Kinship

Coping with Feelings of Abandonment

Abandonment.  The word alone can trigger feelings of angst, worry, isolation, rejection…the list is quite extensive.  For many children finding themselves in a home away from their norm, emotions are…

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Bridging the Age Gap Between Kinship Caregivers and Children

My mother was 39 and my father was 37 when I was born. There were times when this age difference was challenging for me as a child. The almost 40-year…

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Road Trip of an Adoptive Mom

In 2008, our family adopted our youngest son from the foster care system. Prior to adoption, my husband and I dove in headfirst, educating ourselves on what to expect, researching,…

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Supporting Children During an Ongoing Pandemic

Being a caretaker of a child who has experienced traumatic events is challenging. In the best situations, you’ve gathered a support team and resources that might include school personnel, mental…

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The Importance of Caregiver Self-Care

New kinship and adoptive families typically experience major changes in their daily lives and routines. Self-care is essential to establishing stability for the child or children in your care.   At the base level, self-care is “the act of…

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Raising a Child with a Disability

Whether you are providing kinship care short- or long-term or have adopted, bringing a child into your home is a beautiful challenge. There may be parts of your experience that…

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Managing Feelings Through Creative Expression

*Names have been changed to protect privacy Noah*, age 5, was having a difficult time adjusting to his new family dynamic. Before his mother met his new stepfather, Noah lived…

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The Many Emotions of Kinship Caregiving

I want to take a moment to celebrate and recognize you, the kinship caregiver, and to reflect on the incredibly important work you do each day. I also want to ask you to think about taking the best care of yourself that you can in this challenging and rewarding role.

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What’s the Deal with Kinship Care?

I want to take a moment to celebrate and recognize you, the kinship caregiver, and to reflect on the incredibly important work you do each day. I also want to ask you to think about taking the best care of yourself that you can in this challenging and rewarding role.

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How to Support Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Exploration

Research shows that there are certain behaviors that can protect LGBTQ+ youth against physical and mental health risks. The more often and more emphatically these accepting behaviors are practiced, the greater the impact to youth well-being. As a parent or caregiver, you play a key role in preventing many of the negative outcomes faced by these vulnerable youth in your care.

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