Resource Library

Outlines key factors necessary to ensure that social service systems respond to the impact of trauma and toxic stress and provide trauma-informed care. Includes links to other resources.

Examines how the Inherent Strengths Curriculum for Kinship Caregivers can be effectively utilized across structured caregiver training, tribal kinship navigator services, and support groups. The curriculum emphasizes a strengths-based approach to kinship caregiving, helping caregivers support children while managing stress and improving family resilience.

Defines various types of adoption discontinuity and explores data on the number of adoption/guardianship disruptions and dissolutions as well as parent, child, and systemic factors that affect placement stability.

Explores the topic of disruption and dissolution of pre-adoption and adoptive families. This podcast looks at the grief, trauma, and how to hold compassion for all members of the family.

Discusses ways in which adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) impose challenges to the developing brain. Reviews data pointing to the effectiveness of early intervention in addressing neurodevelopmental consequences associated with maltreatment or institutional rearing.

Explores different models of supervision being used by organizations who have parent peer support staff and offers key strategies for supervising this staff.

Explores how workers in a tribal child welfare agency can support families at every stage, even when they already have a full plate of work.

Discusses how the Illinois Adoption Advisory Council helped the state develop the comprehensive post-permanency model that is currently in place. The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services used the information gathered from the Council to identify needs of adoptive families and the gaps in service provision. This article provides lessons that other states can utilize as they consider how to create and/or leverage adoptive parent councils to improve their post-permanency continuum.     Introduction to the Resources Watch the video below for an overview of the resource or click on the button to access the article directly.  

This discussion guide accompanies the Engaging Kinship Caregivers video training series.  This guide helps program directors, supervisors, and trainers lead group sessions to deepen learning experiences.

Explores how kinship creates interruptions of the caregiver’s plans, priorities, space and privacy and how these can contribute to feelings of loss and ambivalence for the relative caregiver.