Foster-Adoptive Parents Tool Talk® Archives

A service division of Relationship Toolshop International Training Institute, LLC

Foster-Adoptive Parents Tool Talk® FREE Monthly Webinars

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Join the FREE Foster-Adoptive Parents Membership Group
to get announcements and reminders of upcoming webinars + lots of free gifts!
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Attending is as easy as 1-2-3:

1. Sign up for the course below. (Set a password if your first time.)

2. Inside the course, click the link to register on Zoom for the live call. Zoom will send you the join link.

3. Attend the live webinar or watch the recording in the course later; both offer certificates.

For STAFF who recruit, train, and support Foster-Adoptive Parents

To Adopt or Not to Adopt? Practical Strategies for Supporting Prospective Adoptive Parents as they Make the Decision

LIMITED NUMBER OF PRE-PAID CEU PASSES

Professionals working with pre-adoptive and/or adoptive families are in the unique position to facilitate their ability to navigate this complex choice. But how can you best support them?

In this one-hour webinar, we will introduce you to theoretical and research-driven strategies for doing so based on our published theoretical framework and mixed-method study with prospective adoptive parents.

We will explore ways to encourage family communication, satisfaction, cohesion, and flexibility as underlying mechanisms supporting decision-making. In addition, we will discuss several themes that emerged from our in-depth interviews with 35 prospective adoptive parents and articulate practical guidance for applying these findings to your work.

The first 60 people to register can attend FREE of charge! Use code "FREE2ADOPT" (without the quotes) in the coupon field of the checkout page.

Check out the Archives

Foster-Adoptive Parents Tool Talk®

Free

How to Cultivate Curiosity: the Spark that Ignites Intrinsic Motivation

Learn to support children’s natural drive to learn. Discover how intrinsic motivation develops, why external rewards can sometimes do more harm than good, and how to shift from reward-based systems to fostering true self-motivation. This session will provide easy-to-apply tools to help children build confidence, independence, and a genuine love of learning—while reducing power struggles and discouragement.

Free

From Failure to Feedback: How Choosing Yourself First Helps You Tame Your Inner Crticic, Own Your Voice, and Lead with Confidence (Without Guilt)

When life feels overwhelming, it’s easy to lose sight of your needs and hit burnout. In this empowering webinar, Women’s Empowerment Coach Andrea Amador, CEC—M.N.L.P., shares practical tools to help parents and caregivers turn self-doubt into self-trust, set loving boundaries, and choose themselves first without guilt—through self-love, mindfulness, and simple grounding practices.

Free

Reduce your Family’s Stress by Developing a Resilient Nervous System

Today's fast-paced world creates chronic stress that can negatively impact our relationships with our children and their development. This webinar introduces polyvagal theory and simple strategies to retrain your brain, regulate your nervous system, and stay calm during tough moments. You'll build your resilience and model healthy co-regulation for your children, being your best self, even in challenging situations.

Free

Raising Independent Children in an Age of Digital Dependence

In today’s digital age, parents are raising children in uncharted territory — where technology reshapes independence and development. This course explores how screen time and modern parenting trends impact resilience, maturity, and growth. Gain evidence-based insights, tools, and strategies to raise confident, well-adjusted children despite digital challenges.

Free

Words That Help: Growing Resilience and Connection through Developmental Affirmations

Parenting is a journey of strength, love, and growth. In this interactive webinar, discover how simple, research-based affirmations can support healing, build resilience, and deepen connection for both you and your child. You’ll leave with practical tools and powerful words you can use every day to encourage hope, confidence, and stronger relationships.

Free

"I Can’t Believe I Just Said/Did That!" Breaking the Cycle: How Our Upbringing Shapes Stress, Anger, and Parenting Reactions

Today, parents face more stress than ever but might not have learned healthy coping skills from their own parents. Doing the opposite can also be unhealthy. Break the cycle for the next generation by learning how childhood created subconscious patterns and trigger buttons and get tools to reduce stress, deprogram triggers, stay calm and communicate effectively.

