by Ashley Bennett, Director of Trauma-Informed Care The Restore Network exists to change the culture of foster care and equip God's people to meet the needs of vulnerable children and youth. The children we welcome into our homes and serve have experienced complex...
Empowering Principle: Transitions
by Ashley Bennett, Director of Trauma-Informed Care Another part of helping support your child with structure, is helping them handle times of transition. This is a consistent challenge we see for our kids--they don't do well with transitions. If you stop and think...
Empowering Principle: Structure & Routines
by Ashley Bennett, Director of Trauma-Informed Care Ok, ok. Some of you took a look at this photo above and your heart skipped a beat because you love a good schedule and routine! Others of you, not so much. You love the spontaneity of doing what you want when...
Empowering Principle: Calming
by Ashley Bennett, Director of Trauma-Informed Care In their book the Whole Brain Child, authors Dan Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson, talk to us about “lid-flipping moments,” those moments when we impulsively act out in a way we wish we hadn’t. Maybe our body was...
Empowering Principle: Sleep
by Ashley Bennett, Director of Trauma-Informed Care A good night’s sleep can make all the difference, can’t it? Sleep is the time of the day when our body repairs itself. After moving and thinking and working all day, it’s a time for the systems in our body to...
Empowering Principle: Movement
by Ashley Bennett, Director of Trauma-Informed Care Ok, now let's talk about the benefits of movement. You guys, I know our bodies need to move but sometimes, I’d prefer to sit on the couch, you know what I mean? Ok, but in all honesty, our bodies were MADE to move....
Empowering Principle: Sensory Diet
by Ashley Bennett, Director of Trauma-Informed Care Now I want to talk to you about a different kind of diet, your sensory diet. Every one of us experiences our world through our senses—you are probably familiar with the 5 senses taught to us in grade school-touch,...
Empowering Principle: Nutrition
by Ashley Bennett, Director of Trauma-Informed Care Alright so the candy bar, Snickers, taught us this one. We aren’t ourselves when we don’t eat. Have you ever been hangry before? I know I have! And my kids? Definitely. What you eat and how often you eat does affect...
Empowering Principle: Hydration
by Ashley Bennett, Director of Trauma-Informed Care Water has never been something I've really loved to consume! I mean, I KNOW it's good for you. It makes sense. I tell people they need to drink water. But, ugh, I'll be the first to admit it's never been much of a...
Surviving Large Gatherings & Preparing Your People
Often times, holidays and celebrations are a time of the year in which you are more likely to gather with larger groups of extended family and friends. Again, this might be your favorite part of the season. But let’s see it from your child’s perspective: -new...