I am excited to announce that the tentative schedule for the Attachment & Trauma Network Conference is up on the website. It’s going to be a fantastic conference!

If you’ve never attended a conference full of foster and adoptive parents, you are in for a real treat. It is amazing to be in a room full of people who are dealing with the same joys and struggles as you are. The conversations that take place are like nowhere else you will ever be.

The conference has several wonderful presenters, an incredible key note and for the first time, a whole afternoon with sessions focused on taking care of yourself. What a concept!

The conference is being held at The Franciscan Center in Andover, Massachusetts. The Franciscan is a retreat center. The conference that we held two years ago in Georgia was held at a retreat center as well and the people who attended loved it. They got to get away from the hectic life that they normally live and be some place peaceful where they could kick back, relax and be among friends, and there were great friendships formed in the few days we were there.

One of the wonderful things about this conference, besides being with “like minded” people is the fact that lodging and meals are included in the price of the conference. However, lodging is limited, so if you want to attend, get your registration in as soon as you can. There is other lodging available, but it will cost you extra.

The “social schedule” has not been finalized yet, but we have had some great things in the evenings. We’ve had a comedy improv group, Harry and Bess Truman showed up last year, “Café Zebra” with music, refreshments and a chance to get to know each other are just some of the things that we have done.

This entire conference is focused on the parents and how they can better help and understand their kids. We understand that there are so many variables involved in parenting traumatized children, and you can’t help your child without the proper knowledge or at least a place to start finding resources. That is our goal; to help families.

I hope to see you at the conference. One thing I can promise you is a few days full of laughs and fun. Besides, you can meet Julie, Nancy and me live and in person. Isn’t that reason enough? :)

Photo credit - ATN conference 2007