Additional Resources
Investing in Positive Experiences
A recent grant from the Thielen Foundation funded some major improvements at Nexus-Gerard Family Healing, such as refurbishing their baseball field and recreation room, and adding a new playground. This grant also provided Nexus-Gerard the ability to create and support a new Recreational Coordinator position. This position plays an integral role in creating a fun, connected environment for the youth at Nexus–Gerard, planning both on- and off-campus activities.
Maintaining Children’s Mental Health During Summer
When trying to work out a summer schedule that also helps maintain your child’s mental health, remember that less is often more. It’s important to find a balance between providing some structure to children’s time, but not making it so structured that they can’t properly rest and find themselves more stressed.
Fostering Communication
Youth in foster care and their care providers experience many transitions. Foster parents play an important role in helping youth navigate these difficult transitions by providing stability, emotional support, and being an advocate for their needs. Take a look at how you can best support a child during an emotional time.
From Paperwork to Placement
As a new foster parent who just completed mountains of paperwork and all the necessary training, you may wonder what exactly is next. Cherie Johnson, Foster and Adoptive Parent, shares her experience as a new foster parent with some action steps you and your family can take to prepare.
Raising a More Resilient Child
As a parent, one of the most important things you can do is to help your child learn to deal with the inevitable challenges that life brings. Children who can successfully manage the stressors that come into their life have lower rates of mental health issues, greater levels of happiness, and often have more success later in life.
The Village That Holds Us Up
The first time Nexus-Kindred Family Healing Foster and Adoptive Parent Cherie and her family met their Nexus Family Healing social worker, Michaela, they were immediately disarmed by her cheerful smile and genuine demeanor.
Foster Care and Adoption Children’s Booklist
In honor of National Foster Care month, we wanted to share a list of books and workbooks for youth in foster care or in adopted families that are a wonderful way for children to explore other people's life experiences, while at the same time seeing their own stories represented and know they are not alone in their feelings.
Family (Dys)Function: Navigating Family Dynamics in Foster and Adoptive Care
In the world of foster care, you will encounter more family dynamics than you even knew existed. This isn’t always because these families are broken, sometimes we distance ourselves from family members who have emotionally or otherwise harmed us. How do you navigate all of this? Foster and Adoptive Parent Cherie Johnson shares tips and guidance to help you navigate a variety of family dynamic situations.