Free

Child Sexual Abuse: Prevention is Possible, with Lindsey Burkhardt

Preventing Child Sexual Abuse (CSA), with Lindsay Burkhardt of Families Flourish of N. Dakota. She will tell you what you can do to prevent CSA, risk factors, red flags to look for, and what to do if you suspect CSA. EVERY parents, grandparent, and family service professional will benefit from attending this FREE webinar!

Free

The Dangers of Behavior Management Programs: What Today's Researchers are Arguing About

Millions of parents use "behavior management" tactics with children and the #1 treatment for autistic children is ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis). These tactics are considered "evidence-based" but 60 years of research show they are ineffective and counter-productive, and today’s researchers argue that it's harmful! Attend this webinar for details and better tools to reach your positive parenting goals.

Free

The Top Ten Myths About Trauma --- and Truths EVERY Parent & Professional Needs to Know

Trauma affects children in ways that many adults, both parents and professionals, don’t recognize as trauma, so they react to them in ways that aren’t working and may be making matters worse. This webinar reveals the Top Ten Truths about Trauma and offers tips EVERY ADULT NEEDS TO KNOW to reverse the effects before the trauma has lifelong consequences.

$9.97

Competing In The System: Fostering Athletics

Children in foster care often face many obstacles, including the opportunity to participate in sports. Unfortunately, many children in foster care are unable to participate due to systemic constraints and other barriers. Participating in sports can provide numerous benefits for children, including improved physical health, greater socialization skills, and an increased sense of belonging.

Free

The Connection Between Trauma And Children’s Mental Health, with David Zidar LISW-S

Children in foster care have a vastly higher rate of trauma than their non-foster peers. All adults in these children’s lives must have an understanding of the role trauma plays in their behavior and achievement of developmental milestones. Each child will manifest their trauma differently. Participants will learn ways to help improve functioning and how to work with the mental health system.

Free

Trauma-Informed Discipline: Why Typical Tactics Don’t Work Long-term and Can HARM Children & Tools for Fostering Self-Discipline

Understand the role trauma plays in problematic behavior and why "old school" punishment not only doesn't work but can cause trauma triggers and make matters worse. Learn why you want to avoid these and use the 5 best trauma-informed discipline tools that build trust and resolve the core issues causing problematic behavior.

$9.97

Effects of Trauma on Children's Development & Behavior

Chronic or toxic stress effects children’s brains and bodies similarly to trauma. There are 3 types of traumas that fall on a spectrum from nothing apparent happening to what everyone recognizes as abuse. Your child could be showing signs of trauma you aren't recognizing! Attend this webinar to learn more about trauma, how it affects children, and the symptoms to look for in children at different developmental stages

Free

Social Media’s Effects on Parents and Children’s Mental Health

Parents and children are having far more mental health issues than in the past. What role might social media be playing in that? This webinar explains the biological process of how social media and emotional addictions can affect mental health. Learn how can families reap the benefits and reduce the risks.

$9.97

Why Kids Lie & How to Encourage Truthfulness (Foster-Adoptive Parents Tool Talk® Webinar Series)

This webinar reveals surprising facts about: What really qualifies as a lie? When do children understand they are lying? Why do children lie? How can parents prevent lying? How parents might accidentally model lying without even realizing it, and “Truth or Consequences,” practical tools for responding to lies in ways that encourage permanent truthfulness.

Free

De-escalating Freak Outs and Meltdowns: What To Do When Your Child Loses Self-Control...

Sometimes, your parenting goal is to just get your child to stop screaming and throwing things. Attend this webinar to better understand causes and types of out-of-control behaviors and ways to maintain your own self-control. You will also get a formula for responding appropriately and effectively to extreme behaviors.

Free

Independent Living Issues for Caregivers (Foster-Adoptive Parents Tool Talk® Series)

Adolescents aging out of the foster care system have greater needs and fewer skills than most teens. This webinar shows caregivers how to provide quality support to independent living young adults before, during, and after they leave to live on their own by reflecting on their own journey and growing their relationship during this transition to adulthood.

