Gimme a Break: How to Help Families Get Rest
Caring for children with special needs often leads to isolation, caregiver stress and challenging family relationships. Rest (sometimes referred to as “respite”) is the most articulated need of caretakers of children with special needs. This training will seek to understand what “rest” looks like for families and show how to use resource mapping techniques to help families get a break using natural supports. Discussion will include outcomes of rest for the caregiver, how to build, implement and sustain natural supports for caregiver breaks and how to empower families to navigate this process. A panel of parents will be present to share their journey in finding the rest they need, want and deserve.
Objectives:
- Participants will understand the universal need for all caregivers, especially those with children with special needs
- Explore the research around the impact of rest in the life of a caregiver and family
- Engage in resource mapping activities to help families locate and utilize natural support to offer uninterrupted and planned rest
- Know about community resources
- Learn how to empower families to use natural supports to maintain consistent and effective periods of rest over a long term period
CEUs:2.75 Social Work CEUs are provided by the Butler County Educational Service Center approved & awarded by the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, & MFT Board Approvals RSX050901.
Target Audience: Parents, Foster Parents, Anyone working with families with children with special needs.
Cost: Free!!!
Presenters:
Jennifer Powers, Jen has worked with families and children for over twenty years. As a former public and private school teacher, Children’s Pastor, Dance Company owner, Parent Educator and now founder/Executive Director of Tried & True Parenting™, Inc., Jen’s heart is to love families well and equip them with the education and resources to not survive, but thrive as a family unit. She has a Bachelors degree in Education from Miami University with continuing education from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. Jen is a National Authorized Trainer of Common Sense Parenting® from Boys Town, Nebraska and is a Training Professional of Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI) from Texas Christian University, both models rich with research based techniques aimed at loving kids from hard places.
Scott Osterfled, Scott has worked in the disability field for thirty years. Currently, he is the Director of Staff Development at Echoing Hills, a program serving individuals with disabilities throughout Ohio and in Ghana Africa since 1967. He is an author and speaker and has given a variety of key note presentations and seminars throughout the country. He has a Master’s degree in Family and Child Studies from Miami University. Scott is also the President and CEO of Osterfeld Consulting.
Lisa McCoon, Lisa studied Early Childhood Education at the University of Cincinnati, and spent 20 years as the Director of a private daycare and preschool in Butler County. She currently serves as the Pause Program Director – a Butler County Family and Children First Council initiative that supports families who have children with disabilities. Prior to her work with the FCFC, she served four years on staff at Center Pointe Christian Church where her role was to pour into guests and new families as the NextGen Administrator. Three years ago, her son Brayden was diagnosed with a brain malformation and several other co-existing diagnoses and while navigating their own journey, it became her passion to support other families who have children with disabilities.