It has been a joy to meet so many of the educators and professionals supporting our children over this past year, especially school social workers who we honor in this newsletter.

In my work, I often get asked, What is an attachment-focused intervention? Simply put, it’s an approach that helps adopted, foster, and kinship children feel loved, safe, and truly part of their families. Many of these children struggle with trust and belonging, so we must be intentional about creating an environment where they know:  

You are loved.  No matter what.  

Parents’ job is to guide. You don’t have to figure life out alone.  

Parents’ job is to keep you safe. Stability builds trust.  

Parents are on your side.  Even in hard moments, they are here for you.  

I also know that for some children, their past experiences have taught them that adults aren’t always safe. Those realities matter. But if we begin from a place of distrust—assuming parents are to be feared—it only makes it harder for a child to feel like they truly belong. Instead, when we reinforce the idea that parents can be safe, loving guides, while also working through challenges, we give children their best chance to heal.