Shaping Policy That Heals June 2026
In Illinois and beyond, chronic absenteeism will not be solved by punishment alone. Discover how trauma-informed education policy is shifting to support adoptive and foster families.
Building a Movement Where Adoptive, Foster, and Kinship Kids Thrive
iCARE launches the Adoption and Foster Friendly Schools movement, sending 4,500 free Connection Kits to schools as HB 4536 passes the Illinois General Assembly.
HB 4536: Naming Adopted, Foster, and Kinship Youth in Illinois School Law
HB 4536 marks a landmark moment for adopted, foster, and kinship youth in Illinois, naming this population in state school law for the first time.
They Are Not Problems to Be Fixed
“When a child struggles, we have to ask a different question: What is this child trying to communicate? Not: What’s wrong with them? But: What do they need right now? >
Many of our children—especially those impacted by adoption, foster care, and kinship care—carry invisible stories of loss and uncertainty. Their bodies remember what their words often cannot express. We must remember that regulation is not a reward—it’s a prerequisite. Healing doesn’t happen in a single session; it happens in the rhythm of everyday life through repeated, positive experiences that build new pathways of safety and belonging.”
Adoption & Foster Friendly Schools™: A Movement, Not Another Initiative
The Adoption & Foster Friendly Schools™ badge signals that a school has trained staff and built understanding to support children with complex stories.
Funding the Social Worker Champion Scholarships
Kate Shanahan, founder of Sweet Peach Tree, is funding two Adoption & Foster Friendly Schools Social Worker Champion Scholarships to train school professionals.
Connection Kits Turn One
In just one year, 1,850 Connection Kits reached schools, homes, and providers, helping build a full circle of care around children with complex stories.
The Quiet Power of Partnership
Adolescence is a season of expanding independence — but for teenagers with disrupted attachment histories, connection remains central. When caregivers and school professionals communicate openly and consistently, stability strengthens and growth unfolds with greater confidence. Partnership between home and school does more than support behavior; it reinforces permanency, trust, and the secure base adolescents still need.
It’s National School Social Work Month
School social workers help adopted, foster, and kinship students build trust and belonging every day. This month, iCARE celebrates their work and the new Champion Scholarships.
HB 4536 Passes Illinois Education Committee
HB 4536 passed the Illinois Education Committee on February 25, 2026, strengthening trauma-informed training for adopted, foster, and kinship students.
