Workshops & Training
A Word About The Trainer
Carol Dolber McMurray, MSW, ACSW, has worked with and on behalf of children and families for over thirty five years, in Community Prevention Services and Foster Care and Adoption Services. She is Principal with Child & Family Development and Consultation Services where she serves as a Trainer/ Adoption and Life Book Consultant, working with different public and private agencies to provide pre-service and in-service foster, resource and adoptive parent training as well as workshops on child and family issues. She helps children and teens who are in foster care or adopted to create their own Life Books.
Carol has been trained in Creative Conflict Resolution and, "Peer Mediation" and provides workshops and seminars on conflict resolution techniques, communication and problem-solving strategies, group and family dynamics. She is a Parent Educator/Consultant and a Nationally Recognized Trainer/ Consultant with the Nurturing Parenting® Programs, an evidenced based family education program which helps in the treatment and prevention of child abuse and neglect.
Workshops & Training
1) LIFE BOOKS: A HELPING PROCESS & PRODUCT
The introductory workshop examines the meaning and purpose of Life Books, presents some different types, provides a reference of what to include. The more in-depth workshop also examines the roles of the Team Members, discusses barriers, and how to get started. This training has also been presented as a 4 to 6 hour training, where in the 2nd half, children work with their parent and/or worker to start their Life Book.
2) WORKING WITH BIRTH FAMILIES, the FAMILY OF ORIGIN
This workshop explores further the concept of foster/resource/adoptive parents bridging the gap with birth parents. Strategies are presented and discussed on how we improve our effectiveness in helping children by engaging & helping their birth families. A modification of this workshop has also been called "Families Helping Families".
3) CHILD ENTERING AND FAMILY ADJUSTMENT
This workshop focuses on the impact of the child entering the foster and/or adoptive family. Some different strategies that a family can use to prepare for or adjust to this change are identified. [Workshop #1 and #2 can be combined for resource parent training.]
4) CHILD LEAVING AND FOSTER FAMILY ADJUSTMENT
This workshop focuses on the impact of the child's leaving on the foster or resource family. Some different strategies are then identified to help parents prepare their family and adjust to the leaving. (Workshops #1 and #2 can be combined.)
5) SEPARATION, LOSS, and ATTACHMENT
This workshop can provide an overview or more in-depth material on separation, loss, and attachment for the foster &/or adopted child. Ways parents can help in these areas are explored.
6) RE-EDUCATION, RE-PARENTING of FOSTER & ADOPTED CHILDREN, STRATEGIES PARENTS CAN USE
This workshop utilizes some foundational work of Dr. Vera Fahlberg, author of A Child's Journey Through Placement, The program focuses on (7) main areas of re-education of children who have been maltreated. Some re-education strategies foster and adoptive parents can use will be identified and practiced in helping children change their behavior and heal. To cover all seven ( 7) areas, 4.5 hours is needed. However 2 or 3 areas can be identified and the workshop focus only on those areas w/ 2.5 hrs.
7) RESOLVING CONFLICTS WITHOUT RAISING THE ROOF
Since conflict is a part of everyday life in family and in work situations, this workshop looks at how to respond to conflict in more effective or constructive ways. Different techniques are practiced, depending on time allotted.
8) UTILIZING THE FAMILY MEETING
This program presents some of the "whys and how-tos" of a family meeting, and what can be accomplished to strengthen family communication and decision making. One model is practiced.
9) EFFECTIVE DISCIPLINE
This program examines the positive nature of discipline, and then identifies some different non-physical behavior management techniques. Opportunities to practice a couple techniques are part of this workshop. (This training is best presented over a four to six hour time frame.)
10) TOOLS TO HELP A CHILD DEAL WITH THE BLANKS
This workshop identifies some of the different tools adults (parents, workers, and other helping professionals) can use to help a child/adolescent recapture and understand more about some of the missing pieces in their lives. A Life Book is only one tool identified in this program.
11) HELPING CHILDREN HANDLE TEASING
This program looks at teasing and its relationship to self-esteem and then explores some ways foster and/or adoptive parents can help their children respond when faced with teasing. This topic has also been addressed with children in their own program.
12) FINDING THE WIN-WIN: HELPING INDIVIDUALS RESOLVE CONFLICTS
This workshop is designed to increase participants under-standing of the conflict cycle which operates within each of us; to explore how this cycle affects our responses to conflicts; and to increase participants' problem-solving skills by practicing two (2) specific techniques which can be taught to other adults and teenagers.
13) DIFFUSING ANGER, BEFORE THE VOLCANO ERUPTS!
This workshop looks at some creative and/or practical" ways to diffuse anger before it begins to intensify, whether in adult-to-adult or parent-to-child situations? Some "how- tos" or "approaches" to use in work and personal settings to prevent the eruption of the volcano are identified".
14) FACILITATION AND GROUP DYNAMICS
This one day training is designed to increase knowledge and skills around adult learning, group development, group roles, and facilitation. The workshop material has application to working with any adult group, including an individual family in the home.
15) Maltreatment, Trauma, and the Brain
This workshop designed for foster/resource/adoptive parents, explores 3 areas:
1) what is involved in healthy brain development;
2) how can the experience of maltreatment impact the brain and a child's development;
3) with the above information, what can a parent do to promote healthy brain development and help