MOFAS offers a variety of trainings throughout the year. We will be adding more trainings to this page as they become available, so check back often!

MOFAS staff does provide training to individual groups of professionals or educators. Please contact us for more information.

Family Seminar Series - Part 1

Description: FASD Diagnosis...Now What?

The Family Seminar Series, Part 1 is an opportunity for caregivers who have received or suspect this diagnosis, to come together and learn about the spectrum of disorders in a calm and informal fashion with others in their same circumstances. Families receive as part of the training, a 3 ring binder with contents that supplement and compliment the topics. It is a tool that will be started during the 4 week sessions, and then can follow the individual between systems and services. This is a four-part series and you must attend all four sessions.

Week One: What is FASD?
Week Two: FASD at Home
Week Three: FASD at School
Week Four: Building Strong Families

Dates: Tuesdays, Spring 2008
April 8th, 15th, 22nd & 29th
Time: 5:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Location: District Service Center for Intermediate 287
1820 Xenium Lane North
Plymouth, MN 55441
Cost: $40.00/person or $60.00/couple (covers meals, materials, and speakers)
Scholarships available-please check box on registration form.

Click here to register.

All Children Flourishing: The Nurtured Heart Experience

Description: The Nurtured Heart Approach to parenting is more than just a parenting or behavioral management strategy. It is a philosophy for creating healthy relationships with your children. This approach has been found very useful for intense children, and can be tremendously valuable for all children of all ages. “This approach emphasizes energizing crucial traits of a whole person within the structure of clear and consistent boundaries.” Please join us on the journey of developing the “inner wealth” all children need in order to assist them in making positive choices rather than negative ones.

Dates: Mondays, June 23rd & 30, July 7th, 14th & 28th and August 4th
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 p.m.
Location: Children's Home Society and Family Services
1605 Eustis Street
St. Paul, MN 55108
Cost: TBD
For More Information and to Register: Please contact Kelly Monson at MOFAS at 651-917-2370 or kelly@mofas.org

Parent Guide Training

Description: If you are a parent or caregiver who would like to offer support and guidance to families new to the diagnosis then this is a great opportunity to get involved! The only qualification is to be a parent raising a child with FASD. This is about life experiences and support not professional counseling.

Date: May 13, 2008
Time: 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Location: MOFAS Office
1885 University Avenue, Suite 395
St. Paul, MN 55104
For More Information and to Register: Please call the MOFAS office at 651-917-2370.

If The Eyes Have No Tears, The Soul Has No Rainbow: A training on FASD

Description: A two day training by Julie Gelo, sponsored by the FASD Regional Network and MOFAS.

Dates: June 9 -10, 2008
For More Information and to Register: Please click here.

FASD: A Family Experience

Description: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) are a set of physical, behavioral and cognitive disorders seen in people who had prenatal exposure to alcohol. Having a family member with FASD can put a strain on family relationships, but increased understanding of this disability often results in enhanced support. This workshop will focus on the effect of alcohol on the developing fetal brain and parenting and care giving strategies that can increase success!

Dates: April 26, 2008 (Burnsville) or May 3, 2008 (Rochester)
Location: April 26th:
Episcopal Church of the Nativity
15601 Maple Island Road
Burnsville, MN 55306

May 3rd:
Meadow Park Church of Christ
1315 6th Avenue SE
Rochester, MN 55904

Cost: Please see registration information for cost.
To Register Please click here for the April 26th training and click here for the May 3rd training.

Personal Care Attendant (PCA) Trainings

Description: Children, adolescents, and adults with FASD present unique and sometimes overwhelming challenges to personal care attendants. Individuals with FASD can present behaviors that are difficult to deal with including: aggressiveness, irritability, impulsiveness, oppositional behavior, and fearlessness.

Topics Include:
Define FASD
Explain the Importance of a Diagnosis
List Four Challenges
Describe What Works

Date: To Be Announced
Time: To Be Announced
Location: To Be Announced

Please contact MaryAnn Bernard at MOFAS, maryann@mofas.org, if you would like more information.

Family Seminar Series - Part 2

Description: This six-part series is designed for parents and caregivers who have completed Family Seminar Series - Part 1, or who have a basic knowledge of FASD. More in-depth information on a variety of topics will be presented. This is a five-part series and you must attend all five sessions.

Topics covered include: mental health, behavioral challenges, living with FASD, medications, safety and boundary issues and developing support.

Dates:
Winter 2008
February 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th
March 4th
Time:
5:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m., light supper
6:00 p.m. - 8:15 p.m., speaker
8:15 p.m. - 9:00 p.m., small group
Location:
Children's Home Society & Family Services
2230 Como Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55108

Cost: $40.00/person or $60.00/couple (covers meals, materials, and speakers)
Scholarships available-please check box on registration form. If you adopted a ward of the state from MN, you are eligible to attend the training for free.

