Facilitator: Kim Stevens, NACAC

Children and adolescents who have experienced trauma have unique brain wiring and are often at a mixture of developmental ages. Typical consequence-based behavioral strategies are often not effective and can lead to further trauma and impact the relationship between the adults and children/adolescents. Participants will learn new approaches to use with children and adolescents who have trauma histories which will help you to understand them better and improve communication and relationships. The strategies we will cover are recommended for in-utero trauma such as FASD and also for trauma they may have experienced after birth.

Facilitator:  Barb Clark, NACAC

Join us for a discussions around the symptoms and red flags are for FASD and to understand the brain-based reasons for some of the hard behaviors which will allow for more patience and out of the box parenting.

Facilitator:  Kim Stevens, NACAC

Join us for a discussion on the importance of Birth Family relationships and connections, and of ways to facilitate children learning more about their Biological Families. We will discuss some tools to assist with feeling more comfortable while encouraging the development of these relationships.

Facilitator:  Kim Stevens, NACAC

Join us for a discussion on the importance of Birth Family relationships and connections, and of ways to facilitate children learning more about their Biological Families. We will discuss some tools to assist with feeling more comfortable while encouraging the development of these relationships.

Download Birth Family Connection Links HERE

Facilitator:  Bob Huddler, MRPA President & Arnold Eby, MRPA Executive Director

Special Guests: Katie Fitzsimmons, Anne Arundel CO & Kristy O’Neal, Frederick Co

Join us for a discussion of the services and guidance offered by the Maryland Resource Parent Association. Also covered are the results of the Maryland DHS, Social Services and MRPA Survey. View the results HERE.

Facilitator:  Josh Kroll of the NACAC

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.

Facilitator:  Josh Kroll of the NACAC

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.