“I was blown away by how informative and helpful Jolene’s session was.”
Mom who attended the Mothers of Preschoolers 2010 International Convention

It’s Not Just for Soldiers Anymore: PTSD & Kids with Special Needs: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)is a mental disorder most commonly associated with combat veterans. But it also affects children with special needs. Left untreated, its effects can stunt the emotional development of children and devastate families. But early and effective treatments do exist. In this session causes and symptoms of PTSD in kids will be explored. Effective treatments will be reviewed, along with preventative measures. Common misconceptions about PTSD and its frequent misdiagnoses in children will also be addressed. Those attending the workshop leave with an extensive list of online and print resources.

Managing Your Time Without Losing Your Mind: Time management takes time, a commodity in short supply for parents of kids with special needs. In this workshop parent learn simple techniques for redeeming their time. The techniques include conducting a time audit, defining roles and responsibilities, establishing and maintaining priorities, and dealing with non-priorities. The second half of the workshop will be spent reviewing practical time-saving tips and resources specific to families of kids with special needs. Workshop participants are encouraged to share their ideas, too.

Reconciling Dreams, Banishing Guilt, and Overcoming Grief: The emotional impact of parenting a child with special needs begins at diagnosis and continues throughout the child’s life. In this workshop, Jolene identifies the emotional responses that are universal to any special needs diagnosis, including lost dreams, guilt, and grief. The manifestations of the emotions are described. Strategies and supports available to families are also be explored. The information presented in this workshop was gathered during interviews with more than fifty parents of kids with special needs, educators and health care professionals who support them.

Special Kids Need Special Parents: In this workshop, parents learn how to become an effective advocate for their kids with special needs. Parents learn strategies for effective advocacy in each of three settings: medical, educational, and prayer. Those attending leave with ten tips for each area covered and an extensive list of resources.

Ten Ways Churches Can Minister to Parents of Kids with Special Needs: The emotional impact of parenting a child with special needs begins at diagnosis and continues throughout the child’s life. This workshop details ten low cost, high impact ways the church staff and lay members can support families of children with special needs. The information presented in this workshop was gathered during interviews with more than fifty parents of kids with special needs, educators and health care professionals who support them.

Ten Ways Friends Can Help Parents of Kids with Special Needs: You probably know a family with a critically or chronically ill child. Like most people watching a family struggle, you want to help, but aren’t sure what to do. This presentation is designed to help turn your heartfelt compassion into practical action. Suggestions come from Jolene’s personal experience as the parent of a child born with a life-threatening birth defect. Other suggestions were gleaned from parent interviews conducted during research for her books about parenting kids with special needs.

For more information or to book an event, contact Jolene via email or call 515-298-2092.