Foster Care Training

For 30 million years, humans evolved within what researcher Darcia Narvaez terms ‘the evolved developmental niche’. This context prioritizes the development and stabilization of the connection system- the neurophysiological systems that support connecting to ourselves, to each other, and to the living world. In the past several hundred years, the way that we have been living has begun to radically deviate from this ancestral context, with extremely negative impacts on our ability to connect. The connection system is the primary source of wellbeing and regulation, so knowing how to access it and turn it on is critical for our own wellbeing. The ability to access this vital connection system is especially hard on system-involved youth. It is increasingly important for youth in the foster care system to learn how to make strong and lasting connections, so that they are able to establish stability in themselves, their families, and the world around them. This course will explore ways in which to promote accessing and developing the connection system in ourselves and the clients we serve.