Assembly Day June 21
Assembly Day June 21, 2025 We’re assembling something BIG—and we need your hands and your heart! Please join us for our June iCARE4 Schools Connection Kit™ Assembly Day! If you […]
The Power of Art and Play in Supporting Connection and Healing
Art and play are vital tools for supporting children who have experienced trauma, providing a safe space for expression and healing. Through open-ended art, children can explore their emotions without fear of judgment, while play allows them to process complex experiences and build resilience. When adults create a supportive, attuned environment, these creative outlets foster connection, emotional awareness, and a sense of safety, helping children heal and grow.
Hope and Attachment
As an adoptive mother and educator, I’ve learned that children don’t just need love—they need hope. Hope, like attachment, can be built through connection, structure, and meaningful conversations. By measuring and fostering hope, we help children rebuild trust, confidence, and a sense of safety, planting the seeds for a brighter future.
Adopt a Peep Project
The day after my son’s 9th birthday, he brought home a small ‘peep’ from his class as part of the Adopt a Peep Project. Intended to teach responsibility, the assignment became an emotional reminder of his adoption journey. For many adoptive families, such projects can unintentionally highlight feelings of displacement and abandonment. While the project was well-meaning, it lacked the sensitivity needed to address the deep complexities of adoption. This experience underscored the importance of fostering awareness and empathy in educational settings to ensure all children feel safe, understood, and truly connected.
Jocelyn Fetting
As someone who grew up in care, I knew firsthand how much school can mean to a young person searching for stability. My little sister has been in care for […]
Legislative Update April 2025
A Month of Inspiration and Collaboration! This past month, I had the incredible opportunity to attend a full-day meeting with some of the leading experts in child welfare and mental […]
Raising an Adoptive or Foster Child
Navigating the complexities of adoption, foster care, and kinship can feel like managing seven layers of stress at once. From feelings of rejection and shame to the challenges of forming secure attachments, the emotional landscape for adopted children is uniquely layered. Understanding these core issues is crucial for caregivers and educators alike. As children grow through each developmental stage, the impact of trauma can shape their identities and relationships. Discover how we can transform stress into strength and support these children on their journey to healing and empowerment. Join us in exploring this vital topic!
The Hidden Stress of Adoption, Foster Care, and Kinship
When children experience adoption, foster care, or kinship placement, their stress often runs deeper than meets the eye. Beneath the surface, past trauma and disrupted attachments can leave lasting imprints on a child’s brain and emotional well-being. Understanding these hidden stressors is the first step in helping kids move from survival mode to a place of safety and healing.
A Love Note to Caregivers
A Love Note to Caregivers Bless you, who show up not because it’s easy, but because of love. Because you know that love is worth the cost. I see you […]
The Urgent Need for Collaboration: Public Safety Officers and Families in Supporting Foster, Adopted, and Kinship Children
Children in foster, adoptive, and kinship care need strong, consistent, and supportive relationships—especially with their caregivers. When public safety officers or school professionals serve as a child’s primary source of comfort in a crisis, it’s important to be mindful that family bonds remain intact.
🤝 The solution? Collaboration and Training. By working together, public safety officers, educators, and caregivers can ensure that professional support strengthens family connections, helping children feel secure at home, at school, and in their communities.
