Dear Providers, 

We are excited announce the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services - Teens R For Me Conference for 2017!

Teens R 4 Me is an effort within the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) to strengthen our engagement with older youth in foster care. Through efforts that increase support to those who work directly with our older youth in care, we want to ensure our youth are safe, healthy, educated, employable and connected as they transition out of care into independence. Additionally, we want youth in care to receive the necessary tools that will provide the pathway for supportive and stable transitions into young adulthood and beyond.

This year, we are inviting 100 adults to attend the conference. We are also anticipating 175 foster youth between the ages of 14 and 17 to attend as well.  The 2017 Teens R 4 Me Conference is scheduled from Thursday, November 16, 2017 - Saturday, November 18, 2017 at The Westin Atlanta Perimeter North - 7 Concourse Parkway NE, Atlanta, GA 30328. Registration will begin promptly at 8:00 am on Thursday, November 16th. 

Conference Goals

This year’s conference focus for our youth is ‘The Blueprint for Your Future’. As we know, education is critical to our youth’s future success and positive outcomes. The overall goals for the conference are to ensure:

Each adult conference attendee receives valuable information that will allow them to increase their support and guidance to older youth in foster care, specifically as they prepare to matriculate in and graduate from school.

 

Each youth attendee receives information about resources and tools that are available to assist them in their transition into young adulthood within the areas of education, health, employment, safety and their overall well-being.

 

Adult Registration: Registration is now open to CASA staff and Providers in additional to DFCS Staff. If you are an interested adult who would like to attend this year’s Teens R 4 Me Conference, please register using this registration portal. Slots are available on a first come first serve basis and space is limited.

Youth Registration: All youth who will be attending the conference will be registered by a Georgia Independent Living Program Specialist. If you know a youth who is interested in attending the conference, please contact the youth’s regional Georgia Independent Living Program Specialist for additional information. Space is limited.

If you will need overnight accommodations and will be reserving a room for Wednesday, November 15th, please contact the Westin Perimeter directly to make your reservations. Hotel accommodations for adults are not direct billed to the conference. All attending adults will be responsible for their own rooms (reservations and payment) and should use their agency/organization travel reimbursement procedures and policies. When reserving a room, do not identify the Teens R For Me Conference as a room block. Please request the government rate.

This conference fills up quickly so be sure to register as soon as possible! 

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you have registered for the conference and will be unable to attend, please be sure to contact Erika Dennis at erika.dennis@dhs.ga.gov.