4Kids

En este vídeo, escuche algunos puntos sobre por qué vale la pena realizar la capacitación EPIC.

In this video, EPIC Clinician Tina Mathew explains what ACEs are and how early intervention, trauma-informed care, teaching resilience-building skills, and systemic societal changes can promote positive outcomes for kids with ACEs.

Neste vídeo de dicas EPIC, aprenda sobre os efeitos negativos do trauma no cérebro e no corpo, mas também como você, como pai ou cuidador, pode ajudar uma criança a se tornar mais resiliente.

In this EPIC Tip, Ken Lacy, EPIC Clinician, discusses how trauma can impact the brain and how you can help your child heal and process this trauma.

In this EPIC Tip, Gabriela Aretis, MSW, discusses attachment theory regarding infants. We will discuss three ways you can help your infant develop a secure attachment.

In this EPIC Tip, Kelly Dougherty, Clinical Intern, discusses “The Ideal Response” from Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI). This response allows parents to connect with their child while still correcting their behavior.  

En este video, explicamos que significa cada letra en el acronimo, “IDEAL,” para ayudar a padres y cuidadores entender como corregir a los niños en una manera basada en la conexión. Este acronimo viene de la Intervencion Relational Basada en la Confianza, o TBRI (por sus signas en Ingles).

En este video, analizamos lo beneficioso que es para los padres superar sus traumas pasados ​​para poder criar mejor a sus hijos.

In this EPIC Tip, Josiane Mendonca, MSW, discusses how the un-checked trauma parents have experienced can impact their children.  

En este video, te ofrecemos consejos y ideas para mantenar un matrimonio saludable durante la crianza de tus hijos.

In this EPIC Tip, Maria Silva, M.S., discusses how we can address mental health in the context of the school system and become advocates for our children’s mental health.

In this EPIC Tip, Maria Silva, M.S., discusses long-term, short-term, and immediate self-care while also encouraging mindfulness.

In this EPIC Tip, Joshua Bennett, M.A., Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern, discusses ways to improve and maintain your marriage relationship in any situation, specifically for couples who are foster parents.

In this EPIC Tip, Kimberly Wood, MHC, explains the connecting, empowering, and correcting principles of Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI), and how they can be applied when your child is showing difficult behaviors.

En este video, explicamos una actividad artesanal que puedes hacer con cualquier niño que los ayuda a explicar sus sentimientos con palabras en ves de comportamientos.

Meiby comparte formas en que nosotros como padres podemos identificar las cosas que su hijo está haciendo bien y aumentar seis factores de protección en sus vidas para promover la resiliencia.

In this EPIC Tip, Gabriela Aretis, MSW, discusses how overreacting or ignoring lying doesn’t instill the value of truth telling, but figuring out the need behind the behavior will help you through this lying behavior.

Many children who come from hard places were often “parentified” by their families. Understanding that the child you are caring for has experienced increased emotional, mental, and physical responsibilities for someone their age, can help you grow in encouraging them to embrace their true role as a child.

In this EPIC Tip, Meiby Nodarse, MHC/MFT, explains the importance of using a strengths-based lens and Protective Factors to brighten a child’s future despite difficulties in their past.

In this EPIC Tip, Terri Galindo, LCSW & LMFT, goes through the questions to ask and observations to make when determining if your child is struggling with their mental health.

Turning 18 can bring a wide range of emotions. Listen as Ken Lacey, 4KIDS Transitional Independent Living Director, explains what causes these feelings and how to help in such a pivotal transitional phase for children in foster care as they age out.

In this EPIC Video, Casey Cleveland, Lead Pastor of The Avenue Church and foster/adoptive dad tells the story of his experience fostering and how EPIC practically helped his family.  

In this EPIC Tip Video Pamela Souza, MS, explains that children who have been in hard places oftentimes have a hard time trusting. This is why understanding the needs behind a behavior is important. Listen to some important steps on how to figure out what an action or reaction may mean to a child.

In this EPIC Tip Video, Betsy, LCSW, explains the benefits of enrolling in EPIC Training.

Betsy Godoy-Rosado, LCSW, talks about how to navigate the difficulties that come when a foster or adoptive child loses a biological parent to addiction.

Listen as Meiby Nodarse, MHC/MFT, explains how allowing your child to play freely can help them to express emotions that may be challenging to express otherwise.

Escuche mientras Evelyn comparte que el duelo es una experiencia universal y ofrece consejos sobre cómo afrontarlo después de que un niño en cuidado de crianza se reúna con su familia biológica.

In this EPIC Tip Video, Karen Lyttle, LCSW encourages us that grief is normal when experiences change, and covers a few helpful tips on how to take of yourself during these transitions.

In this EPIC Tip, Betsy, LCSW, helps ease the fear around how to love a foster or adoptive children in the same way as your biological children. The first step is to identify your own adult attachment style, and from there Betsy gives three tips on how to actively show love. Watch to learn more!

In this EPIC Tip Video, Hailey, MA, touches on three practical tips to connect with your teen as they navigate a variety of emotions.

Betsy habla sobra la importancia de conectar con tus hijos antes de corregirlos.

In this EPIC Tip video, Betsy Godoy-Rosado, LCSW, explains the importance of eye contact, tone of voice and asking questions with a child in order to build a connection.

En este video, hablamos sobre la importancia de la gratidud y el agradecimiento, y como podemos ayudar a nuestros niños a practicarlo.

En este video, Ode habla mas sobre como ayudar a niños que tienan dificultades a la hora de comer.

