Popular Speaker Returns to Local GAP Conference

The 10th annual Bluegrass Regional Grandparents and relatives As Parents (GAP) conference is scheduled for Thursday, March 15 at the Clarion Hotel, 1950 Newtown Pike, Lexington.

The conference is planned especially to help grandparents or other relatives who have full parental responsibility for their grandchildren or other children not their own.

Joseph Crumbley, whose doctorate is in social work, is the keynote speaker and will lead two workshops. He spoke at GAP in 2009 and is back by popular demand.

His keynote topic is “Managing the Challenges: What We’ve Learned after Ten Years.”

Among the 13 workshops is “Is This Normal or Are They Doing It to Make Me Crazy?” Clinical social worker Myrtle Procter will lead the discussion on teen development.

In another workshop, three Lexington lawyers will offer help with navigating the legal system in regard to guardianship, legal custody and adoption issues.

Volunteer lawyers will provide free one-on-one legal consultations. Although there is no charge, it is necessary to sign up for a time slot when you register for the conference. These requests will be filled in the order received.

The conference offers continuing education units for social work and continuing legal education units (CLEs) for law. The fee for professionals registering for education units or to have a display at the all-day resource fair is $50, including both meals and admission to workshops.

Registration opens at 8 a.m. The keynote address begins at 8:30 a.m. The conference ends at 3:30 p.m. The $5 registration fee includes a continental breakfast and lunch. Info: 859-257-5582.