Exploring Therapeutic Foster Care

Each morning, Richmond, Virginia resident Patrice Hazelwood rises before 5 to spend about an hour in prayer and meditation. The stillness of early mornings are “me-time” for the foster and adoptive mother who is also an independent caregiver to adults with learning disabilities. This April marks two years since Hazelwood became a licensed therapeutic foster […]

Handling Food Insecurity

For children who have experienced food scarcity and hunger, insecurity about food can be a long-lasting concern. We asked current foster, adoptive and kinship parents how they support children with insecurities about access to food. Here are some of the ideas they shared: “A ‘yes box’ of food would be my first step. We kept […]

April Showers Bring May Flowers

Growing up in rural New England, I remember hearing mom and others say “April showers bring May flowers.” It made sense because it usually rained a lot in April and then like clockwork, the flowers would bloom in May. As I got older, I realized that sometimes folks who referenced that line were not referring […]

Four Recent Books About Foster Care

Fostering Love, a Glimpse Into Foster Care
by Kathleen Paydo, RN
In “Fostering Love” long-time licensed foster parent Kathleen Paydo, shares her experiences caring for children in the foster care system. The book provides parenting advice and a glimpse into the world of foster parenting from someone who has cared for more than 135 children. In addition to fostering, Paydo and her husband of 35 years have parented four biological children. For those looking for a first-hand experience from foster parenting, “Fostering Love” might be the perfect read.

Goth Girl, Queen of the Universe
by Lindsay S. Zrull
Follow the story of Jess, who has been bounced between foster homes since the age of 7 in the new book “Goth Girl, Queen of the Universe.” Written by former foster youth Lindsay Zrull, the fictional story follows Jess, who entered foster care because of her mother’s mental health challenges. While their relationship is far from traditional, Jess longs to reunite with her mom in New York City, but stacks of paperwork and her social worker’s approval lay in the way. But a classmate’s trip to New York for cosplay group convention provides the perfect opportunity to pull together everything she needs. With rave reviews on Amazon, “Goth Girl” might be the perfect read for current and former foster youth who can relate to Jess’ experiences.

Voices Unheard: A Reflective Journal for Adult Adoptees
by Lisa Coppola, LMHC

Created specifically for adult adoptees, “Voices Unheard” is a journal designed to guide individuals similarly to working with a therapist. Writing in the journal provides individuals to explore their feelings and work toward deeper healing. With 52 weeks of writing prompts, “Voices Unheard” is driven by themes and includes additional resources, including a glossary, and guidelines. The journal also includes a script that moderators of support groups can use to guide conversations. Written by an adoptee and licensed mental health care provider, “Voices Unheard“ is designed with the end-user in mind.

Home for a While
by Lauren Kerstein (Author), Natalia Moore (Illustrator)
Welcome to Calvin’s world, a young boy living in foster care who wants so badly to trust someone, but is afraid to open his heart. Written by psychotherapist Lauren Kerstein, “Home for a While” explores the experience of Calvin who has lived with many family, but when he moves in with Maggie, he finds a place that finally feels like home.

A Child of the Indian Race: An Interview with Sandy White Hawk

In her new memoir, author Sandy White Hawk writes of her abusive adoptive home and how she went on to empower other adoptees across the country. The book takes its title from documents finalizing White Hawk’s adoption, where she is identified as “a child of the indian race (sic).” White Hawk, whose Lakota name is […]

Foster Care Changed Me: Confessions of a Foster Sister

Foster care is grueling, emotional and overall just a huge bumpy roller coaster, yet it’s such a beautiful thing no matter the outcome. Foster care has made me into a better sister and friend while preparing me for adulthood. I became a foster sister around the age of 9. It started when my mom asked […]

How Sexual Behaviors Present in Children, Part 2

This is the second part in a series on problematic sexual behaviors in children. In the January/February 2023 issue, we explored how to identify those behaviors. This time around, we share what normal sexual behaviors can look like as kids develop. In part 1 of this series, we introduced how to identify problematic sexual behaviors […]

Making Room for Dad

Virtual reality group for dads highlights need for more opportunities for fathers to get support and get involved in foster care. In the world of adoption, kinship care and foster care, the voices of men are often largely missing from the conversation, due in part to social traditions which sometimes relegate men to a supporting […]

Considerations for Specialized Foster Care

Before signing up to be a therapeutic parent, do your research on what it takes to provide specialized careInfants and young children entering the foster care system have unique developmental, emotional, mental, behavioral, physical and attachment needs. While many of these may be evident, the full extent of a young child’s needs may not be […]