Resources From Prior Sessions

You’ll find video, handouts, etc, from past First Tuesday events here!

First Tuesday: Results of the MARFY (Maryland Association For Resource Families and Youth) Survey

Learn about the results of a survey of Maryland foster parents conducted by MARFY and the MRPA. The results were analyzed and will be presented by our colleagues at the University of Maryland School of Social Work.

 

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First Tuesday: Supporting and Celebrating Reunification

First Tuesday June, 2022

Facilitator: Chauncey Strong MSW, Strong Family Training

Chauncey Strong, originally from Newark, NJ, earned his BA degree in Social Work from Elizabeth City State University, in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, in 1991 and his MSW from Norfolk State University Norfolk, Virginia, in 1993.
Chauncey is a child welfare advocate with 27 years of extensive experience in child welfare administration in the private and public sectors specializing in foster care and adoption training and consulting. He recently worked for eight years as a Foster Care Supervisor with the Fairfax County Department of Family Services in Fairfax, Virginia. He has also served as an administrator, manager, supervisor, child welfare worker, mentor, and community organizer.
Chauncey is currently the Executive Director of Strong Training and Consulting, LLC, where he provides training and consulting in child welfare. He is presently consulting with The Capacity Building Center for States, The Virginia Department of Social Services, and several local and national child welfare agencies.
Chauncey has served on several national boards, including the Board Chair of Foster Care Alumni of America. He is currently on the board of Lutheran Family Services of Virginia. Chauncey is a motivational speaker and a committed advocate for children and families. He has dedicated his career to improving the outcomes of children and families involved in the child welfare system.

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First Tuesday: Sleep Health for Foster Care Children

First Tuesday April 5, 2022

Facilitator: Dr. Amy R. Wolfson, Loyola University

Emerging research conducted by our and other research teams reveals high rates of sleep problems among children in foster care, yet science, education, practice, and policy have largely ignored sleep health in this vulnerable group. To address this gap, our overarching goal is to create a sleep health education program for foster-care parents and foster care agency personnel on the importance of sleep health for children exposed to early adversity, including strategies to support children and foster caregivers. In this session we (Dr. Amy Wolfson and Loyola seniors, Ms. Maddie Valentine & Ms. Josie Nogales Morales) will discuss sleep basics, sleep health strategies, and typical pediatric sleep problems; share results of our research; and plans for the development of our curriculum for the foster care community.

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First Tuesday: US Federal Adoption Tax Credit

First Tuesday March 4, 2022

Facilitator: Josh Kroll, NACAC

Participants learned the steps they need to take to file for the U.S. federal adoption tax credit. The focus was on filing for 2021, and covered applying for the credit for adoptions as far back as 2018. Presenter Josh Kroll explained what parents need to do to take advantage of the credit. Key points include that the credit is not a refundable credit for 2021 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 focused on families who adopted children with special needs from foster care but will be applicable to all adoptive families as well.

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First Tuesday: Maryland's Human Resources Staffing Shortage

First Tuesday February 4, 2022

Facilitator: Arnie Eby

Join Arnie for a discussion on the topic of the current deficit in social worker staffing in our State, and how it’ s impacting the Case Workers, the lives of children, and those who care for them.

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Maryland's Integrated Practice Model & Other Topics

First Tuesday January 11, 2022

Facilitator: Arnie Eby

Followed by an Open Forum discussion.

Held on the 2nd Tuesday of January due to the Holiday.

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First Tuesday with Amber Jewell, LMSW

First Tuesday December 7, 2021

Facilitator: Amber Jewell, LMSW

Join us for a lively and educational discussion on Ms. Jewell’s book, ‘Finding Hope: The 12 Keys to Healing Hardship, Hurt & Sorrow’.

View on YouTubePurchase Amber's Book

Video: Maryland's Integrated Practice Model: What it Means for Resource Parents

Third Tuesday Q&A June 15, 2021

Facilitator: Kim Parks-Bourn, Program Manager for Practice Innovation, DHS

 

This session is designed to offer processes for engaging the Family of Origin and creating partnerships that improve the outcomes for the children being fostered, and for the families involved. Becky will offer ideas for effective comfort calls, icebreakers to get the discussion started, and more. A followup Q&A session will be held on July 20th.
This MRPA presentation references a TedTalk video (there is a placeholder where this was viewed on the session). We are unable to include it in our presentation video due to copyright, so have provided it for you below.

 

 

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Video: What IS the MRPA? Services, Support & Advocacy

First Tuesday February 02, 2021

 

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.

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Video: Adoption Tax Credits: What Adoptive Parents Need to Know

First Tuesday January 05, 2021

 

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.

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Video: Adoption Assistance

First Tuesday December 1, 2020

 

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.

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