More than 650 foster and adoptive parents will converge on Greensboro June 6-8 for “Light the Spark, Ignite the Spirit,” a training conference featuring more than 70 workshops.

The workshops will cover such topics as first aid, behavior management, early childhood brain development and the effects of abuse and neglect. The keynote speakers will be former foster child and motivational speaker George Duvall of Kentucky and Child Welfare Institute trainer Heather Craig-Oldsen of Nebraska.

North Carolina has more than 10,000 children in foster care with about 600 available for adoption.

The conference at the Koury Convention Center is sponsored by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, the North Carolina Foster Parent Association, the Family Support Network of North Carolina and NC Kids Adoption & Foster Care Network. N.C. Kids is part of The University of North Carolina at Greensboro’s Center for the Study of Social Issues.

“Our purpose is to provide training and support for foster and adoptive parents so that they can do what they do best: care for the children,” said Jeanne Preisler, N.C. Kids director.

The conference also will inform parents about the resources available to them across the state and provide attendees with a well-deserved break from the demands of parenting.

The N.C. General Assembly provided the money for the conference in honor of Ruth Easterling of Charlotte, who recently retired after 13 consecutive terms in the N.C. House of Representatives. Easterling is known as a tireless champion of children and families.