ODU Campus – Constant Hall
2101 Constant Hall, Norfolk, VA 23508
May is National Foster Care Month!
Foster Care Aware Family Fun Day & Community Summit 2025 - May 17th
Celebrate National Foster Care Month with us. Learn how you can support the foster care community through advocacy, volunteering, foster parenting, and more. Caring for our most vulnerable citizens takes a village and our village – the TFFC Village – needs you!
No matter where you are in your fostering journey- from just thinking about how you can help, to veteran foster parents, to a family working to build itself back together, we have content to help engage you at every step of the process.
Family Fun!
Not only are we learning about how to advocate for youth in the foster care system, we’re also going to have a lot of fun! Fostering is about families helping families, and while the media may tell you all kinds of things about everyone involved in the system, the truth is that foster kids are kids, and they need time and space to play. So this year we are having a full mini-carnival!
Register for FREE Today
10am -Childcare & Outdoor Carnival Open!
10am-3pm Enjoy the following:
- Bounce house
- Obstacle Course
- Petting Zoo
- Face Painting
- Carnival Games
- Balloon twisting
- And more!
3pm – Mini Carnival Closes
330pm – Childcare Room Closes
Families of Origin
Are you the family of origin for a child who has interfaced with the foster care system? Join us for a day of mutual respect and learning.
Register for FREE Today
10-1030 Vendor Fair/Registration
1030-1130 Tory Delpierre – Court Process, Rights of the Family
1130-1145 Break
1145-1245 Barbara Stewart – TBRI
1130-130 Boxed Lunch Pick-Up
100-200pm Foster and Bio Parent Workshop
200-215 Break
215-315pm Choose your Speaker: Wendy Schofer/Disability Law Center/Freekind
Our Featured Speakers
Barbara Stewart
Executive Director, Made 4 Connection
Providing training on Trust-Based Relational Intervention.
Dr. Wendy Schofer
Pediatrician & Author
Helping families understand the intersection between trauma and disordered eating.
Tory Delpierre
Family Lawyer
Walking families through the court process.
Are you part of an agency that serves the foster care system?
Join us as a sponsor of the Foster Care Aware Summit and showcase your organization as an exhibitor and reach people passionate about becoming foster care parents and advocates.
Sponsorship Opportunities are Now Closed.
Foster Parent Track
Are you a current foster parent? Join us to learn best practices on partnering with families of origin, learn Trust Based Relational Intervention techniques to help heal attachment trauma, sit down with Dr Wendy Schofer to discuss the intersection between trauma and disordered eating ands how to help our kids navigate a healthy relationship with food and more!
Register for FREE today!
10-1030 Vendor Fair
1030-1130 CHKD Child Advocacy Center – Warning Signs
1130-1145 Break
1145-1245 John Murray – Parenting Youth With Trauma History
1130-130 Boxed Lunch Pick-Up
100-200pm Foster and Bio Parent Workshop
200-215 Break
215-315pm Choose your speaker: Wendy Schofer/Disability Law Center/Freekind
John Murray
Founder & CEO of Families First of Virginia
John has more than 22 years experience working with foster and adoptive children and families and has specialized training in Neurofeedback and Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. He is honored and humbled by serving those in need as a social worker for over 30 years.
Dr. Wendy Schofer
Pediatrician & Author
Helping families understand the intersection between trauma and disordered eating.
Dr. Quandrea Harper, PhD
CHKD
Presenting with Mary Wright on the physical & mental health issues to look for when a child is first placed in your home.
Mary Wright, LCSW
CHKD
Presenting with Dr. Quandrea Harper on the physical & mental health issues to look for when a child is first placed in your home.
Adoptive Parent Track
Are you a current adoptive parent? Join us to learn best practices on partnering with families of origin, learn Trust Based Relational Intervention techniques to help heal attachment trauma, sit down with Dr Wendy Schofer to discuss the intersection between trauma and disordered eating ands how to help our kids navigate a healthy relationship with food and more!
Register for FREE today!
10-1030 Vendor Fair/Registration
1030-1130 Barbara Stewart – TBRI
1130-1145 Break
1145-1245 Steven Edwards – Equine Therapy
1130-130 Boxed Lunch Pick-Up
100-200pm Carlo Moore – An Adoptee’s Search for Connection
200-215 Break
215-315pm Choose your Speaker: Wendy Schofer/Disability Law Center/FreeKind
Barbara Stewart
Executive Director, Made 4 Connection
Providing training on Trust-Based Relational Intervention.
Dr. Wendy Schofer
Pediatrician & Author
Helping families understand the intersection between trauma and disordered eating.
Carlo Moore
Foster Care Alumni, Adoptee, Veteran, Author, & Sherriff's Deputy
Sharing his impactful story of discovering his foster & adoptive past as an adult.
Steve Edwards
Former Prosecutor & Equine Therapist
Sharing the benefits of equine therapy for youth with trauma histories.
Advocate & Prospective Foster Parent Track
Are you looking to learn how to support and advocate for youth in care, or perhaps you are ready to start the journey to becoming a foster parent? Join us as we cover foster Care 101, showcase agencies making a difference in the lives of local foster youth and how you can fit into the village!
Register for FREE today!
10-1030 Vendor Fair/Registration
1030-1130 Audra Bullock – Foster Care 101 (What is Foster Care?)
1130-1145 Break
1145-1245 Foster Care Panel
1130-130 Boxed Lunch Pick-Up
100-200pm John Murray – Fostering 101 (How to Become a Foster Parent)
200-215 Break
215-315pm Trevellis Lewis, Foster Care Alum – His Journey in Care
Audra Bullock
CEO, TFFC
A former foster and current adoptive parent, as well as the founder of The Friends of Foster Care, Audra will guide you through the 101 of Foster Care.
John Murray
Founder & CEO of Families First of Virginia
John has more than 22 years experience working with foster and adoptive children and families and has specialized training in Neurofeedback and Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. He is honored and humbled by serving those in need as a social worker for over 30 years.
Trevellis Lewis
Senior Manager, Nonprofit Campaigns & Certifications - United Way
Trevellis Lewis, a U.S. Navy veteran and nonprofit leader, is dedicated to community impact and strategic partnerships. A proud father of two and former foster youth, he brings a personal perspective on the power of advocacy and the importance of stable, loving homes.
Teen Track
Register for TEEN TRACK here!
Are you a teen looking for resources? Join the First Star Teen Track! Where you will hang out with other current or former foster youth, learn about valuable resources and, for our rising 8th – 11th graders, see if the First Star ODU program is right for you!
What’s Happening:
- Easterseals-Culinary Connections Cooking Workshop – Gain confidence in the kitchen
- ODU Health Promotions Wellness Activity – Discover the power of self-care with Steven Gunzelman
- The Digital Builders 757 App Creation Workshop – Explore app development with Lionel Sapp
- Teens With a Purpose Poetry Workshop – Express yourself through creative writing
Join The Village to stay up-to-date on foster care needs. Whether it’s a little or a lot, your help is appreciated.
Proud Partners of Foster Care Aware
Presented by:
