Mainstream parenting strategies are based on strong, healthy attachment, with the idea that a rupture in that attachment will force a change in behavior. Foster and adoptive children have already experienced traumatic ruptures to their attachments, and traditional discipline strategies highlight their pain. That is why we need different strategies to help our children heal and grow.

Parenting is more than a full-time job--and now, many caregivers have the added responsibility of facilitating remote learning. Foster and adoptive parents know well that children who have experienced trauma have unique needs and benefit from specialized supports to cultivate resilience. This is a cohort-based training where you learn alongside caregivers who are parenting children who have experienced trauma and are facing similar challenges. It often takes time to decide on the right strategies for your children.

With that in mind, we will teach resilience-building parenting strategies in the Tuesday sessions. Then, you try them out, explore what works for you and your family, and ask questions. On Thursdays you can participate in Fostering Conversation, our virtual support group, to discuss challenges and successes and consult with experts. This training was developed specifically to support foster and adoptive caregivers parenting children who have experienced trauma but the tools are broadly applicable!