This workshop will present a biopsychosocial approach to understanding eating and food-related problems. Youth in out-of-home care show aberrant eating patterns some of which are not psychiatric disorders in the DSM-5. We will provide anecdotal and empirical information related to issues such as hiding and hoarding of food and hyperphagia. Discussion will include how to support resource parents as they seek to help children with eating and food-related problems.

Richard J. (Rick) Delaney, Ph.D., is a nationally known, licensed psychologist. He has been a clinical psychologist, psychotherapist, and consultant to foster, kinship, adoptive parents, and public/private programs for four decades. He was the clinical director of residential treatment centers for traumatized children in Colorado and Hawaii. Dr. Delaney has presented several hundred workshops across the country for child welfare staff, mental health professionals, CASA volunteers, caregivers, and others. He has published numerous journal articles on web-based training for resource parents. Dr. Delaney has been a major contributor and principal investigator of Foster Parent College (www.fosterparentcollege.com) which is used across the U.S. and Canada.