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Meet The Need:
South Carolina's Statewide Training on Adoption
Meet the Need 2023 offers two days of trauma-focused attachment-based training. The focus of this year's training is to increase our capacity and competence in meeting the complex needs of our children as adoptive parents, adoption professionals, clinicians, legal professionals, and state agency leaders.
The training features keynotes and breakout sessions led by nationally known experts in the adoption field including Katie Rinaudo from the Karyn Purvis Institute for Child Development, Nicole Coning of Harmony Family Center, Trent and Pam Taylor of Watch Me Rise, and Thompson Dove Law Group.
NOVEMBER 30-DECEMBER 1
1200 Hampton Street
AUDIENCE
ADOPTIVE
PARENTS
ADOPTION
PROFESSIONALS
CLINICIANS
LEGAL
PROFESSIONALS
STATE AGENCY
LEADERS
TOPICS
Over 50 topics offered led by expert speakers, including:
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Creating Connected Boundaries: How to Help the Hardest Kids
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Impact of Trauma: Brain, Bodies, Biology, Behavior, Belief System
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Evidence Base for TBRI®
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Assessing Adoptive Family Readiness
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Adult Adoptee Panel: What Parents Need to Know
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Adoptive Parent Panel: Setting Expectations
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The Whole Family: How to Meet the Entire Adoptive Family’s Needs
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How to Build a Village: A Guide for Creating a Healthy Support System
SPEAKERS
KATIE RINAUDO
Katie Rinaudo is a Regional Trainer and Consultant with the KPICD. She is an alumna of Lee University and has a Master's Degree in Holistic Child Development. She is an adoptive sister, and has had career experience as a teacher, an AmeriCorps VISTA, and director and house mother at a children's home in Paraguay. Since becoming a TBRI Practitioner in 2018, Katie has focused on bringing TBRI to the US and Latin America and enjoys coaching families and organizations in English and Spanish. She lives in Cleveland, TN and was the founder of OrphanWise, a nonprofit organization dedicated to equipping professionals and parents to care for vulnerable children.
Keynote Speaker
NICOLE CONING
Nicole Coning, Chief Executive Officer, has over 25 years of experience in the child welfare field specific to pre and post adoption support, family preparation for prospective foster and adoptive caregivers, and program development and administration. Nicole is a member of Harmony’s Executive Team and Board of Directors; she has been with the agency since 2008. She transitioned to her most recent role after serving as Harmony’s Chief Operations Officer. From 2015 – 2021, Nicole provided leadership as Tennessee’s Site Implementation Manager for the Quality Improvement Center for Adoption and Guardianship Support (QIC-AG), a federally funded cooperative agreement sponsored by the Children’s Bureau. It is Nicole’s privilege to provide leadership and support to Harmony’s 100+ staff who provide excellent, innovative services statewide so all may live their best lives.
Keynote Speaker
PAM TAYLOR
After her own personal adoption journey, Pam felt called to work on behalf of the children in Foster Care. She has been serving in this arena for the past ten years by leading a non-profit organization she founded in 2011. Pam now serves as co-founder of Watch Me Rise ministry alongside her adopted son. Together, Pam and Trent serve foster and adoptive families with a vast array of support services. Pam is a TBRI Practitioner, Making Sense of Your Worth Facilitator, art therapy practitioner and mental health coach. Pam considers it a true honor to walk alongside foster and adoptive families and to guide them to the healing that is found in God.
TRENT TAYLOR
Trent entered foster care at the age of four due to domestic violence, extreme neglect,
and sexual abuse. After traveling a painful journey through the foster care system, Trent
was adopted at the age of nine and came to dramatic levels of healing from his
traumatic past. Trent, who is now 22 years old, and has devoted his life to helping
others find healing. Trent is a mentor, public speaker, has authored and published two
books. Trent recently graduated from Arizona State University with a B.S. in Family and
Human Development. Trent serves as CEO and Co-Founder of Watch Me Rise, LLC in
Wake Forest, North Carolina. Trent is a trauma consultant and serves as a TBRI
Practitioner, Life Coach, mentor, and parent trainer. However, his favorite part of his job
is working one on one with children and youth to provide hope for healing. Trent gives
all the glory to God for his healing and strives to be a light in the darkness.
GEOFFREY NELSON
Geoffrey Nelson is a dedicated professional residing in the vibrant community of Waco, Texas, alongside his wife and two sons. His journey into the world of Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®) began in 2012, through his work at Methodist Children’s Home. Geoffrey became a TBRI educator/practitioner in 2015. This marked the inception of his transformative path in understanding human relationship.
Over the past decade, Geoffrey has used TBRI as a foundational approach in his work. His influence has reached far and wide, impacting children, families, and professionals across a diverse array of sectors. From Residential Treatment Centers (RTCs) to foster and adoption agencies, from the complex world of Corrections to the nurturing environment of Schools, Churches, and even the dynamic arena of business. Geoffrey's academic journey has roots in Baylor University, where he earned his bachelor's degree. Looking ahead, he aspires to earn a master's degree in business, further enhancing his ability to create impactful change. Geoffrey draws inspiration from the timeless wisdom of Dr. Karyn Purvis, who once said, "I don't care if they are one, or 100. all people need the same kinds of stuff." These words resonate deeply with Geoffrey and fuel his unwavering commitment to the holistic well-being of individuals, irrespective of their age or background.
Geoffrey Joined the KPICD as a Regional Trainer & Consultant in August of 2023.
