The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)

Complex Trauma Collaborative Group has developed

this new factsheet designed specifically for caregivers,

which provides information on how a caregiver can

support a child with a complex trauma history. It

presents information that can help a caregiver

understand complex trauma and recognize the signs

and symptoms of complex trauma in their child. It also

offers recommendations for what the caregiver can do

to help their child heal, as well as tips for self care.

VIEW FACTSHEET

All foster, adoptive and kinship families are

invited to attend IFAPA’s Adventureland Day

on Saturday, August 23rd in Altoona.

ORDER TICKETS VIA MAIL ORDER TICKETS & PAY ONLINE

IFAPA has reserved a block of standard rooms at

Adventureland Inn for Friday, Aug. 22nd and Saturday,

Aug. 23rd. The discount rate is $109 (plus tax) per night.

To receive a discount rate, hotel reservations must be

made by calling Adventureland Inn by Friday, August 8th.

After August 8th, the rate will be $129 a night. To make

hotel reservations at Adventureland Inn call 800-910-5382.

Have You Heard the Latest? IFAPA is hosting our first-ever IFAPA Fall Conference in Waterloo on October

17th and 18th! IFAPA will now host a spring and fall training conference every

year for foster and adoptive parents, kinship caregivers and social workers. All

of our conference trainings are approved for foster parent credit and many

are also approved for social work CEUs. Families/social workers have the option

to attend the full-conference or may choose to attend only Friday or Saturday.

Our conferences offer many great training opportunities you cannot find

anywhere else!

IFAPA recognizes that as a result of the abuse and/or neglect they have

experienced, children in care often have unique physical, emotional, social

and psychological needs. These needs are best served by parents who are

trauma informed and educated in therapeutic parenting techniques. As such,

IFAPA strives to provide high quality workshops at our conference that will assist

parents in better understanding and coping with the unique needs of their

child. CHECK OUT OUR CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS

“Oh, it’s only a stage. He’ll grow out of it.” Have you

heard that line before? Or maybe you’ve heard a

relative whisper to someone about you, “She has such

a hard time controlling that child.” These comments or

any form or disapproval or disbelief from another

parent—let alone from a family member—may feel

quite disheartening, particularly when you know the

facts about learning and attention issues and the other

person may not. CONTINUE READING ARTICLE

New Trainings this Fall

Every foster parent has faced it. The dreaded “I want to help this child, but

perhaps my home isn’t the best place for that to happen” discussion with their

support worker. What if there was a way to maintain that placement? “Stick to it”

will address issues that foster parents face as they navigate the delicate ground

between the child’s needs, their family’s needs, the bio-parents needs and their

own needs. This class will work together to identify some of the more difficult

challenges that foster parents face and cooperatively brainstorm some solutions

to some of these common problems. (Trainer: Christy Meyer)

SIOUX CITY - Sat., Sept. 6 (9am-4:30pm)

This course will provide a brief overview of the signs and symptoms of personality

disorders. Information will be provided about normal personality development

along with abnormal personality development. While all personality disorders will

be reviewed, additional time will be spent on Antisocial, Borderline, Narcissistic,

and Histrionic personality disorders. Course content will include the steps to

getting a personality assessment and differential diagnosis information, as well as

treatment/interventions. (Trainer: Summer Brunscheen, PhD)

CEDAR RAPIDS - Sat., Sept. 6 (9am-12:15pm)

ANKENY - Sat., Sept. 27 (9am-12:15pm)

OTTUMWA - Sat., Nov. 1 (9am-12:15pm)

Emotional intensity disorders, particularly Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), are

unique both in their diagnosis as well as in the manifestations of behaviors that

accompany them. Also unique is Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), which is an

evidence-based therapy for Borderline Personality Disorder. This course will

provide participants with an overview of DBT skills, strategies for mindfulness as

well as ways to validate others. Emotion regulation skills and interpersonal

effectiveness skills will be taught as well. (Trainer: Summer Brunscheen, PhD.)

CEDAR RAPIDS - Sat., Sept. 6 (1:30pm-4:45pm)

ANKENY - Sat., Sept. 27 (1:30pm-4:45pm)

OTTUMWA - Sat., Nov. 1 (1:30pm-4:45pm)

Youth who have experienced the traumas of neglect and abuse often

demonstrate one or more behaviors that can compromise the safety and serenity

of our home environments, and jeopardize the safety of the youth themselves.

Behavior is a form of communication, and even extreme behaviors are grounded

in the human will and need to survive, even when on the surface the behavior is

counter-productive. We will learn about and practice “trauma informed

consequences,” that not only address the superficial behaviors, but help us and

the youth “decode” what is being communicated through their behavior, and

develop healthy productive ways to identify and meet their needs.

(Trainers: Krista McCalley and Lois Smidt)

CEDAR RAPIDS - Sat., Sept. 20 (9am-4:30pm)

COUNCIL BLUFFS - Sat., Nov. 8 (9am-4:30pm)

Register for a Class

To register for an upcoming class, click here or call 800-277-8145.

16-year-old Mark loves the

outdoors, playing sports and

video games and music.

The adults in Mark’s life say this

pleasant and engaging teen

excels in school and has even

earned “Student of the Week”

honors in the past. Mark does a

great job taking responsibility

and accountability for his

actions.

Mark would do best in a two-

parent home or a single male

parent home. His potential

adoptive family should have a

good understanding of mental

health diagnoses and be able

to provide a structured and

highly supervised environment.

It is preferred that there are no

other children in the home or

that he is the youngest.

Mark’s DHS adoption worker will

consider families only from

within Iowa as it will be

important for Mark to maintain

relationships with his

grandparents and siblings.

Mark has enjoyed living on a

farm in the past and would love

a family who could participate

in activities with him.

Most of all, Mark wants people

to know he would just like “to

be adopted and be part of a

family.” Could you be that

forever family for Mark? To

learn more, visit Iowa KidsNet

online.

Waiting Child