Empowered To Connect » Tapestry Conference

More Than Just Words

Michael Monroe — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 20:14:51 +0000

When it comes to the issue of “talking” with your children about adoption or foster care, most parents immediately think in terms of what they should (and should not) say. However, effectively communicating with your child on these important matters involves much more than just the words you use.

In this one hour presentation from the 2010 Tapestry Adoption & Foster Care Conference, Michael & Amy Monroe (leaders of Tapestry) focus on how to communicate effectively and holistically with children about their story and your journey as a family. Specifically, they focus on the importance of nonverbal communication, learning to listen to your child and helping them to find perspective and meaning in your shared journey.

You can also download the slides from this presentation here.

Talking With Children About the Difficult Realities

Michael Monroe — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 19:25:00 +0000

Along with the joys and blessings of adoption and foster care come some difficult and often painful realities – issues such as grief, loss, abandonment, past trauma and the need for forgiveness, just to name a few. It is important for adoptive and foster parents to be prepared to help their children navigate these emotional and complex issues, and to make sense of their own personal histories as well.

This talk, entitled Not Your Everyday Conversation: Talking With Children About the Difficult Realities of Adoption and Foster Care, was presented by Michael and Amy Monroe at the 2009 Tapestry Adoption & Foster Care Conference. The talk focuses on these and other issues in an open and honest way, and provides specific tools to help parents effectively communicate with their children about the difficult realities of their past in order to help prepare them for their future.

audio recording of this presentation (mp3 file)

You can also download the handouts for this presentation.

The Connecting Link

Michael Monroe — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 00:52:30 +0000

In The Connecting Link: What Parents Need to Bring Healing to Their Children, delivered at the 2009 Tapestry Adoption & Foster Care Conference, Dr. Purvis provides parents with a better understanding of why children from hard places use distancing strategies, and how they can help their children replace those strategies by giving them voice, empowering them to make choices and helping them rediscover their inherent preciousness. Dr. Purvis also challenges parents to better understand what they bring to the relationship, and to look at their own past hurts and loss with honesty and forgiveness.

2009 Tapestry Adoption & Foster Care Conference

Michael Monroe — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:44:18 +0000

Tapestry, the adoption and foster care ministry at Irving Bible Church, will host its annual adoption and foster care conference on October 24, 2009, in Irving, Texas. As in past years, the conference will include a great line-up of practical breakout sessions that are highly relevant to adoptive and foster parents. This year’s conference sessions include topics such as the practical benefits of play, sensory processing issues, talking with children about the difficult realities of adoption and foster care as well as two sessions focused on older child adoption – just to name a few.

In addition, this year’s Tapestry Conference will once again feature speakers from TCU’s Institute of Child Development. Tabatha Gunn will lead a session entitled Making Sense of Sensory Issues, while Dr. Karyn Purvis will be featured during the general session with a talk entitled The Connecting Link: What Parents Need to Bring Healing to Their Children.

We hope that you can attend this year’s Tapestry Conference. However, if that is not possible we will provide future updates as to how you can obtain CDs, DVDs and other materials relating to the conference. In the meantime, be sure to check out resources from past Tapestry Conferences.

Effective Discipline Strategies

Dr. Karyn Purvis — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 20:49:40 +0000

Dr. Purvis provides an overview of the basic elements for effectively using a trust-based relational model of parenting. “Effective Discipline Strategies for Adoptive & Foster Families” by Dr. Karyn Purvis, was presented at the 2008 Tapestry Adoption & Foster Care Conference.

Better Understanding Our Children

Dr. Karyn Purvis — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 18:30:54 +0000

An Overview of Common Challenges Faced by Adopted & Foster Children by Dr. Karyn Purvis, presented at the 2008 Tapestry Adoption & Foster Care Conference.

Beyond Talking to Empowering

Michael Monroe — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 02:17:21 +0000

Many adoptive families understand the importance of talking with their children about adoption. As our children get older, however, it becomes increasingly important that we empower them to handle situations on their own and equip them to speak for themselves. This session at the 2008 Tapestry Adoption & Foster Care Conference focused on how to effectively communicate with your child and others about adoption and how to move beyond merely talking to empowering your child.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/Audio-Tapestry/01+Beyond+Talking+to+Empowering.mp3

What’s That In Your Hand?

Dr. Karyn Purvis — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 18:55:38 +0000

Dr. Purvis delivered this insightful presentation at the 2007 Tapestry Adoption & Foster Care Conference. Encouraging parents to use the gifts and resources God has given them to empower and connect with their children, Dr. Purvis offered several practical illustrations from both the Bible and her own experience in working with children from “hard places.”