Free Workshops for Foster Parents

JANUARY 25, 2024 (THURSDAY) – BURNABY

Executive Suites Hotel and Conference Centre (4201 Lougheed Highway, Burnaby) from 8:00AM – 3:00PM

Cultivating Resilience and Helping Children and Teens Thrive through Secure Attachments 

Caring for children can be a daunting endeavor at the best of time. Yet even more challenging can be caring for children who have had a background of separation from primary caregivers, may have experienced wounding or trauma, may have special support needs, neurodiversity, or other challenges experienced in their lifetime. Although extremely rewarding, foster caregivers may face a host of emotional and behavioral challenges from the children and teens in their care. Through a developmental lens, Colleen Drobot will uncover the roots of anxiety, and aggression as well as oppositionality and defiance in children. She will help make sense of how attachment is meant to unfold, how foster caregivers can provide a secure attachment, cultivate resilience, and confidently handle the challenges their foster children and families may face. She will also recommend some safe practices that can create more security and build relationships for children and teens. Through stories, examples, and theory, Colleen will suggest ways in which foster caregivers can help support children to find psychological and emotional rest in their world. 

Speaker: Colleen Drobot 

• B.Ed., Dip. Of Special Education, M.A.
• Registered Professional Counsellor (RPC)
• Adjunct Faculty, Neufeld Institute

FEBRUARY 22, 2024 (THURSDAY) – PARKSVILLE  

Mary Klovance, the Owner and Clinical Director of The Neurodiversity Family Centre, brings a wealth of personal and professional experience to her work. With a background shaped by her lived experience as a person with ADHD, Mary is a passionate advocate for Neurodiversity Affirming practices. Over her 12-year career as a school counselor and five years working with youth-at-risk for Victoria’s Youth Empowerment Society, she has honed her approach, guided by the Collaborative & Proactive Solutions Model. Mary’s dedication extends beyond her practice, as she serves as a board member for the Institute of Neurodiversity’s new Canadian chapter, contributes to the Greater Victoria School District Accessibility Advisory Group, and actively engages as a local public speaker. Mary’s goal is to educate and empower both youth and adults through a strength-based lens, fostering understanding, validating experiences, and guiding individuals toward success defined on their terms. 

Credentials: 

Suicidality and Trauma 

The focus of this workshop is to provide an understanding of the complexity of Suicidality and Trauma and address how cultural awareness can have a large impact on youth wellness. The hope is that foster parents can garner a deeper understanding of how to address both suicidality and trauma, de-mystify the concepts, and provide confidence on how to address these within their own homes and families. 

Trigger and Content Warning: We acknowledge that each of our attendees comes to the workshop with their own unique life experiences. This contributes to the way you perceive various types of information. This workshop will cover a variety of topics which you may find triggering, or mentally or emotionally challenging. We encourage you to take the necessary steps for your emotional safety. This may include leaving the room while a certain topic is being discussed or seeking support.

Speaker: Sebastien Jordan, RCC

Sebastien is a counsellor based out of Kelowna with a vast experience working with youth and families. His specialization is in Parent-Child Interactions which aims to look at dynamics between children and their caregivers to address both behavioural and mental health related concerns. A large focus of this work targets parenting style, communication, and structure within the family unit. 

Sebastien began his career working in residential live-in programs focusing on the stabilization and assessment of youth. He has worked in both long-term and short-term group home settings, working with government and non-government organizations to give families necessary supports to provide their children with a safe and supporting environment.