Kinship Conference

Kinship Conference Program

Programming & Leadership

Welcome & Resource Fair

9:00 – 10:00am

Start your day by checking in and connecting with a powerful network of support at our Resource Fair! Caregivers will have the opportunity to meet and engage with a variety of agencies and professionals who serve kinship, adoptive, and foster families across New Jersey. Featured participants include:

CASA of Somerset, Mercer, and Warren Counties
Children’s Aid and Family Services- KinKonnect – Post Adoption/KLG Clinical Services
Kinship Navigator Programs – Children’s Home Society, Center for Family Services, and Care Plus
NJ Angels
NJ DCF – Office of Family Support Services & Office of Resource Families
Tom Tracy, LCSW, Award Winning Children’s Author and Former NJ Resource Parent
Umoja Kulay – Black Hair Education for Transracial Adoptive & Foster Care Families

This is a great opportunity to explore services, ask questions, and build meaningful connections to support your caregiving journey.

Keynote Speaker

10:00 – 10:30am

Marcel Yarborough

Marcel Yarborough is a dedicated Kinship Caregiver with a passion for creating consistently loving, supportive, and successful environments for youth and families. With over 10 years of experience as a foster parent and more than a decade of informal kinship caregiving for his own family, Marcel has dedicated his life to investing in the well-being of children. For the past 3 years, he has officially served as a kinship caregiver through DCF/DCPP, continuing his commitment to keeping his family conng.

Prior to relocating to New Jersey, Marcel provided therapeutic foster care in North Carolina, offering compassionate, individualized care tailored to meet the unique needs of each child who joined his family.
His professional background spans not only child welfare but also the juvenile justice and criminal justice systems. Marcel has served as a Behavioral Technician supporting youth within the juvenile justice system and as a Sergeant in adult correctional facilities, consistently applying a trauma-informed, empathetic approach to every role.

Beyond his work in care systems, Marcel has partnered with peer support groups, schools, and after-school programs, helping cultivate nurturing, heart-centered environments for children and families. He has worked with the Board of Education, with experience that includes working with students from kindergarten through 12th grade, as well as supporting youth with special needs and autism, including young adults up to age 21 as they develop life skills for independence.

Marcel is a lifelong learner who values growth and actively seeks new opportunities, ideas, and community partnerships that enhance the lives of young people and their families. Guided by the belief that “Family is not defined by our genes; it is built and maintained through love.” Marcel remains devoted to creating safe, supportive spaces where young people can heal, grow, and thrive.

Workshop Session 1

10:45 – 11:45am

Kinship Support Series Launch – Session One: The Joys and Challenges of Kinship Care

embrella is collaborating with Creating a Family to pilot their Kinship Interactive Training Curriculum. This curriculum is designed to enhance trauma-informed knowledge while providing a supportive environment that delves into specific areas of kinship caregiving. This curriculum is a five 1.5-hour workshop series.

We are thrilled to debut this series with Session One: The Joys and Challenges of Kinship Care at our Annual Kinship Conference. This opening workshop explores the unique experiences of kinship caregivers, from the meaningful bonds they form with the children in their care to the emotional, relational, and logistical complexities they face. The session offers strategies for navigating common challenges while highlighting the strengths that caregivers bring to their roles.Following the conference, embrella will host monthly virtual support meetings featuring the remaining four sessions, facilitated by our experienced team.

embrella’s Director of Family Support, Corissa Kazar and Family Support Manager, Lenore Bonilla

Leading with Empathy: A Youth’s Point of View

Focus on empathy and the trauma that is experienced by youth of all ages as they join their resource and kinship families. Caregivers will gain insight into how to empathize with the youth in their home, explore why they chose to become a resource/kinship parent and experience what youth in care endure during their journey in the child welfare system.

Presenter: embrella’s Family Support Manager, Chanel Dupree and Family Support Advocate, Carlissa Snowden-Gause

Relatives Raising Relatives

There are many benefits of being a caregiver to a relative’s child(ren) but there are also many lifestyle changes and challenges to those raising these children. This workshop will explore lifestyle changes, emotional issues as well as discuss ways to help our children cope with some of the common behavioral problems such as trauma, telling the truth about the birth parents, loyalty issues and more. This workshop will help identify ways caregivers can increase their ability to cope and advocate for the children in their care.

