Parent Retreat 2018

Registration is now open for the 11^th annual Parent Retreat!

The 2018 Parent Retreat will be held in three Saskatchewan communities. This free-of-charge workshop is held for parents, caregivers, and family members of individuals with FASD. Parent Retreat is a one-day event that provides information on FASD and gives attendees the opportunity to connect with other caregivers.

This event is open to family members from any family structure, no matter how old the individuals living with FASD are. The event will be a one-day workshop in each community with lunch provided. Please note that hotel accommodations and childcare are not provided.

The locations for this year’s event are:
Saskatoon – Saturday, April 28^th
Regina – Saturday, May 12^th
Prince Albert – Saturday, May 26^th

The Network is excited to announce that all the presentations at this year’s Parent Retreat will be delivered by Saskatchewan caregivers who have years of experience raising and caring for individuals with FASD. As they prepare to travel across the province to share their wealth of knowledge with other families, they have decided this year’s theme will be “Driving Hope.” Life with FASD can be a rough road and every family is at a different stage in their journey so this year’s event will focus on support and strategies throughout an individual’s lifespan while empowering positive thinking and inspiring a focus on successes as you continue your journey with FASD.

 
Agenda
8:30 am - Registration

9:00 am - opening introductions

9:30 am -  ‘Honouring the backseat drivers’ presented by Shana Mohr
the day will begin with a brief overview of FASD and the primary disabilities then discuss strategies for supporting children with the disability

10:50 – Sensory exercise by Lisa Brownstone
throughout the day Lisa, a caregiver and occupational therapist, will be discussing sensory processing and demonstrating strategies for sensory impairments

11:30 – Lunch

12:30 – ‘Fasten your seatbelts’ presented by Kim Skidmore
After lunch, Kim will discuss some of the common challenges when individuals with FASD reach their teens and strategies for supporting them through this stage of life

1:30 – ‘Who’s steering?’ presented by Marion Tudor
As the day continues, Marion will discuss key considerations as teens transition to adulthood and how to continue supporting them as adults

2:50 – Sensory exercise by Lisa Brownstone
Lisa will discuss sensory strategies for teens and adults

3:10 – Panel discussion/ Questions & Answers
All four speakers will give their final remarks about life with FASD and take time to answers questions from attendees

Register Now
There is no cost to attend Parent Retreat. 

If you have any questions or need assistance registering please contact communications@fasdnetwork.ca or (306) 975 - 0896

 

Parent Retreat testimonials

The best case for coming to Parent Retreat 2018 comes from past event attendees. Each year at the end of Parent Retreat we collect surveys to gather feedback and help improve the event. Here’s some of the feedback we received from the 178 caregivers who have attended the event over the last three years:

96.5% of attendees said they gained new information and strategies that they can put to use in their homes.

94% of caregivers who attended Parent Retreat found the event to be a positive experience and felt rejuvenated.

98.5% of surveyed attendees would be happy to attend Parent Retreat again.
 
Some of the testimonials and comments from caregivers the past few years have been:

“I like how it was informal enough that we could talk to other caregivers and exchange strategies.” – 2017 Parent Retreat

“I had a great time and it was very good to know that I’m not alone.” – 2017 Parent Retreat

“This was over and above my expectations, I made new friends and connections.” – 2016 Parent Retreat

“This workshop helped me understand FASD and how to cope.” – 2016 Parent Retreat

“Parent Retreat lifted my heart and mind.” – 2015 Parent Retreat

The History of Parent Retreat

In 2007, the Network announced that planning was in the works for an exciting parent workshop. The event would be for parents and caregivers and would include plenty of opportunities for learning new information while connecting with other parents and caregivers. The first parent retreat, hosted by the Network in the fall of that year, was envisioned as time away from the multiple responsibilities, tasks, stresses, and routines of everyday life. The organization wanted parents and caregivers of individuals with FASD to feel that this was time set aside just for them to be with others who might understand their experiences. When the Network sent out the invitations to the first-ever retreat, they were cautiously optimistic. “We hoped that parents and caregivers would see the value in this gathering and want to come, but we were unsure as we had not tried an event like this before.” Very quickly, emails, faxes, phone calls and letters came into the office. Evidently, parents and caregivers were interested. As a way to help parents and caregivers feel special and pampered, a massage therapist was on site, meals and hotel accommodations were provided and fabulous door prizes were presented. In addition to all the mentioned comforts, the organization arranged several excellent presenters and performers including Dr. Patricia Blakely and Krystle Pederson. There was a blend of practical information, fun, and pleasure.

This year marks the 11^th anniversary of the Network’s Parent Retreat event.
 
Register for Parent Retreat.