Adoption / Foster Care Fact Sheet for K-12 Teachers
- Made possible by the Rudd Family Visiting Professorship, awarded to Dr. Abbie Goldberg
- Dr. Gwen Bass, adoption educator and consultant, played the lead role in compiling this resource
- School engagement is one of the best predictors of lifelong wellbeing, so it is vital that our classrooms are environments where students thrive.
10 Ways Teachers Can Help Students From Foster Care
https://redtri.com/10-ways-teachers-can-help-students-from-foster-care/
- Online article, for educators of children in the foster care system (applicable to all ages)
- Outlines typical issues and ways to manage them (e.g., flexibility regarding difficult circumstances).
How Teachers Can Support the Foster Child
https://pathwayfs.org/teachers-support-foster-child/
- 2019 Pathways Family Services online article for teachers/educators of children in the foster care system that addresses how to approach children in foster care and how to support both students and parents.
Everybody’s a Teacher
- Contains a compilation of (outdated) resources for people working with children in foster care, such as teachers. Each section of this document focuses on a specific topic such as Early Learning and Education Advocacy. Some resources are Florida-specific.
The Roles of School in Supporting Children in Foster Care
- This 10-page brief was prepared by the National Center for Mental Health Promotion & Youth Violence Prevention
- The brief summarizes research on school stability and achievement among youth in foster care and outlines issues related to disruptions in caregiving, school environment, etc.
- It provides suggestions for enhancing collaboration between schools and other agencies in promoting academic stability and success for children in foster care.
When a Foster Child Enters Your Care: Suggestions From a Foster Parent
https://www.naeyc.org/resources/blog/when-foster-child-enters-care
- This brief web article by Christa Murray (2018) outlines issues related to transitioning into day care/early childhood education for children in the foster care system. or educators of children at any age in the foster care system.
- Murray writes from the perspective of a foster parent and educator, offering practical suggestions to educators such as learning more about the foster care system in your area, talking with the foster family about known issues, recognizing the potential role of the child’s adverse childhood experiences in their difficulties, and maintaining open communication with other adults in the child’s life.
What Teachers and Educators Can Do to Help Youth In Foster Care
http://fosteringsuccessmichigan.com/uploads/misc/EducatorsFC.pdf
- Foster Care Month.org created this 3 page guide for educators. It outlines strategies for teachers such as being mindful of each child’s individual circumstance, contacting prior teachers/schools for information about academic status, strengths, challenges, and history, respecting children’s privacy in the classroom, and being sensitive and inclusive in assignments.