Present Parenting

Led by a group of child engagement experts, participants will explore diverse caregiving perspectives including trauma-informed care.  This training will also be inclusive of all abilities and development levels. 

Experts include:

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John Browne has been working with children and young adults since 1990.  He completed his undergraduate work at the University of South Carolina and earned his master’s from Columbia College.  He owns the distinction of being one of the first Head Start children in the state of South Carolina.  He came to Vital Connections in the role of Behavioral Health and Quality Assurance Manager and is now the Executive Director/Early Head Start Director.  He has over twenty-six years of experience working in the non-profit world (18 with The Nurturing Center and the last eight with Vital Connections of The Midlands, Inc.). He believes that exposure to new ideas (A mind once exposed to a new idea never regains its original dimensions…Oliver Wendell Holmes) is one the keys to preparing children for educational and lifespan success.

Jena Martin is the Director of Special Populations for Family Connection of SC, which is also SC’s Parent Training Information Center (PTI), ensuring underserved children in our state receive appropriate and timely special education services. A USC graduate who holds a masters in early childhood education, she oversees early childhood initiatives and programs for children and family’s birth to five. Jena has over 15 years of experience providing support to families in clinical settings as a former Certified Child Life Specialist which led her to develop and implement South Carolina’s first Child Life outpatient position for pediatric hospice and palliative care patients. She also became the first healthcare provider in South Carolina to be certified in Perinatal Loss Care by the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA). Jena is a mom to four children and uses her lens of personal experience in growing her family through foster care and adoption as she advocates for our state’s most vulnerable populations.

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Emily Rivers, LISW & Executive Director of The Nurturing Center, a nationally accredited behavioral health center that provides therapeutic services to individuals and families.  The Nurturing Center has been a mental health provider in the community for over 30 years.  We provide individual therapy, family therapy, trauma treatment and other individualized services.  We appreciate the opportunity to share information on mental health in our community!   

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Mx. Renee Shaw (she/they) is a Richland County Guard ad Litem and a Master's level Social Worker; a graduate from the University of South Carolina as well as an INA credentialed Nanny working in-home and in the community for nearly a decade. Renee loves to be outdoors and explore the world around them, she is passionate about patience, and believes that individuality is important!   Renee is a professional and activist with a background in leadership at the YMCA, providing activities within Long-term Memory Care & Alzheimer's facilities, as well as providing direct care to children experiencing trauma and disability. Recognizing the power of lived experiences - since they navigated a complex childhood as an LGBT+ student bombarded by ACEs - Renee understands firsthand how caregiver support and positive parenting helps children learn to overcome and thrive.  (Find out more about ACEs at this presentation or via www.CDC.gov) 

Because we want participants to be fully present, we ask that caregivers/parents attend without their children or bring a second caregiver who can be with the children while they are attending the workshop. 

We value inclusion and access for all of our customers including those that may need Americans with Disabilities Act accommodations. Please complete this ADA accommodation request form at least two weeks prior to the event to make a reasonable accommodation request.
Have questions about the program? Please reach out to a staff member at the hosting location for additional information.