Handouts

Family Communication: Good, Hard, Better

Created as a simple tool, “Good, Hard, Better” is an easy way to remember the importance of balanced communication – a type of communication in which there is space to talk about the “good” things and “hard” things in life while also finding ways to make the “hard” things “better.” This tool serves as a reminder for how to improve communication and connection in families.

Good, Hard, Better Worksheet

This worksheet was created to be used with youth who are struggling to process and express experiences in their families. Sometimes it’s helpful for children and youth to write down their thoughts before being asked to speak them out loud. If you’d like a youth to open up about what’s happening in their head, this worksheet can be a helpful tool to start that conversation.

Parenting Tips: Siblings Edition

This tip sheet offers simple, practical ways to meet the needs of foster and adoptive siblings – children who were already in the family prior to adoption or foster care. Information included in this handout comes from proven effective intervention and clinical experience with foster and adoptive families.

Adoptive Sibling Experience

This handout provides basic information about four of the most common experiences that adoptive siblings – children who were already in the family prior to adoption or foster care – experience in their families. Information included in this handout comes from a research study on over 200+ adult adoptive siblings.

Family Prep Info Sheet

Are you a parent wondering how to best prepare your children for foster care or adoption?

Or a professional helping to equip families for the transition of foster care or adoption?

This info sheet will help in answering those questions as families prepare for foster care or adoption. Information includes findings from research studies on foster and adoptive families and proven effective strategies to best equip families for success.

Family Conversation Guide

The Family Communication Guide provides a visual of the five strategies involved in building healthy communication in your family. Research findings revealed that children in foster and adoptive families who were able to openly express their thoughts and feelings honestly – without fear of how they would be received – have more positive adjustment and greater quality sibling and family relationships.

Thoughts and Feelings Worksheet

Created to be used with children who are either preparing for foster care or adoption or who are struggling to process their experience, this worksheet can be used as an aid to help children express their thoughts and feelings. Whether you’re a professional or a caregiver, this worksheet can serve as a starting place to have important and difficult conversations.