These webpages identify external resources on specific topics of interest to foster, kinship and adoptive families.
Presented live on January 14, 2022, this webinar hosted by FFF features Monique Lilakos, DSW, LCSW, of Higher Purpose Coaching and Mentoring, LLC. Dr. Lilakos presented on challenges faced by kinship caregivers, how self care can support resilience, and offered specific self care techniques.
Recording of webinar
Webinar presentation slides
This September 2021 report from Children’s Bureau Administration for Children and Families U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, reports findings from the Prenatal Alcohol and Other Drug Exposures in Child Welfare (PAODE-CW) study. The primary objective of this study was to examine the current state of child welfare practice regarding identification of and service referrals for children with prenatal substance exposure with a strong focus on exposures to alcohol. This study focused on how child welfare agencies can obtain important information about FASD and other conditions when children come into contact with the system, and how they use this information to provide services to support affected children and strengthen their relationships with parents and/or caregivers.
Date from state and local child welfare agencies and from foster and adoptive parents are reported.
Delivered live on January 13, 2022, FFF hosted Dr. Renee Turchi for a webinar about diagnosis of conditions under the fetal alcohol spectrum disorders umbrella.
Webinar Recording
Slides from Dr. Turchi FASD Diagnosis
Turchi and colleagues article on FASD Integrated Care
This fact sheet from the Northern Virginia Family Network, of which FFF is an active member, provides an overview of social emotional learning efforts in the schools. It offers families information about how they can be involved in SEL efforts in their children’s schools.
SEL Fact Sheet
Presented live on January 6, 2022, this webinar features counselor and FASCETS Director Melissa Elligson covering foundational information about fetal alcohol spectrum disorders and other neurobehavioral conditions. Slides are available upon request from Melissa, melligson@gmail.com.
Recording of Instilling Hope webinar
From Understood.org, these worksheets are tools for kids and parents/caregivers to identify and prepare for holiday stressors.
The holidays can be hard for kids who learn and think differently. Things that are supposed to be fun — special holiday meals, chitchat with friends and relatives — can be stressful. There may be unspoken (or even spoken) comparisons to other kids. All these demands can lead to behavior problems .
Holiday Stress worksheet
Holiday Stress during COVID worksheet
This publication from the Addiction Policy Forum and Warren County, Ohio is for adults who come into contact with children impacted by a parent’s addiction and provides information about how to help. It is meant for anyone—teachers, coaches, pastors, relatives, friends, neighbors.
The toolkit offers resources for understanding adverse childhood events, what to look for if you suspect a child might have a parent with a substance use disorder, what you can do to help, and more.
This fact sheet from FFF and the WAZE to Adulthood project, led by PEATC and supported by the US Rehabilitative Services Administration. It provides an overview of some common challenges to transition planning for this population and offers parents and caregivers suggestions and resources for supporting person-centered planning.
Fact Sheet
From The Arc of Northern Virginia, a collection of resources on supported decision making, an array of services and procedures to support adults with disabilities into adulthood, often as an alternative to Guardianship.
Supported Decision Making resources
Generations United operates the first National Technical Assistance Center on Grandfamilies and Kinship Families (NTAC), funded through a five-year cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Community Living (ACL).
Contact Generations United directly for more information. https://www.gu.org/projects/ntac-on-grandfamilies-and-kinship-families/
Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network: A National Technical Assistance Center
Do you receive disability cash benefits (SSDI or SSI) from Social Security?
Are you between 18 and 64 years old?
Are you looking to find meaningful and substantial work?
Are you ready to test your ability to work and replace your cash benefits with earnings?
If you answered YES to all of the above, Ticket to Work might be for you!
These online modules from the Virginia Department of Education’s Virginia Tiered Systems of Supports project. They are designed for school personnel to support the journey to becoming a trauma-sensitive school.
The six modules are focused on the following topics:
The Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities (MHDD) National Training Center offers free training, resources, and other information to improve mental health services and supports for people with developmental disabilities. By serving as a national clearinghouse, it offers access to the most current evidence-based, trauma-informed, culturally responsive practices that address the mental health needs of individuals with developmental disabilities. The Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities National Training Center (MHDD-NTC) is funded by the Administration for Community Living, US Department of Health and Human Services.
Originally broadcast live on August 3, 2021, this webinar features presenters from The StudyPro reviewing critical executive functioning skills and specific strategies for increasing organizational and study skills.
More information about The StudyPro can be found at https://thestudypro.com/.
Webinar recording
Webinar slides handout
A description of Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI), from the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development. TBRI is a an attachment-based, trauma-informed intervention that is designed to meet the complex needs of vulnerable children. TBRI uses Empowering Principles to address physical needs, Connecting Principles for attachment needs, and Correcting Principles to disarm fear-based behaviors.
This article from NACAC describes the 3-5-7 Model used to treat children and youth.
The 3-5-7 Model is designed to help professionals and parents work with children and youth to address these issues of grief and loss. It is an evidenced-informed, guided practice approach that supports the work of children and parents in grieving their losses and rebuilding their relationships in an effort to achieve well-being, safety, and permanency. The model incorporates theoretical underpinnings from child development, attachment, separation and loss, trauma, family systems, and relationship development.
Published by Va Department of Education in Spring 2021.
From the disAbility Law Center of Virginia, this short guide provides an overview of federal law and policies that provide for accessible summer camp experiences.
Happy Camper guide
Broadcast on May 14, 2021, this FFF webinar reviewed data on youth with special needs in foster, adoptive and kinship families and their outcomes. Content includes a review of special education transition planning requirements and a number of post-secondary programs and other resources for youth and young adults with disabilities and who have been in foster care.
Webinar recording
Presentation slides
Broadcast live on March 18, 2021, this webinar from FFF covered the topics of referral, evaluation and eligibility for special education.
Webinar recording
Getting through the Gate slides