Workshop to explore foster childcare issues

A series of workshops on foster child care issues will be offered this spring in Moorpark and Thousand Oaks.

"Makes Sense to Me: The Sensory Roots of Challenging Behaviors," with keynote speakers Judy Freeman and Fatima Lang, will be presented from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sat., April 9 at Moorpark College, 7075 Campus Road, Moorpark.

The cost is $15 per person (includes continental breakfast and lunch) but the presentation is free for licensed foster parents and kinship care providers. Preregistration is required by Fri., April 1.

This interactive conference will address causes and strategies for dealing with challenging behavior due to sensory processing disorders. The conference will be presented in both English and Spanish.

"When a child struggles to ‘pay attention’ or ‘sit still’ or ‘keep his hands to himself,’ parents and teachers become frustrated and discouraged. The child is labeled as a behavior problem and parents often feel like failures," said Carol Howell, director of the Foster and Kinship Care Education program at Moorpark College.

"This conference offers hope for many of these families. Occupational therapists from Easter Seals will help the participants look at the possibility that the child’s behavior problems might be deeply rooted in neurological underpinnings that affect the way he processes and reacts to everyday sensations," Howell said. "Experiential exercises will give us insight into the child’s world and practical techniques will give us tools to use at home to address the behavioral roots."

ROOTS (Relatives Offering Ongoing Ties and Support), with training speakers Barbara Spear, MFT and Donna Marks, MS, will be presented from 6:45 to 8:45 p.m. Mondays, April 4, 11, 18 and 25 and May 2 and 9 at Goebel Senior Adult Center (Black Sage Room), 1385 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks. For registration for this free series, call Howell at (805) 378-1400, ext. 1891.