It's very common for our kids who are close to graduation to start hearing the question, “So, what are you going to do next?” The query usually strikes fear into the hearts of many high school and college graduates because many have absolutely…
With the new year comes a lot of new opportunities for us all, usually in the form of resolutions of things to change. This annual time-to-change attitude is not a new concept. Each year we face the shift of the calendar year in anticipation and…
“Poverty is not neglect.” It’s a theme that’s been repeated often in recent years, and a statement that’s undoubtedly true. But, as I argued almost two years ago in my Substack column, repeating it as a mantra can lead to bad outcomes in which children…
Creating child protection policies is a significant milestone for youth serving organizations (YSO). But writing effective policies is just the beginning. The real challenge—and the real opportunity—lies in ensuring your child protection policy remains a living, breathing part of your organizational culture rather…
The decorations are packed away, guests have departed, and your kids are melting down. Experienced foster parents, adoptive parents, and stepparents know that things don't just return to "normal" after the holidays. What should be a special time of year can become a…
The holiday season amplifies an already painful reality for many foster, adoptive, and stepparents: the child you've committed to loving doesn't seem to want your love in return. That rejection is a unique kind of heartbreak—one that challenges our fundamental understanding…
We are soooo busy, too busy. Somehow culture has convinced us that we have to meet high expectations of America’s societal norms with extracurricular activities, busy-bodies and financial fortes. But the burdens wear on us; as people, as parents and as families. …
Holidays can be a profoundly difficult time, especially for our foster, adoptive, or stepchildren. No matter how wonderful we are as Plan B parents, their world remains fundamentally out of joint. Foster children and stepchildren in particular feel, whether consciously or not, that if the…
One common suggestion for foster, adoptive, and blended families during the winter holidays is to create new family traditions. That’s usually easier said than done, particularly when it comes to thinking of new traditions. Below are some suggestions that I’ve found for blended and foster…
The winter holidays are a good time to think about how we can help individual foster families. This time of year, there is an even greater need for community support. Foster parents have the same holiday to-do lists as every other family. In addition, they have to…
A story from Southaven, Mississippi illustrates the importance of good training and policies in how to deal with a dilemma that youth organizations often face — when sexual activity between minors becomes a mandated reporting event. The district attorney…
This time of year, I read and hear lots of questions about the best ways of teaching gratitude. Parenting magazines and websites are filled with suggestions and techniques, all adding yet another thing to our list of what-we-are-supposed-to-do as parents. Over the years, the best technique I…