Connected We Thrive™ Professional Development
Resiliency-Oriented Training for Schools To Connect with Every Student
Equip your entire staff in 60 minutes — no substitute days required.
Students from adoptive, foster, and kinship families are in every school. When educators understand their stories and have practical strategies to support them, those students stabilize, connect, and thrive. Connected We Thrive™ is iCARE’s professional development suite, built to give school teams the shared language, skills, and confidence they need to make that happen.
Beyond the Family Tree™
The Cornerstone of the Adoption & Foster Friendly Schools™ Movement
Beyond the Family Tree™ is where every school’s journey begins. This 60-minute, resiliency-oriented training is designed for educators, school mental health professionals, and school staff at every level. It gives your team the shared language and practical understanding to support any student navigating a complex family story, including adoption, foster care, and kinship care.
Start with your school team or open it to your full staff. Every person who watches it walks away better equipped to show up for the students in their building.
- 60 minutes, self-paced, and asynchronous
- Available in-person for districts and organizations (contact iCARE for scheduling)
- Designed for all school staff: educators, counselors, social workers, administrators
- CEUs and PDHs available for Illinois educators through the Illinois Association of School Social Workers
The First 200 Founding Schools Receive Beyond the Family Tree™ at No Cost
When a school joins the Adoption & Foster Friendly Schools™ Movement as a Founding School, they receive complimentary access to Beyond the Family Tree™, a $200 value, as part of their commitment to students in adoptive, foster, and kinship families.
Available starting August 1 and accessible through February 2027, this benefit is available to the first 200 Founding Schools to enroll. Spots are limited.
Founding School Benefit
✓ FREE access to Beyond the Family Tree™ ($200 value)
✓ Available August 1 through February 2027
✓ First 200 schools only
Together, We Can...
Increase Staff Awareness and Skills
Improve Student Connection and Belonging
Strengthen Support for All Students
Build Positive School-Wide Practices
Promote Safety, Well-Being & Academic Success
What Educators Are Saying
Source: Beyond the Family Tree™ Webinar Survey, IASSW, May 2026 — iCARE4 Adoptive And Foster Families
“I have received positive feedback from both my staff and the visitors that we had join us. Those Friday afternoon staff development meetings can traditionally be hard for staff to engage in but they found your presentation relatable and useful. I have seen staff already using the feelings wheels and talking about how to use the conversation starters from the Connection Kits.”
J. Rohn, Principal — Gerber School
“If we want our youth to thrive in college and beyond, we have to start by showing up for them in elementary, middle and high school. The Connection Kit and Connected We Thrive training can equip our educators with the tools to understand, uplift, and walk alongside them.”
J. Fetting, MSW — Former Youth in Care
