Gladney Blog

The Power of Showing Up: How Parental Presence Shapes Who Our Kids Become and How Their Brains Get Wired.

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As a professional, I’ve been fascinated by attachment theory since I was in college and wrote at least three major papers on it. I have jumped at the chance to teach that section of our trainings as an excuse to go deeper into the research and learn more myself. And now that I am a parent, I see the workings of attachment every single day with my child, which has made me even more intrigued by it.

No Drama Discipline by Dr. Dan Seigel and Dr. Tina Payne Bryson is a must read for parents who want to use connected, respectful, and positive strategies when it comes to discipline. I literally recommend it to every parent I know. Concise, clear, and practical, it gives specific examples and things to try when disciplining our children, all while explaining the neuroscience behind them. A refreshing take in the world of “perfect parenting”, Dan and Tina even give examples of when they lost their cool as parents, or times when they used all the tools in their toolbox and still had to put a screaming toddler in the car. I think we can all relate. Here are just some of the things this book taught me as a professional and a parent.

Like most people I love to peruse social media for news of the day or for interesting insights on subjects I care about.  Recently I read a very compelling and honest article titled, “Pipeline to Homelessness: Aging out of the Foster Care System.”   The article details the challenges teens face as they age out of the foster care system. 

Because of my work at Gladney, I was familiar with the very bleak outcomes associated with teens aging of foster care.  Outcomes including, homelessness, trauma and mental illness, unplanned pregnancy and criminal activity, but what I liked about the article was the call to action for hope.  And this is where I see Gladney.  We can work together and be the hope for these kids.  Because there is a surprisingly simple answer.  Find homes for children who need them.  Gladney believes every child deserves a loving and caring home.  I am very proud and excited about the focus Gladney is giving this issue.  New initiatives include:

Celebrate Black History Month by offering your child an opportunity for dialogue, self esteem and engagement with the following must have books on their bookshelf!

I’m a natural born hypochondriac. I know the CDC’s flu recommendations, knew all the signs and symptoms of Ebola and was obsessed with tracking the cities that Zika had impacted. Even if you aren’t a hypochondriac like me you know that public health crises like these flood the news, our social media feed and plague our minds. But why aren’t we talking about the public health crisis that is trauma?! 

Last month, Gladney University hosted "Emotional Development in a Child's First Five Years" with Dr. Margaret Dempsey and Dr. Margaret Harrington of the Child Study Center.

I recently had the opportunity to attend Gladney University's simulcast of Empowered to Connect. Each speaker brought parenting with TBRI (Trust-Based Relational Intervention) to life.

Yesterday, The Federalist published an article regarding the State Department making international adoption rarer and more expensive than ever to consolidate government control over private agencies. Please read "Bucking Trump Deregulation Agenda, State Department Chokes International Adoption". 

Yesterday, the National Council for Adoption shared the news that Ethiopia is choosing to ban intercountry adoption.  NCFA's Ryan Hanlon joined BBC World Service Radio to discuss how this decision places unparented children at risk in the Adoption Council Blog.

As Gladney continues to be an advocate for the Adoption Tax Credit, I believe others will benefit from reading Jedd Medefind's "The Adoption Tax Credit Saves Money" opinion published in the December 7, 2017, print edition of the Wall Street Journal.