Presenter: Cynthia Lapidus, Assistant Director and Cecelia Gaines Med, LPC Warm Line Specialist and Trainer at NJ Adoption Resource Clearing House (NJ ARCH) and Kinship Care Clearing House (KinKonnect)

Autismo 101

Proporcionar a los padres de acogida una comprensión fundamental del autismo, incluidas sus características, desafíos y estrategias para apoyar a los niños del espectro.

Presenter: Jessy Cordova, LSW and Nicole Kries-Wyszynski, LCSW, Full Spectrum – Psych Health Associates

Workshop Session 2

12:00 – 1:00pm

Kinship Support Series Launch – Session Two: The Joys and Challenges of Kinship Care

We are thrilled to debut this series with Session One: The Joys and Challenges of Kinship Care at our Annual Kinship Conference. This opening workshop explores the unique experiences of kinship caregivers, from the meaningful bonds they form with the children in their care to the emotional, relational, and logistical complexities they face. The session offers strategies for navigating common challenges while highlighting the strengths that caregivers bring to their roles. Following the conference, embrella will host monthly virtual support meetings featuring the remaining four sessions, facilitated by our experienced team.

Presenter: Family Support Manager, Lenore Bonilla and Family Support Advocate, Erika Retamar

Healing Centered Engagement

Healing Centered Engagement (HCE) is a non-clinical, strength-based approach that advances a holistic view of healing and re-centers culture and identity as a central feature in personal well-being. Caregivers will explore ways they can enhance their thoughts and behaviors to more effectively reach and impact youth of color.

Presenter: Family Support Advocate, Tasia St. Louis and Family Support Advocate, Courtney Brown

Apoyando a los Cuidadores de Crianza y Parentesco en Nueva Jersey

Acompáñenos junto a los representantes del Departamento de Niños y Familias de Nueva Jersey para una sesión informativa sobre las últimas iniciativas en el cuidado de crianza y parentesco en todo el estado. Este taller cubrirá las actualizaciones recientes de la Ley de Parentesco y explorará cómo las políticas y prácticas en evolución están diseñadas para brindar un mejor apoyo a las familias durante todo el proceso del caso, desde el inicio hasta el cierre.
Los participantes también aprenderán estrategias para apoyar a los niños mientras están bajo cuidado, con un enfoque en mantener las conexiones vitales entre hermanos y familiares. La sesión concluirá con un segmento de preguntas y respuestas, dando a los cuidadores la oportunidad de hacer preguntas y obtener una comprensión más clara de sus derechos y responsabilidades.

Presenter: Family Support Advocate, Lazaro Lugo and Family Support Advocate, Diana Burgos with CP&P Office of Resource Familiesl

Workshop Leaders

Lenore Bonilla

Family Support Manager, embrella

Lenore Bonilla is a Family Support Manager at embrella. Lenore graduated from Central Michigan University with a degree in Child Development. Following graduation, Lenore joined AmeriCorps VISTA working in the Early Education Program through the school district in Anaheim, CA. After her service term, she worked for 2-1-1 Orange County managing the database of social service agencies for all of Orange County, CA. Her experience with AmeriCorps, local non-profits and Head Start as well as her background in child development assisted her in becoming a Peace Corps Volunteer in Honduras serving in Youth Development from 2008-2010. Upon returning to the United States, Lenore returned to Michigan where she worked with Early Head Start before accepting a position with the State of Michigan Department of Health and Human Services working in child welfare. Lenore came to New Jersey in 2016 and has continued her dedication to child welfare with embrella.

Courtney Brown

Family Support Advocate,
Camden County, embrella

Courtney Brown is a Family Support Advocate at embrella. Courtney obtained a B.S. in Social Work at Morgan State University and since has work in child welfare for over four years. In addition, she is experienced in working with adults with Autism.

Diana Burgos

Family Support Advocate,
Morris, Sussex, and Passaic Counties, embrella

Diana Burgos is a Bilingual Family Support Advocate for embrella. Diana, despite having limited knowledge or experience with English, made the decision to move to the United States from Colombia and has been a resident of Morris County for the past 25 years. Through her immigration to the US, she faced many challenges, her passion for learning, the encouraging people she met, and her desire to help others sustained her through her most difficult times. Through her journey, she became increasingly aware of the need for advocacy for families, and especially children, when they find themselves in a situation that causes them to leave not only their home, but everything familiar to them. Her experiences interning with the Passaic County C.A.S.A. and volunteering with the Jersey Battered Women’s Service led Diana to pursue and obtain her Master’s degree in Child Advocacy from Montclair State University. Diana will combine her knowledge and skills to support families who have decided to foster children and give them a safe place to live. She looks forward to connecting with the Morris, Sussex, and Passaic child welfare community.

