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Learning-at-Home and Parenting Resources
Onward into May! As the COVID-19 public health emergency further impacts home and work, Formed Families Forward continues to offer free training, support and other resources for foster, adoptive and kinship families raising children, youth and young adults with special needs. Every day on Facebook, we post local, regional, state and national resources to support families as they parent through stress, trauma, at-home learning, and new economic, health and housing realities.
As a family-led organization, Formed Families Forward recognizes the value of families helping families. Our gift card drive for foster, adoptive and kinship families continues. Grocery store and Walmart gift cards are delivered to local social services agencies who give them to families in need of basics. Cards can be mailed to FFF, 4031 University Dr., Suite 100, Fairfax, VA 22030 or emailed to info@formedfamiliesforward.org. Please be sure to include your name and email so we can acknowledge the donation!
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We have moved our Stronger Together peer support groups for parents and caregivers to virtual meetings, every Tuesday from 7:15- 8:15 PM through May. Group meetings are facilitated by clinical psychologists and are open to any interested adult parenting a child, teen or young adult. Register HERE and you will be sent log in information before each session.
We know teaching your children and youth at home or otherwise supporting distance learning is really challenging. In addition, families of students with disabilities who receive special education and related services have a lot of questions about how individualized education programs (IEPs) and Section 504 plans can be implemented. We have gathered a few resources HERE.
A few new resources:
As always, we are here to support families and our professional partners who work with families. Contact us anytime at info@FormedFamiliesForward.org or (703) 539-2904.
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More in May: Foster Care and Children's Mental Health Month
While we can't celebrate in person, there is still a lot going on this month.
May is both National Foster Care Month and Mental Health Awareness Month.
May 7 is Children's Mental Health Awareness Day. Watch for our posts on Facebook with information about events and resources for both foster care and mental health.
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Resilience Week Virginia
Formed Families Forward is participating in the first annual Resilience Week Virginia, May 3-9. As part of this statewide event, we are sharing ideas to strengthen personal, family and community resilience. Building resilience can help us bounce back from difficult experiences, like the COVID-19 crisis.
Check out our Facebook posts for daily tips for strengthening our families, schools, communities, and workplaces! |
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Register now for
Falling Into Place: Celebrating Family Resilience Family Fun Day on Oct. 17
Registration is open now!
Families and professionals are invited to join us at the Manassas GMU Science & Tech Campus on Saturday, October 17 from 8:30 AM to 2 PM.
Like last spring, children age 4 and older will participate in structured and supervised outdoor activities at The EDGE. Next door, a full morning of learning and connection is planned for parents, caregivers, and professional partners.
This year, we have a youth and young adult track, including more time with our inspirational keynote presenter, adoptee and resiliency advocate Oleg Lougheed.
Find out more HERE about this day, designed for the entire family.
A BIG thank you to our sponsors, the Va Department of Education Training and Technical Assistance Center (TTAC) at George Mason University, NewFound Families of Virginia, and the VDSS Division of Family Services. |
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Thank you Donors!
In April, FFF delivered a stack of grocery gift cards to Kamonya Omatete, Program Manager, Fairfax Co. Foster Care and Adoption Program.
Thank you to our donors who have offered contributions of gift cards for families in need, as well as monetary donations to Formed Families Forward to support our ongoing work. We very much appreciate our 2020 donors including:
Fairfax City Commission for Women
The Hagen family
Kim Harrell
Kay and Stan Klein
Bobbi Mason
Mary Oborski
Amy Fortney Parks
Cassandra Rosado
Timothy Rosado
Carole Sebenick
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Q & A:
COVID-19 and Teen Social Connection
Q: How can I help my teen cope with social distancing and isolation from his peers due to COVID-19 restrictions?
A: Social distancing requirements and recent school closures have made it difficult for kids to stay connected to their peers. They are missing their friends, school and social events, playing team sports, and for some, rites of passage like prom and graduation ceremonies. It’s understandable that so much change and uncertainty could lead to a mixed bag of emotions for teens to cope with including frustration, anger, sadness and disappointment.
