It was what you call “a packed house.” More than 400 foster parents, clinicians and other child welfare professionals made the drive to Zermatt Resort in Midway to hear from a world-renowned expert in trauma and attachment at Utah Foster Care Foundation’s 3rd Annual Symposium. Bruce D. Perry, MD, PhD customized his presentation to bring his world of research on brain mapping to an audience focused on helping nurture some of our state’s most vulnerable children.
And, even after spending 6 hours explaining the fruits of years of looking at the effect of trauma on the human brain, Dr. Perry hung out after the Symposium to answer questions from interested foster parents. What a treat!
In the next few weeks, we will be hearing from foster parents (like Heidi Naylor, pictured above with Dr. Perry and UFCF Director of Education Mick Woolsey) about what they learned at this year’s Symposium. How have you put into practice Dr. Perry’s advice to “be present, parallel, and patient” with children in your care? New comments are turning up daily on the Utah Foster Care Foundation Facebook page, and we encourage you to be part of the conversation at www.facebook.com/UtahFosterCareFoundation.
