My Foster Son Was Put In a Dog Pen. How Do I Help Him Heal? - Weekend Wisdom
Creating a Family: Talk about Adoption, Foster & Kinship Care
01/25/25
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Question: My 4-year-old foster son moved in 9 months ago. He will likely remain with me permanently, and the application is in progress. I was his 5th foster home when he moved in. There was neglect at his birth parents and abuse in a previous foster home. Last weekend he was being babysat by my sister and brother-in-law. They went to the basement to show him a toy, and he saw a large dog cage they were planning to sell online. He was immediately triggered, ran upstairs, hid under the pillows in a bed, and it took 10 minutes to feel safe. He was obviously placed in a dog cage at some point. How do I support him, talk to him about what happened, and make him feel safe? How should I support him and help him calm his nervous system if he is triggered again?
Resources:
- A Conversation with Dr. Bruce Perry About Trauma
- 6 Crucial Things Every Adoptive Parent Must Do
- Using Scripts to Build Trust with Foster & Adopted Kids
- Suggested Book List - Kids Who Have Experienced Trauma
Please leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them.
Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content:
- Weekly podcasts
- Weekly articles/blog posts
- Resource pages on all aspects of family building
Previous Episode
What Foster Care Alumni Want You to Know
January 22, 2025
•44m
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Join our panel of four former foster youth to learn what they wished foster parents and others knew about being in foster care.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Tell us the story of your involvement with foster care and the child welfare system.
- What was something that your foster parent(s) did that helped you cope?
- What did your foster parents do that made things harder for you?
- What are some of the myths that you hear about kids in foster care?
- If listeners are considering becoming foster parents, what should they consider to help them decide if they are the right fit to be foster parents?
Resources:
- The Faces of Foster Care Volume 1, 2, and 3
Resources - Dave Armstrong
- Why Me My Fight For Life (Book)
- From Gangs To Greece (Book)
- www.SenseiDave.com (Speaking page)
- www.upna.net (Coaching/Mentoring)
Please leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them.
Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content:
- Weekly podcasts
- Weekly articles/blog posts
- Resource pages on all aspects of family building
Next Episode
Adopting or Fostering a Child with Down Syndrome
January 29, 2025
•46m
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Are you considering adopting or fostering a child with Down Syndrome? Join our conversation with Dr. Sara Williams, a developmental-behavioral pediatrician at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. She provides developmental evaluations and follow-up care for children with a variety of neurodevelopmental disabilities, including in the Thomas Center for Down Syndrome.
In this episode, we discuss:
- What is Down syndrome?
- How common is it?
- What are the different types of Down syndrome? Is genetic testing routinely done when Down syndrome is suspected?
- What are some of the common physical traits of a person with Down syndrome?
- What are the common developmental disabilities caused by this disorder?
- What are the common intellectual disabilities caused by this disorder?
- Is there a way to know in advance how intellectually impacted a child may be?
- Do the symptoms differ depending on the type of Down syndrome the child has?
- What are the common mental health issues that people with this disorder may exhibit?
- What are some ways to determine the degree of impact if you adopt a child past infancy?
- Interventions that can help.
- How do these kids fit within the school system? What is the school system required to do?
- What are the common medical conditions that may accompany trisomy 21?
- What is the life expectancy of a person with Down syndrome?
- Is there a medical specialty that those considering adopting or fostering a child with Down syndrome should seek out?
- What are some common mental health issues and behavioral issues that may be more common in people with Down syndrome?
- How to find mental health and behavioral treatment for children and adults with Down syndrome?
- How does trauma interact with Down syndrome?
- Is attachment difficult for kids with Down syndrome who have experienced trauma?
- Are people with Down syndrome able to live independently in adulthood?
- What makes a difference in the prognosis for children with Down syndrome?
- Why should people consider adopting or fostering a child with Down syndrome?
Resources:
- National Down Syndrome Society (list of specialized centers)
- Global Down Syndrome
- Reece’s Rainbow
- Understanding Down Syndrome
- American Academy of Pediatrics Clinical Report: Health Supervision for Children With Down Syndrome
Please leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them.
Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content:
- Weekly podcasts
- Weekly articles/blog posts
- Resource pages on all aspects of family building
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