Training Schedules

The Love Tree

“The Love Tree” This training will be based on the ‘The LoveTree” children’s book by Katie Biron and discussions about adoptive families and family trees.

Barbara Reifel, LCSW

Gayla Gibson 

Mindfulness

Mindfulness-based stress reduction has been shown to be an effective tool in dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, and pain. Engaging in regular mindfulness practice has been shown to significantly reduce psychological stress and appears to prevent associated physiological changes that happen as a result of that stress. This training will focus on building a tool box of exploring feelings, thoughts, and actions; mindfulness meditation, and body awareness.

Becky Colaw, M.S.

Barbara Reifel, LCSW

Caregiving Together

Monthly support group for resource parents. Come meet other caregivers while also sharing resources amongst each other. Guest speakers in the community will be invited.

In-Person

Kern County Department of Human Services

3711 Columbus St.

Bakersfield, CA 93306

Gayla Gibson

Perla Davis, MFT

The Body Keeps the Score

This is a training based on the book, which is summarized here:
“Trauma is a fact of life. Veterans and their families deal with the painful aftermath of combat; one in five Americans has been molested; one in four grew up with alcoholics; one in three couples have engaged in physical violence. Dr. Bessel van der Kolk, one of the world’s foremost experts on trauma, has spent over three decades working with survivors. In The Body Keeps the Score, he uses recent scientific advances to show how trauma literally reshapes both body and brain, compromising sufferers’ capacities for pleasure, engagement, self-control, and trust. He explores innovative treatments—from neurofeedback and meditation to sports, drama, and yoga—that offer new paths to recovery by activating the brain’s natural neuroplasticity. Based on Dr. van der Kolk’s own research and that of other leading specialists, The Body Keeps the Score exposes the tremendous power of our relationships both to hurt and to heal—and offers new hope for reclaiming lives.”

Virtual (Zoom)

Valerie Tovar, MSW

Film Screening & Discussion: The S Word

THE S WORD is a powerful feature documentary that puts a human face on suicide, a topic that has long been stigmatized and buried with the lives it has claimed. Capturing personal revelations and surprising moments of humor, it opens a door on this most taboo of subjects through the eyes of the people who have been there and are now committed to preventing others from getting to that edge.

In-Person

Kern County Department of Human Services

3711 Columbus St.

Bakersfield, CA 93306

Suicide Prevention

In this training we will discuss the taboos of suicide, look at the various reasons why teens attempt to commit suicide and or succeed in committing suicide. We will discuss various issues surrounding this delicate and scary subject as well as looking into the various organizations that are available to help prevent suicide or help us go through the grieving process.

In-Person

Kern County Department of Human Services

3711 Columbus St.

Bakersfield, CA 93306

Claudia Martinez, MSW, LCSW

The Power of Kindness

What is kindness and what are the benefits of kindness? Our children may not have experienced a lot of kindness in their lives at home or in other environments. Therefore they may not behave very kindly either. In this training we are going to talk about how important and powerful kindness is. We will discuss what kindness looks like it and how to behave more kindly. We will talk about modeling kindness to our children and teaching them how to be kind when it might be challenging.

Virtual (Zoom)

Barbara Reifel, LCSW

Cherilyn Haworth, MSW, LCSW

Topic

The Colors of Grief

The Colors of Grief addresses children's shattered lives and expectations and the stages through their developmental phases, to provide practical applications to support them after a significant life loss, which can include the death or removal of a parent or caregiver. This is such a chronic experience of foster youth that it is important to understand that their emotional journey is one of many colors - colors of love and sadness, courage and fear, strength and confusion. Some of these colors are brilliant, some dull, some dark, and some bright. The goal of this training is to help a child's colors shine bright - including their colors of resilience.

Sibling Bonds

Virtual (Zoom)

Dealing with Difficult Relationships

Often times as resource families you will deal with others that you might find challenging to work well with. In this training we will go over ways to deal with others in an effective way.

