Library Assets

Take a moment to think of the representations you’ve seen of children who were adopted or in foster care throughout your lifetime. Television, movies, news stories, and social media have often portrayed these youth using stereotypes. Children who are part of “the system” are usually shown in one of two ways. They are often depicted […]

“We need to talk.” Do those four words strike fear in your heart? They are usually the signal that a difficult conversation is on its way. Most of us are just not good at discussing potentially painful topics. Unfortunately, we can’t avoid it. In this issue of Fostering Across Wisconsin, you’ll find information, resources, and tips […]

Julia Charles is a twenty-five year old graduate of Bennett College in Greensboro, North Carolina. After many transitions in and out of the child welfare system Julia chose to reshape her experiences into a tool for teaching adults and providing support to other foster youths. As a foster care alumnus, Julia feels she has the […]

It’s Okay to Wonder is a story about Avery, a loquacious girl whose parents have decided to become foster parents. While Mom and Dad attend another foster training class, Avery shares with her Nana and Pop about her mixed-up feelings. She and her grandparents learn together what it might be like to become a foster […]

It can be really hard to handle BIG Emotions, especially ANGER! Kids experience frustrating situations everyday, whether it’s someone taking their toy or they feel like they can’t do something. This story shows them that instead of yelling or stomping their feet, they can practice some fun ways to help them stay CALM.

This story is told from the perspective of Monty, a young boy who is subpoenaed to testify in court. We follow his journey from being abused by his father to standing up in court and being heard.  

Resilience is what all parents want for their children because it embraces the ability of the child to deal more effectively with stress and pressure, to cope with everyday challenges, to bounce back from disappointments, adversity, and trauma, to develop clear and realistic goals, to solve problems, to relate comfortably with others, and to treat […]

Not My Idea offers an emotional inlet to the crisis white children experience when they know people are being harmed and they are actively discouraged from feeling anything about it. Inspired by her own children’s curiosity, Higginbotham sets the story in present-day America, where a white child sees news coverage of a police shooting. The book […]

In our original tip sheet, What Do These Behaviors Mean?, we wrote about what underlies so many challenging behaviors—behaviors like lying, stealing, aggression, defiance, hoarding, and meltdowns. And, we shared how trauma and fear are the foundation for these behaviors. Here, we build on that information, digging a little deeper into how kids’ brains process […]

Let’s talk my friends. Emmanuel Acho believes the only way to cure our nation’s oldest disease–racism–starts with a profound, revolutionary idea: actually talking to one another. No, seriously. Until it gets uncomfortable… and then some. In Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man, Acho connects his own experience with race and racism–including his majority-white prep school […]