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Question: The school thinks my foster son may have ADHD, but I know he’s been through a lot of trauma. How do I know what’s driving his behavior and how to advocate for the support he actually needs?

Resources:

• The Grandparents' Guide to Back to School
• How Do Teachers Understand Adoption and What Can Parents Do About It?
• A Parent's Guide to Working with the Schools on Behavior
• Back to School with Foster and Adopted Kids
• Understood.org

Support the show

Please leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them.

Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content:

• Weekly podcasts
• Weekly articles/blog posts
• Resource pages on all aspects of family building

Drop us some Fan Mail. Thanks!

What if families had support before a crisis led to foster care? In this episode, we talk with Dr. David Anderson, psychologist and founder and executive director of SAFE Families for Children, about a community-based model that helps keep children safe while supporting parents through difficult seasons. Dr. Anderson also serves as Executive Director of Lydia Home Association in Chicago and has been recognized as an Ashoka Fellow and Prime Movers Fellow.

In this episode, we discuss:

• For someone new to SAFE Families, how would you explain what it is?
• Can you share a little about yourself and what drew you to create SAFE Families?
• Who are the families you serve, and what situations bring them to you?
• Why is a program like SAFE Families especially needed right now?
• What happens to families when this kind of support isn’t available?
• How is SAFE Families different from traditional foster care?
• What kinds of training and screening do volunteers undergo?
• What support do volunteers receive along the way?
• What are the main ways people can get involved?
• Can you share a story or two that captures the impact of SAFE Families?
• What do families or volunteers often say after being part of this?
• Who tends to be a great fit for this kind of role?
• What hesitations do you hear most, and what would you say to those concerns?
• If one of our listeners is interested in serving this community, what’s the first step to get involved?
• For a parent or caregiver listening today who feels underwater or overwhelmed, what encouragement can you offer?

Support the show

Please leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them.

Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content:

• Weekly podcasts
• Weekly articles/blog posts
• Resource pages on all aspects of family building

Drop us some Fan Mail. Thanks!

Question: We are seriously considering becoming foster parents. We have 2 children by birth, and I am really worried about how this will affect them and what I can do to prevent some of the negative effects.

Resources:

• The Impact of Fostering and Adoption on Kids Already in the Family (Resource)
• Talking with your Resident Kids about Foster Care or Kinship Care (Resource)
• What You Should Know About Disrupting Birth Order in Adoption & Foster Care

Support the show

Please leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them.

Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content:

• Weekly podcasts
• Weekly articles/blog posts
• Resource pages on all aspects of family building