This regional conference is a unique
collaboration focused upon improving and
integrating services for children and families in the greater Kansas City region. Cornerstones of Care (COC), Midwest Foster Care & Adoption Association (MFCAA), University of Missouri - Kansas City (UMKC) School of Social Work, and the Missouri Children's Division merged resources for three events to
support a single regional conference.

The synergy of these three events merged
into a single conference is easy to see:

GREATER KANSAS CITY ANNUAL COMMUNITY
RESOURCE FAIR: For 5 years, the Jackson County Children's Division (JCCD) and Cornerstones of care have presented an annual Resource Fair. What started in a small gymnasium, meant to increase public child welfare staff knowledge about local resources, became an annual event that showcases the resources of more than 175 local agencies to over 1,000 family members and service providers

MFCAA - UMKC SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK: CHILDREN AND THEIR MANY FAMILIES ANNUAL CONFERENCE: For many years, the Midwest Foster Care and Adoption Association organized an annual conference designed to enhance knowledge and skills for foster parents. Beginning in 2008, MFCAA joined UMKC's School of Social Work and expanded this conference's focus to also include exploration of innovative, collaborative practice and service integration.

CORNERSTONES OF CARE ANNUAL ADOPTION FORUM: Since 2007, Cornerstones of Care has highlighted National Adoption Month by sponsoring a day-long adoption forum for child welfare service providers that brings nationally recognized experts to present innovative approaches and emerging knowledge regarding adoption.

So mark your calendars! On November 17-18, the resources and focus of these previously separate events will be offered as a single regional conference that will bring families and service providers to the Kansas City Convention Center - 301 West 13th Street, Conference Rooms 2100, Kansas City MO. Fostering Strategies for Change: Children, Families and their Communities will showcase diverse regional resources. Conference speakers, papers and workshops will present collaborative strategies for changing how systems and service providers identify and work with natural supports of families and their communities, as well as useful, innovative means to enhance family childrearing efforts.