Kris’ Corner – Players to run

So…as a foster parent, you will have a number of different people with whom you have contact…or at the very least, you will know about their place in a case. In addition, there are other individuals with whom you will have contact because of the child…not necessarily...

CONVERSATION TIPS FOR THE HOLIDAY TABLE

Even though the holidays may look different this year due to COVID-19, they can still be a time for celebration. As you approach holiday table conversations, please remember that 2020 has been an emotionally intense and overwhelming year for many. So, whether your...

Kris’ Corner – Vacations with your foster children

I know it seems random to be talking about vacation in November, but it is 2020 and nothing has really been on schedule this year. But seriously, we just got home from a family vacation so this was on my heart and I wanted to share. One thing I want to clarify before...

Kris’ Corner – Misconceptions about older youth in foster care

I haven’t written about foster care misconceptions for a while so let’s explore another common one. There are people (not to suggest you are among them) who believe some kids enter foster care due to their own poor choices and mistakes. No child has ever entered the...

MANAGING STRESS

Stress is something that everyone deals with. It can affect your body, behavior, and mood, and can contribute to health problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes (mayoclinic.org.) Its effects are wide-ranging and can include sleep...

Kris’ Corner – Should Siblings Always Be Placed Together?

Should Siblings Always Be Placed Together? Well, the answer to this question is a definitive “maybe…it depends”…because there are a variety of circumstances that help determine if siblings should/could be placed together in a home. Unfortunately, it comes down to...

Kris’ Corner – The Importance of Respite

As I’ve mentioned previously, we are a respite foster home…this means that we provide respite (or a break) to homes placed with a longer-term placement. We know that full-time foster care can be exhausting, and sometimes foster parents simply need a break. And that’s...

SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS FOR DEPRESSION

Author: Disability Benefits Center   Depression takes its toll on all aspects of life, including the ability to perform well on the job. The disease can affect sleep, interpersonal communications, concentration, and physical health as well. Although many people...

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW TO CREATE CAMPFIRE MEMORIES

Author: Jade Gutierrez – Digital and Content Specialist   Creating family memories doesn’t need to be complicated. Imagine your family snuggled around a cracking campfire, laughing at your kid’s silly story with the lingering taste of charred marshmallow...

Kris’ Corner – You should never disrupt a placement, Part Two

As I mentioned in Part 1 of this “two part series”, we ended up disrupting two placements. And since this is clearly NOT what should happen, I want to discuss some ways I believe that at least one of these disruptions could have been avoided. Let me begin by saying...