Los Angeles Location Announced for EMPOWERED TO CONNECT Conference Simulcast

MARCH 01, 2017

CONTACT: Racquel Cianci

Children and Youth Director - THE ROCK

St. Stephen Presbyterian Church

20121 Devonshire Street

Chatsworth, CA 91311

mobile: (818) 823-5508

telephone: (818) 360-7460

fax: (818) 366-3764

web: www.estephen.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THE ROCK Youth & Kids Ministry at SSPC Will Provide a Certified Two-Day Conference for Los Angeles Families and Youth Professionals Focused on Trust-Based Parenting Techniques

Chatsworth, CA THE ROCK at St. Stephen Presbyterian Church is excited to announce that it will be the Los Angeles simulcast location for the Empowered to Connect conference, April 7-8, 2017 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm both days. The parenting program is a "faith based and science backed" system to enhance the communication and emotional attachment between parent and child. Ideal for families, foster families, adoptive families, and youth professionals such as social workers, therapists, and ministry leaders; this two day event will instruct attendees how to strengthen relationships and work through difficult situations with children. Registration information is located at estephen.org/rock/empowered-to-connect-la/.

"We are thrilled to be the originating Los Angeles location for this conference," stated Racquel Marshall-Cianci, Children and Youth Director of THE ROCK. "This is just the beginning to an exciting development of new outreach programs for the youth and families of this area. It is an excellent resource for foster and adoptive families to obtain their certification requirements as well as instruct other professionals and adults to deeply connect with the youth of today.”

The Empowered to Connect Conference is a wonderful opportunity for foster/adoptive parents and professionals to receive continuing education credits to use towards their licensing requirements. To find out more about ongoing foster/adoptive family training requirements and the certifications provided with this program, contact your local DCFS or FFA office.

In previous years, the event has been approved by the National Association of Social Workers for 11 CEU hours. The Empowered to Connect Conference and Simulcast has been approved by the National Board of Certified Counselors for NBCC credit. Show Hope is responsible for all aspects of the program (NBCC Approval Number SP-2801). Each professional interested in receiving hours and a professional certificate is required to register and pay a separate fee at www.etccontinuingeducation2017.eventbrite.com.

Presenting this simulcast is part of an ongoing effort of THE ROCK, at St. Stephen Presbyterian Church, to become the cornerstone of the SFV community. With numerous youth programs, parenting initiatives, and adult seminars; St. Stephens is continuing its dedication to the locality by providing opportunities for emotional, physical, and spiritual growth.

About Empowered to Connect

The Empowered to Connect conference features practical teaching in a safe and supportive community as we work to equip families, churches, and professionals to better serve children impacted by adoption and foster care. It features Trust-Based Relational InterventionⓇ (TBRI) methods developed by Dr. Karyn Purvis and Dr. David Cross from the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development, to help bring attachment and connection in families. The content is ideal for adoptive and foster parents, those considering adoption or foster care, and those who are serving and supporting others, including social workers, agency professionals, church staff and ministry leaders, counselors, and therapists. For further information, please check out empoweredtoconnect.org.

About THE ROCK

THE ROCK is a year-round faith-based youth and kids program of St. Stephen Presbyterian Church in Chatsworth California, providing a fun and secure environment where youth and kids can form lasting friendships with peers, develop leadership skills, and foster a deeper sense of Christian spirituality and faith. ROCK, an acronym for Reaching Outward for Christ’s Kingdom, is more than just the name it's the purpose, it’s the program, and it’s the way of reaching out to the entire community. At St. Stephen, Friday nights are dedicated to THE ROCK, starting at 6:00pm, where the youth of the community gather for fellowship, Christian development and fun. For further information, please check out estephen.org/rock/.

About St. Stephen Presbyterian Church

For fifty-three years, St. Stephen has been a family-centered community based church in Chatsworth, CA. With two worship services on Sunday, a traditional service at 9:00am and a multi-generational contemporary service "The Wave" at 11:00am. Upcoming bible study groups, parenting support groups, tutoring services, boxing classes, dance and song praise teams, are just part of the continuing growth and outreach of the church. For further information, please check out estephens.org.