$9.97

Youth Curiosity and Firesetting (Parents Tool Talk® webinar series)

Millions of dollars each year are lost and lives are changed forever as a result of youth who have firesetting behaviors. With proper interventions, many of these youths will grow up to be productive citizens. Learn how to spot troubling behaviors as well as a few safety tips to make your home safe and sound.

$9.97

Seeing Signs of Trauma & Knowing How to Respond

When children with a trauma history display problematic behavior, how do you know if it’s “normal,” due to developmental issues, or related to their trauma? Do you know how to recognize trauma reactions from typical tantrums? Or the different kind of adaptive behaviors trauma survivors might display? This webinar reveals the red-flag warning signs of trauma, their purpose, and effective trauma-informed responses.

$9.97

Sexual Behavior in Children & Teens — When to Really Worry

When you see sexual behavior in your children and teens, how do you know if it means the child has been sexually abused? Can you easily recognize common and uncommon behaviors? Do you feel confident talking to your children about problematic sexual behavior? This webinar will reveal key sexual behaviors that could be red flags and cause for concern, with scripts you can use to talk with your children.

$9.97

Birds & Bees Talks – When, What & How! (Parents Tool Talk® Webinar)

The birds and the bees can be tough to talk about but with a little information, some careful thought and planning it’s possible to have comfortable and effective conversations that help your kids make good decisions.

$9.97

“What We Do Matters!” Decreasing the Potential Impact of Prenatal Substance Exposure Through the Power of Nurture

This webinar focuses on the power of nurture, combined with proactive interventions, empowering resource parents to identify the skills, knowledge and resources that will support their ability to optimize outcomes for at-risk children who experience prenatal substance exposure.

$9.97

Taming Trauma-Related Temper Tantrums (Foster-Adoptive Parents Tool Talk® webinar series)

There are 4 types of "typical" tantrums and then there are trauma-related tantrums, which have unique characteristics and must be handled in specific ways. This webinar will briefly review the four typical tantrums, then spend focused time on trauma tantrums. Come learn more about what causes them, what triggers them, and how to respond in a trauma-informed way.

$9.97

Working Through Your Grief When Foster Children are Reunified (Foster-Adoptive Parents Tool Talk® Series)

When foster children must return home, it can be very difficult grief to work through. This webinar explores the roller coaster feelings foster parents may have throughout their journey, which may be pitted with potholes and yet still fulfilling and rewarding.

$9.97

Advocating In The Schools: Helping Children Who Have Experienced Trauma (Foster Parents Tool Talk® Series)

Learn how to an advocate for your child with school personnel so they understand the impact that trauma on a child’s ability to learn. Create an action plan to communicate with schools in order to set your child up for success.

$9.97

What about the Children? Supporting Foster-Adoptive Children Through Their Grief

As a foster-adoptive parent, it’s important to know how to support children in foster care around releasing their false ideas, which fuel their grief, and empowering them with positive and effective ways of dealing with their losses.

$9.97

PTSD and Interventions for Children Who Suffered Trauma with David Zidar LISW-S

Children in foster care have a vastly higher rate of trauma than their non-foster peers. All adults in these children’s lives must have an understanding of the role trauma plays in their behavior and achievement of developmental milestones. Each child will manifest their trauma differently. Participants will learn ways to help improve functioning and how to work with the mental health system.

Free

Trauma-Informed Parenting 101: What EVERY Parent of EVERY Child Needs to Know

Children who have been abused or neglected aren't the only ones with trauma. Since the body experiences chronic stress as a trauma, children experiencing prolonged periods of illness, isolation, and bullying or events like natural disasters, death, and other “adverse childhood experiences” may show signs of trauma. So, EVERY parent needs to be trauma-informed, to recognize signs and respond in trauma-informed ways.

$9.97

Dealing with Racism Directed at Foster-Adopted Children (Foster-Adoptive Parents Tool Talk® webinar)

Racist thinking and behavior may be directed at foster children who are a different race than others in your family or community. This webinar discusses the relationship between fear and racism, others' and your foster child's, ways to provide reassurance and support, and a list of do’s and don’ts for confronting racist thinking and behavior, to reduce it’s frequency and negative impact on your child.

