Breakout Sessions

We are excited to offer topic-based breakout sessions this year at Camp of Champions! There are 10 different sessions to choose from, detailed below. You will have the opportunity to attend two of these sessions. Each session will be an hour long session. Use the link below to register for the sessions that you would like to attend.

*Each individual coming to camp will need to register separately for breakout sessions. If you are planning to attend the same sessions as your spouse, both of you still need to register separately. Thank you!

SMART PHONES & HUMAN FLOURISHING

*This session will only be offered in the session one timeslot.

There may be no single choice more consequential to our well-being today than how we interact with our smartphones and other screens. How can we best harness the gifts of technology while avoiding its quicksands? Together, we’ll explore the latest studies on how tech habits affect young minds and bodies — as well as our own! — then consider together what it looks like to rule our technology in a way that leads to the kind of relationships, experiences, and inner lives we most desire.

Led By: Jedd Medefind

Jedd and Rachel Medefind have relished 25 years of marriage – with lots of savoring, struggling, forgiving, and growing in Christ along the way. They’ve welcomed children through birth, adoption, and foster care – and now have five, age 14 to 22.

PARENTING WITH KIND AUTHORITY

*This session will only be offered in the session two timeslot.

Children who have experienced relational harm or face significant challenges are especially in need of parenting marked by kind and sturdy authority—high warmth joined with clear discipline for the sake of growth and flourishing. This highly interactive workshop draws on well-established research and a biblical vision of loving authority to help foster parents think through what such parenting looks like in daily life. Come with your questions as we explore together the joys, challenges, and practical realities of living this out.

Led By: Rachel Medefind

FROM FOSTER CHILD TO FOREVER FAMILY: ADOPTING FROM FOSTER CARE

This session will provide an overview of the adoption process for foster families that are adopting a child that has been in foster care in their home. Foster parents will learn the major components of how this process should move through to finalization of adoption.

Led by: Michael Smith

Dr. Michael Smith has served with ABCH since 2006. In this role, he provides oversight and leadership to our social work programs in each of our eight state offices. Michael has been practicing social work nearly 30 years in a variety of settings. He has served as an item writer, exam reviewer, and content reviewer for social work licensure examinations for the Association of Social Work Boards since 2003. He has also served as Chair of the Alabama State Board of Social Work.

RAISING DISCIPLES: GROWING CHILDREN’S SPIRITUAL MUSCLES

As parents, we are concerned about our children’s physical, emotional, social, academic, and certainly their spiritual development. In this breakout, using God’s Word as our ultimate parenting guide, we’ll share some practical ways to grow children spiritually and point them to Jesus!

Led By: Chip Colee

Dr. Chip Colee is Chief Administrative Officer of ABCH. He and his wife Christy have two grown children and three grandchildren. Chip is passionate about encouraging parents to a countercultural model of growing kids God’s way. Using God’s Word, Chip has crafted a discipleship curriculum for parents and frequently leads on this topic in churches.

FROM CRADLE TO CRINGE!: STRATEGIES TO SUPPORT HEALTHY ATTACHMENT FOR INFANTS, CHILDREN, AND (EVEN) TEENS

Looking for practical ways to build healthy attachment in your kiddos? This session will review the basics of attachment theory, why attachment is important, and practical strategies to build and maintain healthy attachment for children and adolescents. Parents and caregivers will walk away with foundational knowledge of attachment and new things to try at home.

Led by: Dayna Watson

Dayna Watson holds a PhD in Counseling and Counselor Education, and she has nearly 20 years of experience as a counselor, counselor educator, supervisor, and trainer. As a foster and adoptive parent, Dayna loves to combine her professional experience with her lived experience as a foster and adoptive parent to help equip families and professionals to better serve, support, and parent kids with trauma.

RECLAIMING CHILDHOOD: PLAYFUL PATHWAYS TO HEALING

Play is not a luxury- it is a language every child speaks. For children who have experienced trauma, intentional games and activities can be some of the most powerful tools for building trust and feeling safe. Come ready to learn, practice, and walk away with tools you can use today as we explore the power of play.

Led By: Elise Vincent

Elise Vincent has worked with Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes in the Birmingham area since 2012. She first served as a child case worker before moving into her position as Area Director for Central Alabama in 2017.

ADVOCATING FOR YOUR CHILD AT SCHOOL

Many children in foster care struggle to be successful in the public-school setting. In this breakout session we will discuss strategies to assist foster parents as they advocate for their children. Topics will include knowing your rights, building relationships with teachers, assessing your child’s needs, and setting appropriate goals.

Led By: Cathy McDaniel

Cathy McDaniel LICSW-S, PIP is the Assistant Regional Director/Birmingham. She is a licensed Social Worker who has worked with Birmingham office of ABCH for the past 27 years. She received her master’s degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and has spent her career working with children and families who have experienced trauma.

CAR SEAT SAFETY REFRESHER: KEEPING KIDS SAFE AT EVERY STAGE

As parents many of us are using car seats daily, but safety recommendations, best practices, and the seats themselves are constantly changing. This session is designed for both new and experienced foster parents who want a quick, practical refresher. We will cover common mistakes, when to transition a child to a different type of seat, and how to make sure every child in your care is riding as safely as possible no matter their age.

Led By: Haley Walker

Haley Walker is the Southwest Area Director at ABCH with over 13 years of experience working with foster families and adoptive families. She has also been certified as a Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) for over 3 years. Haley has participated in numerous training courses related to vehicle safety and participated in community car seat check events for parents in the Mobile and Baldwin area. Haley has two boys, ages 2 and 4, and she is passionate about child safety, providing education, and resources to families.

AFRICAN AMERICAN HAIRCARE

This breakout session is designed to equip foster parents with practical knowledge for caring for African American children’s hair and skin. Participants will learn the unique characteristics of textured hair and melanin-rich skin, including common needs, challenges, and best practices for daily care. The session will cover topics such as maintaining healthy moisture balance, protective hairstyles, gentle detangling techniques (including a live demonstration), and age-appropriate grooming routines.

Led By: Grace Wood and Rhonda Glass

Rhonda Glass serves as a social worker with ABCH in the Huntsville office. Grounded in a deep faith and a strong commitment to the ministry, Rhonda brings expertise and a wealth of lived experience to this topic. Her insight, compassion, and practical knowledge make her a trusted voice in supporting children and families with care and dignity.

Grace Wood is the Chief Financial Officer at ABCH and an adoptive mom who brings a personal, hands-on perspective to this conversation. Through years of caring for her own children, Grace has developed practical knowledge and confidence in navigating hair and skin care. She is passionate about helping others feel equipped and encouraged in their own caregiving journeys.

AFTER HIGH SCHOOL: BE THE GUIDE BY THE SIDE

Your high school student has incredible possibilities for after graduation and may be overwhelmed; parents may be, too. Ask one very good question to get the conversation started. We will look at three basic options and their infinite combinations that will keep that conversation going. Develop a unique plan of action to replace stress and uncertainty with confidence. They are learning to fly; you learn to be their net.

Led By: Jim Fisk

Dr. James Fisk has spent most of his life teaching students, advising students, or being a student. His three careers include industrial experience, academic instruction, and clinical healthcare. He shares anecdotes about past students with unknowing current students to help create successful future students.