Virtual (Zoom)

Caregiving Together

Monthly support group for resource parents. Come meet other caregivers while also sharing resources amongst each other. Guest speakers in the community will be invited. 

In-Person

Kern County Department of Human Services

3711 Columbus St.

Bakersfield, CA 93306

Gayla Gibson

Perla Davis, MFT

Human Trafficking: Commercial Sexual Exploited Children (CSEC)

This is an introductory training to commercial sexual exploitation. We will define it and describe how children in foster care are impacted by CSEC. We will share statistics and information from our own community, and talk about things to look for in order to prevent children from being trafficked and to support those who may have been affected by it already. We will look at the importance of a supportive relationship between you and the youth in your care. We will also discuss and define harm reduction, a practice that has shown success in helping individuals who have been addicted to substances. We will talk about how harm reduction can be helpful in working with youth who have been trafficked.

Virtual (Zoom)

Levels of Care (LOC)

Ever wonder how the Level of Care is determined for each child in the foster care system? Does a Resource Parent play a role in this determination? Now the state of California has a strength-based rate methodology containing multiple questions in five core domains scored on a weighted point system designed to identify the services and supports a Resource Parent (RP) provides to a child/non-minor dependent (NMD). These domains and the point system will be explained. Resource parents have a part in this determination. We will show the forms used for the determination and how the county determines which Level of Care is appropriate for each child. Foster care rates, including the amount of the payment paid to the RP on behalf of the child/NMD per month, are determined by the LOCP

In-Person

Kern County Department of Human Services

3711 Columbus St.

Bakersfield, CA 93306

Barbara Reifel, LCSW

Gayla Gibson 

Talking to Your Child About Adoption

An important task for resource/adoptive parents is to help a child understand their life story. Because the children in our lives have had difficult experiences, resource/adoptive parents have a responsibility to share that history in a compassionate manner that helps a child come to understand and heal from their history. Many parents struggle with how to share a child’s story with them and this training will help prepare parents for this conversation. This training is also appropriate for professionals working with resource/adoptive families, to learn how to support parents with these conversations.

In-Person

Kern County Department of Human Services

3711 Columbus St.

Bakersfield, CA 93306

Aspiranet REACH program

The Impact of Historical & Generational Trauma

An emerging line of research is exploring how historical and cultural traumas affect survivors’ children for generations to come. Learn how this type of trauma impacts a child’s behavior.

Perla Davis, MFT 

Tuesday, April 2, 2024

Honoring Children’s Connections

As parents, we want to create the best possible lives for our children so they may become their best selves. We want to instill our values, surround them with people who are a good influence, and maximize their development in all areas. So how does valuing their connections with birth family fit in? We will explore common concerns around contact, a continuum of options to help you find the right form of openness for your family, and the many benefits of honoring your child’s connections…including strengthening their connection with you.

In-Person

Kern County Department of Human Services

3711 Columbus St.

Bakersfield, CA 93306

Aspiranet REACH program presents Deb Schugg

Book Review: “Reclaim Compassion: Overcoming Blocked Care" by Lisa Qualls & Melissa Corkum

Oftentimes, new resource parents have well meaning intentions of what it will be like when they first bring a foster youth into their home, but then realize how quickly their fostering journey turns out differently then they imagined. Many times, resource parents feel ashamed and worried about their lack of compassion when in reality they are experiencing “Blocked Care”. Blocked Care is a self-protective mechanism in our nervous system that makes it difficult to connect with a child and maintain compassion due to various factors. In this course, we will discuss what causes Blocked Care, and how to heal accordingly with compassion again, utilizing a holistic brain, body, and spirit approach.

Valerie Tovar, MSW

The Importance of Life Connections

As children come into foster care, we all know that they lose a lot – parents, siblings, extended family, friends, pets, church family, sport teammates, school friends, etc. Most of the time, these relationships are very important to the child. The child will make a new life in foster care, but wouldn’t it be great to let them continue with some past relationships. Maybe they can attend the school they attended previously, maybe they can continue to attend their church, maybe they can complete their season in the sport they were attending, etc. Let’s explore some options we can use to help children maintain life connections. And how you as a Resource Parent may be a lifelong connection to the children that temporarily come into your home.

