These webpages identify external resources on specific topics of interest to foster, kinship and adoptive families.
From the Child Mind Institute.
In the wake of a traumatic event, your comfort, support and reassurance can make children feel safe, help them manage their fears, guide them through their grief, and help them recover in a healthy way. This guide was assembled by psychiatrists, psychologists and mental health experts who specialize in crisis situations. It offers simple tips on what to expect, what to do and what to look out for.
This FFF “Less than 5” minute video lesson highlights some key information and hints for preparing for Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings.
A self-paced online module, created by the Military Families Learning Network’s Early Intervention team to explore childhood trauma, disability, and trauma-informed practices in early childhood settings.
The interactive module includes four units that cover the prevalence and impact of trauma, manifestation of trauma in young children, providing trauma-informed supports, and preventing future trauma. It is designed to be a high-level overview of the topic and a starting point for professionals working with young children and their families.
From the Virginia I’m Determined project, the Pathways to Success is a series of online learning modules for parents and caregivers.
The Pathways to Success are set up for you, at your own pace, to learn about how to support your child in becoming more self-determined. If you are just beginning, you can follow the Parent Path in the order it has been created, and if you just want to learn more about a certain aspect, you can simply skip to that part and grab the information you need
This fact sheet reviews key eligibility and services provided under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). It focuses on the supports for youth and young adults with psychiatric disabilities.
Slides from a 2011 National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) webinar presented by M. Elizabeth Ralston, PhD, Dee Norton Lowcounty Children’s Center
Lisa J. Bernard, EdS, Charleston County School District
Ben Atchison, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, Western Michigan University
Audra Langley, PhD, UCLA
Full webinar recording is available at https://learn.nctsn.org/mod/nctsnwebinar/view.php?id=9454
Webinar slides
The North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC) has compiled information about subsidies (adoption assistance) by state.
The Southwest Michigan Children’s Trauma Assessment Center was established to provide assessments for children who have experienced trauma and adverse childhood experiences. The CTAC team also provides professional training and coordinates projects in order to create trauma-informed systems and services.
The Center’s website includes a variety of resources as well as information about how to access the Center’s services.
The Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) Toolkit was developed to raise awareness, promote surveillance and screening, and ensure that all affected children receive appropriate and timely interventions. From the American Academy of Pediatrics in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control.
The CreatingAFamily.org website compiles a list of fiction and nonfiction books about foster care and adoption. Books are described and suggested age ranges are listed. Books for adults are also suggested.
Best Adoption Books for Children and Adults (links to all book collections)
Suggested books for children, youth and adults on foster care
Suggested books for children, youth and adults on adoption
Suggested books for children and youth adopted from foster care
This fact sheet (2020) from the Child Welfare Information Gateway describes subsidies, including Federal title IV-E eligibility requirements.
Link to Fact sheet
This 19-item measure assesses agency and individual factors related to trauma-informed systems. Appropriate for education, family, child welfare, health and other services systems. The linked article provides psychometric data re: the instrument.
Trauma-Informed System Change Instrument
Richardson et al., journal article re TCSCI
This schools checklist is designed by
Lesley University, Center for Special Education and the Trauma and Learning Policy Initiative of Massachusetts Advocates for Children and the Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School
From the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Kids’ Quests interactive webpages are designed for children and youth and focus on specific disability conditions and mobility challenges.
From the Virginia HEALS project of Virginia Department of Social Services.
The Trauma-Informed Agency Self-Assessment was created for agencies and organizations from a variety of fields (child welfare, behavioral health, public health, juvenile justice, education, early childhood development, housing, and victim advocacy) to assess where they fall in a continuum of trauma-informed care and to engage them in a process of setting agency improvement goals.
Trauma Informed Agency Self Assessment tool
Social Security Advisory Board statement on the Supplemental Security Income program
The Social Security Administration was asked to conduct a comprehensive review of the children’s SSI program. In 2014, this review looked specifically at children in the foster care system. This report offers some clarification of income and eligibility requirements across programs.
These resources from Family and Children’s Trust Fund (FACT) of Virginia include issue briefs exploring trauma and trauma-informed care, including trauma informed schools.
FACT of Virginia issue briefs
This Va Department of Education Guidance Document for Implementing New Special Education Requirements for the Definition of Parent, is dated May 2009, continues to be in effect. See final page for the Code definition of Parent for purposes of special education.
This one pager from the new Northern Virginia Family Network (NVFN) designed for professional staff who work with families and youth. It offers some brief, straightforward suggestions and reminders about effectively communicating and building partnerships with families who are in need of education, mental health, disability and other services and supports.
Members of the NVFN are found on the back of the flyer.
This webinar on February 7, 2019 by FFF Director Kelly Henderson focused on avenues for securing education supports for children and youth with FASD and strategies and resources for families to share with school staff.
Recording of Webinar
Slides from webinar