November is National Family Caregivers Month (NFCM), celebrated annually, a time to recognize and honor unpaid family caregivers across the country. It offers an opportunity to raise awareness of caregiving issues, educate communities, and increase support for caregivers. In recognition of NFCM, Courage to Caregivers is hosting its fifth annual Caring for the Caregivers Virtual Summit on Tuesday, November 12, Wednesday, November 13, and Thursday, November 14, from 11 am to 2:30 pm ET daily. The deadline to register is November 11. Registration is available via Zoom: https://bit.ly/CaringForTheCaregiversSummit
The Caring for the Caregivers Virtual Summit is free for unpaid family caregivers providing care to a loved one living with mental, chronic, or serious illnesses. It is also free for licensed professional caregivers. All are welcome to attend one, two, or all three days.
This year’s theme is Navigating the Journey of Caring with presentations and workshops focused on education, support, and empowerment for those who care.
Now in its fifth year, the Summit provides education, information, and support for caregivers in their journey toward better health and well-being. Free continuing education units (CEUs) are available for social workers, counselors, behavioral health professionals, and certified peer supporters (3 CEU credits available per day).
Topics and Presenters:
Tuesday, November 12
- 11 am to 12 pm ET: “Using Art Therapy to Cope and Manage Stress and Grief During Caregiving” with Misty Ramos-Saviano, ATR, LPCC-S, CIT, ACTP. In this experiential presentation, you will engage in ways to cope and manage stress through art therapy. These practical therapeutic art activities will be quick, so you can fit them into your caregiving schedules, and do not require expensive art materials or previous art experience.
- 12:15-1:15 pm ET: “Caregiving Amidst Complicated Family Dynamics” with Deborah J. Cohan, Ph.D. This presentation will address sociological issues and trends that relate to caregiving, including but not limited to family violence, and gendered aspects of care work. Designed to inform and inspire, this presentation will leave participants reflecting on the potentially transformative, redemptive, and healing aspects of caregiving for the caregiver.
- 1:30-2:30 pm ET: “The Path to Sustainable Caregiving Begins with a Trauma Informed Support System” with Alexis Albro, ICF Certified Trauma Informed Coach. In this workshop, participants will learn how to prevent caregiver burnout by adopting a trauma informed support system. This workshop will help participants feel energized and empowered to continue creating a more healed and less hurt world.
Wednesday, November 13
- 11 am to 12 pm ET: “Caregiver Recovery - Beyond the Grief: Navigating Life After Your Care Journey Ends” with Christina Keys. When your care journey with a loved one ends because the person you cared for has passed, YOUR journey continues. You now start your “caregiver recovery”. You get to learn how to slowly come out of fight-or-flight mode, rebuild your life emotionally, mentally, spiritually, financially, and physically, and find out who YOU are outside of being a caregiver. Caregiver Recovery can bring you hope even while you're walking through your grief journey.
- 12:15-1:15 pm ET: “How to Build An Effective Care Team” with Candace Wallace, M.Ed. This workshop emphasizes the critical role of cultivating a supportive community of caregivers and caretakers to enhance the well-being of both patients and their primary care providers. Participants will explore strategies for building cohesive care teams, fostering collaboration, and ensuring emotional and physical support for all involved. By understanding the importance of a well-rounded care network, participants will be equipped with practical tools to develop reliable relationships, prevent caregiver fatigue, and strengthen support for those receiving care.
- 1:30-2:30 pm ET: “Caregiving in the Workplace: How Empathy and Benefits Matter” with Christine Young, MSSA, LSW. There is a disconnect between employers and employees as to how the needs of caregivers show up in the workplace. Many do not recognize the impact to caregivers of individuals dealing with mental health, short or long-term illness, or special needs. This presentation will highlight what defines a caregiver and how many are in today's workforce. It will also outline the ways in which employers can support caregivers and the importance for employees to advocate for their own needs and practice self-care.
Thursday, November 14
- 11 am to 12 pm ET: “Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth” with K Pepera, M.Ed., LPCC-S and Gabrielle Gallet de St. Aurin, MA, IMFT. This presentation will help peer support staff, family caregivers, and mental health support staff to better understand how to support LGBTQ+ youth. LGBTQ+ youth face many additional risks as part of a minority, and this presentation will allow support folx to explore their questions and concerns in a judgment-free zone and learn how to be better advocates.
- 12:15-1:15 pm ET: “Real-Time Resilience: A Trauma and Chronic Fatigue-Informed Approach to Reset in the Moment + Recharge throughout the Day” with Jennifer Schneeman, MBA, E-RYT500, C-IAYT, CDCA. Real-Time Resilience is the ability to reset in the moment, recharge throughout the day, and restore appropriately to meet the demands of the day. This presentation will normalize and integrate the real human challenges to being fully present, slowing down without collapsing, and feeling a need to GO-GO-GO! Attendees will learn through humor, neuroeducation, and practical experience how to map their personal energy to manage daily energy capacity, revive from empathy fatigue, and burn bright after burnout.
- 1:30-2:30 pm ET: “Preventing Caregiver Burnout by Illuminating HOPE” with Kristi Horner, CFPS, and Jenny Woodworth, LISW, of Courage to Caregivers. This workshop covers the evidence-based research and science that leads to finding hope and building resilience, as well as how to model hope and resilience for our families and clients. At the end of this workshop, it is hoped participants will feel grounded, supported, and at greater ease, with some additional tools that they can incorporate for themselves, their families, and their clients in a trauma-informed environment.
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