Barbara Reifel, LCSW

Gayla Gibson 

Caregiving Together 

Monthly support group for resource parents. Come meet other caregivers while also sharing resources amongst each other. Guest speakers in the community will be invited. 

In-Person

Kern County Department of Human Services

3711 Columbus St.

Bakersfield, CA 93306

Understanding Children’s Mental Health Challenges

Frequently foster children are diagnosed with a variety of mental health diagnosis, from depression and anxiety to bipolar disorder. These diagnoses can be stigmatizing for the child and confusing for the resource family. This training will focus on increasing understanding about mental health diagnoses and what you, as the resource family, should expect and how to have effective conversations about mental health.

Virtual (Zoom)

Navigating Healthy Relationships with Teens 

With the mixed messages of social media - often our teens and tweens do not have the social skills and ability to identify healthy relationships. Helping our kids youth identify what are the aspects of a healthy friendship and relationships.

In-Person

Kern County Department of Human Services

3711 Columbus St.

Bakersfield, CA 93306

Helping Teens Navigate Unhealthy Relationships 

Helping our kids identify unhealthy relationships. With 6 out 10 teen relationships being toxic to violent - our youth are being exposed to toxic relationships like it is the norm.  When youth adopt toxic relationships as the norm they are more susceptible to domestic violence and trafficking. 

In-Person

Kern County Department of Human Services

3711 Columbus St.

Bakersfield, CA 93306

The Value of Affirmation

In this training we will talk about ways that we can affirm children and how to make this a priority. Affirmations typically refer to words being said about the child, either from someone else or through teaching the child to say those things about themselves, usually some of both. It also includes positive interactions.

Virtual (Zoom)

Becky Colaw, M.S.

Cherilyn Haworth, MSW, LCSW

The Power of Showing Up

This training will be based on the book “The Power of Showing Up” by Daniel J. Siegel & Tina Payne Bryson Ph.D. The Power of Showing Up shares stories, scripts, simple strategies, illustrations, and tips for honoring the Four S’s effectively in all kinds of situations—when our kids are struggling or when they are enjoying success; when we are consoling, disciplining, or arguing with them; and even when we are apologizing for the times we don’t show up for them. Demonstrating that mistakes and missteps are repairable and that it’s never too late to mend broken trust, this book is a powerful guide to cultivating your child’s healthy emotional landscape.

Barbara Reifel, LCSW

Book Discussion: "A Land Called Grief"

This training will be based on the children’s books called: A Land Called Grief which is a story that helps little and big kids alike understand the emotions that show up when we navigate through the stages of grief. Although grief can be heavy, A Land Called Grief, helps us understand that our grief can be turned into something beautiful. A beauty that can heal.

Strategic Planning for Chronic Behaviors 

When Chronic behaviors repeat we often feel at a loss of what to do.
Making a plan for behavior change to stop chronic behaviors. What to do when you feel like you tried everything - strategic plan

Dr. Judy Sullivan Osterhage

Caregiving Together 

Monthly support group for resource parents. Come meet other caregivers while also sharing resources amongst each other. Guest speakers in the community will be invited. 

In-Person

Kern County Department of Human Services

3711 Columbus St.

Bakersfield, CA 93306

Gayla Gibson

Perla Davis, MFT

The Connected Child 

Parenting children from “hard places” presents unique challenges. Their special needs require caregivers care, consideration and compassion. The Connected Child addresses how to build bonds of affection and trust, how to deal with learning and behavior disorders and how to discipline with love.