Click here to register.

Caregiver's Circle

Description: In collaboration with the Native American Community Clinic, MOFAS sponsors a bi-monthly support group for caregivers of children with FASD. MOFAS staff members facilitate this group.
Dates: 2nd and 4th Friday of the month
Location: Minneapolis American Indian Center
1530 East Franklin Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55404
Contact: Call Ayesha Green or Kelly Monson at MOFAS if you would like to participate, 651-917-2370.

Transition Program for Teens with FASD

Description: A 6-session series will be offered next fall to support transition needs of teens with FASD. A portion of each session will focus on learning about the FASD disability, and how to build in safeguards to reduce or prevent some of the "secondary disabilities" that people with FASD struggle with.

The series is geared toward 14-18 year olds, along with a parent or concerned adult. The target group is students who do not qualify for Developmental Cognitive Disability (DCD) or Developmental Disability (DD) services. Parents who are interested in learning more about transition topics, but do not have teen participating will also be allowed to attend. Teen group size will be limited to 12 boys and 12 girls. Up to 30 parents/caregivers will be accepted.

Dates: Fall 2008, TBD
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. (will include a light supper)
Location: TBD
Cost: $60.00 per adult (covers meals, materials, and speakers)
Scholarships available — please check box on registration form.
Questions? Please contact Ayesha at ayesha@mofas.org

Click here to register.

Family Support Options

Description: The following is a list of upcoming trainings and groups or camps that are geared towards families living with FASD.
Please contact us if you are interested in receiving more information about:

Family Seminar Series - Part 1 in Hutchinson (Tuesdays, October 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th, 2008)
Family Seminar Series - Part 1 in the West Metro (Spring 2008)
Family Seminar Series - Part 2 in the Metro (January 2008)

Parent/Teen FASD Transition Series in the Metro (Fall 2008)

MOFAS Parent Guide Program
Become a Parent Guide who gives phone support to families with a newly diagnosed child. Call Kelly Monson at MOFAS, 651-917-2370 for more information.

MOFAS Parent Guide Program
Have a trained Parent Guide for phone support during challenging phases of parenting. Call Kelly Monson at MOFAS, 651-917-2370 for more information.

Camp New Hope in McGregor
5 -21 years old
http://www.campnewhopemn.org

MOFAS Camp Options

MOFAS Family Camp, June 27 - 29, 2008 at Camp Confidence in Brainerd
Young Women’s Camp, July 23 - 25, 2008 at Camp Confidence in Brainerd
Young Men’s Camp, August 20 - 22, 2008 at Camp Confidence in Brainerd
MOFAS Family Camp, October 10 - 12, 2008 at Camp Omega in Waterville

Parent Advocacy Workshop

Description: FASD is an umbrella term used to describe the range of effects that can occur in an individual whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy. These effects may include physical, mental, behaviors and learning disabilities with possible lifelong implications. This 3 hour workshop will give participants an understanding of the challenges common with FASD.

Participants will gain a better understanding of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) and learn strategies to help affected individuals be more successful in the home and classroom.

Please contact MaryAnn Bernard at MOFAS, maryann@mofas.org, if you would like to host a Parent Advocacy Workshop in your community.

Ask the Expert Series

Description: In collaboration with 4Keeps, MOFAS is hosting Ask the Expert Series. Speakers will be available to answer parent questions and discuss their particular organization or specialty. The sessions will run for two hours and will feature a roundtable discussion.

Light dinner and childcare is provided. Parents must pre-register for the childcare program.

Funding is made possible from MOFAS as part of the FASD Statewide Initiative.

Dates: Spring 2008
February 19, 2008, FASD, Jodee Kulp
March 4, 2008, Traumatized Children/Parenting, Deena McMahon
April 1, 2008, Attachment Issues, Krista Nelson
April 15, 2008, Sensory/Occupational Therapy, Naomi Siegal
April 29, 2008, Transracial Adoption, Robert/Lenora O’Connor
May 5, 2008, ADHD, Dr. Michael Reiff
Time: 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Location:Anoka City Hall (Community Room)
2015 First Avenue North
Anoka, MN

Contact: Mary Walker, 4Keeps Director mneebwalker@yahoo.com, or Kelly Monson at MOFAS kelly@mofas.org or 651-917-2370.

Family Seminar Series - Selected Topics

Description: This four-part series is new to MOFAS! Some of the discussed topics may include:

Week One: FASD Meets Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD)
Week Two: Updates on IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act)
Week Three: Anger & Stress Effects on Families
Week Four: Spiritual Resiliency

You do not need to have taken Part 1 or Part 2 to take this series.
Dates: TBD
Time: TBD
Location: TBD
Cost: $40.00/person or $60.00/couple (covers meals, materials, and speakers)
Scholarships available-please check box on registration form.