ABCFOC

Online Workshop: The Big 3: Raging, Lying & Stealing with Special Guest Presenter Barb Clark
2026-05-19 18:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual via Zoom
Special Guest Presenter: Barb Clark, Adoptive Parent, Author, & Founder of FASD Mosaic
Child welfare professionals and caregivers alike often support children, teens, or adults who struggle with emotional regulation, impulse control, and behaviors that may appear defiant, disruptive, or confusing. Traditional behavior management strategies frequently fall short—especially when trauma, neurodiversity, or brain-based conditions are involved—leaving everyone feeling frustrated and disconnected. This session addresses trauma-responsive, relationship-centered approaches to challenging behaviors. Through real-world examples and practical tools, participants will learn how to shift from reacting to connecting—using strategies that de-escalate conflict, build trust, and promote long-term growth. Behaviors like raging, lying and stealing will be reframed through a lens of compassion, brain science, and hope.
Attendees will receive a FREE copy of Barb’s book, Raising Kids and Teens with FASD: Advice and Strategies to Help Your Family to Thrive! That includes helpful chapters regarding raging, lying, and stealing.
Barb Clark is known for her down-to-earth style, blending honesty, humor, and practical wisdom to empower caregivers and professionals. Her trainings offer real-world strategies that actually work. As the adoptive parent of five adult children, including one with FASD, Barb brings lived experience and deep insight to her work in her business.

📩 RSVP today by emailing training@abcfoc.org.

Online Workshop: Becoming an Ally for LGBTQ+ Youth with Special Guest Presenter Kyle Teller, PhD, of The Trevor Project
2026-06-16 18:00 - 20:00 | Virtual via Zoom
Special Guest Presenter: Kyle Teller, PhD, of The Trevor Project
Many LGBTQ+ youth report feeling ignored or discounted when their foster and adoptive parents or other caretakers are unable to talk about gender and sexual identity issues. LGBTQ+ youth who are struggling with self-identification often aren’t able to explain their sexual orientation, because they themselves are in the process of learning who they are. Because LGBTQ+ youth are overrepresented in the foster care system, many of our kids may be at a higher risk for mental health disorders and thoughts of self-harm or suicide if they have no one they feel they can talk to. As caregivers, it’s our responsibility to educate ourselves about sexual/gender orientation and how to support the youth we care for. The Ally Training is designed to create dialogue around being an adult ally for LGBTQ+ young people by informing participants about common terminology, the “coming out” process, and challenges at home, in school, and the community. This training welcomes all to learn how to support LGBTQ+ young people, no matter your starting point.

This is an event you won’t want to miss! Email training@abcfoc.org to register.

Downstate Workshop: Take Care of Yourself – And We Mean It!
2026-07-11 10:00 - 13:00 | Milford Office, 805 S. DuPont Boulevard, Milford, DE, 19963, United States
Facilitated by: ABCFOC Staff and Community Partner Volunteers
We’re going to show you how to practice what we preach when we say Take Care Of Yourself. Join us for a Saturday of rest and relaxation IN PERSON! We’ll treat you to activities that are sure to help you to relax, if only for a few hours. How about a chair massage, a skin care demonstration, a few minutes of Zen in a room with soft music and soothing scents? We’ll serve you some delicious snacks and give you time to TCOY!
So, find a babysitter, wear your comfy clothes, and join us! RSVPs are required for this event. Please register by emailing training@abcfoc.org. Be sure to tell us whether you’ll be attending at our Wilmington or Milford location.
Please note that we cannot provide childcare for this event. Space is limited, so be sure to register early.

Upstate Workshop: Take Care of Yourself – And We Mean It!
2026-07-18 10:00 - 13:00 | Wilmington Office, 1307 Philadelphia Pike, Wilmington, DE, 19809, United States

Online Workshop: The Dangerous Truth About Today’s Marijuana: The Harms of Youth Marijuana Use
2026-08-18 18:00 - 20:00 | Virtual via Zoom
Special Guest Presenters: Amber Stevenson and Jaime Laboy, DSCYF, Prevention Unit
Research shows that today’s high-potency marijuana causes addiction, mental health issues, and a higher incidence of suicide when used recreationally and illegally under 21 years of age. Johnny’s Ambassadors educates parents, teens, and communities about the dangers of today’s potent THC products (marijuana, dabs, vapes, edibles) on adolescent brain development, psychosis, and suicide. We’ll learn about the potency of today’s “new” marijuana, adolescent brain development, and the impact of THC use on adolescents. We will explore the risks of mental illness, psychosis, and suicide, how to spot warning signs, and what parents can do to prevent teen use. This workshop is specifically designed for parents. We are working with Amber and Jamie on the possibility of a presentation for our kids later in 2026! Register for this workshop and stay tuned for a follow-up for your kids!
Amber Stevenson and Jaime Laboy are Behavioral Health Case Manager’s with the Intensive Family Consultation Program from the Division’s Prevention and Behavioral Health Services. They are certified Johnny’s Ambassador’s, providing substance prevention presentations to middle and high school students across Delaware, and are committed to serving youth and families. They enjoy every opportunity to educate youth and adults on this very important topic.
📩 RSVP today by emailing training@abcfoc.org.

