The Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter is eager to support foster families throughout our area. In fact, many of these families now care for and support the children we’ve come to know personally. The NWACS aims to support foster families by providing the following:
- Trauma-informed trainings at no cost
- Trainings in a variety of locations in Benton, Carroll, Madison and Washington counties
- Snacks and drinks (and meals when possible) to ensure a comfortable experience
- Certificates of completion to foster parents for continuing education credits
- Availability for contact after the date of the training for additional support and transfer of learning
NWACS wants to ensure that families feel equipped to understand and meet the needs of children and adolescents who have experienced maltreatment, multiple placements and early trauma. We’ll also use the feedback we receive from foster families to ensure topics they request are included in future events.
Upcoming Training Opportunity
Overview of Common Mental Health Diagnoses and Interventions for Children and Teens in Foster Care
Thursday, March 16th
6:00-8:00pm
Via Zoom
The American Academy of Pediatrics identifies mental and behavioral health as the “greatest unmet health need for children and teens in foster care.” After all, mental and behavioral health requires the presence of “at least one nurturing, responsive caregiver who is stable in a child’s or teen’s life over time.”
Children and teens entering foster care have already endured traumatic experiences that have affected their well-being. Then, while in foster care, ongoing uncertainty, multiple losses, and recurring transitions can further erode their mental and behavioral health. As a result, these children and teens accumulate mental health diagnoses at a greater rate than their peers who were never involved in foster care.
This training will provide an overview of some of the most common mental health diagnoses for children and teens in foster care and the pharmacological and therapeutic interventions commonly used to treat and support them.
Trauma and Stressor-Related Disorders
Mood Disorders
Disruptive, Impulse-Control, and Conduct Disorders
Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Emotional or Behavioral Problems (e.g., enuresis or encopresis)
Common Therapeutic Interventions (e.g., play therapy, sand tray, CPP, TF-CBT, or brain-based therapies)
This training will be provided during the Area 1 Resource Parent Association meeting (Zoom). To join, please contact Kristy.Franks@dhs.arkansas.gov.
For questions, please contact Adam at AMartin@nwacs.org.
Stay tuned to this page and the Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter Facebook page for information about upcoming training sessions and registration information.