The fourth annual Region III Spring Foster/Adopt Conference is scheduled for Friday, March 15 and Saturday, March 16 in White Hall at Shepherd University.

Plenary sessions are “Jacob’s Law: Part 1” and “Dealing with the Bully.” Breakout sessions are “Jacob’s Law: Part 2” or “I Was Spanked and I Turned Out OK: Alternatives to Physical Punishment” and “Jacob’s Law: Part 3” or “Caring for Children with Special Needs.”

Jacob’s Law establishes measures to assess children for the trauma they may have already experienced from abuse and removal and to support foster families in dealing with difficult behaviors to avoid future disruptions.

The bullying workshop is designed to aid children, parents, and caregivers in developing effective skills in responding to and preventing bullying.

There is a $10 registration fee. It is reimbursable for West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (WVDHHR) foster care providers.

All conference workshops are approved for training credit through the WVDHHR and are good for any foster care provider in the state, regardless of the agency through which they foster. Attendees can earn up to 12 hours of the required yearly foster parent training if they attend both days.

Social work professionals may earn up to 12 CEUs. Attendees are encouraged to preregister.

The Shepherd University PRIDE Training Program and the WestVirginia Department of Health and Human Resources Region III Homefinding Unit are sponsoring the event.

For more information, contact Christina Wolfe at 304-876-5268 or cwolfe@shepherd.edu.