Challenges Faced By LGBTQ+ Parents

Gay marriage has been the law of the land for nearly a decade. National Gallup polls show the majority of Americans from all political stripes support the LGBTQ+ community’s rights to wed and have a family. Yet far too often, when seeking to foster or adopt children, LGBTQ+ individuals continue to face discrimination. Rich Valenza […]

Asked & Answered: Practicing Self-care

Welcoming a child into your home involves multiple challenges and, often, you end up sacrificing self-care in the process. However, it is important to take a little time to relax and recharge your own batteries to actually care better for the kids. What are some of the ways you practice self-care amidst all the bustle […]

A Letter to My Foster Parents

Imagine you are a child surprised with the news that you are leaving your family — not to spend a night with your friends, go to summer camp or on a vacation. You’re leaving. Right now. With people you don’t know. For who knows how long. It’s traumatic. It’s against your will. You feel powerless […]

5 Tips for a Nurturing Environment

Why do I have to share a room with her? Why do you keep bringing more kids in the house? Why am I not enough? Growing up as a child in foster care, I experienced firsthand the challenges and adversities that come with living in the foster care system. My journey, from being placed in […]

How to Prevent Secondary PTSD

The child in your care cries every time the lights are turned off, it’s a battle to strap them into the car seat, your elementary-age child is now wetting the bed and is voluntarily mute, or your teenager has separation anxiety. All these symptoms can be symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In PTSD, imbalances […]

Babywearing: A Tool for Healthy Attachment

Anthropological and archaeological evidence shows parents around the world have been wearing their babies for thousands of years. Our ancestors developed cradle boards, slings, pouches and wraps to keep young children safe and close, while keeping parents’ hands free, maintaining mobility and reducing the effort required to carry a child. These are still great perks […]