Triggers -- Understanding from a Child's Perspective Part 1

Credit: Marty Figley

By John Ross
Reprinted with permission 

Have you ever smelled something and it brought back memories from your childhood? I opened a container of raw oatmeal and for some reason decided to smell it, and there was an instant memory from my childhood of me eating raw oatmeal. The memory was vivid, the taste of the raw oatmeal was fresh in my mouth; I even saw myself in the memory, reaching in the box and getting a handful and putting it in my mouth and eating it. This would have been over 50 years ago for me. The thing that caught my attention the most was; how “instantly” the memory came. It was very abrupt, without warning, it was just there, playing in full and very detailed. And all I did was smell the raw oatmeal.

2013 NFPA Conference -- Day 6 -- Closing Session

Congratulations to all of our conference award winners! Lunch was fantastic and our awardees are a great group of people (look for the full listing and more photos upcoming in our NFPA News).

Well, our 43rd Annual National Foster Parent Association conference is coming to a close. We hope that you have enjoyed meeting up with old friends and gaining new ones, while enjoying the wealth of information provided by our workshop presenters and keynote speakers.

On our agenda today:

Registration Open
8 – 9 a.m.

Exhibits Open
8 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Morning Coffee

Closing Session
Advocacy 
Facilitator: Christine James-Brown, President and CEO, Child Welfare League of America Presenters: Irene Clements, President, NFPA; Eileen Mayers Prasztor, Professor, School of Social Work, California State University; David Sharp, Public Policy Chair, NFPA; and Rhonda Sciortino, Christian Speaker/Author
9 a.m. – Noon

Have a safe trip back home!

2013 NFPA Conference -- Day 5

If you missed yesterday's luncheon, you missed something great! Not only did we have the pleasure of hearing Philip Browning speak about his vision for Los Angeles County's Department of Children and Family Services -- and his brief role as a kinship caregiver -- but we also witnessed foster parents having fun with the surfer/beach bum contest -- for the kids of course.

Today a very important meeting -- our General Membership Meeting -- will take place. We need to hear from you, our foster parents, on on how we can serve YOUR needs. Thank you for the great feedback you've given us so far in individual meetings over the last few days!

On our agenda today:

2013 NFPA Conference -- Day 4

Judge Thomas "Britt" Hammond was awesome yesterday! He had us grooving to music while encouraging foster parents to keep at it -- because a child's life depends on it.

Conference attendees, please stop by the Message in a Bottle display to write a quick note -- funds from each bottle "purchase" will go toward NFPA's Youth Scholarship Fund. Here are a few that we have already:

Our board has also been having a little fun while working hard ... public policy chair David Sharp will surely appreciate this message in a bottle:

Well, today we find out who's the best-dressed beach dude or dudette during lunch. Don't forget to check out the photos later!

On our agenda today:

2013 NFPA Conference -- Day 3 -- Opening Session!

Today is Day 3 -- the Opening Session!

Be sure to participate in NFPA's Beachy Scavenger Hunt. Hidden in the exhibit hall among the exhibits are several beach-themed items. Use the flyer in your conference bag and locate all the items, and obtain the signature of the exhibitor where the item was found. Don't forget to return your paper to the scavenger hunt table. One lucky winner will win a free conference registration to the 2014 NFPA conference in Orlando, Florida!

Our agenda for today:

Registration Open
8 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Exhibits Open
8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Morning Coffee and First-Time Attendees Meeting
8–8:45 a.m.

Opening Session
Keynote Speaker: The Honorable Thomas B. “Britt” Hammond
9–10:15 a.m.

Session A Workshops
10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Regional Vice Presidents Meeting
1:30 – 3 p.m.

Council of the Local Affiliates Meeting
1:30 – 3 p.m.

Session B Workshops
1:30 – 4:30 p.m.

Meet and Greet
5 – 6 p.m.

Please wear your best surfer/beach bum wear tomorrow (Thursday)! We will have lifeguards looking around during our luncheon to spot the best and most enthusiastic beachgoer.

2013 NFPA Conference -- Day 2

We're here for Day 2 of the 43rd Annual Education Conference in Long Beach!

Yesterday's meetings were productive. Special guest Joe Kroll, of the North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC), joined us to discuss a possible collaboration among NFPA, NACAC and Generations United. We're excited about the possibility of working with these great partners!

NFPA secretary Heather Hosmer, NFPA president Irene Clements and NACAC executive director Joe Kroll

On our agenda for today:

Council of State Affiliates Meeting
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Registration
2 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Exhibit Setup
3 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Get ready to have a "beachy" time tomorrow!

Good morning, Long Beach!

The National Foster Parent Association is waking up to a great day in Long Beach for the 43rd Annual Education Conference.

On our agenda for today:

NFPA Board of Directors Meeting
9 a.m. -- Noon

Joint NFPA Board of Directors and Council of State Affiliates Meeting
1:30 -- 5 p.m.

Conference starts Wednesday, June 5!