Resources for
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& Families in Crisis
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Holistic Resources
Here to help
As adoptive and foster parents, we know that this journey to care for children who have experienced trauma and loss early in life can be challenging. We've complied the following list of resources to help you along the way but if you don't quite know where to begin feel free to check out our FAQ section here. If you have any questions or just want to connect with someone in person, please feel free to reach out to us!
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Charlotte Fritz
LMFT, Adoptive Parent, Alliance Leader
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Charlotte: charlottefritz@gmail.com
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Frequently
Asked
Questions
Assessment tools
What is developmental screening and why is it important?
Not every delay is visible to the eye. Developmental delays and disabilities, such as autism, emotional disturbances, speech and
language disorders often go undetected until a child enters elementary school. Study after study has shown that the earlier a delay is recognized and intervention is begun, the better the child’s chance of substantial improvement. Developmental screening is one of the best things you can do to ensure a child’s success in school and life (which is why so many organizations have made it a top priority.) If you have a foster or adoptive child, make sure to ask your social worker if your child has been screened.
This questionnaire helps identify developmental progression in children between the ages of 1 month to 5 1/2 years. It will take parents 10-15 minutes to complete the form and a few minutes for professionals to score and assess the results.
This free online assessment document lists age appropriate milestones in social and emotional interactions, language/communication, and cognitive function along with tips to help parents enhance their child's development.
The CDC offers printable milestone checklists, lists of products to help children meeting various developmental goals, and other fun fact resources to print off.
child development services
Provides assessment and early intervention for infants & toddlers with disabilities/delays. Referral from a social worker required.
Head Start Programs
Provides high quality developmentally appropriate education programs with early intervention
& prevention programs for low income and foster children.
Provides developmental assessment and services for children 0-3 that do not qualify for Alta services. Parents can complete an initial assessment to document general developmental concerns.
Serves infant & toddlers (0-36 months) with delayed progress in one or more areas of development.
A public health nursing program to meet the medical, dental, mental and developmental needs of children and youth in foster care.
This clinic provides a range of therapy services to help children of all ages with a variety of special needs. The therapists are trained to work with Autism, Attention Disorders, Sensory Processing Disorder and others utilizing their state-of-the-art facility.
Academic support & services
Weekly tutoring sessions for foster youth during the school year.
Provides support to struggling students, expedites transfer of educational records, and implements programs to improve academic achievement for foster youth.
Foster Care Education Fact Sheet with information about education rights, special education rights, non-public schools, functional behavioral assessments and behavioral intervention plans, school discipline, and special education discipline.
Learning Enrichment Activities Program (LEAP & LEAP Jr.) providing homework tutoring, kid-oriented enrichment activities, and workshops for kids 5-17 in Placer County.
Providing free homework assistance services, coding classes, ESL classes and STEM Development Workshops (understanding the critical role of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) to families in Placer County.
parent education classes
Web-based educational adoption resources for professionals, parents, adopted individuals and the families who love them. ALP also offers Hague Accredited courses applicable in international adoptions.
Free parenting training for foster parents and interested non-foster parents. Their Independent Living Program (YESS) helps prepare foster youth, 16-21 years of age, for their move into independent adult living.
Quality pre-service/in-service education and support for Resource Families, Foster Families, and Kinship Caregivers either on campus or in the community at no cost to caregivers. All classes are free and open to the public.
Free classes and workshops for foster parents, kinship/relative care providers, and individuals interested in becoming foster parents or in adopting a child in Yolo County.
parenting books
Karyn Purvis, David Cross (2007)
Welcoming adopted children into your family and addressing their special needs requires care, consideration, and compassion. This handbook helps you build bonds of affection and trust with your adopted child, effectively deal with any learning or behavioral disorders, and discipline your child in love without making him or her feel threatened. This book is a must read for adoptive families!
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Deborah Gray (2012)
Attaching in Adoption is a comprehensive guide for prospective and actual adoptive parents on how to understand and care for their adopted child and promote healthy attachment. This book explains what attachment is, how grief and trauma can affect children's emotional development, and how to improve attachment, respect, cooperation and trust.
Bessel van der Kolk, MD (2014)
Trauma is a fact of life. Such experiences inevitably leave traces on minds, emotions, and even on biology. Sadly, trauma sufferers frequently pass on their stress to their partners and children. Renowned trauma expert Bessel van der Kolk transforms our understanding of traumatic stress, revealing how it literally rearranges the brain’s wiring—specifically areas dedicated to pleasure, engagement, control, and trust.
Daniel Siegel, Mary Hartzell (2013)
This book explains how interpersonal relationships directly impact the development of the brain and offer parents a step-by-step approach to forming a deeper understanding of their own life stories, which will help them raise compassionate and resilient children.
Carol Kranowitz, Lucy Jane Miller (2006)
This groundbreaking book explains Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), offers clear, comprehensive information for parents and professionals, and presents a drug-free approach for children--now revised and updated.
