The UT College of Social Work will hold a conference for foster, adoptive and kinship parents on Oct. 11.

The main goal of the conference is to provide training for foster parents. Heather Helton, SWORPSThe conference is planned by the College of Social Work Office of Research and Public Service. The conference will offer a variety of training topics for parents. By attending the entire conference, foster parents can network with other parents and earn six of the 15 hours of training credit they are required to receive per year.

"The main goal of the conference is to provide training for foster parents," said Heather Helton of SWORPS.

UT athletics director Mike Hamilton will be the special guest speaker at the conference.

"He's adopted two children of his own, so he will be speaking about the importance of providing permanent homes for children," said Helton.

The conference will be held on the second floor of the University Center. Walk-in registrations will begin at 7:30 a.m., and the conference will last until 2:30 p.m.

"We encourage anyone who might be interested to attend," said Helton.