$9.97

RAIN technique for Processing Emotions with Yuji (Parents Tool Talk®)

RAIN Technique is a powerful and easy-to-practice tool that helps you process challenging emotions and build a close relationship with your inner self. You can teach and role model it to your children and help them to improve their strengths for processing/managing difficult emotions.

$9.97

What Parents NEED to Know NOW About Self-Injury with David Zidar, LISW (Parents Tool Talk® webinar series)

Mutilating, cutting, burning and other forms of self-injurious behavior by youth are often seen by professionals and others as suicide-related behaviors. This webinar explains how such behaviors are often the result of past trauma or abuse. Learn the causes and scope of these behaviors and how to respond helpfully. When you attend this webinar, you will:1. Examine some of the statistics related to both suicid...

$9.97

Navigating Healthy Touch for Caregivers and Children with Adverse Experiences

Security through bonding and attachment is the first foundational developmental task upon which all other human development builds on. As social beings, humans need nurturing touch throughout the lifespan, for healthy psychological, social, emotional development and healthy interpersonal relationships. Parenting children with histories of trauma can be tricky for many reasons, especially when it comes to navigat...

$9.97

Foster-Adoptive Parents Tool Talk® webinars: Trauma-Related Bedtime Issues

In addition to the common sleep issues any child can have, children who have experienced trauma often have trauma-related issues, like night terrors, insomnia, and trauma triggers. This webinar builds on the universal trainings Parents Toolshop® offers on "Halting Bedtime Hassles," to address sleep issues that are specifically related to trauma. This webinar explains:How trauma affects the body and sleep cycles...

$9.97

Transitioning Children from Foster Care to Adoption

Register to attend the LIVE webinar on Tuesday, June 22nd, from 12 noon to 1 p.m. EDT. OR to access the recording/course for credit. It’s important for foster and adoptive families and professionals who are part of the foster care system to better understand how effective placement moves and transitions can positively impact a child and family’s future success. Because children in foster care are often faced wit...

$9.97

Foster-Adoptive Parents Tool Talk® webinars: Complex Food Issues Foster-Adoptive Children Can Have

Picky eaters can be found anywhere, of any age. There are practical, fun things you can do --- that are amazingly simply --- to encourage healthy eating and prevent or stop common food issues most parents face, like picky eaters, playing with food instead of eating it, not sitting still at the table, and slow eaters. In addition, foster-adoptive children can have more complex food issues due to neglect and trauma...

$5

Problem Solving as an Effective Discipline (Parents Tool Talk® Webinar Series)

REGISTER to ATTEND THIS WEBINAR LIVE on Weds. April 21st from 12 noon to 1 p.m. Eastern Daylight Savings Time. If the goal of effective discipline is to help children and youth to become self-directing, then parents and caregivers have to teach kids to THINK! This seminar presents the participants with strategies, through multiple examples and skills practice, which will prove to be immediately useful for discip...

Free

Why is it so Important to Help Your Foster and Adopted Children Feel Safe?

Children in custody come into care with a repertoire of maladaptive behaviors. Often they behave in a manner that was adaptive in their birth family but is maladaptive in your family. It looks like bad behavior. If you misinterpret this as the bad behavior it appears to be at 1st blush, and respond with punishment the cost will be damage to the goal of developing a healthy attachment: the child’s greatest need...

$9.97

Helping Foster Children Transition Smoothly After Visitation (Foster-Adoptive Parents Tool Talk® Webinar Series)

Are bio parent visits re-traumatizing your foster child? Do they grieve their loss every time? Do they get anxious before the visit or have meltdowns and act out after visits, or take a few days (or more) to re-adjust, all in time to visit again! While every bio parent rightfully has the right to visit their children, it can be upsetting for all involved. In this 1-hour course, you will learn some helpful tips t...

Free

Fostering Resilience in You and Your Children (Parents Tool Talk® Webinar Series)

Resilience used to be a word only associated with trauma, but prolonged adversity or toxic stress can get programmed into the body like a trauma. This edu-taining webinar takes the 6 biggest stressors almost everyone has experienced in 2020, looks at the effects such stressors are causing, then reveals the 7 C's of Resilience, and how to foster these in yourself and your children in these 6 key stress areas. (Fr...

