The Fantastic First Day: Examining First Day Experiences in Foster Care and Adoption

Description

(March 2026) 

The first day of arrival in foster care or adoption can be a profound experience for both children and foster/adoptive families. With this in mind, this session aims to provide an overview of what constitutes a fantastic first day(s) experience, while also highlighting some potential challenges. Via a combination of personal and professional experiences in foster care and adoption, Dr. Ronald Ferguson will provide an overview of what those first days can look like for foster/adoption children and families, along with how to create an ideal starting point. The objective is not to attain a “perfect first day,” but rather to discover a positive, secure, and fantastic beginning.

Attendees will be able to:

Describe what a positive first day experience looks like.

Recognize some challenges and barriers to the first day experience.

Develop proactive steps to take before and during the first few days.

Create strategies to mitigate the effects of post first-day struggles.

Ron Ferguson, Hailing from St. Croix, Virgin Islands, has been on an adventurous, cross-cultural journey. During his trek to Minnesota, he has experienced all the challenges and opportunities that come with moving to a new location. His journey included personal experiences in foster care, where he gained several important lessons that he takes with him today. Thankfully, with the care of people around him, he was able to access a supportive community. Today, as a trained sociologist with a background in leadership development and data analysis, Ron has gained several years of experience in strategic planning for both large systems and small organizations. His enduring desire is to assist others in addressing real challenges and leveraging the strengths within their settings. As a parent, community member, and educator, Ron seeks to be an agent of healing and hope for others.

watch time: 77 minutes

Eligible Certificate of Completion time: 80 minutes