Foster Care Training

Can we talk? On a daily basis you admirably serve families and children who are in some way involved with the foster care or criminal justice system. You are a tireless advocate and sometimes deal with what seems like insurmountable challenges and barriers with, and for, your clients. In your work, you experience overwhelming volumes of client/patient information–especially information that holds an emotional “charge” and, as professionals, our bodies, minds and spirits adapt to help us cope. At times, the ways in which we cope may help in the moment, but over time have longer negative results. For example, our “can-do” attitude may command our bodies to give us frequent boosts of adrenaline to make it through a challenging time period. However, the moment we go on vacation, we experience guilt or intrusive thoughts and/or immediately get sick for the first few days. The adrenaline push that was needed so often eventually catches up with us, and we feel the full effect of pushing ourselves beyond a healthy limit. We are all coping to the best of our ability.

Just in time–here’s a reminder of the importance of self-care and strategies that can amplify your sense of resiliency and hope associated with doing the work in your honorable profession. Join this active “think-tank” — that places you, and your well-being, at the center as the priority.

**Participants can utilize skills learned in the training by:

1. Creating an initial 3-point self-care plan to promote resiliency, including when, where, and how; sharing this plan with colleagues.
2. Implementing and integrating personal plans with deeper understanding of the importance and responsibility for personal wellness.