A Future and a Hope Conference Program

Welcome Community Opportunities Keynote Speakers Friday Schedule Saturday Schedule Breakout Session 1 Breakout Session 2 Breakout Session 3 Map Social Media Sponsors Giveaways

Please tag Fostering Hope and use #AFAH2022 when posting pictures of the conference!

Welcome!

We are so very glad you are here!

The theme this year for AFAH Conference is “A Seat at the Kids’ Table”. Fostering Hope wants to challenge you to think about this: What if fostering or supporting the foster community is seen as an act of hospitality?

Having a seat at the kids’ table means offering rest, nourishment, and even some fun to children and their families. Showing hospitality by caring for children and the adults who come with them- their parents, caseworkers, foster families, attorneys, and advocates.

As you go through today and are inspired by the great connections and words of wisdom shared. Will you consider, how you can invite a child into your home or provide support to the adults who care for these children directly?

Fostering Hope provides many opportunities for service, continuing education, and finding community. If you are already sitting at the kid’s table as a foster, kinship, or adoptive parent we hope to provide encouragement and resources. You can find the links to all our support services below.

Thank you for coming and having A Seat at the Kid’s Table with us.

It’s a delightful place to be!

More Education

More Community

More Service

Schedule

Friday
February 25
2022

6:00-6:30	6:30-6:45	6:45-8:30	8:40
Enjoy Dinner and Fellowship at Your Table	Welcome and Introductions	Dr. Clarence Hill Presents "In The Dream Clock"	Dismiss

Saturday
February 26
2022

8:30-9:00 AM	Check-in		Worship Center
9:00-10:30 AM	Welcome and General Session	SaulPaul Rosaria Butterfield L.J. McCulloch Julie Kouri	Worship Center
10:30-10:45 AM	Break	Coffee, Snacks	Education Bldg 3
10:45-11:40 AM	Breakout Session 1		Education Bldg 3
11:40-12:15 PM	Lunch		Edu Bldg 3 - 3rd Floor
12:15-11:10 PM	Breakout Session 2		Education Bldg 3
1:10-1:20 PM	Break		Education Bldg 3
1:20-2:15 PM	Breakout Session 3		Education Bldg 3
2:15 PM-2:25 PM	Break	Movie Snacks	Worship Center
2:25-3:30 PM	General Session Julie Kouri	"Take A Chance On Me" Film by The Archibald Project	Worship Center

Keynote Speakers

About Dr. Clarence Hill Jr.

Dr. Clarence Hill Jr. is the founder and lead visionary for the Stronger Together Movement. He is the Senior Pastor of Antioch Community Church in Norman, Oklahoma. He has been married to Alicia for twenty- two years and has four children ages 18 to 7.

Dr. Hill is the creator of the Dream
Clock. His work with the Dream Clock was
highlighted as a solution to the racial and
political division in The Oklahoman for 12
weeks. The Oklahoman identified Clarence as a “Leading Voice For Change”. The Dream Clock presentation has impacted several Oklahoma organizations including Devon Energy, Chesapeake, Bank of America, Leadership Oklahoma and many more.

Dr. Hill’s work specializes in addressing difficult social issues and areas of conflict (such as family fragmentation and race relations). He facilitates several strategic city collaboratives, forums, conferences, and campaigns. He speaks across the country on the topic of city transformation, racial harmony, leadership, and compassion.

Since 2015, he has hosted The Bridge conference to strategically raise awareness and connect leaders across several spheres of influence from varied backgrounds and wealth classes. This conference birthed the United Voice Oklahoma (UnitedVoiceOK.org) initiative – a collaboration of the local television stations (Channels 4, 5, 9, and 25), newspaper (The Oklahoman), and radio (Tyler Media), a first-of-its-kind solution in the country for promoting racial harmony in cities. During the racial tension of 2016, Clarence led a partnership that gathered leaders (police and fire chiefs, principals and superintendents, and government, media, and business leaders) from OKC and surrounding cities to cast vision for a healthy response to these challenges. In 2018, Clarence helped birth the United Voice Podcast to continue to create shared understanding and conversation around justice and race relations.

In 2019, Dr. Hill and another Stronger Together team birthed the annual Neighbors Conference to help the faith community build bridges cross-culturally and understand social challenges.