Here are some suggestions for your family during this challenging time:
Empathize. Validate your teen’s feelings and don’t diminish what they are going through. Reassure him/her that you are there for them if they want to talk.
Encourage connection. Allow your teen to stay connected to their friends by phone, text, chat, and social media sites that you approve of. Create an agreement on the amount of screen time allowed that requires occasional breaks from social media.
Stick to a schedule. Create a daily schedule together that works with online learning, and but also includes brain breaks to have time to de-stress. Connecting virtually with their friends several times a day can help reduce feelings of isolation.
Encourage healthy habits. Getting adequate sleep, eating healthy meals and exercising regularly are important ways to help our bodies handle stress. Have family meals together when possible to create opportunities for conversation and connection.
Be Proactive. Encourage your teen to try proactive ways to help manage their feelings, such as breathing exercises, meditation, journaling, drawing, cooking or baking, playing an instrument, starting a new hobby, or doing something charitable for others in need.
Look to the Future. Help your teen shift away from what was lost and identify ways to move on with plans and goals for the future. Remind them that it won’t always be this way and that many amazing experiences and opportunities lie ahead for them in the future.
Monitor Mental Health. If you have concerns about how your teen is coping, contact their primary care doctor or a mental health care provider. If you find they just need someone to talk to (and they are not in crisis), they can also connect with volunteer hotlines like www.crisistextline.org.
Additional Resources:
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Ways to Learn from a Distance...
Many of our own and others' events and learning opportunities have moved to virtual formats.
FFF Director and special educator Kelly Henderson recorded two short videos for families who are now taking on teaching responsibilities at home.
Watch Getting Ready to Help your Child Learn at Home HERE.
Watch Hints for Helping Your Child Learn at Home HERE.
FFF webinar now available- Discovering Financial Resources to Support Children and Youth with Special Needs in Foster, Adoptive, and Kinship Families webinar
May 5 and 7- Trauma Informed Parenting Strategies Part 1 and 2, webinars hosted by NewFound Families of Virginia, presented by NACAC, virtual.
May 6 and 20- NAMI Peer Support Group for Parents of Children under Age 18 with mental health conditions, virtual.
May 7 and 8- Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Building Resilent Communities training hosted by Alexandria RAISE, virtual.
May 8- PEATC's 6th annual Advocacy Symposium. Now VIRTUAL. PEATC is offering many workshops and events VIRTUALLY, see list HERE.
May 16- Family and Youth Leadership Summit, hosted by Virginia Family Network at NAMI of Virginia. Now VIRTUAL. FFF will be there!
June 10-12 and July 10-12- Camp Together Forever, summer foster, adoptive, kinship family camps. Hosted by NewFound Families and DuPaul Community Resources.
AVAILABLE NOW- Free 30 day access to Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) 101 and TBRI and Trauma-Informed Classroom courses, from the Karyn Purvis Institute at TCU.
AVAILABLE NOW- Free access to Center for Adoption Support and Education (CASE) on-demand webinars. Choose webinars HERE.
We will continue to update trainings and events hosted by FFF and by our friends and partners on our website calendar. Just click on the EVENTS tab.
We post daily on Facebook. Follow and Like Us!
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Formed Families Forward provides training and support to northern Virginia families formed through adoption, foster care and kinship care who are raising children and youth with special needs. We also serve professionals who work with our families. Consultations and most trainings are free of charge to parents and caregivers raising children and youth with special needs.
Moving Formed Families to Better Outcomes
Reach us at www.FormedFamiliesForward.org, info@formedfamiliesforward.org or call (703) 539-2904.
Kelly Henderson, Ph.D., Executive Director
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This project is supported in part by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). Opinions expressed herein are those of the project and do not necessarily represent the position of the U.S. Department of Education. |
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