These webpages identify external resources on specific topics of interest to foster, kinship and adoptive families.
This resource is developed by the National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare (NCSACW) for
child welfare professionals who serve children and families affected by prenatal exposure to alcohol and parental
substance use disorders. It provides a broad overview of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), their effect on child
development, and treatment for FASD.
Child welfare professionals play a key role supporting children and families affected by FASD through effectively
partnering with other agencies and service providers who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of FASD, ensuring
young children receive assessments and early intervention services, and providing family-centered substance use
disorder (SUD) treatment. The final section of this document provides detailed practice tips to help child welfare
professionals partner with these other agencies and, in doing so, best support infants, children, and families affected
by FASD using a collaborative, family-centered approach.
Practice Tips resource
Web version of Practice Tips
This visual booklet is designed to help explain to educators and other child-serving professionals (and family members) what survival or fight-flight-freeze-submit responses can look like in a school setting. It names some of the visible behaviors that can be a concern for teachers and others, and offers strategies that can be helpful.
Survival in School Booklet
Developed by Formed Families Forward and designed for families, this checklist offers features of trauma-informed and supportive early childhood programs. Families and providers can look for these characteristics when seeking providers for their young children.
Checklist for Trauma-Informed Early Childhood Programs
This trifold guide from the Virginia Department of Social Services explains options for extended family members (kinship caregivers) to care for reltative children and youth.
Kinship care is a way for children to stay connected to family when they are unable to live with their parents due to illness, incarceration, housing instability, and/or abuse or neglect.
Kinship Care options brochure from VDSS
This guide from Anthem HealthKeepers Plus overviews the new (July 2025) Foster Care Specialty Plan for youth and young adults in and formerly in foster care.
Foster Care Specialty Plan Guide
Created by the Shenandoah Valley Impact Project with funding from the Play Therapy Association, this activity book presents weather disaster-related information and concepts to young children.
Too Much Weather workbook
Fusion Center Network offers telehealth screenings, diagnostic evaluations, consultation, training, and technical assistance to help families, self-advocates, or professionals better understand and support individuals with complex neurodevelopmental conditions including fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. As of July 2025, Fusion Center Network is a telehealth-only clinical practice currently serving Texas, Nevada, Arkansas, and Wisconsin.
Fusion Center Network
From the Grandfamilies and Kinship Family Support Network at Generations United, this tip sheet overviews child-only Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and offers recommendations for improving state practices.
Webpage link to Tip Sheet
Tip Sheet on Child-Only TANF
Hosted by FFF and presented live on May 14, 2025 by Dr. Monique Lilakos, this webinar focused on stress management and self-care.
Session goals included:
– Provide information for caregivers
– Increase and enhance awareness of self-care
– Identify the benefits of self-care and self-regulation for communicating and problem-solving with school and other community partners
– Provide examples of types of self-care
– Provide a platform for caregivers to connect
Self Care webinar slides
Self Care webinar recording
This 9 minute Family Members on Teams video was produced by Formed Families Forward, as family partner to the Virginia Tiered Systems of Supports (VTSS) project. The video features a staged meeting and interviews with family members and educators sharing practical suggestions for including family members on decision-making teams. The accompanying fact sheet overviews the strategies shared in the video.
Let us know what you think of the video HERE.
Family Members on Teams video
Family Members on Teams fact sheet
This webinar was presented live on April 29, 2025, by Dr. Lisa Weed Phifer, NCSP, of Fairfax Co. Public Schools.
The content explored how trauma-informed practices and social-emotional learning (SEL) support student well-being and academic success. The session covered impact of stress and trauma on children, how it can manifest in their behavior, and the importance of creating safe and supportive learning environments. The session highlighted protective factors that foster student resilience and growth. Additionally, Dr. Phifer shared helpful practices at school that teach and reinforce essential skills such as self-awareness, self-management, and relationship building. Practical strategies were provided for parents and caregivers to strengthen these skills and nurture resilience in their children.
Presentation slides for Supporting Student Well Being
Webinar recording
When the parent or caregiver of a child with a disability does not agree with the results of the individualized evaluation of their child, as conducted by the school system, they have the right to obtain what is known as an Independent Educational Evaluation, or an IEE (§300.502). In an IEE, a professional, competent evaluator who is not employed by the school system conducts another evaluation of the child.
The webpage from the Center for Parent Information and Resources (CPIR) provides a brief overview and links to additional resources.
IEE overview
For Fairfax families of youth and youth who are under 25 years of age having a difficult time finding mental health or substance use care or support. This service is funded by Healthy Minds Fairfax If you live in Fairfax County, Falls Church City, or Fairfax City, Care Navigation services are available to you.
Youth and their families will be guided by a Care Navigator through a screening, care planning, referral and support process to reduce barriers to care and make finding the right services easier, less stressful, and with careful consideration of your unique needs. Care Navigators speak Spanish and Arabic, interpreters are available.
Care Navigation for Fairfax
Presented live on January 28, 2025, as part of the Formed Families Forward Winter FASD Webinar series, this webinar was presented by Jessica Wilson, LCSW.
The presentation offers an overview of therapy options which have demonstrated success for treating fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, including the Families Moving Forward (FMF) program and the FASCETS Neurobehavioral model.
Presentation Slides for Understanding Therapy Options for FASD webinar
Recording of Understanding Therapy Options webinar
This fact sheet from the National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations, this 10 page brief provides guidance to adults working with children who have experienced trauma. It offers specific suggestions for prevention strategies that might be helpful, as well as considerations for actions to take during times of activation or acute stress for young children who have experienced trauma.
Considerations for Working with Children who have Experienced Trauma
Presented live on March 4, 2025, this webinar is presented by Geoffrey Weber, Coordinator, Assistive Technology, Region 4 Training and Technical Assistance Center.
The session presents an introduction to assistive technology, understand its importance for your student, find out how they can access it, and learn about resources that can guide you through the process.
What Families Need to Know about AT slides
What Families Need to Know About AT webinar recording
This webpage from the Virginia Department of Social Services addresses common questions related to kinship care in Virginia. It includes links to important kinship resources and offers Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). It includes an overview of available financial supports, including Relative Maintenance Support Payment.
Virginia Kinship Resource Guide
Presented live on February 18, 2025, this webinar features guest expert facilitator Melissa Long, CTRS, CDP, CADDCT, BF-CMT, DCCS, DCC-CI, Director of Education and Support, Insight Memory Care Center.
The content covers age-related changes in memory and learning, and practices to keep the brain sharp! Ms. Long overviewed what to expect, what’s “normal,” and when it’s time to seek a doctor’s input.
Brain Health as you Age presentation slides
Better Brain Health handout
Recording of Brain Health webinar
In this technical assistance document (a companion to the Questions and Answers: Addressing the Needs of Children with Disabilities and IDEA’s Discipline Provisions, which outlines the legal requirements related to behavior support and discipline for eligible students with disabilities under IDEA), the U.S. Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) provides information about resources, strategies, and evidence-based practices that (while not required by law) can help States, LEAs, schools, early childhood programs, educators, and families in their efforts to meet IDEA requirements and, in doing so, improve outcomes for children with disabilities.
Guide to Positive, Proactive Approaches
BRAIN-online is a new web-based screening tool that assesses cognitive and behavioral features known to be associated with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). It was developed by Dr. Sarah Mattson and her team at the San Diego State University Center for Behavioral Teratology as a first step to determine if you or someone you care for might have an FASD. Developmental and behavioral health screenings are important because they can help with early identification of FASD, allowing for the best treatment options and outcomes.
BRAIN-Online