Virtual (Zoom)

The Unique Challenges of Kinship Care

When the parents are no longer able to care for their children, grandparents and other relatives or close friends often step in, but without much knowledge or the Child Welfare Services (CWS) system, the resources available to help them and the issues the children are dealing with as a result of their loss and trauma. This workshop discusses resources for meeting the children’s needs and how to work with (CWS). Relative caretakers who have taken placement of minor children informally) are also welcome to attend.

In-Person

Kern County Department of Human Services

3711 Columbus St.

Bakersfield, CA 93306

Barbara Reifel, LCSW

Gayla Gibson 

Book Discussion: The Love Tree 

“The Love Tree” This training will be based on the ‘The LoveTree” children’s book by Katie Biron and discussions about adoptive families and family trees.

In-Person

Kern County Department of Human Services

3711 Columbus St.

Bakersfield, CA 93306

Barbara Reifel, LCSW

Gayla Gibson

Filling your Children’s Bucket

If we want our children to reach their potential, we must fill their buckets. All parents and caregivers want the children in their home to overcome their past and reach their full potential. Correcting negative behaviors is not going to make this happen if we do not also build their self-esteem and self-confidence and show them unconditional love. Filling their buckets refers to the nice things we say and do for and with them, including praising them, rewarding them, and just doing nice things because we love them. 

Building Resilience in Teens

This training focuses on ways resource parents can help to develop resilience in teenagers. We will look at what resilience is and at the risk and protective factors and then talk about what caregivers can do to help teenagers during the time they are in their home.

Barbara Reifel, LCSW

Turning Dreams into Degrees

This course will help caregivers understand how to support their youth to make a smooth transition from high school to college.  Caregivers will learn about the benefits of college and the different pathways available to better support youth in making a plan.  Caregivers will also learn about the key steps youth must take in the junior and senior year of college, and the supports and resources that exist to help youth along the way.

Virtual (Zoom)

Caregiving Together

Monthly support group for resource parents. Come meet other caregivers while also sharing resources amongst each other. Guest speakers in the community will be invited. 

In-Person

Kern County Department of Human Services

3711 Columbus St.

Bakersfield, CA 93306

Gayla Gibson

Araceli Navarro 

Intentional Parenting - Establishing Family Values

Often we get so caught up with the day to day we forget to plan for the future or define what we want our families to be like.  This gives training gives us the opportunity to define what our family values are, look at our schedules and move forward intentionally to the family we intended to have.

Virtual (Zoom)

Dr. Judy Sullivan Osterhage

The Effects of Adoption/Legal Guardianship on the Whole Family

Our trainers will each share their story of adoption and legal guardianship in their own families. Barbara has an adopted grandson in her family. Gayla has adopted four children out of foster care. Gayla also had to take legal guardianship of one of her adopted daughters’ children. Come hear their unique stories.

Barbara Reifel, LCSW

Gayla Gibson 

Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) Part 3

This is the third in a series of four trainings. It can stand alone if you have not attended the other trainings. In this training you will learn tools to help children feel safe, such as keeping children properly hydrated, as well as encouraging nutritious food. We will look at understanding sensory processing and
some of the challenges children who have experienced trauma have with this as well as how to address it. You will learn how to help children identify what they feel like when they are not self-regulated and specific things they can do or you can do with them to help them regulate.

In-Person

Kern County Department of Human Services

3711 Columbus St.

Bakersfield, CA 93306

Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) Part 4

This is the fourth in a series of four trainings. It can stand alone if you have not attended the other trainings. The main idea behind correcting principles is to teach children social and behavioral competence through proactive strategies and responsive strategies. Correcting principles are guides for changing behavior, but it is important that we remember that even in correcting, we can remain connected to our children.

In-Person

Kern County Department of Human Services

3711 Columbus St.

Bakersfield, CA 93306

The Forward Thinking Journal Series: Family

The Forward Thinking Journal Series: is a cognitive-behavioral series that uses evidence-based strategies to assist families in making positive changes to their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. In this training, we will be applying the information presented in the Interactive Journals to help participants understand and improve their family relationships. 

Virtual (Zoom)