Agenda & Workshops
Check In & Resource Fair with Exhibitors
Registración y Feria de Recursos con Expositores
9:00am – 9:30am
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. This is a great opportunity to explore services, ask questions, and build meaningful connections
to support your caregiving journey.
Welcome Address
Discurso de Bienvenida
9:30am – 9:50am
Brandi Harding, Deputy Director, NJ Department of Children and Families
The Welcome Address will set the tone for the day by recognizing the critical role resource parents play in strengthening families and supporting children across New Jersey. Deputy Director Harding will highlight the importance of collaboration between families, community partners, and state systems, and reinforce DCF’s commitment to ensuring resource parents are informed, supported, and connected to services that help families thrive. This opening will frame the symposium’s theme, Stronger Together, and emphasize how shared knowledge and partnerships lead to better outcomes for children and caregivers alike.
Workshop Session I
Understanding the Supports Available to Resource Parents
10:00am – 10:50am
This workshop will provide resource parents with a clear and practical overview of essential services available to support children and families in South Jersey. Presenters will highlight behavioral and mental health supports, system navigation, and healthcare or care coordination services that resource parents frequently need. The session will focus on how to access services, when to seek support, and how agencies collaborate to meet family needs. Resource parents will leave with increased confidence in navigating systems and connecting to the right supports at the right time.
Presenters:
– Clarissa Robles, Senior Community Relations Specialist, Fidelis Care and Resource Parent Council Member
– NJ4S
– Wyndee O. Davis, MS, LPC, Assistant Director, CSOC’s Office of Community Services
Workshop Session II
Resource Panel: Your Questions Answered
11:00am – 11:50am
This interactive panel will focus on questions submitted by attendees during registration, ensuring the discussion is driven by the real experiences, concerns, and needs of resource parents. Panelists will address topics such as service access, behavioral and mental health supports, system coordination, and common challenges faced by caregivers. This session is designed to foster open dialogue, provide clarity, and reinforce that resource parents have a network of professionals and organizations working alongside them.
Presenters:
– Clarissa Robles, Senior Community Relations Specialist, Fidelis Care and Resource Parent Council Member
– NJ4S
– Wyndee O. Davis, MS, LPC, Assistant Director, CSOC’s Office of Community Services
Taller de Español
10:00am – 11:50am
Abrazar la Autenticidad: Desafíos, Trauma y Permanencia en el Cuidado de Crianza (Embracing Authenticity: Challenges, Trauma, and Permanence in Foster Care)
Este taller está basado en las experiencias personales como padres de recurso en Nueva Jersey y está diseñado para proveer conocimiento, guía y reflejo para los cuidadores navegando esta jornada. Esta presentación tiene la intención de suscitar una discusión, ofrecer conocimiento práctico y proveer un contexto para apoyar auténticamente a los niños mientras que navegan los desafíos del cuidado temporal.
Presentador:
– Eliecer Marte, Periodista, Autor y Líder en Comunicaciones
Lunch & Resource Fair with Exhibitors
Almuerzo y Feria de Recursos con Expositores
12:00pm – 1:00pm
Exhibitors include:
– New Jersey Statewide Student Support Services (NJ4S) Camden County (Center for Family Services)
– New Jersey Angels
– Office of Family Voice
– Pinelands Family Success Center
– Rooted Kinections
– Youth Advocate Programs
Presenters
Brandi Harding
Deputy Director, NJ Dept of Children and Families
Brandi Harding is the Deputy Director Office of Resource Families, Office of Family Licensing, Adoption Operations, NJ Division of Child Protection and Permanency.
Clarissa Robles
Senior Community Relation Specialist at Fidelis Care & Resource Parent Council Member
Clarissa Robles is a health care advocate and senior community relations professional with over 20 years of experience supporting individuals and families in navigating complex health coverage and care systems. She has extensive experience working with low-income and underserved populations to expand access to health insurance, improve understanding of benefits, and address barriers to care. Her work is guided by a strong commitment to equity, collaboration, and the delivery of clear, actionable health care information to empower families.
Eliecer Marte
Periodista, Autor y Líder en Comunicaciones
Eliecer Marte es un periodista, comunicador, autor y líder en comunicaciones ganador de 12 premios Emmy, originario de Santo Domingo, República Dominicana. Inició su carrera en la televisión desde niño y obtuvo títulos en Periodismo y Economía de la Universidad de Miami, así como en Liderazgo de la Universidad Nova Southeastern.
Con más de 15 años de experiencia en la narración de historias en radio y televisión, Eliecer ha trabajado para importantes medios de comunicación hispanos de Estados Unidos, como Univision y Telemundo, y también ha colaborado en noticieros en inglés con News12 Networks y PIX11 en la ciudad de Nueva York, convirtiéndose en el primer periodista dominicano en los medios hispanos de Estados Unidos en lograr esta transición.
Además de su galardonada trayectoria periodística, Eliecer es autor del libro Confidencias, enfocado en la identidad y la comunicación auténtica, y fundador de EM2 Communications, una firma de comunicaciones estratégicas y desarrollo de contenido.
Shaquinta Lusby
Shaquinta Lusby serves as the Outreach and Engagement Consultant for New Jersey Statewide Student Support Services (NJ4S), supporting youth and families throughout Camden County through Center For Family Services. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Montclair State University and brings extensive experience in mental health prevention and school-based programming.
Shaquinta is passionate about connecting students and families to meaningful supports, building strong community partnerships, and promoting early intervention strategies that foster resilience and overall well-being. Her background in prevention work allows her to engage diverse populations with empathy, professionalism, and a strong commitment to positive youth development.
Wyndee O. Davis
MS, LPC
Wyndee is a Master’s prepared, licensed clinician with a degree in counseling from Villanova University and a Bachelor’s degree in psychology and mathematics from Guilford College. She currently serves as a liaison and practice representative of the Children’s System of Care Division within the New Jersey Department of Children and Families. She functioned as the Statewide Community Services Coordinator for the Mobile Response and Stabilization Services (MRSS) programs for ten years prior to serving in her current role as Assistant Director of CSOC’s Office of Community Services. The services within this unit include Care Management Organization Supports, Family Support Organization Services including Youth Partnership, Intensive In -Community supports, Intensive In-Home Supports, Outpatient and Partial Care supports and Family Support Services. These services are key components of New Jersey’s comprehensive integrated Statewide Children’s System of Care and the Office’s work includes oversight of programming development and management of this coordinated state-wide, county-based system through ongoing programmatic, quality assurance and performance improvement activities to improve and enhance youth and family care.
Prior to her employment with DCSOC, Wyndee provided crisis intervention, assessment and direct care services to adults, youth and families in a psychiatric screening centers, outpatient programs, inpatient hospital units, and correctional facilities. Additionally, she has experience working with a managed care company coordinating necessary psychiatric and substance use admissions and with DCSOC’ Contracted System’s Administrator as a Clinical Care Coordinator and Clinical Services Manager.
Wyndee spends her spare time having faith, building strengths, delivering love, support, quality management and teaching to her three precious sons!
Exhibitors
