharing her mistakes with other parents and professionals to make their journey smoother than hers was. Through humor and real life experiences, she shares information about how trauma impacts children’s brains, and how to move away from consequence based strategies and instead use strategies that promote relationship and attachment building. She has a particular passion for educating others on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, trauma informed parenting strategies and parent support networks which she does through her position at the North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC) as well as through her work as an FASD Consultant.
First Tuesday Follow Up Q&A 3/16/21: Birth Family Connections with Kim Stevens, NACAC
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84916698539?pwd=b0g2LzBpTmVzS0pOMllEUzdrMUc0QT09
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
About Our Trainer
BIO: Kim is a program manager at North American Council on Adoptable Children, where she works on a number of projects that support foster, adoptive, guardianship, and kinship children and families. Her duties include legislative and family advocacy, policy analysis and recommendations, curriculum development, training and capacity building, technical assistance for support and advocacy organizations, and youth empowerment activities. She also contributes to Fostering Families Today and Adoptive Families magazines, as well as NACAC’s quarterly Adoptalk newsletter on a regular basis.
Kim was honored as an Angel in Adoption in 2017.
In her 29 years of child welfare work, Kim has provided training and consultation on child welfare, foster care, adoption, parenting, positive youth development, advocacy and leadership, trauma and recovery, and youth permanency issues both nationally and internationally.
She and her husband, Buddy have six children, four of whom were adopted as older children from the public foster care system.
Her Role at NACAC: I provide numerous training sessions, webinars, and consultation sessions for parents, youth, and professionals on children welfare related topics, aimed to support families and increase positive outcomes for children.
First Tuesday 3/2/21: Birth Family Connections with Kim Stevens, NACAC
Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMocuGqqT4pHtRudWYyORIBIp1hxCoKToe6
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
About Our Trainer
BIO: Kim is a program manager at North American Council on Adoptable Children, where she works on a number of projects that support foster, adoptive, guardianship, and kinship children and families. Her duties include legislative and family advocacy, policy analysis and recommendations, curriculum development, training and capacity building, technical assistance for support and advocacy organizations, and youth empowerment activities. She also contributes to Fostering Families Today and Adoptive Families magazines, as well as NACAC’s quarterly Adoptalk newsletter on a regular basis.
Kim was honored as an Angel in Adoption in 2017.
In her 29 years of child welfare work, Kim has provided training and consultation on child welfare, foster care, adoption, parenting, positive youth development, advocacy and leadership, trauma and recovery, and youth permanency issues both nationally and internationally.
She and her husband, Buddy have six children, four of whom were adopted as older children from the public foster care system.
Her Role at NACAC: I provide numerous training sessions, webinars, and consultation sessions for parents, youth, and professionals on children welfare related topics, aimed to support families and increase positive outcomes for children.
First Tuesday 2/2/21: Discuss Maryland DHS, Social Services & MRPA Survey
Click HERE for presentation files.
The survey results are found HERE. This link will download the results.
During this Zoom meeting, Moderators: MRPA President Rob Huddler and Executive Director Arnie Eby will discuss the findings and encourage discussion with resource parents about the results.
Register for the Zoom call here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwrdu6hrD0jHtyYOL4WIBwv4bEoJz-lonOp
If you have a particular question for the moderators about the survey and results, submit them here in advance of the session:
Questions to consider before the session….
These emerged as questions and themes in the survey results. If any of these are of particular interest to you, ask about it on the survey for the session!
- Is there a need for more localized resources that are specific to your jurisdiction?
- Do you know folks locally? If not, would you like to network more with those in your area?
- What ideas do you have for connection during these times of social distancing?
- Is there information that you wish was on the MRPA website that is not present currently?
- Is there anything currently preventing you from getting involved with the various support organizations?
- Are there resources we can offer to help build relationships with the family of origin? Trainings, helpful ideas, etc.?
- In what ways would you like for us to communicate with you?
- Would you like for your information to be available to other Resource Parents?
- In what ways would you like the MRPA to advocate for you and your children?
- If you are a kinship parent, what unique needs would you like us to address for you?
First Tuesday 1/5/21: Josh Kroll of the NACAC - Adoption Tax Credits: What Adoptive Parents Need to Know
Click HERE for presentation files.
Zoom Webinar
On January 5, 2021 the MRPA will host a webinar with Josh Kroll with the NACAC, the North American Council on Adoptable Children. Learn more about this organization here.
Topic
Josh will share his expertise in the area of tax credits – what exists, how to set them up, and how to gain the most benefit from them as an adoptive parent.
Participants will learn the steps they need to take to file for the U.S. federal adoption tax credit. The focus will be on filing for 2020, but will also cover applying for the credit for adoptions as far back as 2017. Presenter Josh Kroll will explain what parents need to do to take advantage of the credit. Key points include that the credit is not a refundable credit for 2020 and that parents who adopt children who receive adoption assistance/adoption subsidy benefits do not need to have adoption-related expenses to claim the credit. The session will focus on families who adopted children with special needs from foster care but will be applicable to all adoptive families as well.