Dr. Hill has also developed and led trainings in leadership and cultural competence. His Compassion Training has reached several organizations, teachers unions, local universities, student leadership organizations, and churches. He is often called upon by city leaders as a mediator and reconciler, being well-known for diplomacy, truthfulness, and an ability to remain objective.

Dr. Hill also helps start unified prayer efforts like City Prayer and several other initiatives which seek to create spaces and mobilize communities toward systemic change and practical solutions that bring positive, long-term results for everyone.

Dr. Hill has been involved in several efforts to promote family restoration – a former member of the Family Policy Institute of Oklahoma and Marriage Network Oklahoma, and co-founder of the original Eye to Eye Marriage Enrichment Community.

*1 CEU Credit Available

About Dr. Rosaria Butterfield

Rosaria Butterfield (PhD, Ohio State University) is an author, speaker, pastor’s wife, homeschool mom, and former professor of English and women’s studies at Syracuse University. She is the author of The Gospel Comes with a House Key: Practicing Radically Ordinary Hospitality in Our Post- Christian World. Rosaria explores how God used a humble couple’s simple invitation to dinner to draw her to

himself. With this story of her conversion as a backdrop, she invites us into her home to show us how God can use this same “radical, ordinary hospitality” to bring the gospel to our lost friends and neighbors. Such hospitality sees our homes as not our own, but as God’s tools for the furtherance of his kingdom as we welcome those who look, think, believe, and act differently from us into our everyday, sometimes messy lives—helping them see what true Christian faith really looks like.

Rosaria is zealous for hospitality, loves her family, cherishes dogs, and enjoys coffee.

*1 CEU Credit Available

About SaulPaul

GRAMMY Award-nominated artist SaulPaul has garnered an international reputation as a Musician with a Message. Part rapper/part singer-songwriter, SaulPaul is an entertaining artist who blends his voice, his guitar, and his loop pedal to create a live show that is nothing less than an experience. SaulPaul shares his art with his heart and has been inspiring audiences through his music. He says “I believe that my voice, lessons learned from my journey and my input are more important than ever at this time. I had to release this music because timing is everything. My grandmother taught me that being kind makes a difference. And it is my belief that by being kind, you can Be The Change.”

Breakout Session 1
10:45-11:40 AM

Exploring Tracks

Post Placement Tracks

Supporting or Professional Roles Tracks

Room #309

Anna Valdez

Bio

After her teaching career, Anna Valdez served as Program Coordinator and primary caregiver for 17 teenage girls in Monterrey, Mexico.  She has successfully implemented programming as a TCU TBRI® Practitioner and a Trauma Competent Caregiver Affiliate Trainer for Back2Back Ministries. Anna worked for Fostering Hope for five years where she developed audience-specific curriculum and coordinated trauma informed efforts for volunteers, churches, support groups, foster parents and caregivers, and institutions, locally and internationally.

The Science of Hope

In this introductory session, we will review the neuroscience and attachment research, and develop an understanding of how the heart, mind, body,
and soul heal from complex trauma. This training
can grow our compassion and lead to healing, transformation, and hope in the life of the people you serve! When you understand that a one’s behavior can be rooted in their early history, it can help you see the need behind their behavior and support their healing.

This training is for those who serve people in any way, including ministry leaders, parents, teachers, and community members.

*1 CEU Credit Available

Room #213

Jacob Huereca

Bio

Jacob Huereca is currently the Chief Executive Officer for Connections Individual and Family Services in New Braunfels, Texas. Prior to joining Connections, Jacob spent the majority of his career working with at-risk youth and their families. Jacob received his undergraduate social work degree from Colorado State University-Pueblo and his Master's degree in social work from The University of Texas at Austin. Jacob is a sought-after trainer as a Trust Based Relational Practitioner in the Austin area.

Jacob is the father of 6 children, has been a foster parent on two separate occasions and has two adopted children. Jacob is originally from Las Vegas, Nevada but considers Texas his home! He loves his faith, fishing, and being outdoors and spending time with his children.

Avoiding the Power Struggle: Finding Peace with Your Teen

The teenage years can be a difficult transition for adolescents and adults who love them. With all the stress the world puts on our teens we want to make sure they find a safe space with us. While still helping them develop into healthy attached adults no matter how long we have with them!

So what does it look like to be a safe adult in the life of an adolescent who has experienced loss, trauma,
or the foster care system? How do we actively parent with peace and not in conflict?