$9.97

Parenting Children with RAD: Reactive Attachment Disorder (Foster-Adoptive Parents Tool Talk® Webinar Series)

Attachment is the first and most important developmental stage, because it’s the foundation for all other development. So when children have disorganized attachment, are unable to bond, or experience trauma at a young age (especially physical or emotional neglect), they can develop a condition called Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD). Children with RAD often seem to be withdrawn, lack empathy, and experience and...

$9.97

Teaching Children Anger & Stress Management - 1 hour training course with certificate

Given the stress of everyday life these days, parents and children are more stressed than ever. It’s important for children to know how to handle stress and express their anger in constructive ways. So how do you teach these skills to children? Although valued at over $97 + bonuses, these teachings are so important for all parents to know, we are practically giving it away for only...

Free

Social Media's Impact on Foster-Adoptive Children (Foster-Adoptive Parents Tool Talk® Webinar Series)

In this webinar, you will discover... What to do if your foster or adoptive child went online seeking their birth parents and family members --- or how to prevent this. Why children with a trauma history have an increased risk of future violations, such as cyber-bullying and child trafficking, and how to keep them safe. Featuring an interview with Tina Fiegel, MS, Ed.

$5

Family Councils: Parents Tool Talk® webinar series

Featuring Jody Johnston Pawel, LSW, CFLE Family councils are important for ALL families, especially when bringing new foster children into your family. In this webinar, you'll discover how to help each person feel like an important, contributing member of the family team, enrich family relationships, and help you make decisions and resolve conflicts in ways that meet everyone’s needs.

$9.97

Fostering Emotional Development in Children with a Trauma History (Foster-Adoptive Parents Tool Talk® Webinar Series)

Trauma can cause children to shut down emotionally, or become emotionally numb, which can lead to long-term problems, like using drugs and alcohol to numb emotional pain, depression, self-harming, and even mental health issues. Once children learn how to work through their emotions, they can heal from trauma and become more resilient. Join Heather McCall, CFLE, to learn more about how trauma impacts emotional dev...

Foster Parent Virtual Summit

Free

Creating the Family Experience

This workshop discusses how to build strong family foundations by focusing on identifying values, communication, and having intentional conversations to enhance the family unit. Participants receive the Creating the Family Manual e-book for guided application.

Free

Understanding Transracial Adoption

We will explore the various types of adoption and what it means to adopt transracially (also interchangeably referred to as transcultural adoption). We will discuss considerations such as: transracial adoption preparationunderstanding beliefs and attiudes around race, ethnicity, and culture in our societyextended family, community, social circle, and lifestyle nurturing a healthy identity for your child and famil...

Free

Three Easy Things You Can Do to Support a Sexual Abuse Survivor

Do you have a child who is emotionally distressed and “triggered” frequently from past sexual trauma? This unique presentation, taught by a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, will give you some “insider’s” insight into the world of the trauma survivor and offer three simple suggestions for how you can support healing and recovery in the children you love.

Free

The Special Dynamics, Needs & Issues of Kinship Caregivers

Whenever a child enters the child welfare system, an effort is made to find kinship family members who can care for the child and prevent that child from entering the foster care system. While children in kinship care will also have a trauma history like other children in care, kinship caregivers' need the same training around trauma-informed care, and also training and support around the special and unique issue...

Free

Preparing Foster Teens for Adult Success - Panel Presentation by Peer Mentors

We will introduce our peer mentors program as well as Ohio Reach resources for foster parents who have older kids. After the short presentation, there will be a live panel made up of former foster youth talking about ways a foster parent can make a young person feel more welcome and set up for success when they enter their home.

Free

Helping Foster Children with Their Feelings Before and After Visits

Having a full toolkit of skills to manage behavior and comfort and support kids during the “feelings overload” that can occur at the time of visitation is an important part of being a confident foster parent with a (mostly) relaxed and happy kid. Visits trigger all sorts of memories and reactions, and foster parents need the emotional bandwidth to help kids to identify emotions, express them, soothe themselves an...

