Welcoming Children Home Adoption and Foster Care Conference

You are not going to want to miss Dori Iunker's session! Dori and her family have been a part of the foster care and adoption community for decades, having fostered 40 children, and adopted three! Dori is also a Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) presenter with an abundance of knowledge in this field. If you have ANY questions about foster care and adoption, Dori will be hosting a round table Q&A session where you can ask anything!

Coaching tables are always a fan favorite at the Welcoming Children Home conference, and we are excited to welcome Todd and Jill Talley to this year's panel of breakout speakers. Todd and Jill will discuss how churches can work together to get involved conserving Foster and adoptive families in their community. If you are looking to get a foster care or adoption ministry started at your church or are wondering what role believers can play in this community, this is the session for you! Come with your questions, Todd and Jill have answers!

We have all, from time to time, fallen prey to fits of anger. But for kids from hard places, anger can be expressed more often and with more intensity. Brent Estes is an LMFT on the Central Coast, and he is excited to tackle the topic of anger in children and teens. Brent will offer helpful and hope filled instruction on how families can navigate big feelings of anger and the behavioral challenges produced by it.

Serving children and families who come from hard places does not always mean welcoming them into your home. Sometimes, it means coming around foster and adoptive families in a support role. Join Lindsey Clark and Becca Lenz as they share stories and ideas of how you can practically and creatively fill needs and lessen the load for foster and adoptive families. Support leads to success, and EVERYONE can do SOMETHING!

We are honored to have Ron Huxley returning to lead not one, but TWO breakout sessions. A licensed marriage and family therapist with 34 years of experience, Ron Huxley is committed to training and encouraging families who have experienced trauma. In one session, he will explore the concept of post-traumatic growth and how to navigate various emotional terrains. In his second session, Ron will discuss the importance of recognizing and managing burnout while offering families tools to thrive!

We are excited to have Rob Grindy returning to our lineup of breakout session speakers to share his experience involving embryo adoption. Perhaps a lesser known topic in the foster care and adoption community, Rob will share information about the process as well as his own personal story of embryo adoption.

Cynthia Fletcher is a wealth of knowledge and is dedicated to helping foster and adoptive parents navigate behavior, dysregulation, and sensory sensitivities. Cynthia will help parents better understand the needs of the child and give tools to respond in the best way possible. Whether you are a parent or an individual working with children who come from hard places, Cynthia's breakout session will equip you with valuable information on how best to serve and connect.

We are entering the final countdown to the 2024 Welcoming Children Home Conference! In addition to our amazing keynote speaker and incredible breakout sessions, you will also be treated to a delicious lunch catered by Old San Luis BBQ. A favorite on the Central Coast, Old SLO Barbecue will provide delicious meat sliders and their famous strawberry field salad. Please sign up today to ensure we have enough food to go around!

Parenting teens is not for the faint of heart, but parenting teens who come from hard places can be especially difficult to navigate. Brooke Cone expertly addresses this topic, and gives advice and encouragement for those who have a heart for foster or adopted teens. Join this breakout session if you are a foster or adoptive parent or someone who is looking to better understand how to serve teens who come from hard places.

A returning favorite to our Welcoming Children Home conference, Daniel Carlisle creates a gentle and welcoming environment to tackle some of the toughest issues foster and adoptive families face. Join his breakout session to gain insights into the challenges and opportunities foster and adoptive couples face, learn how to deepen their connection, and grow in unity in their marriage.

We are excited to welcome Philip Pattinson as our keynote speaker for the Welcoming Children Home Conference 2024! Philip is the CO founder and director of Foster the City, whose mission is to provide a loving home for every child in foster care.

We are looking forward to hearing Philips insight and how God has been at work in the foster care and adoption community.

Great news! The Welcoming Children Home Conference is being held on November 2nd in San Luis Obispo, and registration is now open! We are excited to welcome back Philip Pattison as our keynote speaker and are looking forward to providing numerous breakout sessions for every interest area.

Register now using the link in the bio and stay tuned for sneak peaks of speakers and more conference info. Can't wait to see you there.