*1 CEU Credit Available

Room #303

Krista Ruff

Bio

Krista Ruff is a social worker and formerly worked at Child Protective Services. While working there she said she would never become a foster parent… however God had different plans!  Krista and her husband were called to foster in 2015 and are now parents to 4 children, through biology, adoption and the foster care system.  Krista is passionate about parent support and advocacy.   Krista attends Vertical Chapel and is a Fostering Hope Regional Coordinator providing support to primarily southside churches.

Patty Madden and her husband are foster and adoptive parents.  Patty comes from another organization from the West coast that was dedicated to supporting church ministries, and she comes with a wealth of wisdom!  Patty attends Mosaic Church and is a Fostering Hope Regional Coordinator providing support to primarily northside churches.

Until There’s Enough: Effectively Engaging Your Church

Room #204

Judge Aurora Martinez Jones

Bio

The Honorable Aurora Martinez Jones is elected to the 126th District Court bench and is responsible for the oversight and administration of all Travis County Termination of Parental Rights civil lawsuits filed by the Travis County District Attorney's Office on behalf of the Child Protective Services division of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. Judge Martinez Jones received both her undergraduate degree and law degree from The University of Texas at Austin and the School of Law, respectively. She is committed to progressive approaches for supporting the children and families who appear before her and also aims to use her court as a teaching ground for legal professionals and up-and-coming lawyers.

Stories from the Bench: Advice for Parents & Advocates

Judge Martinez Jones will speak towards the changing climate of the Texas child welfare courts and what ways the courts are working ‘up-stream’ to support foster and adoptive families to better prepare children and families for true permanency. With this perspective, Judge Martinez Jones will share some ways she has seen foster parents and adoptive parents advocate effectively for their children on her docket. She’ll offer advice for parents still facing a lengthy court case or the parent who is struggling to find resources after finalizing an adoption.

*1 CEU Credits Available

Lisa Ho

Bio

Lisa Ho is an Austin native and foster/adoptive mom whose "foster only" plan was interrupted when the reunification for her two foster sons didn't come to fruition. She adopted her sons in March 2019. She works as a Business Analyst at a large technology company, and is passionate about foster care awareness.

Lisa has contributed to building a Christ-minded singles community and helped create support for foster/adopt parents. In her rare free time she loves to go two-stepping, salsa dancing, and write.

You can visit her blog mamalisafosters.com for some encouraging, real-life stories about Jesus, foster care, and singleness.

Never Alone: Building Your Support System

Breakout Session 2
12:15-1:10 PM

Janice Reyes

Bio

Janice Reyes is a wife and mother of three middle schoolers. With her husband, she has been raising them in Austin for the last 12 years. She is passionate about seeing kids everywhere grow to feel known and loved. This passion has taken her from teaching middle school science in Bronx, NY, where she received a Masters in Science Education, to advocating in the foster care community as a foster and adoptive mother and TBRI Practitioner, to now pursuing another Masters degree in Marriage and Family Counseling. All this has equipped and prepared her to help bring hope and healing to children and families in Austin.

Parenting Towards Resilience: TBRI® Overview

TBRI® is an attachment-based, trauma-informed intervention that is designed to meet the complex needs of vulnerable children. TBRI® uses Empowering Principles to address physical needs, Connecting Principles for attachment needs, and Correcting Principles to disarm fear-based behaviors. While the intervention is based on years of attachment, sensory processing, and neuroscience research, the heartbeat of TBRI® is connection.

Room #213

Dr. Michelle Reyes

Bio

Michelle Ami Reyes, PhD, is the Vice President of the Asian American Christian Collaborative, and the Scholar in Residence at Hope Community Church. She is the author of Becoming All Things: How Small Changes Lead to Lasting Connections Across Cultures, co-author of the forthcoming book The Race-Wise Family: Ten Postures to Becoming Households of Healing and Hope, and a writing fellow at Mission Alliance. She lives in Austin, Texas with her pastor husband and two amazing kids.

Multiracial Hospitality: 3 Steps to Fostering A Culture of Welcome

As we continue to learn about family fragmentation and racial reconciliation, we recognize that foster care offers the uniquely organic (and often mandatory) experience of welcoming people into our homes that come from different cultures and backgrounds. From the children placed in our homes, to the professionals that come in to support them, Dr. Reyes will give us 3 ways to foster a culture of welcome in our homes,
for the good of our family and our communities.

