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Health
“Adoption Doesn’t Fix Kids”
by Christian Alliance for Orphans
Faithful, wisdom-guided love does bear good fruit over time. But often it comes far more slowly, or in a different form, than we might have wished at first.
Address Your Stress
by Key Ministry
Do you experience traumatic memories from raising a child with special needs? Jolene Philo encourages you to follow several steps to address your stress.
Adopting Children From "Hard Places"
by Bethany Christian Services
Dr. Karyn Purvis, director of the Texas Christian University Institute of Child Development, joins Bill Blacquiere for a passionate discussion on the welfare of at-risk children and adopting children from "hard places."
28:45
Adoption Changes Lives
by Bethany Christian Services
George Dennehy was born without arms and sent to live in a Romanian orphanage. Adopted at 18 months, he is now an accomplished public speaker and international musician. Hear George's story and discover how adoption can make a remarkable difference in a child's life.
28:08
Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
by Empowered to Connect
Lisa Qualls shares her personal story of finding help after a tumultuous season with her four adopted children.
An Accurate FASD Diagnosis Matters
by Shannon Dingle
The wrong diagnosis for people with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder can lead to poor outcomes, like homelessness, educational failure, unemployment, and more. Shannon Dingle explains.
Anxiety
by Empowered to Connect
Anxiety tends to move itself through different parts of the family. Learn about anxiety as an emotional system and reimagine anxiety as a catalyst for growth.
58:32
Are Churches Blind to Mental Illness?
by Dr. Steve Grcevich
Dr. Steve Grcevich shares data and analyzes how often local churches support members affected by mental health issues.
Are the Medications Prescribed to Kids & Teens with Mental Illness Safe?
by Dr. Steve Grcevich
Limited by insufficient data, psychiatrists must balance treatment options with risks, including the possibility of short- and long-term side effects.
Are They Really Depressed, Or Do They Have Something Else?
by Dr. Steve Grcevich
Diagnosing depression in a child or teen requires a considerable degree of thoughtfulness. And, a thorough understanding of why a child is sad or irritable is essential to developing a sound treatment plan.
Band-Aids Heal More Than You Can See
by Empowered to Connect
Giving and receiving love may seem like an easy thing, but for many adopted and foster kids, it's not.
Beauty Out of Our Brokenness
by Shannon Dingle
Although Shannon's children have several disabilities or early childhood trauma, she encourages you to put your trust in God and allow Him to make beauty from brokenness.
Becoming a Trauma and Attachment-Informed Church
by Shannon Dingle
Adoptive and foster parents know about trauma and attachment, so their churches should too. But what does that mean?
Bill Hancock: Competence Matters - Why Compassion Alone Isn't Enough
by Christian Alliance for Orphans
Bill Hancock, CEO and co-founder of Faith Bridge Foster Care, talks about the very real challenges in answering God's call to foster and adopt children in need.
09:28
Blessed Are the Peacemakers
by Key Ministry
Students with disabilities are frequently written off, deemed to have little potential for learning or living an independent life. Amid those negative thoughts, I wondered how finding peacemakers was even possible.
Blessed to Have an Unhealthy Child
by Key Ministry
Psalm 127:3 "Children are a blessing and a gift from the Lord." Do you see anywhere in this verse where it says only healthy children are a blessing? Me neither.
Blessings Flow When God Sends a Caregiver of Another Faith into Our Son's Life
by Key Ministry
What if we'd turned Mohamed away because he was a Muslim? What if he'd said no to attending church with Joel because we are Christians? He might be our "angel unawares"
Children from Hard Places
by Empowered to Connect
Do you have compassion for the history and background of your adopted child? Dr. Karyn Purvis shares 6 major risk factors that could occur before you adopt your child.
04:53
Christmas Challenges for Kids with Common Mental Health Concerns
by Dr. Steve Grcevich
Holidays can be especially difficult for kids with common mental health conditions. Here are three strategies that parents can use to help alleviate the impact.
