Trauma-Informed Support for the Foster Care/Adoption Community

Supporting Regulation: Keeping Behaviors Low & Returning to Calm (Part 7)

In part 7 of a 8 part series, Ashley Bennett, our Director of Trauma Informed Care, helps us take a look at strategies that we can use to keep behaviors low once they begin and help bring our children back to calm once they are in states of dysregulation. Take a listen to part 7 (or go check out parts 1-6 first!).
 
The Restore Network exists to change the culture of foster care and equip God's people to meet the needs of vulnerable children and youth. The children we serve have experienced complex developmental trauma and their experiences have changed their brains, bodies, beliefs, and behaviors. These resources are created to equip caregivers, volunteers, child welfare professionals, and our church partners to navigate the joys and complexities of caring for these vulnerable children. The resources we offer are based on the principles of Trust Based Relational Intervention created by the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development at Texas Christian University as well as other areas of attachment theory and relational neuroscience which we believe line up with how God created our brain and bodies for relationship and the design plan for human flourishing.

Supporting Regulation: Proactive Strategies (Part 6)

In part 6 of a 8 part series, Ashley Bennett, our Director of Trauma Informed Care, helps us take a look at proactive strategies that can support our child's regulation and prevent some major dysregulation from happening in the first place! While these strategies take intentional time and effort, they pay off in lessoning the time we need to deal with and recover from dysregulation so it's worth it in the end! Take a listen to part 6 (or go check out parts 1-5 first!).
 
The Restore Network exists to change the culture of foster care and equip God's people to meet the needs of vulnerable children and youth. The children we serve have experienced complex developmental trauma and their experiences have changed their brains, bodies, beliefs, and behaviors. These resources are created to equip caregivers, volunteers, child welfare professionals, and our church partners to navigate the joys and complexities of caring for these vulnerable children. The resources we offer are based on the principles of Trust Based Relational Intervention created by the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development at Texas Christian University as well as other areas of attachment theory and relational neuroscience which we believe line up with how God created our brain and bodies for relationship and the design plan for human flourishing.

Supporting Regulation: Taking Care of Your Own Nervous System (Part 5)

In part 5 of a 8 part series, Ashley Bennett, our Director of Trauma Informed Care, helps us take a look at the costs of caring for children with complex developmental trauma and walks us through a way to take inventory of our own unmet needs and make a plan to better care for ourselves. Take a listen to part 5 (or go check out parts 1-4 first!).
 
The Restore Network exists to change the culture of foster care and equip God's people to meet the needs of vulnerable children and youth. The children we serve have experienced complex developmental trauma and their experiences have changed their brains, bodies, beliefs, and behaviors. These resources are created to equip caregivers, volunteers, child welfare professionals, and our church partners to navigate the joys and complexities of caring for these vulnerable children. The resources we offer are based on the principles of Trust Based Relational Intervention created by the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development at Texas Christian University as well as other areas of attachment theory and relational neuroscience which we believe line up with how God created our brain and bodies for relationship and the design plan for human flourishing.

Supporting Regulation: Making a Safety Plan for Your Whole Family (Part 4)

In part 4 of a 8 part series, Ashley Bennett, our Director of Trauma Informed Care, helps us consider the kind of conversations we need to have with the members of our family and what kind of safety plan we might need, depending on the intensity of dysregulation our child experiences. Take a listen to part 4 (or go check out parts 1-3 first!).
 
The Restore Network exists to change the culture of foster care and equip God's people to meet the needs of vulnerable children and youth. The children we serve have experienced complex developmental trauma and their experiences have changed their brains, bodies, beliefs, and behaviors. These resources are created to equip caregivers, volunteers, child welfare professionals, and our church partners to navigate the joys and complexities of caring for these vulnerable children. The resources we offer are based on the principles of Trust Based Relational Intervention created by the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development at Texas Christian University as well as other areas of attachment theory and relational neuroscience which we believe line up with how God created our brain and bodies for relationship and the design plan for human flourishing.