*1 CEU Credit Available

Judge Ryan Larson

Bio

On March 22, 2016, following his primary election victory, Ryan D. Larson was appointed by Governor Greg Abbott as judge of the 395th District Court. Judge Larson was sworn in on April 4, 2016. U.S. Congressman John Carter, a former district court judge, administered the oath of office at the standing-room only event. 

Judge Larson is married with two beautiful children that greatly enrich his life. The Larson family worships at a local church, where Judge Larson teaches bible study.

In the Courts: Navigating The Foster Care System

Gina Gonsoulin

Bio

Shifting our Mindset: Keeping Families Together

Room #212

Room #212

Room #212

Julie Clarke & June Waters

Bios

Julie-

Julie Clarke is a wife and mother of two. Her family lives in Steiner Ranch and attends Austin Christian Fellowship. Julie was adopted as a child. Over her lifetime, she has grown to understand some of the ways that adoption impacted her life, both the good and the bad. She wants to share that part of her experience with others who are exploring or caring for other adoptees. Julie has a passion for all things creative. She enjoys discovering more of her creative side and helping others discover their own creative passions. Julie’s heart is to pour into the lives of the women and children around her, especially those in vulnerable circumstances.

June-

June Waters and her 3 siblings were adopted from the foster care system by the Waters family when June was 13 years old. They grew up in Austin, Texas. She earned her Masters in Healthcare Administration and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Houston – Clear Lake. June enjoys bringing people, ideas, and inspiration together and hopes to form a dialogue that shares a unique perspective from an adopted teenager. She also has high hopes to encourage and empower current and former foster youth to pursue their dreams by sharing her story and being a CASA volunteer. 

Adoptee Voices Panel

During this panel session, we will be focus
on elevating two adoptee voices and their own experiences. Having been adopted at birth and out
of the foster care system, Julie and June will answer questions like what are some of the joys of adoption? What are some of the challenges you’ve faced as an adoptee? And what are some ways we can effectively support the children/youth in our lives who have been adopted into our families?

Come to this session, moderated by Jordan Hope Vera, ready to hear their stories and a chance to engage in Q&A with these two adoptees as
they graciously share with us their own lived experience.

Room #310

Tanya Rollins

Bio

Disproportionality in the Foster Care System

In a 2020 research study done by CASA of Travis County showed that even though children who were identified as BIPOC made up only 42.7% of the general population, they represented over 76% of the number of children in foster care. This phenomenon is referred to as disproportionality and it’s effects can be seen throughout the foster care system.

Join Tanya N. Rollins, who has spent over 30 years working in the child welfare system, as she guides us through learning practical ways that YOU can help change these implications for the system and for the children in your home.

*1 CEU Credits Available

Breakout Session 3
1:20-2:15 PM

Room #209

Room #209

Room #209

Jordan Hope Vera
Lee Vann
Sharifa Groenendal
Mark Acosta

Bios

Jordan-

Jordan Hope Vera is a Fostering Hope Trainer, Program Coordinator and TCU TBRI® Practitioner. Jordan has implemented trauma informed care in her direct care work in residential care and with aged-out youth and young adults who were court involved, experiencing homelessness, and/or survivors of trafficking. Jordan has the honor of being a stand-in mama and “Titi” to many of the youth she has opened her home and heart to along the way. She is a founding member of Eastside Community Church in East Austin and relies heavily on the grace of the Gospel to parent her children. Jordan Hope and her daughter Elizabeth Grace live in Austin, TX. Their family was officially established through adoption in February 2020.

Lee-

Lee Vann is a life-long animal lover who turned that passion into a career as a dog trainer. She is passionate about using her own experience in foster care and residential treatment centers (RTCs) to challenge the way the foster care system is viewed by society and run currently. She hopes her story will be an inspiration to those who care for others like her and who have had to be a part of this system. Lee is the 2021 recipient of Foster Angel’s Resilience Award. Lee currently lives with her dog, Sam in the Austin area.

Mark-

Mark Acosta is a music lover from Rotan, TX. He is sharing his own experience from residential foster care to relate with and encourage other current or former foster youth (FFY). Mark was adopted out of residential care at the age of 16 by his biological sister. He hopes that by sharing this part of their adoption story, he can encourage others to better care for kids and teens coming out of the foster care system. Mark is currently attending nursing school where he is working towards his LVN.