Free

Secondary Trauma, Self-Care and Building Resilience

Children in foster care have experienced trauma. As caregivers, you may have experienced personal traumas. You may experience secondary trauma from hearing of the traumas the youth have experienced or from dealing with their resulting behaviors and reactions. Attend this webinar to learn more about: “What is secondary trauma?” How do you know if you might have experienced it? What you can choose to do to prevent...

Free

Super Simple Stress Relief for Kids Using (and Teaching) EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique)

What do you do when your child is too young to talk about their stress, anxiety and fears? How can you teach them self-regulation and self-calming skills if they are too young to understand or too stressed to learn? In this webinar, Tijana Coso, BA, MA, Certified EFT trainer will teach you how to use EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), a super-simple tapping system, with children and how to teach it to children.

Free

Why is it so Important to Help Your Foster and Adopted Children Feel Safe?

Children in custody come into care with a repertoire of maladaptive behaviors. Often they behave in a manner that was adaptive in their birth family but is maladaptive in your family. It looks like bad behavior. If you misinterpret this as the bad behavior it appears to be at 1st blush, and respond with punishment the cost will be damage to the goal of developing a healthy attachment: the child’s greatest need...

Free

Why Do They Do That? Understanding the Connection Between Trauma and Addictive Behavior in Children and Adults

Drug addiction is sending more children into the foster care system. In Ohio, about half of all children who enter foster care have drug addicted parents. Being in foster care is a predictive factor for addiction. In this session we will look at the link between trauma and addiction, and discuss therapeutic responses that promote resilience rather than re-traumatization.

Free

Creating 'Lifebook' Memories

Creating memories are essential to the lives of our youth. In this training session you will gain helpful pointers on creating a Lifebook for your youth from the perspective of a former foster youth.

Free

What You Should Know About Trauma and Children

Featuring Robert Rhoton Psy D., LPC, D.A.A.E.T.S., CEO of Arizona Trauma Institute, LLC Trauma is an emotional response to an intense activation of the child’s nervous system, this can happen from an event, more commonly from environments of Toxic Stress and repeated adversity. The harm can be physical or emotional, real or perceived. Unfortunately the largest contributor to trauma, toxic stress and adversity is...

Free

Development or Trauma? How to Know the Difference and Identify The Triggers That Started It

Trauma can affect a child's behavior in many ways. It can be confusing at times to know what’s causing behavior like acting out or throwing a tantrum. After attending this session, you’ll understand:what trauma is, how it affects the bodies and minds of children, how to identify the triggers that start unexpected behavior. You’ll also get helpful information on identifying the difference between behavioral acts a...

Free

4 Core Practices of Trauma-Informed Parenting

Children with a trauma history experience the world uniquely, because of the ways trauma wires their brain and body. So their caregivers need to look at, interpret and respond to children’s behavior through a trauma-informed lens. There are 4 core research-based practices all parents need to know and use that are essential when parenting children with a trauma history. Attend this session to: Understand how child...

Free

The Journey of a Trauma-Informed Foster Parent

Becoming a foster parent can be the most rewarding and challenging experience as we navigate new behaviors from each child in our care. Developing a trauma-informed lens is vital on this journey to meet the needs of children from hard places. Participants will take a look at relational trauma, how it affects the brain, and review resources that dive deeper into trauma-informed care.

Free

Preparing for Crisis Conversations with Teens

Are you ready for one of THOSE conversations? Suicidal thoughts, cutting, self-harm in other forms. No matter how long you have parented, these conversations can take the wind out of your sails. Plan in advance so you have the internal and external resources to be a support to your teen without being swamped yourself.

Free

Legal Rights & Responsibilities of Foster Parents

As a Foster Parent, knowing your legal responsibilities and complying with the law is required. Just as important is understanding your legal rights. Knowing the difference between what you have to do, and what you are allowed to do is invaluable information as you navigate the child welfare system. In this webinar, guest expert, Attorney Peggy Replogle, presents the practical, easy-to-understand basics of lega...