Accepting No and Negotiating Needs

In this recording we address the skills of accepting "no" and negotiating your needs with respect. It's common for our kids to have trouble with this. Why is that? And how can we help them grow these skills? Take a listen to Ashley Bennett, our Director of Trauma Informed Care, explain why and how in this voice recording. Then give the ideas a try and reach out if you need help once you start navigating it!
 
The Restore Network exists to change the culture of foster care and equip God's people to meet the needs of vulnerable children and youth. The children we serve have experienced complex developmental trauma and their experiences have changed their brains, bodies, beliefs, and behaviors. These resources are created to equip caregivers, volunteers, child welfare professionals, and our church partners to navigate the joys and complexities of caring for these vulnerable children. The resources we offer are based on the principles of Trust Based Relational Intervention created by the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development at Texas Christian University as well as other areas of attachment theory and relational neuroscience which we believe line up with how God created our brain and bodies for relationship and the design plan for human flourishing.

Supporting Regulation: Identifying the Stress Response ( Part 2)

In part 2 of a 8 part series, Ashley Bennett, our Director of Trauma Informed Care, shows us that it's by God's design that our brains and bodies alert us to experiences that are not good for us. She helps us to identify the primary way each of our stress response systems gets activated and how we can be grateful for the ways in which our brain and body are trying to keep us safe and why this is particularly important to understand when parenting kids with complex trauma. Take a listen to part 2 (or go check out part 1 first!). 
 
The Restore Network exists to change the culture of foster care and equip God's people to meet the needs of vulnerable children and youth. The children we serve have experienced complex developmental trauma and their experiences have changed their brains, bodies, beliefs, and behaviors. These resources are created to equip caregivers, volunteers, child welfare professionals, and our church partners to navigate the joys and complexities of caring for these vulnerable children. The resources we offer are based on the principles of Trust Based Relational Intervention created by the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development at Texas Christian University as well as other areas of attachment theory and relational neuroscience which we believe line up with how God created our brain and bodies for relationship and the design plan for human flourishing.

Supporting Regulation: Awareness Brings Empathy (Part 1)

In part 1 of a 8 part series, Ashley Bennett, our Director of Trauma Informed Care, dives into a deeper understanding of how our child's nervous system was built through their in-utero experience, their birth experience, and their first year of life experience. She compares an infant's optimal experience with the reality for most of our children who've experienced complex developmental harm. Why do a lot of our kids go from 0 to 60 fast, stay there longer, and even experience the protective mode of dissociation? Take a listen! 
 
The Restore Network exists to change the culture of foster care and equip God's people to meet the needs of vulnerable children and youth. The children we serve have experienced complex developmental trauma and their experiences have changed their brains, bodies, beliefs, and behaviors. These resources are created to equip caregivers, volunteers, child welfare professionals, and our church partners to navigate the joys and complexities of caring for these vulnerable children. The resources we offer are based on the principles of Trust Based Relational Intervention created by the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development at Texas Christian University as well as other areas of attachment theory and relational neuroscience which we believe line up with how God created our brain and bodies for relationship and the design plan for human flourishing.
 
 

Supporting Regulation: Identifying Triggers (Part 3)

In part 3 of a 8 part series, Ashley Bennett, our Director of Trauma Informed Care, helps us identify our child's triggers, including the most common ones for children who have experienced complex trauma and are in foster care. After identifying those triggers, she helps us to see how we can proactively talk to our children with curiosity and empathy and access additional resources that will help us provide felt safety for our children, to lessen the impact these triggers have on them. Take a listen to part 3 (or go check out parts 1-2 first!).
 
The Restore Network exists to change the culture of foster care and equip God's people to meet the needs of vulnerable children and youth. The children we serve have experienced complex developmental trauma and their experiences have changed their brains, bodies, beliefs, and behaviors. These resources are created to equip caregivers, volunteers, child welfare professionals, and our church partners to navigate the joys and complexities of caring for these vulnerable children. The resources we offer are based on the principles of Trust Based Relational Intervention created by the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development at Texas Christian University as well as other areas of attachment theory and relational neuroscience which we believe line up with how God created our brain and bodies for relationship and the design plan for human flourishing.