Sharifa-

Sharifa Groenendal is a college student who enjoys practicing her creativity through painting. Sharifa entered foster care at the age of 6 and was adopted at the age of 18. She enjoys doing her nails and listening to music. Sharifa currently lives in Fort Hood, Texas and is pursuing her social work degree at a local college.

Former Foster Youth Teen Panel

Jordan Hope Vera will moderate a panel discussion highlighting the experiences of 3 young adults
and their lived experience as foster and adopted teenagers. June, Lee and Mark will share about some of the challenges and surprising joys of having been involved in the foster care system. They hope their stories will encourage others to take a chance on teens in care and help those parenting to not give up when it gets hard!

*1 CEU Credit Available

Room #213

Amber Chessar

Bio

Remaining Hopeful in Grief

Even though we know that it is a possibility in foster care, we aren’t always prepared for the grief we experience when a child returns to their biological family or moves to their forever home. A discussion surrounding the grief woven throughout foster care and adoption. This talk will address the times grief
is present, why it is experienced, and how to take care of yourself and your loved ones. Learn from Amber Chesser, MS, LPC, NCC who will speak on the hope, joy, and grief that is rolled up together when reunification takes place.

*1 CEU Credits Available

Room #303

Ashlee Carroll

Bio

Ashlee Carroll is a wife, bio/foster mom, author, and lover of Jesus. She spent over 8 years advocating for children in the foster care system through volunteering as a CASA and being a foster mom. The Carroll’s have opened their hearts and home to many children from all types of backgrounds. Ashlee is grateful for the opportunity to help raise awareness and to shed light on the foster care system. If she is not outdoors with her boys, you will find her sipping coffee with a friend or jamming worship music in her car.

Are They Ready for This? Protecting My Kids at Home

When we felt God calling us into foster care, we had a lot of questions to wrestle with. One of those major questions was, how will this affect our bio children? Which then lead to many others like: How do we help prepare them? Will they understand? How do we talk to them about being a foster family? How do you help them handle hello and goodbye?

If you have children already in your home and have had these same questions, join us and hear from a seasoned foster mom turned author. She took her family’s struggle to locate resources to these questions and turned it into a children’s book for families just like you.

Room #309

Danny Cook

Bio

The Joy in Adoption

As the conversation around pro-life increases, adoption also comes up as a viable option for mothers who must relinquish their choice to parent. The grief and loss that comes with adoption, has long been scrutinized and many fear the unknown outcomes that could be experienced when welcoming a child into your home through adoption.

Senior Pastor Danny Cook at Legacy Church will explain how the joy in adoption can dramatically overcomes the grief and loss. He will also explain the importance of adoption minded people to have realistic expectations.

Room #308

Colleen Benefield

Bio

Colleen Benefield has been married to her high school sweetheart, Josh, for twenty years. They have two biological daughters, ages 14 and 12, and in August of 2020 they became guardians of their two teenage nieces. Colleen serves on her church's women's Bible study teaching team and is active in PTA.  When not volunteering at school or church, Colleen enjoys freelance writing, walking their nutty mini-poodle, and listening to podcasts.  

Breaking the Cycle: Navigating Kinship Placements

Are you parenting a child or teen that joined
your home through kinship placement? Do you struggle with the “curve ball” your family has been thrown and sometimes you feel like it is more of
an obligation to parent these kids placed in your home? Be encouraged and receive practical and inspirational tips from someone who has a kinship placement. Colleen will share how to navigate some of the big questions and concerns when you become the parent or guardian of a family member’s children.

Room #310

Krista Ruff & Patty Madden

Bios

Krista-

Patty-

Saying Yes: What’s my Next Right Step?

Spread The Word!

Use #AFAH2022 when posting pictures of the conference!

Welcome!

Schedule

Keynote Speakers

Breakout Session 110:45-11:40 AM

10:45-11:40 AM

Breakout Session 212:15-1:10 PM

12:15-1:10 PM

Breakout Session 31:20-2:15 PM

1:20-2:15 PM

Spread The Word!

Breakout Session 1
10:45-11:40 AM

Breakout Session 2
12:15-1:10 PM

Breakout Session 3
1:20-2:15 PM