When & Where?
- January 5th, 8pm – 9:30pm
- Via Zoom, call info will be emailed to you after registration.
Mr. Kroll’s photo courtesy of LinkedIn.
12/15/20 Q&A with Josh Kroll of the NACAC - Submit YOUR Questions Here!
Zoom Webinar
On 12/15 the MRPA will host a webinar with Josh Kroll with the NACAC, the North American Council on Adoptable Children. Learn more about this organization here.
Topic
As a follow up to the December 1st session on the state laws around adoption, subsidies and financial support available to Maryland’s Resource Parents, Josh will return to answer your specific questions on the topic!
Submit your question below. Your name and contact info will not be shared, that is just being gathered so we have it in case follow up is needed. Your questions will be entirely anonymous.
When & Where?
- December 15th, 8pm – 9:30pm
- Via Zoom, call info will be emailed to you after registration.
Mr. Kroll’s photo courtesy of LinkedIn.
Register in advance for this meeting here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZctfuuqqToiGdSmMpwdcHh_yv6B78Huf6EU
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email from Zoom containing information about joining the meeting.
Submit Your Question Here
First Tuesday 12/1/20: MRPA Adoption Assistance with NACAC's Josh Kroll
Click HERE for presentation files.
Zoom Webinar
On 12/1 the MRPA will host a webinar with Josh Kroll with the NACAC, the North American Council on Adoptable Children. Learn more about this organization here.
Topic
Josh is an expert on the state laws around adoption, subsidies, and financial support available to Maryland’s Resource Parents. He’ll share vital information with the group, and will be available for Q&A.
When & Where?
- December 1st, 8pm – 9:30pm
- Via Zoom, call info will be emailed to you after registration.
Mr. Kroll’s photo courtesy of LinkedIn.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Video and handouts from past sessions are found HERE.
Online Training Opportunities
Closed
NFPA 50th Education Conference, FORWARD June 24-26 (Save the Date!)
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Child Welfare Academy Spring Virtual Resource Parent Conference Sat 4/17
Just a quick note to let you know that our Spring Virtual Resource Parent Conference will be on Saturday April 17, 2021 from 8:30am-3:30pm (5 hours of training credit, 2 Behavior/Discipline workshops offered).
Registration is now open! Attached is the flyer with details around the Keynote, and breakout sessions. Parents must have an account in our new system in AbSorb to register, so I can help them if they have not set that up yet. Each licensed resource parent much register separately, even if they plan to watch together on one device. Informal Kinship Providers are also welcome to attend, and must create a family account as well.
Here is the website for the conference:
I am happy to answer any questions you may have!
Laura Teetermoran, LCSW
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Resource Parent Training Program Manager
Child Welfare Academy
The Institute for Innovation and Implementation
University of Maryland, School of Social Work
P| (410)-706-0721 E| lteetermoran@ssw.umaryland.edu
525 W. Redwood Street, Baltimore, MD 21201
https://theinstitute.umaryland.edu
Having technical difficulties? Email The Institute HelpDesk
Spring 2021 Child Welfare Academy Parent Training Calendar (PDF)
Download the schedule here.
Free Online Safety Workshops - Preventing Child Abuse
There has been a staggering increase in online child sexual abuse and exploitation in the U.S. and other countries since the beginning of the pandemic:
- “Tips to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the clearinghouse for such information in the United States, nearly doubled from 6.3 million in the first half of 2019 to 12 million through June of this year. Reports of online enticement similarly spiked during that timeframe, from 6,863 to 13,268.” in The Herald News
- “Through Oct. 9, New Jersey had received 5,251 reports of online child exploitation, a 75% increase from 2,996 at the same point last year, said Lt. John Pizzuro, commander of the state police’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.” in North Jersey.com
- “Alarmingly, the report notes a rise in the amount of self-produced CSAM online, created by children who are spending more time online as a result of the lockdown.” In Info Security Magazine
- “In the Philippines, cases of online child sex abuse have tripled amid the pandemic. Officials and activists told the media that the problem worsened during the country’s lockdown period as families struggled to earn a living while children have been out of school and spending more time online.” in The Asean Post
Child sexual abuse is a preventable public health problem.
Educating parents, caregivers and trusted adults to the risks, and giving them tips on how to protect the kids in their life is a simple step we can take to address the issue. Our Maryland Essentials for Childhood partner, No More Stolen Childhoods is providing free online trainings to educate adults to the risks and sharing action steps for parents and other caregivers to take to prevent child sexual abuse before it occurs. Please share the online safety webinars with parents, providers, and other community members who can learn themselves and help to get the word out to others. You can use the provided flyers or simply share the link to the website page.
