They Break, You Know
It was something about the phrasing that got to me. Something about the cadence of his words, the staccato of his speech. “Nobody loves me. Not even my mother who gave birth to me.” It is an odd turn of phrase,...
Blog
Why You Should Write a Letter to Yourself Tonight (Bessel van der Kolk, MD)
Why You Should Write A Letter To Yourself Tonight Writing is one of the most effective ways to access an inner world of feelings that is the key to recovering from ...
Conyngham woman testifies about need for change in foster care system
HARRISBURG — A young woman who grew up in the foster care system in Luzerne County testified before a state House Committee on Monday about her experiences and why changes to state laws are so desperately needed. Brittany Bullock, 20, now...
6 things you shouldn’t say to, or in front of, your foster/adopted child
Sometimes it’s common sense and sometimes it’s not. Despite that common sense we’ve all supposedly been given, I’ve heard some terrible things said in front of, and to, children. Guidance has also been disposed by some...
Trauma Tool Guide (Developed with the AAP - Healthy Foster Care America
This 6-part series was designed with the primary care practice in mind – those who may or may not be familiar with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and the process of asking families about exposure to ACEs or other traumatic events....
PsychDrugs Action Campaign - National Center for Youth Law
An Invitation to Action The National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) invites you to participate in a campaign to end the inappropriate and harmful sedation of tens of thousands of foster children. High doses of psychotropic...
Pebble Meditation for Kids and Adults
It is great for kids and adults!!! For foster kids facing so much adversity, it is wonderful!!! https://soundcloud.com/thichnh...alities-of-happiness (when this gets to the loud music STOP listening!!! It is annoying to me and not...
Los Angeles County caregivers working to get foster kids off psychiatric drugs
Psychiatric drugs like lithium, Depakote and Prozac remain a popular choice for care providers trying to calm angry, depressed or anxious children in the Los Angeles County foster care system, but the pills are losing fans amid concerns about side...
Oxytocin Blunts Social Vigilance in the Rhesus Macaque (But this is the end of the last Talk I just listened to).
I'm listening to Van Der Kolk, MD (My Hero!!!!) tell us what he has to say about Stephen J. Suomi's talk: "Thanks Steve, I am really delighted that these presentations are being video taped and the reason why I am...
Child Protection Agency in Australia Introduces Digital Memory Boxes for Kids in Foster Care
One of the lead child protection agencies in Australia, Barnardos Australia , has introduced a resource for children and youth in foster care : a digital “memory box” called MyStory . The purpose of the digital memory...
Age-Related Trends in Psychotropic Medication Use Among Very Young Children in Foster Care
Conclusions Young children who initiated antipsychotic and ADHD medications before the age of six continued to receive them for longer periods of time. There is a critical need for long-term studies to evaluate the effect of chronic...
State Prior Authorization Parameters for Psychotropic Medication for Children and Youth in Medicaid
The Center for Health Care Strategies has developed a series of resources that provides stakeholders with tools and guidance for ensuring that children prescribed psychotropic medications receive appropriate screening,...
Reaching Higher: A Curriculum for Foster/Adoptive Parents and Kinship Caregivers Caring for LGBTQ Youth
This curriculum from the National Center for Child Welfare Excellence was developed to help foster, kinship, adoptive, and guardianship parents enhance their skills in providing direct care for LGBTQ youth. Designed for full day facilitation,...
Shaping Tomorrow With Today’s Minds: Applying Updated Solutions to an Outdated System
In this report from the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute’s 2014 Foster Youth Internship, former foster youth share their personal experiences and creative federal policy recommendations that address a range of...
Moving into Adulthood: Implementation Findings From the Youth Villages Transitional Living Evaluation
This report from MDRC presents program implementation and participation findings from an evaluation of the Youth Villages Transitional Living program, which is designed to help youth who were formerly in foster care or juvenile justice custody,...