En este video, hablamos sobre la importancia de la salud mental de los infantes. Hoy en dia, esto es un tema en cual padres deben buscar mas educacion y entendimiento.

En este video, Ode habla mas sobre como ayudar a niños que tienan dificultades a la hora de comer.

Meiby Nodarse, MCH/LMHC, discusses the importance of early interventions and monitoring a child’s development through a trauma-informed lens to prevent later mental health problems.

In this EPIC Tip, LMHC, Odelaisys Saco encourages the implementation of family meetings and allowing children to help cook to overcome some food challenges that could be caused by childhood trauma. Watch to learn about some practical examples.

When setting expectations for children who have dealt with trauma, it’s important to remember their past, understand their triggers, and know what they have been through in the last 24 hours. In this video, Maria Silva, LMHC, dives deeper into these helpful tips.

Odelaisys Saco, LMHC, leads us through some practical scenarios on how creating plans together and setting time expectations can help alleviate the negative reactions through transitions.

Listen as Holly, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, explains three principles for navigating discipline, while keeping a strong, loving relationship with the child at the core.

Hear from Amy, 4KIDS Foster Parent, about what items could be helpful to have when a child enters your home, and learn the benefits of meeting a child where they are at in their journey.

Have you ever wondered what trauma is and how we can help our children experience healing from it? Watch as we briefly discuss the types of trauma and why trauma-informed care is essential when working with kids who have experienced difficult situations.

Tom and Linda Lukasik (4KIDS Leadership) share about their most recent experience fostering a teen boy and his younger sister, and another little girl who they used EPIC strategies with to help them parent well.

In order to truly love on children involved in the foster care system, we must also have compassion for their biological parents. Hear as one of our 4KIDS Therapists and the Founder & CEO of Every Mother’s Advocate (EMA) discuss why this is so important.

At 4KIDS, we believe trauma-informed care comes straight from the heart of God. He leads us with nurture and structure at the very same time, and in turn, we as parents and caregivers can learn how to do that too.  

Listen as one of our 4KIDS Therapists, Holly, shares the importance of staying resourceful, relevant, and real when connecting with teenagers.

Learn about self-regulation and practical tools you can use to help kids stay calm and alert both in their bodies and minds.

4KIDS Manager of Clinical Services, Mariana Caro, and special guest Dr. Jennie Trocchio, Ph.D., discuss the connection between self-regulation and relationships.

Though it can be hard to find time for “you,” it’s so important for parents and caregivers to have a practice of self-care, whether that’s long-term, short-term, or an immediate self-care routine in your schedule that recharges you.

Though it can be hard to find time for “you,” it’s so important for parents and caregivers to have a practice of self-care, whether that’s long-term, short-term, or an immediate self-care routine in your schedule that recharges you.

How can you be proactive and prepare to help your foster or adoptive child be set up for success this holiday season? In this EPIC Tip, one of our 4KIDS Therapists discusses ways you can lean into your child’s emotions and have realistic expectations for them surrounding special events.

Thanksgiving may be just around the corner, but the benefits of practicing gratitude year-round are endless! Listen as one of our 4KIDS Therapists, Odelaisys, unpacks this idea a little bit more and offers a few ideas on how to intentionally add gratitude habits into your family’s life.

Many kids journeying through foster care and adoption may find themselves in an interracial family for the first time. As a result, these children and teens need compassionate caregivers who are ready to listen and “lean in” to conversations on race and discrimination with them.

Saying “yes” more to your kids can actually help them respond better to you when you have to say “no.”

Setting limits and teaching your kids how to compromise in relationships is one the best things you can do as a parent or caregiver. Take two minutes to hear some great examples of how to do this!

You are the biggest example for your kids when it comes to celebrating uniqueness. Frame people’s differences in a positive light and surround your family with individuals of diverse backgrounds. Give them opportunities to serve people that reflect a different culture than their own. The goal is to have our kids on a journey that […]

Hear as one of our 4KIDS Therapists, Barbara, shares some timely insights for how parents and caregivers can discuss racial diversity with their children.

Listen as Holly explains a creative way to gauge your child’s emotions and teach them the value of using words to communicate how they feel.

What do you do in the face of a chaotic meltdown from your child? Using Dr. Dan Siegel’s “Hand Model of the Brain,” we can learn about the specific parts of a child’s brain we need to speak to first to help them calm them.

In order to reduce meltdowns, teach your children what to do ahead of time and before their stress levels get too high. Listen as Linda Lukasik, 4KIDS Director of Training & Student Services, shares a practical way to do this using “fire drills.”

Times of uncertainty are stressful. They can be scary, they can be sad, and even overwhelming. Children look to adults to know how to process in these times. When we help kids sit in the uncertainty and acknowledge their feelings in the midst, this helps increase their resiliency.

We may not be able to completely protect our kids from having painful experiences, but we can minimize the negative effects by leaning in and sitting in the pain with them. Creating positive childhood experiences for your child by engaging in play and staying emotionally present will disarm your child’s fear and strengthen connections in […]

We all want our kids to be successful. Academics are part of that, but they are not everything. While challenging our kids to do their best, to push forward, to be successful is so important for their well-being, it cannot come at the cost of relationships, especially in times of stress and uncertainty.

The most precious gift we can give our children is our presence. In the midst of busyness, finding time for connection can seem impossible and oftentimes we end up replacing busyness with connection. But by setting aside even just 5-10 minutes every day, we can grow greater connection with our kids.

When you take care of yourself and find ways to allow your emotional, physical, and spiritual needs to be met, only then can you parent effectively in a high stress situation.