
Refresh Conference 2023
Refresh is an annual women’s conference designed to create community for those caring
for the modern-day orphan according to the heart of the Father.
Refresh is an annual women’s conference designed to create community for those caring
for the modern-day orphan according to the heart of the Father.
GETTING PRESENT WITH GOD
Speakers: Traci Weldie
“How to” for prioritizing sitting in His presence in the midst of a busy and draining life season.
ATTACHMENT 101
Speakers: Kristin Rich
A beginner’s guide to attachment theory and how it affects kids from hard backgrounds or with abandonment trauma. Attachment theory is the bedrock of so many other avenues, and, while most parents are familiar with it, educating the adoption and foster mom is truly invaluable.
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FOUR STYLES OF PARENTING
Speaker: Kelly Childress
Exploring the 4 styles of parenting as told by developmental psychologists Diana Baumrind, Eleanor Maccoby, and John Martin. Using our gospel worldview to determine which style of parenting allows us to be present with ourselves and our children while enforcing rules and actions appropriately.
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THE TIE BETWEEN SENSORY PROCESSING DISORDER AND BEHAVIORS
Speakers: Rachel Myers
Many parents may be aware of their child’s behavioral issues, but by being present in their child’s surroundings and navigating sensory triggers, there may be a way to provide your child with additional tools for self regulation.
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INCLUSIVE FAMILY SUPPORT MODEL & PANEL
Panel: Sarah McNemar, Jenna Weaver, Jessica Barley
Openness in adoption can feel like murky waters. Is contact safe? Will my child resent not having contact? But how do you navigate it? And what if we can’t have contact – am I still a good adoptive parent? Come listen to the four quadrants of openness in adoption and listen to the stories of other families who are walking this path.
FOUR S’s
Speakers: Jessica Barley
Based on Dr Tina Payne Bryson’s research and book, the four S’s lay out a road map to how parental presence shapes who our kids become and how their brains get wired.
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ADULT ADOPTEE PANEL
Panel
Encouraging stories and a time to ask questions from adult adoptees. So many parents are in the trenches of adoption and foster care and it is easy to wonder if you are “getting it right”. The perspective of adult adoptees is a voice that can bring encouragement, challenge, and direction as you seek to raise your children.
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STEPPING ON TOES: HOW OUR RELATIONAL DANCE COULD BE BLOCKING THE HEALING WE LONG TO SEE IN OUR CHILD
Speakers: Kristin Rich, LPC
Licensed Professional Counselor, TBRI Practitioner, and Making Sense of your worth facilitator breaks down our adult attachment style (relational dance) that contributes to our sense of self-worth and impacts all areas of our life including how we work, how we love, and especially our parenting. You will learn the different adult attachment relational dances and practical ways to move towards the most secure relational dance with your child that brings healing and harmony.
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THE ROLE OF STRUCTURE + NURTURE IN PARENTING CHILDREN FROM HARD PLACES
Speaker: Rhonda Littleton
Many parents focus heavily on structure or over emphasize nurture for their foster and adopted children. This concept, from the TBRI curriculum, will teach you the value in implementing both in order to create an environment where your child will thrive.
The Refresh Conference is a getaway for the weary soul. Immersed in Proverbs 11:25, this upstate’s respected adoption and foster care conference is a rejuvenating weekend for women and families who pour their hearts out for their children.
Mixing educational breakout sessions, deep-seated conversations between women in similar situations, life-giving worship, and hopeful keynote speakers, Refresh 2023 hopes to give attendees a moment of presence – with oneself, with their kids and spouses, and with the Lord.
Have you been longing for a quiet moment or a joyful story? Come experience it at the Refresh Conference, hosted out of Upstate Church | First Baptist Simpsonville, the weekend of April 28th-29th.
This conference is designed for adoptive/fostering/waiting moms, for women thinking about adopting/fostering, and for women involved in these ministries in their churches and communities. All of the content is intentionally curated to equip, encourage, and empower women whose lives are either personally impacted by foster care or adoption, or seek to come alongside others who fall within these communities.
The cost of the Refresh Conference is $149. We do offer an early bird discount of $119 for those who register no later than March 8th.
The cost for the conference includes all general sessions, breakouts, conference materials, child care Friday night (if needed), lunch on Saturday, and snacks throughout the conference.
A light breakfast is included on Saturday morning for those who attend the optional pre-conference break out. For lunch, a boxed lunch is included, as well as coffee, water, and snacks throughout the day.
Friday evening, April 28th
5:45pm doors open for childcare drop off and our vendor/resource hall
6:30p-8:30p key note session
Saturday, April 29th
7:00am Doors open for those signed up for the optional pre-conference session.
8:00 am, Doors open for regular attendance.
8:30am, Conference Begins
5:45pm, Conference Ends
Yes. During registration you will be able to indicate your need for these credit hours. Certificates will be provided at the end of the conference on Saturday for up to 8 hours of credit.
Children are welcome to attend on Friday evening. Child care is provided at no additional cost. Please register with the necessary details regarding your family by April 7th so the team can plan appropriately.
We have four main speakers as well as 10+ break out speakers. The keynote speaker will be Tori Hope Petersen who is an adoptive Mom, foster parent, and former foster youth.
Unfortunately we will not be able to reimburse you after you register.
Unfortunately no, but we think this is a great idea! Feel free to post on our Facebook Page @Refresh Conference- Upstate to see if other Moms are coming in from out of town and where they are staying.
Yes! We are excited to offer a group discount for groups of 10+ women who want to attend Refresh. This is a great opportunity for a church to sponsor the women in the Foster and Adopt ministry at their church, or for a group of Moms to further build community by attending together! Please email us at [email protected] for more information.
Yes. Although we would love for you to be there the whole weekend, we understand schedules can be busy. We do want you to have a few hours at Refresh, so we have opened up a Friday-night-only option. Friday evening is for women and their spouses and we offer childcare for those who register before April 7. The cost for Friday night only is $75/couple or $60 for the individual.
8:45AM | 10:00AM | 11:20AM
11:20AM
8:45AM | 10:00AM | 11:20AM
8:45AM | 10:00AM | 11:20AM
10:00AM | 11:20AM
10:00AM | 11:20AM