Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country | Founded 05-05-05

Rainbow Center’s Bridges Foster Care Program Presents at Annual Conference

Rainbow Center’s Bridges Foster Care Director Kim Johnson and Foster Care Coordinator Rachel Hawkins presented at the 10th annual North Carolina Foster and Adoptive Parent Association (NCFAPA) conference in Winston-Salem on April 26.

Johnson and Hawkins presented on Managing Behaviors to Meet the Needs of Children who have been Sexually Abused to over 60 foster and adoptive parents, as well as professionals in the social work field.

The conference is a weekend-long event designed to celebrate and appreciate North Carolina’s foster and adoptive parents.

The class led by Johnson and Hawkins offered tips and ideas about how foster parents can deal with the behaviors of children who have been sexually abused.
“Children who have been sexually abused have special needs; the majority have maladaptive behaviors. Our class teaches them 14 strategies to help manage these behaviors,” said Johnson.

The strategies include identifying children’s behaviors that are most problematic for foster and adoptive parents, identifying tactics for dealing effectively with these behaviors and responding effectively. The afternoon session of the presentation involved class participation where foster and adoptive parents were able to share their own insights.

The conference’s theme was “Shining the Spotlight—A Decade of Dedication.” Conference attendance was free to members of NCFAPA, and the event was held at the Twin City Quarter Embassy Suites and Marriott in Winston-Salem.

“This event is for Foster and Adoptive Parents who care for vulnerable children 24/7, 365 days a year. They have a really tough job because these children don’t want to be with this family in the beginning, and a lot of them have problematic behaviors because of the emotional trauma present in their lives. These parents love these children unconditionally, and they are willing to open their hearts and homes to them for very little pay,” said Johnson.

According to Fostering Perspectives, a publication sponsored by the N.C. Division of Social Services and the Family and Children’s Resource Program, there were approximately 11,309 children in Foster Care in North Carolina in 2006.

Johnson added, “This number shows the need to appreciate our Foster and Adoptive Parents. May is National Foster Care Awareness Month, and as a community we can all help support our Foster Parents and Children. Our keynote speaker at the conference was Ms. Karen McLeod, CEO of the Children and Family Services Association of North Carolina. She stated in her speech that it costs more in some areas of our state to board a dog than to provide care for a foster child. The average rate is $14 a day for a child in foster care. Ms. McLeod also said that voters can change this by contacting their local representatives and asking them to champion an increase for reimbursement rates for Foster Parents.”
If you are interested in becoming an advocate for a foster child, click to www.forgetmenot-nc.com.

Rainbow Center – Children & Family Services (RCCFS) offers a full spectrum of human services to vulnerable populations throughout Northwestern North Carolina. The agency’s Bridges Foster Care program recruits, trains, and supports Foster Parents, as well as provides a safe and loving home environment for children placed in Foster Care. For more information about this program, contact Kim Johnson at kjohnson@rccfs.com or 336-667-3333.