Bryan Post, Mark Trotter (2010)
Bryan Post speaks to parents about the challenges they face when dealing with behaviors that are often present for adopted children. He helps parents understand the impact of early life trauma and the impact of interruptions in the attachment process. In his compassion for parents and children he offers hope and solutions for the challenges families face when caring for kids from trauma or with ADD, ADHD, RAD, or ODD.
Sherrie Eldridge (1999)
This extraordinary book, written by a woman who was adopted herself, gives voice to children's unspoken concerns, and shows adoptive parents how to free their kids from feelings of fear, abandonment, and shame.
Mike Berry (2018)
There are plenty of how-to guides out there on parenting, but this one-of-a-kind book is specifically designed to address your needs as a parent of an adopted or foster child with a refreshing dose of honesty, empathy, and care.
Dr. Karyn Purvis, Michael & Amy Monroe (2009)
This study guide illuminates the biblical principles and interventions detailed in Dr. Purvis’ book, The Connected Child. It is designed to help adoptive and foster parents better understand how to build strong and lasting connections with their children, and is ideal for use in small groups as well as by individuals or couples.
Julie Holmquist (2018)
Are you considering or entering the adoption or foster care process? A Call to Love joins you in your journey, offering spirit-filled wisdom and encouragement through the first year with a new child. You will also receive spiritual insights from many adoptive parents, including stories from people who have adopted from the foster-care system.
Nadine Burke Harris (2018)
Childhood adversity changes our biological systems, and lasts a lifetime. For anyone who has faced a difficult childhood, or who cares about the millions of children who do, the fascinating scientific insight and innovative, acclaimed health interventions in The Deepest Well represent vitally important hope for preventing lifelong illness for those we love and for generations to come​.
Pam Parish (2014)
This biblically-centered book helps parents to consider the impact of foster care and adoption on their lives and families, evaluate their motives and expectations for the foster care and adoption experience, and explore foster care and adoption through the lens of scripture. Great for couples or group study.
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Pam Parish (2015)
Parenting is a tough job and parenting a child in crisis leaves parents worn out from exhaustion, frustration and fear. God doesn't leave us, even in the midst of our fears, failures and fatigue. In this powerful second book in the Ready or Not Series, you will be encouraged and challenged as a battle-weary parent.
Russell Moore (2015)
In this popular and practical book, Russell Moore encourages Christians to adopt and to help other Christian families to do the same. He shows that adoption is not just about couples who have struggled to have children. Rather, adoption is part of the Great Commission mandate and as a sign of the gospel itself.
Jennifer Phillips (2017)
This book shares words of encouragement to help adoptive parents navigate the emotional waters of adoption. Regardless of where you are in the process, just beginning or now living with the teenagers you adopted as infants, you will find hope as you begin to see God's adoptive heart toward you.
Sally Donovan (2014)
Award-winning columnist and adoptive parent Sally Donovan offers savvy, compassionate advice on how to be 'good enough' in the face of both day-to-day and more bewildering challenges – how to respond to 'red mist' meltdowns, crippling anxieties about new routines and, most importantly, how to meet the intimidating challenge of being strong enough to protect and nurture your child.
online resources
Continuing the incredible work of Dr. Karyn Purvis, TCU offers resources in Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI). This research-based institute focuses on training professionals and parents who deal with children from "hard places".
Online Resource Library of articles, audio and video presentations covering a wide variety of topics for adoptive and foster parents as well as ministry leaders and professionals.
Provide the training, resources and support necessary to enable parents, educators, and treatment professionals to address the challenges of working with "intense" kids using the Nurtured Heart Approach.
The Christian Alliance for Orphans provides incredible resources for foster and adoptive families and church ministry leaders including articles, blogs, podcasts, webinars, and MORE!
Focus on the Family works collaboratively with state, county, church, and adoption agency leaders to help find families for waiting children and youth in foster care. They also providing best-in-class resources for foster and adoptive families including books and DVD's.
C.A.S.E provides adoption-focused online resources designed to boost caregivers' confidence, enhance parenting skills, and guide adoptive families through any challenge they may face. Resources include workshops, webinars, a pocket guide, books and fact sheets.
Mike and Kristin Berry, adoptive parents of 8 children, offer hope for families in the trenches through their blog, eBooks, podcasts, and more!
connection / Support groups
The Capital Adoptive Families Alliance provides monthly, peer-led support groups where members come together to share coping strategies, feel more empowered, and find a sense of community.
When: 4th Wednesday of each month, 6:30-8:30pm
Where: Sacramento
Contact: support@capadoptfam.org
Click HERE for more info!
FASD-SacValley is a group of parents joining together to support, equip and encourage one another as we seek to parent children on the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum in the Sacramento Valley.
When: 3rd Thursday of each month, 6:30-8:30pm
Where: Woodland (Currently meeting on Zoom)
Contact: tfmnotalone@gmail.com
Click HERE for more info!
Heart to Heart Ministry offers a monthly support group that includes education and training on a variety of topics relevant to post-adoptive families.
When: 2nd Tuesday of each month, 6:30pm
Where: Valley Springs Presbyterian Church, Roseville (Currently meeting on Zoom)
Contact: Joanne Jelle jjelle@icloud.com
Click HERE for more info!