Every year, I log in to complete the mandatory substitute teacher training—unpaid hours required just to have the privilege of stepping into a classroom. The modules cover important topics like emergency bleeding and anaphylactic shock, and even practical items like the color tags used for electrical cords. Some of it applies directly to teaching, some of it doesn’t.

But one thing is always missing.
In all my years as a reading instructor and as a substitute, I have never once received training on how to support students who are 2-3x as likely to need mental health support, more at risk to drop out or have substance abuse and  three times more likely to commit suicide—those are kids who are  adopted, in foster and kinship care. 

These children are in every school in every ZIP code. These are students who spend the majority of their day in our classrooms. Their stories—marked by separation, transition, and resilience—are among the most consequential life experiences a child can face. Shouldn’t we be equipping educators to understand and respond?

Here’s the striking contrast: foster parents are required to complete 29+ hours of training. Families pursuing foster-to-adopt must complete 39+, and many private adoption agencies add another 10. These trainings recognize the complexity of caring for children who have experienced loss, trauma, or disrupted attachment. But the very place where children spend most of their waking hours—school—offers no equivalent training.

Imagine the difference it would make if teachers, administrators, and staff were given even a basic framework for understanding adoptive, foster, and kinship students. Imagine schools where children feel seen, caregivers feel supported, and educators feel confident in how to respond.

At iCARE4 Adoptive And Foster Families, we believe it’s time to change that. We’ve listened to our state educators and designed what they’ve said was missing. Through our Connection Kits™ and Connected We Thrive™ workshops, we are showing schools that this training can be practical, hopeful, and ready-to-use. 

Let’s make sure that the most important training of all doesn’t get overlooked. Because every child deserves a school that understands their story—and every educator deserves the tools to help them thrive.