The Women’s Path
The Christian Alliance for Orphans has heard from women all around the globe that mother’s in the journey of adoption, foster care or orphan care ministry need special care. We welcome you to a place where you will be refreshed and encouraged. Unite and connect with mothers from all over the world who share your passion for the fatherless. Indulge in a time of discovery, and interactive learning. This is a safe, nurturing place where you can let go of your worries, make lasting friendships and learn from the most respected and experienced experts in the field of adoption and attachment. Take the time to be comforted with Biblical advice that will ultimately offer you a fresh start; infused with hope and healing.
What is involved in the Women’s Path at Summit?
Pre-Conference Intensive: Where Our Hearts Meet – Created for Connection Wednesday, 9:00-5:00, Led by Karyn Purvis and Kay & Milan Yerkovich (spouses welcome!). See details below.- Thursday Workshops: Summit is packed full of workshops to both encourage and equip. Find the best options for you HERE.
- Friday Workshops: Special Women’s Track with Kay Warren, Milan & Kay Yerkovich, Elizabeth Styffe & Susan Hillis. See descriptions below.
- Friday Night Special Event: Refreshment for Weary Hearts – A Discussion for Women Friday, 5:30-6:30 with Kay Warren, Barbara Rainey, and Elizabeth Styffe
- THROUGHOUT THE CONFERENCE: “A Place for Moms” an actual place with friends, and other women to offer a backrub, chocolate, (or veggies), expert women in orphan care and adoption to chat with and seek friendship informally. Fellowship with adoptive moms including BETH TEMPLETON, MICHELLE HASWELL, DONNA THOENNES, and others!
Pre-Conference Intensive Details: Where Our Hearts Meet: Created for Connection (optional)
FREE to Summit attendees. To join, add this Pre-Conference Intensive to your online registration.
Wednesday, May 2 (9:00am – 4:00pm)
SESSIONS INCLUDE:
Creating Connection (Karyn Purvis)
Join Dr. Purvis to learn more about the significant emotional, social and other issues faced by orphans and what you can do to build lasting, loving connection with them.
A Parents Attachment Style: How it Affects Our Kids (Parts 1 &2 – Milan and Kay Yerkovich)
This workshop will offer hands on, practical tools for dealing with the stress of adoption(s) on the marriage relationship. Kids add joy to any home but they also cause stress. Identify your attachment style and how it affects your response to stress. Learn how spouses can help each other through the difficult adjustments that are a part of adoption. Bring your spouse to learn new tools together! Or, come alone and discover new skills to take home.
Refreshment for Weary Hearts
Women bring special gifts and bear special burdens in the work of caring. From foster and adoptive moms to mentors, volunteers and ministry leaders, women are transforming the lives of orphans worldwide. But the road is often a costly one, requiring the support and community of others.
Join us for an exciting dinner conversation connecting with Kay Warren, Barbara Rainey, Elizabeth Styffe, and other women offering intimate conversations, fresh insights, friendship, and God’s Word especially for women.
Women’s Connection Friday Breakouts with Other Adoptive Moms and Ministry Leaders
Choose Joy (Kay Warren)
Mothers in the Adoption/Foster Care Journey or Ministry have special challenges and joys. Spend time with Kay Warren, co-founder of Saddleback Church and the HIV Initiative and author of “”Say Yes to God” and Choose Joy Because Happiness is Not Enough”. Hear encouraging words from other adoptive Moms, Elizabeth Styffe & Susan Hillis.
You can Thrive , Not Just Survive: A New Look at Attachment (Parts 1 & 2, Milan and Kay Yerkovich)
Join Milan and Kay to learn about the most effective techniques to improve your relationships; proven tips and strategies to help you better understand and create a healthy family. Identify your love style and how it shapes your parenting. Transform your kids by changing how you love, Get rid of your “buttons” so your kids can’t push them. Learn why certain traits in your kids drive you crazy. Hear from the exhibits how a parents’ attachment style affects the kid.
Presenter Bios
KARYN PURVIS, PhD Dr. Purvis is the director of the Texas Christian University Institute of Child Development. She has devoted the past decade to developing research-based interventions for adopted, foster and other at-risk children. She has lectured and taught all across the U.S. and throughout the world to varied groups – from trainings in the U.S. for parents, churches, judges, social workers and counselors, to international trainings for parents and professionals in England, Iceland, Scotland, Romania, Ethiopia and Rwanda. She and her colleague, Dr. David Cross, write regularly for scientific journals and parents magazines, and co-authored The Connected Child: Bringing Hope and Healing to Your Adoptive Family (2007). Dr. Purvis also wrote, together with Michael and Amy Monroe, Created to Connect: A Christian’s Guide to The Connected Child. She is the recipient of the T. Berry Brazelton, M.D., Texas Infant Mental Health Advocacy Award, and in June 2008 was given the title of Distinguished Fellow in Adoption and Child Development by the National Council for Adoption. Dr. Purvis holds both masters and doctorate degrees in Developmental Psychology from TCU, and is a former foster parent, a mother of three boys and a grandmother of eight.
KAY YERKOVICH, M.S., M.F.T., is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She enjoyed her role as a stay at home mom for many years and completed her Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Counseling in 1993. Her specialty is treating couples using attachment theory as the foundation of her work with clients. Kay and her husband Milan co-authored two books, How We Love (2006), and How We Love Our Kids (2011). Kay is a popular speaker and lecturer in the areas of parenting and marriage relationships and supervises and trains other therapists. Kay also enjoys participating in a prison ministry. She renews herself through ceramics, watercolor painting and designing jewelry. She is happiest sitting on the beach with a good book and a cup of Starbucks coffee.
REV. MILAN YERKOVICH, M.A. is a Pastoral Counselor and is an ordained minister. He has a Master’s Degree in Biblical Studies and a California Teaching Credential. He has worked with couples and families for over 30 years. In 2003 he became full time director of Relationship180, a non-profit organization that is devoted to counseling individuals and families toward healthy relationships (www.relationship180.com). Milan and his wife Kay have co-authored two books, How We Love and How We Love Our Kids. They speak together across the U. S. and internationally on marriage, parenting and relational theology. Currently, Milan works primarily with couples doing marriage therapy. He is a Bible teacher and lecturers extensively on relational theology and is a radio co-host at New Life Ministries with Steven Arterburn, a nationwide counseling talk show (www.newlife.com). In his spare time Milan enjoys martial arts, biking and playing the guitar.
