Breakout Sessions

Breakout sessions  cover many aspects of caring for orphans, including local church ministry, adoption, foster care, and international orphan care.   You will be prompted during your online registration to select your preferred breakout sessions.

The list of topics and descriptions below is not exhaustive and will be updated prior to the event.

BREAKOUT SESSION I

Adopting Outside Your Skin Color
Dan Cruver, Together for Adoption

This session is all about equipping multi-ethnic families to live in our complicated race-conscious culture for the glory of God, the good of their family, and for the sake of the gospel.

HIV and Its Effect on the Orphan Crisis
Susan Hillis

CDC research scientist, Dr. Susan Hillis, discusses the Human Immunodeficiency virus and its affect on the global orphan crisis, and the implications for future church involvement.

First Steps in Adoption
Mark Unger, Bethany Christian Services

Many people either have considered or currently are considering the prospect of adopting a child.  So how do you proceed?  What resources are available to assist in this very important and life changing decision?  What are the costs involved?  Is there financial support available?  What are the risks?  These questions and more will be answered during this very informative session.

Orphans: Grieving Trauma-Produced Losses
Phyllis Kilbourn, Crisis Care Training International

Prior to being placed for adoption, many orphans have experienced abuse, abandonment or exploitation that has caused significant childhood losses.  Such losses impact children emotionally, spiritually and behaviorally.  This breakout session examines the impact of trauma on children and instructs caregivers on how to help children grieve their trauma-produced losses, enabling them to experience God’s  healing and to bring closure to their traumatic experience.

Just Do It: How to take an idea and turn it into a non-profit
Laurel Greer, Christina Kyllonen and Heather Hohenwarter, 4-More

A panel discussion on how to start a non-profit organization.  The discussion will include topics of partnerships, marketing, development and finance.

Foster Care and Adoption Through the Child Welfare System
Kate Eberz, Lancaster County Children and Youth

This session will cover the child welfare system and how it operates.  We will discuss foster care and adoption from the child welfare system as well as some of the needs of children who enter foster care.

Engaging Your Church in International Orphan Care
Jesse Blaine, World Orphans

An informative discussion of Church 2 Church Partnerships, Continuum of Care, and Long-term Sustainability in International Orphan Care.

Help Wanted: How Every Season of Life can Advocate for Orphans
Andy Lehman, Lifesong

Learn how to draw creatively upon the unique capabilities and ways each person can serve at several stages of life

BREAKOUT SESSION II

Exploring Solutions: What Does Justice Mean for Orphans Overseas
Jeff Thompson, Eastern European Outreach

We all agree that children, at-risk or otherwise, need proper education, a safe loving home environment, basic medical care, and mentors, friends, or a church that will assist them in their development. This seminar will help you to focus on the bigger picture and provide biblical guidelines to accomplishing your goals in the context of God’s Justice for orphans.

Becoming an Adoption Friendly Church: 20 Ways to Look After Orphans
Paul Golden, Baptist Bible Seminary

Churches can and should play a crucial role in encouraging member to “look after orphans in their distress.”  This session will provide practical and specific ideas on how to become an adoption-friendly church.  Come prepared to share your ideas with the group as well.

Engaging the Youth Culture to Care for Orphans
Ellie Mestas

This breakout will discuss practical ways to engage the youth culture in your church to care for orphans and to ignite a passion for adoption and orphan care in our young people.

Bringing Them Home: Facilitating Attachment in Foster and Adopted Children
Cheryl Nitz, ABC of Pennsylvania

We long to have a deep connection with our children, but sometimes it does not come as easily as we had hoped.  Children who have joined their families after experiencing institutionalization, abuse, neglect or other trauma face some specific challenges.  During this workshop we will discuss how attachment develops for both child and parent, and will emphasize practical tools to ease a child’s transition and facilitate attachment, allowing them to fully experience our love and ultimately, their Heavenly Father’s love.

Panel Discussion: Special Needs Adoption
Susan Seavers

What is “special needs,” anyway?  Adopting the older child, the “disabled” child, the HIV-infected child, or the child with “baggage.”

Developing and Sustaining an Orphan Care Ministry in Your Church
Jeff Nitz, Bethany Christian Services

This session will cover practical steps for starting an orphan ministry and the often more difficult challenge of sustaining this with the support and engagment of church leadership.

More Than Chocolate: The Milton Hershey Story
Mike Wagner, Milton Hershey School

Having no children of their own, chocolate magnate Milton Hershey and his wife donated their entire personal fortune to the care and education of orphaned and disadvantaged children.  This breakout session will include an overview of the Hershey story, a tour of the Milton Hershey School’s Founder’s Hall and a student home.

Panel Discussion: Your Business and the Orphan
Brett Irwin, Saints Coffee
David Abel, DAS-Roadpro
Deana Jones, Deana Jones Orchestra

Join us for an informative discussion on how to engage your business to care for orphans, both domestically and internationally.

BREAKOUT SESSION III

Disrupted Adoption
Ted Youmans

Trends and truths about disrupted adoptions; resources to assist with respite and/or replacement of child and related laws.

Positively Adopting Children with HIV/AIDS
Carolyn Twietmeyer, Project Hopeful

Join us in discovering the realities of adopting and raising children with HIV.  Understand the reality of HIV in the U.S. through our Pediatric Infectious Disease specialists from the University of Chicago.  Learn the legal and immigration requirements and take a look at real life raising children with HIV/AIDS.  Slay the stigma!

Overcoming Financial Obstacles to Adoption
Jason Kovacs, ABBA Fund

“But adoption is so expensive; we’d never be able to afford it!”  Join us for a discussion on adoption funding options including the adoption tax credit, grants and no-interest loan programs.

Adopting through the Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network
Janae Sauder, COBYS Family Services

A discussion and practical guide on the process of adopting through the Pennsylvania Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network.

Ending Child Slavery in Haiti
Joan Conn, Restavek Freedom Foundation

Discussion of the dynamics of child trafficking in Haiti and a culturally accepted form of slavery known as “Restavek.”

Listening to Churches Abroad for Their Economic Freedom
Ryan Keith, Forgotten Voices

Learn how your ministry can tangibly learn the unique needs of local churches, people and communities you are partnering with in a developing country or USA ministry. Come away with tangible tools, tips, and handouts to gain a better grasp of ways to listen, questions to ask before/during/after program, and how to partner in a way that brings freedom of choice and economic freedom for the partner and you. Ryan will share 7 years of first hand experience in local church based orphan care in southern Africa and lessons learned on the beginnings of microfinance approach for churches.

Helping Children Understand God’s Heart for the Orphan
Tami Snowden, Stand4Kids

This seminar will provide you with practical tools to help children understand God’s heart for the orphan and how they can participate in bringing help and hope to orphaned children.

FacebookTwitterLinkedInGoogle BookmarksDeliciousShare