Many foster and adoptive parents have questions surrounding the impact that foster care and adoption will have on their birth children. This presentation will examine the experiences of birth children, how to prepare them for the journey ahead, and ways to support them along the way.

Learning Objectives:

• Be able to define and describe "birth children.”

• Be able to identify potential challenges that birth children may face.

• Be able to explain the possible positive and negative impacts of foster care and adoption on birth children.

• Be able to articulate the importance of communicating with birth children.

• Be able to articulate the variety of ways to support birth children.

The birth children of foster and adoptive parents experience grief and loss in a unique way. This presentation will examine losses experienced by birth  children, how they may grieve, and ways that parents can support their children in processing the uncomfortable emotions.

Learning Objectives:

• Be able to explain unique losses experienced by birth children.

• Be able to list possible signs of grief.

• Be able to identify ways to assist birth children in processing grief and loss.

Foster and adoptive parents want to encourage positive, healthy relationships between their children - whether those children joined the family by birth, foster care, or adoption. This training will examine the sibling relationship in light of the unique perspectives of birth children.

Learning Objectives: 

• Be able to identify encouraging signs of connection in children.

• Be able to identify potential barriers to sibling relationships.

• Be able to articular significance of attachment on sibling relationships.

• Be aware of at least three activities that invite connection.

Foster and adoptive parents often wonder about birth order in relation to fostering or adopting when they already have children by birth. This presentation will examine the significance of birth order, and encourage participants to consider how it relates to foster and adoptive families.

Learning Objectives:

• Be able to identify each birth order position.

• Be able to distinguish between actual and psychological birth order.

• Be aware of the impact of fostering and adopting on birth order.

Unique challenges can arise from a family becoming involved in the child welfare system. This presentation will examine secondary traumatic stress (STS) as may be experienced by children, particularly biological kids in foster and adoptive families. This training will explore symptoms and risks of STS, as well as ways that parents and professionals can help children who are impacted by STS. 

Learning Objectives:

• Define and recognize secondary traumatic stress (STS) in children.

• Identify key risk factors for STS in children.

• Implement evidence-based strategies to support children affected by STS.

• Identify practices and techniques to minimize caregiver impact on children.

Professionals and agency staff often wonder how they can best support foster and adoptive families, including the birth children. This presentation will examine the experiences of birth children, allow agency staff to consider approaches to engaging with birth children, and inspire a more holistic care for the entire foster or adoptive family.

Learning Objectives:

• Be able to define and describe “birth children.”

• Be able to identify potential challenges that birth children may face.

• Be able to explain the possible positive and negative impacts of foster care and adoption on birth children.

• Be aware of avenues and resources available to prepare birth children.

• Be able to articulate the variety of ways to support birth children.

The biological children of foster and adoptive families experience grief and loss in a unique way. This presentation will examine losses experienced by biological children, how they may grieve, and ways that parents and professionals can support biological children in processing the uncomfortable emotions.

Learning Objectives:

• Be able to explain the possible positive and negative impacts of foster care and adoption on birth children.

• Be able to articulate the variety of losses biological children might experience.

• Be able to articulate two evidence-based factors that make a difference in the experiences of birth kids.

• Be able to identify at least three ways this information can be applied in practice.

This presentation equips faith-filled foster families to navigate the unique dynamics of fostering while raising biological children. Participants will explore how faith can guide and support their journey, discover ways to help biological kids embrace the mission of fostering, and reflect on the balance between wisdom and faith in decision-making. Through thoughtful discussion and reflection, parents will also consider their role in stewarding their resources and cultivating a safe, healthy environment for all children in their care. This session provides practical tools and encouragement for families committed to fostering with purpose and unity. It is written and intended for parents. 

Learning Objectives:

• Identify at least three ways in which faith can offer guidance and support for foster families with biological kids too.

• Identify at least one way to help biological kids catch the mission of being a foster family.

• Explore and describe the importance of balancing wisdom and faith in parental decision-making.

• Explore and reflect upon a parent's role in stewardship, cultivating a safe and healthy environment for all children.