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John DeGarmo        

Leading Authority on Foster Care, Child Welfare & Trauma-Informed Care; Author; Founder of "The Foster Care Institute"

Dr. John DeGarmo is a leading authority on foster care, child welfare, and trauma-informed care. With a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, he has dedicated his career to improving the lives of vulnerable children in the foster care system. A former foster parent himself, Dr. DeGarmo and his wife have cared for over 60 children in their home, providing him with first-hand experience in the challenges and rewards of fostering.

He is the founder and director of The Foster Care Institute, an organization dedicated to providing resources and support to foster families, child welfare workers, and communities interested in improving the foster care system. Dr. DeGarmo has written extensively on the subject, authoring or co-authoring with his wife Kelly, books such as "The Little Book of Foster Care Wisdom: 365 Days of Inspiration and Encouragement for Foster Care Families," "Love and Mayhem" and "A Different Home: A New Foster Child's Story." He serves as a consultant to foster care agencies as well as an expert witness to legal agencies across the USA and the globe.

A TEDx speaker, Dr. DeGarmo has appeared on CNN, "Good Morning America," and ABC, NBC, FOX, CBS, PBS stations. He and his wife are the recipients of the "Good Morning America" Ultimate Hero Award, and the Up With People Every Day Hero Award. The two were recognized with their city's prestigious Citizens of the Year Award. Dr. DeGarmo has also received several other notable honors, including the Hero of the Homeless Award, the Olivet College Distinguished Alumni Award, and recognition as an Exceptional People honoree.

Speech Topics


Compassion Fatigue: When You Care Too Much

This session will focus on the condition known as Compassion Fatigue, or Secondary Traumatic Stress. During the presentation, participants will learn about the realities of compassion fatigue, and how it affects their foster parenting. Participants will learn strategies designed to best address this form of stress, and how to best treat it.

Positive Parenting Solutions

This session focuses on what Positive Parenting is and how it can be used to best help with acts of misbehavior by children.During this presentation, participants will come to understand what Positive Parenting is, and how it can be used to help children with behavior problems. Participants will be equipped with strategies designed to help strengthen their family through Positive Parenting.

Responding to the Needs of Foster Children in Public Schools

This session focuses on the many challenges that children face in public schools, and how to best respond to them. During this presentation, participants will come to understand the many challenges that children face while in school. Participants will be equipped with strategies designed help children in school, thus helping them to be stronger advocates for the child.

Trauma Informed Parenting: How to be a Trauma Informed Parent

This session examines how to be a Trauma Informed Parent, and gives strategies and tips designed to care for children in a trauma informed way.

Bullying in the 21st Century: Protecting Children from Bullying

This session examines how parents and care takers can protect children from bullying, and offers solutions and strategies to do so.

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