
Training
At JFO we believe that when it comes to caring for children in need, knowledge is power. Every child we serve has their own set of struggles and challenges to overcome. We offer a variety of trainings to equip you to better understand and care for people from a variety of backgrounds and experiences.

POVERTY TRAINING
Studies have shown that poverty affects children and families involved with child welfare at a disproportionate rate. We at JFO believe that in order to care for vulnerable families with empathy and compassion, we must first seek to understand the struggles they face. JFO offers a variety of trainings designed to inform and educate you about poverty and its impact. Click here to learn more.
Meet Our Trainers:
Sandra Flach

Sandra Flach is a mother of eight children, five through adoption—one kinship and four international. Her youngest two are teens diagnosed with a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). To learn more about her personal journey visit sandraflach.com
Sandra is a certified facilitator of the FASCETS Neuro-Behavioral Model and leads the Hope for the FASD Journey Community—a support group for parents and caregivers of individuals with an FASD. She also hosts the weekly Adoption & Foster Care Journey podcast.
Karen Laing

Karen Laing has a Bachelor’s degree in Public Health and a Masters in Theology. She has worked internationally on Health Literacy projects and holds certifications in Bridges Out of Poverty (Lifetime Trainer), COPE (facilitator), Soul Shop Suicide Prevention (Church Leader and Youth Facilitator), Trauma Informed Care (Presenter).
If you are interested in learning more or hiring one of our professional trainers please CLICK HERE
Trainings We Offer
This is a list of the trainings that JFO offers. We now offer CEUs for licensed NY State social workers and other qualifying professionals. If you'd like to host a training, please reach out to Sandra Flach to discuss the details, schedule, and cost. For trainings that are currently being offered, please visit our registration page.

Led by Sandra Flach, CEU eligible
The FASD workshops cover the impact of prenatal exposure to alcohol on the brain, symptoms of FASD, and accommodations and strengths-based strategies. This 90 minute training is offered online and in-person and is perfect for parents, caregivers, and professionals.

Led by Karen Laing, CEU eligible
COPE is a 2.5-hour immersive experience designed to give you a glimpse into the lives of families in our community that face poverty every day. This training is designed to cultivate empathy and to equip church response teams, foster and adoptive parents, businesses, and community members to work more effectively with low-income families.

Led by Karen Laing, CEU eligible
Poverty training gives instruction on key aspects of poverty including defining five types of poverty, comparison of values among classes, mental models and the limitations of structured language. The training course also helps to create a network of resources in a community for individuals in need.
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Led by Karen Laing, CEU eligible
The Implications of Trauma for Individuals and Communities including PTSD. This workshop helps to recognize trauma as both an individual and community issue and how they intertwine. As well as discusses ways to provide alternative care to those with PTSD in the midst of community trauma.