Jessy Cordova, LSW

Full Spectrum Therapy Partners

Jessy is a Licensed Social Worker. She is bilingual in English and Spanish. She is a dedicated advocate for marginalized individuals, including survivors of domestic violence. As a Latina female she is culturally aware and sensitive to an individuals’ specific culture, ethnicity and needs. Jessy’s holistic approach fosters empowerment, self-compassion, and growth. She provides a nonjudgmental listening and conscious feedback. She specializes in depressive, anxiety, trauma and stress disorders, as well as couples and family therapy. Jessy works with adolescents (12-17), young and middle-aged adults. She has clinical training and experience in psychodynamic, trauma-informed and family systems therapy. Jessy utilizes the Gottman Method for couples and help clients develop tools to manage conflicts, deepen friendships and intimacy, resolve disputes, prevent escalations, and avoid relapses. She assists clients to develop stress tolerance, emotional regulation and effective coping skills with mind, body and spiritual healing process. Jessy encourages positive thought patterns and skills to increase self-confidence and personal empowerment. Jessy’s goal is to develop a therapeutic bond and work along with client to reach their goals, build and maintain healthy relationships with others and reconnect to self.

Chanel Dupree

Family Support Manager, embrella

Chanel is a Family Support Manager at embrella. Chanel began her career working for corporate America at a Fortune 500 company, which started her on a path to working with children and families. She has spent more than 15 years working with vulnerable children and families, which allowed her to gain a wealth of knowledge regarding the Children’s System of Care. She has worked as a caseworker and a counselor who has served as a family advocate and educator. In addition, Chanel volunteered as a Court Appointed Special Advocate in both Essex and Bergen counties, a Behavioral Assistant for Hudson County, and even worked for CP&P, formerly known as DYFS. Chanel is a certified trainer for Suicide Prevention, Connection Matters, ACEs, NJ Victims Academy, Drug and Alcohol Counseling, and Emergency Medical Services. She is also an unofficial/official foster child who happens to be a testament to the journey of teen parenthood and is a parent of a deaf individual. Her goal is to make sure individuals feel supported when they need it. She believes the best way to see change is through education, advocacy, and support.

Cecelia Gaines MEd, LPC

Warm Line Specialist and Trainer, NJARCH and KinKonnect

Ms. Gaines is a New Jersey Licensed Professional Counselor with a diverse background in both education and therapy. She holds a Master’s degree from Temple University and an undergraduate degree from American University. Over the course of her 15-year career, she has worked in various counseling roles. Initially, she served as a School Counselor in middle schools, before transitioning to the nonprofit sector as an in-home and outpatient therapist working primarily with foster and pre/post adoptive children and families. Ms. Gaines expanded her expertise by completing the Adoption Certificate Program at the Rutgers School of Social
Work. She is also a trained facilitator of Tuning in to Teens, an evidence-based emotion coaching parenting program.
In 2024, she joined Children’s Aid & Family Services’ NJ Adoption Resource Clearing House as the Warm Line Specialist and Trainer, where she applies her extensive knowledge to support adoptive, foster, and kinship families. Ms. Gaines is also a dedicated mother to two young children, ages 5 and 8.

Corissa Kazar

Director of Family Support, embrella

Corissa Kazar is a seasoned professional serving as the Director of Family Support at embrella. With a career spanning over a decade in child welfare, Corissa has dedicated herself to advocating for, supporting, and educating families, state workers, and external agencies throughout New Jersey. Prior to her role at embrella, Corissa contributed significantly to New Jersey’s Division of Child Protection and Permanency (CP&P), where she played a pivotal role in safeguarding the well-being of vulnerable children and families. Corissa is actively involved in various professional affiliations, including the Child Welfare League of America and the New Jersey Task Force on Child Abuse & Neglect’s Family Support and Child Wellbeing Committee. She is also involved in diversity, equity, and belonging initiatives at embrella and serves as a Public Policy member for the organization. In this capacity, she leverages her wealth of knowledge to inform policy decisions and drive meaningful change within child welfare.