NMSC is providing 4 sessions scheduled in early November, let’s fill them!
Register for these online classes HERE.
Flyers – Click to View or Print
Resource Parent Training Website
Access the Resource Parent Training Website HERE
We are excited to announce that the new Resource Parent Training website and catalog are now available!
Workshops from July ’20 onward are continually being added, so check back regularly to see which are open for registration.
Create Your Account
If you are a resource parent and you have not yet created an account in the Ideas@theInstitute LMS (Learning Management system):
- Please use the link below to create your new profile. Upon clicking the link, participants will be asked to complete the sign-up form associated with the link which designates that you are Approved Status for Resource Parent training access.
- Please create profiles for each individual if you are part of a couple. Only one account can be created per email address.
- Click here to create your new profile: https://theinstitute.myabsorb.com?KeyName=ResourceParents
Already Have An Account?
Instructions for resource parents who ALREADY created a new account in Ideas@theInstitute
- If you already have an account set-up in Ideas@theInstitute, please contact the help desk by email or chat to have your Resource Parent status verified and added to your profile. After this process has been completed, you will then have access to Resource Parent trainings.
- Email the Help Desk at theinstitutehelp@ssw.umaryland.edu and put Resource Parent Approved Status in the subject line and make sure your name and work email are included in the body of the email.
General Instructions
Once you are logged into the website, you will first be asked to complete an initial “course” which is simply an introduction to the program.
Once that is completed, you will see this screen below. The catalog will be available by clicking the link on the right hand side under RESOURCES:
If you need assistance you can email the Help Desk at theinstitutehelp@ssw.umaryland.edu or you can contact the Help Desk by LIVE CHAT. The Help Desk is available Monday – Friday from 9am to 5pm ET.
Access the Resource Parent Training Website HERE
Maryland KISS (Kids in Safety Seats)
Sign up for Video car seat assistance to help you with getting car seats installed correctly.
Visit this link to find a time.
Keeping Resource Parents In the Know
MRPA Community News
First Tuesday 05/04/2021: Trauma Informed Strategies with Barb Clark of NACAC
First Tuesday is next week! Join our Guest Facilitator Barb Clark of NACAC as she follows up her impactful session on FASD with a discussion on 'Trauma Informed Strategies'. The discussion will center around techniques for responding to trauma-based behavior. Register...
Reminder! This Tuesday is our Follow Up Q&A Session with Barb Clarke of NACAC (Zoom Session)
MRPA will host another in our series of 'First Tuesday Follow Up Q&A' sessions on 4/20 on the topic of 'Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder', or FASD. Our First Tuesday session on 4/6 was such a hit that we've invited Barb Clark back to facilitate the Q&A. Stay...
CHAMPS Pandemic EBT Program Update
Download a printable copy of this update here: https://mrpa.org/download/5255/ (The links will function on your downloaded copy).
DHS Updates on the Children’s Cabinet Funds
We have posted two important updates to the status of reimbursement funding! COVID-19 Reimbursement Funding FAQs Update: Second Request - Children's Cabinet Funds
Follow Up Q&A Session with Barb Clarke of NACAC (Zoom Session)
MRPA will host another in our series of 'First Tuesday Follow Up Q&A' sessions on 4/20 on the topic of 'Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder', or FASD. Our First Tuesday session on 4/6 was such a hit that we've invited Barb Clark back to facilitate the Q&A. Stay...
Downloadable Factsheet: Parenting Your Adopted School-Age Child
MRPA's Executive Director Arnie Eby was honored to be a part of the content review for this important resource, 'Parenting Your Adopted School-Age Child'. We're happy to make this document available to you, and hope you find it useful! Download the document here:...
Last Call to Register for This Week’s Session! First Tuesday 04/06/2021: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder with Barb Clark of NACAC
Register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYkdOippzsuH9fZyewzFdlWp7QnVYtQbZwv After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. About Our Trainer BIO: Barb Clark is an...
Submit Your Social Worker Appreciation Video!
March is Social Worker Appreciation Month! Help us to celebrate the social workers who have impacted your life. The MRPA has created a page where you can leave a short (90 second or less) testimonial about a special social worker. Feel free to leave as many as you'd...
2020 Census: Count All Kids
The 2020 Census is complete as of October, but we’ve left this resource on our site for reference.
“The Count All Kids Campaign is a public outreach effort to working with advocates, state and local policy makers, complete count committees, service providers, and others to persuade families with young children to fill out the census questionnaire and make sure they include all their children.”
The MRPA Mission
Our Mission is to provide support service to all Resource Families in the state of Maryland. Membership in the Association shall be open to all Resource Parents.
MRPA supports foster, adoptive, kinship and guardianship parents all across the state of Maryland.
Whether you are a current resource parent, a prospective resource parent, or a child welfare professional, MRPA is there to support you.
We realize it takes all of us working together to give children in need a stable, loving family.
