Download or print a pdf of this entire issue
Nov. 2017 issue (vol. 22, no. 1)
Read moreSeries: November 2017 • Vol. 22, No. 1
Promoting the resilience of young people in foster care
Two brothers, close in age, had the same difficult childhood. They experienced physical and sexual abuse and lived in violent neighborhoods. Both their parents struggled with alcohol and spent time in jail. Today, one brother is a thriving businessman who is happily married, a good father, and a valued member of his community. The other is chronically unemployed and fighting
Read moreResilience: Key concepts
One way to understand the development of resilience is to visualize a balance scale or seesaw (see figure below). Protective experiences and coping skills on one side counterbalance significant adversity on the other. Resilience is evident when a child’s health and development tips toward positive outcomes—even when a heavy load of factors is stacked on the negative outcome side. 1.
Read moreBeing a strong parent, even when you’re stressed
Caring for a child who needs you can be one of the best experiences in the world—but it can also be stressful for you and your family. To support foster and adoptive parents and kinship caregivers, the Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP) developed “Taking Care of Yourself,” a tool to help them: Reflect on their experience as
Read moreResilience is something everyone can build
by Jeanne Preisler • Resilience is not something you have or don’t have. Resilience is something everyone can build. The more tools you have, the more resilient you can become. Here is an approach that has helped me that I believe will be helpful to you and, through you, to others in your life—including young people in foster care. Resourcing
Read moreRaising resilient, compassionate childrenInsights from the work of Dr. Brené Brown
by Angie Stephenson • How can I help my child become his best possible self? Every parent asks this in some form or fashion, and I am no exception. In recent years my interest in this question has led me to the work of Brené Brown. Her ideas have been so helpful to me that I would like to share
Read moreResilient parenting involves seeing the needs behind challenging behaviors
by Bob DeMarco • Webster’s defines resilience as the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties. Resilience is toughness, inner strength. Without it, we wither when hard things happen to us. Our Kids Are Resilient! All children in foster care or who have been adopted have endured the trauma of being separated from their biological families. Many have endured even more
Read morePromoting positive self-talk and body image in girls
by Jennifer Hull-Rogers • The more man meditates upon good thoughts, the better will be his world and the world around him. — Confucius When he said this, whether Confucius knew it or not, he was speaking about self-talk. Self-talk is the inner monologue we hold with ourselves throughout the day. The “mood” of this internal conversation affects how we
Read moreDefining yourself in a society that tries to decide for you
by Megan Holmes • In today’s society, everyone is promoting self-love. The message is that you should embrace yourself and walk confidently in your skin, no matter what others think or say. However, that is far easier said than done. Why? Because what people do is different from what they say. Just consider social media. It has grown to be
Read morePrevent Child Abuse NC to screen “Resilience: The Biology of Stress and the Science of Hope”
by Sharon Hirsch • Prevent Child Abuse North Carolina is catalyzing conversations across the state by screening the documentary “Resilience: The Biology of Stress and the Science of Hope” (2015, KPJR Films). A showing of this one-hour film will be held Monday, November 20, 2017 at noon at the UNC School of Social Work in Chapel Hill. This event, which
Read more