Nicole Kries-Wyszynski

Full Spectrum Therapy Partners

Nicole is a trauma-informed, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Clinical Supervisor currently in the process of obtaining her BCBA. Her passion and belief in the Family Systems Model has led to the growth of PSYCHealth. The goal is for everyone in the family unit to be able to receive individualized therapy services with their own clinician and then come together to work on relationship repair and rebuilding within the unit. This wrap-around support means everyone is getting what they need while creating informal supports and skills for after therapy is completed. Nicole is a Hamilton local, the wife of a police officer and veteran and mother of two. Nicole has a daughter with autism and that has guided her career toward specializing in working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. In addition, she comes from a family court background working with juveniles with sexually abusive and reactive behaviors; parent coaching and mentoring, and facilitation of staff trainings for those working with these diverse and unique populations.

Cynthia Lapidus

Assistant Director, NJ Adoption Resource Clearing House (NJ ARCH) and Kinship Care Clearing House (KinKonnect)

Ms. Lapidus is the new Assistant Director of the NJ Adoption Resource Clearing House (NJ ARCH) and the Kinship Care Clearing House (KinKonnect), both key programs of Children’s Aid and Family Services in South Orange, NJ. Ms. Lapidus has been with NJ ARCH and KinKonnect for the past 8 years, initially serving as the Warm Line and Training Specialist before stepping into her current role. With 25 years of experience as an adoption social worker across New Jersey, she has worked extensively with families throughout the adoption process, from pre- to post-adoption, both domestically and internationally. Ms. Lapidus has facilitated numerous support groups, conferences, and training sessions for adoptive parents, foster parents, and kinship caregivers.
Ms. Lapidus holds a degree from Elizabethtown College and an Adoption Certificate from Rutgers University. She is also a trained facilitator of Tuning in to Teens, an evidence-based emotion coaching parenting program. In 2024, Ms. Lapidus was honored as an Angel in Adoption by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, a recognition for her outstanding work and advocacy in the adoption community. Ms. Lapidus is the proud mother of three children, two by birth and one by adoption.

Lazaro Lugo

Family Support Advocate,
Atlantic, Burlington, and Cape May Counties, embrella

Lazaro Lugo is a Bilingual Family Support Advocate for embrella. Lazaro has a degree in Sociology with a concentration in Criminal Justice from St. Francis College in New York. The last seven years of Lazaro’s career has been dedicated to educating, mentoring, and empowering fathers/males as a Fatherhood Program Coordinator and Male Engagement Specialist with the National Healthy Start Association and NICHq (National Institute for Children’s Health Equity.) He is certified and licensed in the early childhood intervention model A.B.C. (Attachment Bio-behavioral Catchup), National Fatherhood Initiative 24/7 Dads curriculum, and C.O.S.P. (Circle of Security Parenting) International early intervention program curriculum for parents and children. Lazaro is a practicing artist who utilizes various expressions of art as therapy when engaging with families in the community. Recently relocated from Brooklyn, Lazaro now resides in Burlington County, New Jersey, with his wife, their four children, and the family pet dog, Luke Lugo.

Erika Retamar

Family Support Advocate,
Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem Counties, embrella

Erika Retamar is a Family Support Advocate at embrella. Erika has been honored to work within the Social Services field, which has included Early Childhood Education. Her educational background stems from a social work base in which she served families in Camden, Cumberland, Gloucester and Atlantic Counties as an Intake Assessment Caseworker, WIC Clerk, and Family Advocate with Early Head Start.

Carlissa Snowden-Gause

Family Support Advocate,
Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem Counties, embrella

Carlissa is a Family Support Advocate at embrella. Carlissa is also the biological, foster, and adoptive parent of 9 children. Carlissa previously volunteered at embrella volunteering as a Heart to Heart Mentor and Connecting Families Coordinator. Carlissa has a passion for children and families, and a desire to provide positive support and guidance to those in need. Her joy is the joy of our children and families.

Tasia St. Louis

Family Support Advocate, Middlesex & Union Counties, embrella

Tasia St. Louis is a Family Support Advocate at embrella and a proud New Jersian. She was born in Newark, NJ and raised in Elizabeth, NJ. Tasia has an educational background is in Psychology and over 10 years of experience serving the community in different capacities. Her work at embrella is near and dear to her heart on a personal level. She enjoys helping others and being a guiding light to those who need it most.