Online Workshop: Becoming a Love and Logic Parent: A Six Week Series (Week 1)
2026-09-09 18:00 - 20:00 | Virtual via Zoom
Facilitated by Celeste Bishop, Permanency Specialist and Misty Bloomer, Child and Family Specialist with ABCFOC, Adoptive Parent and former Foster Parent
Participants should plan to attend all sessions!
The Love and Logic approach is a method of parenting that allows us to have less stress and better interactions while raising and teaching our children. Love allows children to grow through their mistakes. Logic allows children to live with the consequences of their choices. This six-week course, which comes with a workbook, will provide effective tools to help you teach children to be responsible, and to prepare them for life in the real world. Using Love and Logic methods will help you take back control and develop a better relationship with your child! Participants should plan to attend all sessions.

This is an event you won’t want to miss! Email training@abcfoc.org to register.

Online Workshop: Understanding Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Through a Trauma Lens with Special Guest Presenter Barb Clark
2026-09-15 18:00 - 20:00 | Virtual via Zoom
Special Guest Presenter: Barb Clark, Adoptive Parent, Author and Founder of FASD Mosaic, FASD/Behavior Consultant
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), though more prevalent than autism, are often overlooked, misdiagnosed, or misunderstood. Individuals with FASD live with invisible brain injuries that affect memory, impulse control, emotional regulation, and learning—making traditional behavioral, educational, and therapeutic strategies often ineffective or even harmful. This session offers a trauma-informed, neurobehavioral approach to understanding FASD. Participants will explore how prenatal exposure impacts the developing brain and how those effects show up in everyday behavior. Through real-life examples and practical tools, we’ll shift the focus from “won’t” to “can’t,” helping caregivers and professionals respond with greater compassion, clarity, and effectiveness. Whether you’re a caregiver, educator, or service provider, this session will equip you to better support individuals with FASD and help them thrive.
Attendees will receive a FREE copy of Barb’s book, Raising Kids and Teens with FASD: Advice & Strategies to Help Your Family to Thrive!
Barb’s training offers real-world strategies that actually work. As the adoptive parent of five adult children, including one with FASD, and having been diagnosed herself with FASD at age 56, Barb brings lived experience and deep insight to her work in her business FASD Mosaic, and brings even greater authenticity to her first book–Raising Kids and Teens with FASD: Advice and Strategies to Help Your Family Thrive.

📩 RSVP today by emailing training@abcfoc.org.

Online Workshop: Becoming a Love and Logic Parent: A Six Week Series
2026-09-16 08:00 - 17:00, 2026-09-23 08:00 - 17:00, 2026-09-30 08:00 - 17:00, 2026-10-07 08:00 - 17:00, 2026-10-14 08:00 - 17:00 | Virtual via Zoom

In-Person Workshop: Your Amazing Brain! A Family Event to Explore Emotions, Behavior, and the Brain
2026-10-17 10:00 - 14:00 | A Better Chance for our Children, 805 S. DuPont Blvd, Milford, DE, 19963, United States
Facilitated by: ABCFOC Staff
Bring the kids and join us for a powerful, interactive Saturday workshop designed for parents and kids (ages 5+) to explore what’s really going on in the brain during those roaring, grumping, and shut-down moments — and learn what you both can do about it!
This workshop is based on the work of Jessica Sinarski, renowned author of “Your Amazing Brain” and the Riley the Brave series of books, among others. Registrants will receive a free workbook! We’ll do activities and learn new information to bring the “invisible world” of the brain to life in fun, memorable, and practical ways. Expect a day full of learning, laughter, and lightbulb moments, along with free books and takeaways to help continue the learning at home! And we’ll serve lunch!
LOCATION TBD.
Please consider joining us for this once in a lifetime opportunity. Email training@abcfoc.org to register.

Online Workshop: Unpacking Anxiety with Special Guest Presenter Jessica Sinarski, LPCMH
2026-11-17 18:00 - 20:00 | Virtual via Zoom
Special Guest Presenter: Jessica Sinarski, LPCMH
Our brain alarms help us survive, but when they get extra protective and leave us feeling anxious, it can be tough to do even the simplest thing. For many of our kids, anxiety is a constant companion that makes everyday tasks feel impossibly hard. Anxiety can cause our kids to look at every situation through a “worst possible outcome” lens, leaving them feeling incapable of doing things like homework assignments, chores, or even participating in their favorite sport. Sometimes, anxiety can look like intentional disobedience or outright defiance, sometimes it can look like the child just doesn’t care, or that they just don’t want to try hard enough. But what if it’s the case for your child that it’s anxiety that’s taking over, leaving them feeling completely stuck under the fear of the unknown? This workshop will provide parents with information, proven strategies, and practical tools to help their children say HELLO to their anxiety, and to tackle those moments when everything just seems too overwhelming to even try.
Jessica Sinarski, LPCMH, is an award-winning author who translates neuroscience into action steps and practical tools that kids and families can begin to use immediately to help harness the power of their amazing brains. Jessica has spent her entire career working with children who have challenging behaviors and the caring adults in their lives.

📩 RSVP today by emailing training@abcfoc.org.