Churches Should Become Trauma and Attachment-Informed
by Shannon Dingle
Adoptive and foster parents know about trauma and attachment, and their churches should too. How can church leaders become better informed so they can serve these families well?
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Kids with Depression: Pros and Cons
by Dr. Steve Grcevich
When is cognitive-behavioral therapy more effective for kids and teens with depression or anxiety disorders?
Common Questions & Concerns: Behavior Issues at School
by Empowered to Connect
The school classroom is a high-risk environment for many foster care or adopted children. Be informed on how to help your children by learning about Sensory Processing Disorder.
Common Questions and Concerns
by Empowered to Connect
This message deals with the issue of fear, and how parents can effectively help their children address and overcome their fears.
Complicated Kids: Teasing Out the Effects of Trauma From Mental Illness
by Dr. Steve Grcevich
When are trauma-related conditions in kids and teens unrelated to, or exacerbated by, mental health disorders?
Creating the Ideal Week for Our Adult Children with Disabilities
by Key Ministry
Sometimes, we have to step out of the way to let God fashion our children into the adults He created them to be. And always, always, we have to trust that God loves our kids even more than we do.
Crisis Survival for Parents
by Key Ministry
Kara Dedert gives you advice on what to do and how to respond to crisis in your family.
Dear Parent, Let's STOP Being Our Own Worst Enemies
by Key Ministry
Parents like us are often known to profess, “One size does NOT fit all.” Let’s live like we believe it! The treatment choice I make for my child might not be the right one for your child. But we’re stronger together than we are apart.
Defining Attachment for Families
by Empowered to Connect
How do you define attachment in your family?
01:27
Depression: Challenges in Serving Kids with an Episodic Disability
by Dr. Steve Grcevich
What are some signs that pastors, group leaders, or volunteers might notice that would lead them to question whether a child may be suffering from depression?
Does Depression Result From a Lack of Faith?
by Dr. Steve Grcevich
Regardless of the cause, those with depression are just like everyone else: broken people in need of a Savior.
Does God Really Hear My Cries for Help?
by Key Ministry
I ask God every single day to stop the seizures. Sometimes, I ask twice a day. I know that nothing is impossible for God, so I question whether or not he hears my repeated cries for help.
Does Love Heal All Wounds from Childhood Trauma?
by Shannon Dingle
We all know that love can heal. However, many changes are irreversible for children who experience wounds from trauma.
Don't Label Me
by Key Ministry
Don't let people label you that this is your lot in life. Don’t focus on what others say; focus on what God says. Don't look at your circumstances, look at your problem solver.
Duke Study on Well-Being of Orphans Shakes Conventional Wisdom - and Confirms It
by Christian Alliance for Orphans
A significant study from Duke Global Health Institute compares the effects of institutional and family-based care on orphaned children. The results sharply question some current assumptions about what’s best for children while also affirming others.
Educating Others to Help Your Child
by Empowered to Connect
Do you know how to educate other caregivers, leaders, and teachers on how to support the needs of your adopted child?
04:35
Effective Ways to Deal with Sleep Issues
by Empowered to Connect
Dr. Karyn Purvis encourages you to meet the needs of your child to solve the problem of sleep disruption.
06:23
Eight Ways to Make Therapy Fun
by Key Ministry
Are you exhausted from scheduling your kids therapy appointments and supervising all of their exercises? Jolene Philo shares eight ways you can make therapy fun!
Embracing Joy, Releasing Expectations
by Jacqui Jackson
Embracing joy is a good concept for parenting in general, but it is a critical aspect of parenting a child with special needs.
Engaging Food Battles with Connection in Mind
by Empowered to Connect
Many children from "hard places" were malnourished before we adopted them. We should earn the trust of our children by refusing to engage in food battles.
06:12
Families Impacted By Depression: How Can the Church Help?
by Dr. Steve Grcevich
How can churches help families impacted by depression to experience the love of Christ?
