As soon as the calendar flips to August, you can practically hear the wheels of the bus go round and round as children begin to head back to school. Each school year brings with it new possibilities and opportunities for growth. It’s also a time of year that can be challenging for children and parents …
Back to School Tips for Parents, Foster Parents and Caregivers Read More »
Mental health conditions don’t discriminate based on race, gender or sexual orientation. It doesn’t matter how old you are or where you live. Anyone can experience a mental health illness at any time, and it’s not a sign of weakness. Asking for help, however, is a sign of strength. It can sometimes be difficult to …
Summertime brings with it sweet memories made from pool days, bike rides, road trips and ice cream cones. It’s a fun season, but it can also open up potential dangers for children of all ages. Whether you’re taking your kids to the local community pool for a day of fun in the sun or handing …
Parenting is a challenge under the best circumstances, so when your child is experiencing trauma or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), it can be especially difficult to understand how to help them heal, grow and thrive at home. But with a little understanding and a lot of love, you can make an impact. Defining Trauma and …
Tips for Parenting a Child or Foster Child with PTSD Read More »
Did you know about one in four youth in foster care will experience posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms? Former foster children are also twice as likely as U.S. war veterans to experience PTSD in adulthood. For young people suffering with PTSD, it is a continuous challenge that can be a debilitating mental illness when undiagnosed. …
There are some general misconceptions surrounding who can foster parent a child. Almost anyone who has a desire and the capacity to help care for a child can become a foster parent. The requirements are not as strict as you might imagine, but there are rules and policies foster parents must follow in order to …
An interview with foster parent LaVeda Chapell LaVeda Chapell is a foster parent with SAFY of Nevada. One thing that makes her extraordinary is her desire to care for one of our most difficult to place populations — teen girls. She has had tremendous success over her 10 years of parenting in the foster care …
“I’m happy to see them become successful young adults. Whether they return home or become a permanent placement in the home or they become an adoption, to me it’s just not about me. It’s about the work I can instill into these children and to be able to have them maintain a solid foundation for …
Understanding the Different Types of Foster Parenting Read More »
A teenager’s first car is a serious consideration. Whether you’re a biological parent, step parent, adoptive parent, foster parent or caring adult, when it comes to young people getting behind the wheel, it’s important to keep safety in mind. Rather than automatically handing off an older-model family car for your child to use, or letting …
It’s the unthinkable. An unsafe family in which a child is neglected or worse, abused. It’s more common than you think and often leaves children in some form of temporary out-of-home care such as foster care. More often than not, an abused or neglected child is unable to safely return to their family. April is …
