As we approach this holiday season as foster or adoptive parents, we need to imagine the holidays from our child’s perspective. Something we’re really looking forward to may feel really hard for them. Let’s take a moment to spell out a few of the things our kids might...
I know you started out in this journey to foster care likely with an open heart and well meaning. You wanted to enrich the life of a child who might need you. You wanted to answer God’s call to care for the vulnerable. Maybe you stepped into this journey to meet the...
“He gets bored easily.” “She’s always asking me to play with her.” “He has trouble finding something to do and then just bothers …
As Restore Network staff, we love podcasts! Here are some of our favorite ones for those of you who are doing the hard work of foster care and adoption ministry in your homes. Check them out and subscribe to a few-it's helpful to have voices of understanding and...
When we welcome a child into our home through foster care, our primary job in those early days is to work on cultivating felt-safety in …
by Ashley Bennett, Director of Trauma-Informed Care Before we take a look at new ways of engaging our children during moments of behavioral challenge, we first have to acknowledge that the parenting playbook for our children will likely need to look different...
by Ashley Bennett, Director of Trauma-Informed Care My kids have been out of school since last week and I am excited about the change in routine for us! Sleeping in, sunshine, lots of free time! Let’s go summer!! Even typing this makes me laugh, because there...
Empathy begins in infancy. When you regularly meet the needs of your infant, you are actually teaching them that they matter, that you …
The Karyn Purvis Institute for Child Development recognizes 7 risk factors for our children that can adversely affect their development …
by Ashley Bennett, Director of Trauma-Informed Care I think a pretty good analogy for the foster care system is that of being on a roller coaster, right? So many ups and downs and twists and turns. It’s so easy to get on that roller coaster. For birth family members...