CORLETTA BROWN
Corletta has earned an Ed.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy from Converse University. She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist that has spent the last 13 years serving as a School Mental Health Clinician in the largest school district in South Carolina. As a Chief on the School Mental Health Team, Corletta values her role in enriching clinicians and investing in school partnerships. She has presented at the Greenville County School Conference on Recognizing At-Risk Students and co-created mental health literacy lessons taught to all Greenville County School District high school students. Corletta would say that God has entrusted her with students and families that seek connection and understanding from a trusted adult. Though the diagnosis of her students vary, one thing remains the same; her students are valued and loved through the therapeutic connection that she provides.
In addition to her professional career, she and her husband, Jay, are Sunday school teachers to some pretty awesome second graders. Corletta and Jay have four children of their own, three of which they had the privilege of adopting during their 12 years as foster parents.
In her free time she enjoys working out, reading, and playing with her two Great Danes, Cruise and Zane!
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JENNIFER DANFORD
Jennifer Danford is the Founder and Executive Director of The Jade Bridge, a 501(c) 3 organization based in Florence, SC but open to all adoptive, foster, and kinship families. Whether in bimonthly Family Fun Events around the Pee Dee, putting DSS Care Bags into the hands of children placed in care, leading online TBRI® Caregiver Training, in-home family coaching, or organizational training and implementation, Jennifer, a TBRI® Practitioner, and her team serve the entire unit when it comes to family. With over 25 year experience in the education and children's ministry worlds, and as a biological and adoptive mom, Jennifer knows kids, from babies thru college! She best understands trauma and the impact it leaves on the developing brain, as well as the hearts of all involved. As she leads The Jade Bridge, they aim to help grow healthy families into healthy communities for generations to come.
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CHRISTY IRONS MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, BSN, BSpEd
Christy Irons has been a child advocate since she was 10 years old. Having been raised in a family that fostered children, Ms. Irons has built her own reputation as a strong advocate for foster children in South Carolina and family-less children internationally. Christy, and her husband, Nigel, have one biological child and adopted nine others. Ms. Irons has a widely read blog, The Sometimes 8 Irons, which chronicles the realities of a very diverse family life while actively seeking adoptive families for children in foster care. Ms. Irons holds bachelor’s degrees in special education and nursing, has a master’s degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner and is currently a doctoral candidate for nursing practice at Anderson University. She is a member of the advisory council of Children’s Rights, a NY based organization advocating for the rights of vulnerable children through the federal court system. Some may choose to adopt, and others choose to be advocates, Ms. Irons has chosen to distinguish herself in both areas.
TANA D. DUKES
Tana Dukes is a mom, wife, social worker and small business owner. She resides in Charleston, SC with her husband and two children. Tana has both a Bachelor's and Master's Degree in Social Work from The Florida State University. She has previously worked as a Case worker in the state of Florida's Child Welfare system, a licensing post worker in South Carolina, as well as a licensing supervisor for a private Child Placing Agency. She holds a LMSW in the state of South Carolina and is a TBRI Practitioner through Texas Christian University. Tana has always been passionate about foster care and adoption. She loves teaching and integrating all she has learned in the last thirteen years into impactful education so that parents, caregivers, and professionals alike can grow in our ability to foster the next generation into safety and wholeness.
JAMES THOMPSON
James Fletcher Thompson (Jim) received a BA from Vanderbilt University in 1983 and JD from University of South Carolina School of Law in 1989. He served on the Board of Editors of the South Carolina Law Review. Jim has been an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of South Carolina School of Law, teaching a course entitled “Parents, Children and the Law” from 1996 - 2001. He is the author of a book published by the South Carolina Bar in 2010 entitled South Carolina Adoption Law and Practice, A Guide for Attorneys, Certified Investigators, and Families. A second edition of the book was published in February 2023. He is an attorney of record in over 20 reported decisions of the South Carolina appellate courts.
In 1999, Jim was recognized for his adoption work by the United States Congressional Coalition on Adoption. He is a Fellow and past Board Member of the Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys and chaired the Assisted Reproduction Ethics Code Review Committee from 2015-2016. He received an “AV” rating by Martindale-Hubbell. In February 2008, pursuant to the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption, Jim became one of three attorneys in the nation to achieve Hague approval from the Council on Accreditation as authorized by the United States Department of State.
On September 1, 2020, Jim formed a new law firm with Attorney Dale Dove, Thompson Dove Law Group, LLC, with offices in Rock Hill, Spartanburg and Charleston (by appointment only).
DALE DOVE
Dove received a BA degree in economics in 1978 from Winthrop University and a JD degree in 1983 from the University of South Carolina School of Law. He was admitted to the South Carolina Bar in 1983 and has continued in active law practice since that time.
His legal work is focused on adoption and family formation. He has handled over 2000 adoptions. Because his firm is frequently involved in contested litigation involving children in the care of the South Carolina Department of Social Services (“DSS”), his firm is intentionally staffed with former DSS employees: Former County Director, Case Worker, County Investigation Supervisor, and Regional Director.
Dove served on the State Technical Corrections Committee for the South Carolina Adoption Act (S.C. Code §63-9-10 et seq.) in the years following the Act’s adoption in 1986. He is an Adoption Fellow with the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys (since 1995), and is a 2008 recipient of the Congressional Angels of Adoption Award. He has participated as a presenter in various adoption related continuing education programs sponsored by the South Carolina Bar Association, as well as other sponsoring entities.
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