Annual NACAC Conference

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"As an adoptive parent and adoption
professional, the conference was excellent,
refreshing, and uplifting."

“I have 'filled my (empty) cup' and feel motivated once again to tackle the job of parenting my special needs child.”

"I am so glad I finally attended the conference. I wish I had come years ago."

“I came with the expectation that I would obtain a wealth of knowledge related to adoption issues
and I was not disappointed!
The days flew by!”

"This training conference was phenomenal. I'm so grateful to you and my agency for allowing me to come."

"I learned, I enjoyed, I am empowered."

—Former NACAC Conference Attendees

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Don't miss the 36th annual conference of the North American Council on Adoptable Children in Hartford, Connecticut from August 4 to 7, 2010! (Pre-conference sessions August 4; full conference August 5 to 7.)

The NACAC conference—the most comprehensive adoption conference in North America—will feature close to 100 workshops by expert professionals and parents addressing a wide variety of topics, including:

• parenting
• race, culture, & diversity
• therapeutic techniques
• agency issues & concerns
• parenting children with challenges
• kinship placements & birth family connections
• post-adoption services
• international/infant adoption

Location and Accommodations

One of America’s oldest cities, Hartford is a city rich in history and culture. Visitors can tour the homes of Harriet Beecher Stowe and Mark Twain or visit the New England Air Museum and the Basketball Hall of Fame. Hartford is home to many family-friendly activities and restaurants and is within driving distance of numerous attractions all over New England.
Conference sessions will be held at the Connecticut Convention Center.

NACAC has reserved single or double guest rooms at the following hotels:

• Marriott Hartford Downtown — 866-373-9806; $146/night plus 12% tax (cut off date July 4, 2010)
• Hilton Hartford — 860-728-5151; $150/night plus 12% tax (cut off date July 13, 2010)

Availability extends until all rooms fill or until the cut off date listed above, whichever is first. Please make reservations early. Tell the hotel operator you are attending the NACAC conference, and ask about the hotel’s guarantee, deposit, and cancellation policies.

Keynote Speakers

On Thursday, Josh Shipp will entertain and inform with his session “Don’t Be Average.” A TV host, author, and one of Inc. magazine’s 30 under 30 list, Josh has established an international reputation as an inspiring speaker. In this heartfelt and humorous speech, Josh will tell his own story about being abandoned as a baby and enduring an abusive childhood, but his tale does not end in sadness. It rises above the situation to show how a mess can turn into a message.

Friday’s general session speaker—adoptee, adoption professional, and advocate Oronde Miller—will explore how parents and professionals can enhance their ability to support vulnerable children.

At Saturday’s luncheon, NACAC will present awards to deserving individuals and organizations. Attendees will then be amused and educated during an inspiring closing session with Denise Goodman, child welfare trainer and consultant extraordinaire.

Workshops & Institutes

NACAC’s conference covers almost every adoption-related topic imaginable—with more than 80 sessions about post-adoption services, therapeutic techniques, parenting children with challenges, recruitment and pre-adoption issues, international/infant adoption, public policy, and more. Many sessions are advanced, so even experienced parents and workers will benefit. Tentative sessions include:

• Find a Family for Any Youth in 12 to 20 Weeks!
• Surviving Adolescence: A Workshop for Parents Raising Challenging Teens
• Creating a Cultural Continuity Plan for Children
• What to Look for in an Adoption-Competent Therapist
• State of the Art Home Studies
• Living with Hurt or Scared Kids: Attachment, Trauma, and Neurobiology
• Advocating for Permanency in a Tight Budget Environment
• Post-Adoption Services for International Adoptive Families

The conference features nationally acclaimed speakers including Maris Blechner, Terry Cross, Wayne Duehn, Denise Goodman, Gregory Keck, Regina Kupecky, Joyce Maguire Pavao, Brenda McCreight, Ruth McRoy, and Pat O’Brien. Each year we add new speakers and topics so the conference is unique and valuable for new attendees and veterans alike.

We will hold two all-day pre-conference sessions on August 4. Fees are $110 US/$130 CDN per person and are not included in conference registration fees.

• Adoption Competency for Mental Health
  Practitioners — Learn about adoption-competent models, approaches, and strategies that really work for adoptive and foster families. Speakers: Diane Martin-Hushman, Kim Stevens, Gregory Keck, & Deena McMahon
• Managing Challenging Behaviors: A Survival Guide for Parents & Professionals — Learn how trauma affects children’s brains and what behavioral challenges can result. You’ll learn approaches for teaching cognitive skills and managing children’s behaviors. Speaker: Dee Paddock

Registration Booklet and Forms

Registration will be available in April 2010. A pre-conference informational brochure will be available in January. To receive the brochure, send an email to info@nacac.org. The brochure will be available by e-mail or mail (please indicate preference).

If you would like to receive occasional e-mail messages from NACAC about the conference, click on http://mapnp.communityforum.net/mailman/listinfo/nacac-conference to join the NACAC conference e-mail list. Our staff will post messages to the list whenever we have announcements related to the conference.

Registration will open in April 2010. NACAC will accept registration via our online forms, fax, or mail.

Register by July 10 to receive discounted fees:

• NACAC members $235 US/$280 CDN
• Non-members $285 US/$340 CDN

After July 10, fees increase by $55 US/$65 CDN.

In April, NACAC will publish a booklet with information about registration, workshops, the youth program, and more. To request a booklet, send your name, address, and whether you want the booklet by mail or e-mail to info@nacac.org.

Full registration fees cover institutes, workshops, general sessions, Saturday’s awards luncheon, and a CD with handouts. For those who register as non-members, a one-year individual NACAC membership is also included. Registrants can also elect to attend a single day or two.

Current NACAC members receive discounted registration fees: one for individual and parent group members, up to 20 for enhanced parent group and organizational members, and unlimited for employees of national/corporate members. Registrants can also apply for membership with the registration and use the discounted rate.

Conference registration fees—payable by check, money order, purchase order, VISA, or MasterCard—are due with each registration.

Youth Program

Potential Title IV-E Reimbursement for U.S. Attendees

States that provide for training in their Title IV-B plan can be reimbursed for approved training expenses incurred by social workers, adoption workers, and foster and adoptive parents. Title IV-E administrative cost reimbursement rules allow 75 percent reimbursement for trainings (like the NACAC conference) that meet U.S. federal guidelines. Your state adoption supervisor may know if training funds are available.

Academic Accreditation

NACAC will arrange for continuing education units (CEUs) for the conference. Daily CEU certification and pre-conference session CEUs will also be available. Before coming to the conference, please verify applicability with your professional board. More information on CEUs will be available this spring.

Exhibits

Tabletop exhibits will be available. More information on fees will be available soon. Contact Christina Romo for an application packet.

Advertising

If you are interested in advertising in the NACAC conference registration booklet or final booklet, contact Mary Boo for additional information about ad specifications.

NACAC reserves the right to decline advertising from any group or individual, or to decline a particular advertisement. NACAC does not investigate, endorse, or accept responsibility for any advertiser's products or services.

Local Partners

NACAC is grateful for the support of the following groups:

• Connecticut Department of Children and Families
• Adoptive Parents Committee
• Casey Family Services
• Connecticut Association of Foster and Adoptive Parents
• Connecticut Council for Adoption
• The Consultation Center
• Faith Weavers Adoption Support Systems
• Lutheran Social Services
• UConn Health Center