Stable Moments Podcast

Welcome to Stable Moments! In today's video, we're diving into essential life skills for young adults transitioning out of foster care. Our mentorship sessions are designed with trauma-informed, color-coded activities, but we understand the unique needs of youth preparing to enter adulthood.

🌟 What You'll Learn:

Tailored Activities: Discover age-appropriate life skill activities specifically for youth aging out of foster care.

Developing Strengths & Interests: Learn how to help kids identify their unique talents and passions. Career Development: Explore strategies for preparing for job interviews, resume building, and workplace etiquette.

Financial Literacy: Understand the basics of budgeting, saving, and managing money effectively. Whether you're a mentor, caregiver, or advocate, this video is packed with practical tips and insights to support young adults on their journey to independence.

🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated with more valuable content from Stable Moments! Share your thoughts in the comments below—what life skills do you think are most important for youth transitioning into adulthood? #LifeSkills #FosterCare #Mentorship #StableMoments #FinancialLiteracy #CareerDevelopment #YouthEmpowerment

Explore the complex reasons behind why children with developmental trauma steal and learn effective strategies to address and support their needs. Check out our trauma-informed mentorship model at www.stablemoments.com

In this episode, I'll be delving into the concepts of Big T and little t trauma in the realm of trauma, especially as they pertain to our work with kids in foster care. Join me as we explore how understanding these distinctions can better equip us as mentors to support these children. We'll start by examining the origins of the Big T and little t terminology and how it has evolved over time. Through personal anecdotes and insights, I'll share how these labels may not accurately capture the full impact of trauma on individuals' lives. As mentors, it's crucial for us to recognize that trauma comes in various forms and sizes, and each child's experience is unique. By understanding the nuances of Big Ts and little ts, we can better empathize with the children we serve and provide more meaningful support. Throughout the episode, I'll share practical tips and strategies for mentors on how to show up for kids who have experienced both Big Ts and little ts. From creating safe spaces for self-expression to validating their experiences, we'll explore actionable ways mentors can make a positive difference in these children's lives. Join me as we navigate this important topic and learn how we can play a vital role in helping children in foster care heal from their past traumas and thrive in the present.

In this episode we dive into Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) and their profound impact on human development.

Join as we explore how ACES shape both physical and mental health outcomes throughout an individual's life, particularly in the context of foster care and adoption.

In this episode, we uncover the significance of trauma-informed approaches in addressing complex trauma experienced by children in foster care and adoption systems. We highlight the importance of understanding ACES and the lasting effects they can have on individuals, while also shedding light on how Positive Childhood Experiences (PCES) can serve as a powerful counterforce.

We showcase the pivotal role of mentorship in helping children navigate the challenges posed by ACES and fostering resilience. Don't miss out on this insightful conversation! Hit that play button, like, share, and subscribe to stay tuned for more empowering discussions on foster care, adoption, and building resilience against adversity.

Take your ACES and Resilience test: https://cls.unc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/3019/2016/08/From-ACESTOOHIGH-ACES-and-Resilience-questions.pdf

Find a local PACES Connection: https://www.pacesconnection.com/pages/geographic-communities

In this episode, we dive into the therapeutic power of mentorship for children with complex trauma. Explore 4 transformative ways mentors can heal trauma by showing up, demonstrating genuine interest, navigating relationships, and being positive role models. Discover the magic of mentorship in fostering resilience and healing for kids in need. 🌟 #ChildMentorship #TraumaHealing #MentorshipMagic 🔗 Don't miss our free webinar at stablemoments.com for more valuable insights. 👩‍💼 As a social worker, I realized the need for more than psychoeducation. Trauma-informed family therapy is fantastic, but some kids are therapied out. Stable Moments provides the active engagement and life skill development they need while healing trauma in essential ways.

🌈 Explore 4 Ways Mentorship is Therapeutic:

1️⃣ Showing Up: Rebuilding trust and integrity by consistently being there for a child who has experienced inconsistency.

2️⃣ Showing Interest: Fostering self-worth and building strengths by exploring a child's interests with curiosity and positivity.

3️⃣ Navigating a Relationship: Overcoming the challenges of relationships, mentors demonstrate enriching, genuine connections.

4️⃣ Being a Role Model: Providing a positive example of a caring, responsible human, shaping a child's aspirations and possibilities.

🌐 Learn more about our model at www.stablemoments.com. Join us in making a difference through mentorship! 🤝 #StableMoments #ChildDevelopment"

In this episode we explore why children with complex trauma lie, and the Fact or Fiction activity we can use to support children who lie as a coping mechanism.

In this episode, Joan Ulsher shares how her traumatic childhood led her to be a child advocate and shares her new book Misplaced Childhood empowering others to become child advocates. After foster care, Joan is returned home and subjected to more abuse. How can she be saved?

Misplaced Childhood chronicles one woman’s powerful journey to overcome a tragic past and use her “lived experiences” to inspire others. Wounded by poverty, child abuse, and foster care, Joan Ulsher discovers a purpose-filled life through military service and faith in God. This transformational journey of survival and triumph ultimately leads Joan to become a fierce volunteer advocate for children in foster care, despite not having a dedicated advocate as a child herself.

Misplaced Childhood introduces readers to the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) model, where Joan continues exploring childhood memories while highlighting her exceptional advocacy journey shaped by the children whose lives are impacted along the way. With its candid look at child welfare and advocacy alongside a personal narrative of healing, Misplaced Childhood opens up new levels of compassion for children suffering from abuse and neglect. Impeccably researched and told with great transparency, empathy, and vulnerability, Misplaced Childhood will inspire readers to embrace the vulnerable inner child in us all and take action for America’s forgotten children.

Check Joan out at www.joanulsher.com

Many parents, mentors, and program directors feel the need to fix the foster kids we serve. It’s natural, but we don’t fix here, so I’m going to dive into what we do do, and how we can support everyone while just being in the thick of it.

On this week's episode we dive into some sticky situations submitted by Stable Moments locations. Many people ask "how does the approach look in action?" Here are some practical trauma-informed responses listeners can use when they are faced with sticky situations.

Up to 70% of children in #fostercare have #fetalalcoholspetrumdisorder, which is a condition caused by exposure to alcohol in the womb and can lead to physical, behavioral, and cognitive impairments. FASD is often underdiagnosed and many children with #FASD may be classified under other diagnoses such as #ADHD or developmental delay. On this month's Episode Laura Hernandez informs us of the impact FASD and how we can be supporting to children experiencing #FASD. Laura is the founder of www.mamasystems.net. "It took me years to develop systems, and life hacks to keep our family running and organized. By developing these systems, it helped our family run smoothly, it reduced my daily workload, and my house became a place of peace... yes, even with ten kids! I want to help other Mamas do the same." Laura Hernandez Follow her on Instagram @fasdmama