Family Resource Coalition sponsors Annual FACT Conference March 1-3, 2007

The Family Resource Coalition Inc sponsored their First Annual Family Action Community Training Conference March 1-3, 2007, at the Sheraton Safari in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Click here to view some pictures from FACT 2007!

The conference was attended by representatives from families, state offices, and private agencies statewide, and featured many opportunities for attendees to hear up to date information about many different areas of Floridas children and youth with special health care needs.

The location at the Sheraton Safari Hotel and Conference center was an excellent choice, located just outside the Disney World area, and allowed families statewide to travel to one central location. The facility was welcoming and friendly, and the onsite staff handled things quickly, efficiently, and cheerfully.

Opening keynote speaker Robert Streater encouraged those in attendance to be energized and excited at being a part of helping Floridas children see success. Relating to his own experiences and severe injuries, and his later successes, Mr Streaters opening keynote address was an exuberant start for the conference.

"We wanted FACT 2007 to be an encouraging part of training for Florida parents and professionals", stated Family Resource Coalition Executive Director Tammy Caksackkar. " Our organization not only helps families with direct care, training, and finding resources in every region of Florida, we take our responsibility to create an environment for learning, encouragement, and ultimately success of Florida families with children and youth with special health care needs. FACT 2007 was designed to bring professionals, family leaders, and resources from all over the state together in a rare opportunity to interface together".

Indeed, state agency representatives from every region statewide were in attendance or leading seminars and workshops, and some breakout session presenters, and notably the closing keynote speaker Dr Lynn Kern Koegel, traveled from as far away as California to be a part of FACT 2007.

Vendors and agencies from all over Florida set up displays and products in a vendors hall. Available was information on subjects as far ranging as disaster planning and state services, to wheelchair vans and long term planning. Several vendors attended with samples and items for distributing to attendees. One vendor, Woodbury Products, traveled from New Jersey to participate in FACT 2007.

Throughout the three day conference 7 different breakout sessions were planned, with nearly 25 separate presentations and speakers ranging on subjects from Medicaid services, APD and CMS representatives describing their agencies services, and independent companies and individuals with teaching and hands-on workshops. Two separate break out sessions on disaster planning for CYWSHCN were offered, as well as Waiver Overviews, outlines of CMS services from Newborn screening to transition services, and two particularly interesting workshops featured "A personal perspective on living with special needs" by Idelio Valdeos, and "How to Protect your Children From Predators" by Guy Hill.

Always the smiling Family Health Partners from FRC were available with helpful advice, directions, and information. The entire team of FHP's traveled from every corner of Florida to participate as guides, respite workers, technical support, and general helpers for FACT 2007. Several received awards for their extraordinary services to the children and youth of Florida from the FRC Executive Director, including "Employee of the Year", presented to Angela Simonton (Brevard) and "Fund Raiser of the Year", presented to Kelita Peterson (Panama City).

The closing keynote speaker, Dr Lynn Kern Koegel, Clinical Director of Autism Services at the Koegel Autism Center at the University of California, closed the conference with a stirring overview of a some new and exciting therapies and ideas for treating children with autism. Using an overview of her recent appearance on "Super Nanny", the Koegels tag teamed with descriptions of positive reinforcement techniques, speech therapy progress, and behavioral therapy breakthroughs.

Her audience featured many parents of children with autism, and barely a dry eye was in the house when she showed a young boy with autism speaking his first words for his mother. Read the companion article in the newsletter for more information about her presentation.
Overall FACT 2007 was a great success, and planning for next years FACT 2008 Conference is already underway. Be sure to get on the FRC email list by completing an online registration form so you too can participate next year.