Training Calendar

When children experience trauma and adversity early in life, it can impact them across various developmental areas. In this training, we will explore what those areas are: brain, biology, behavior, body and beliefs.
We will also explore what common symptoms may look like for each area, and will brainstorm ways to provide practical support to our children and teens so that they can heal, grow and thrive. 

Counts as a Therapeutic Class for TN DCS Foster parents.

Parenting through foster care and adoption is deeply meaningful but it’s also hard, and no one is meant to do it alone. Our kids heal best in relationships, and as parents, we need our own networks of support to stay strong, regulated, and hopeful.

In this webinar, we’ll explore:

• Why relationships matter for healing and how kids “borrow” safety and calm from trusted adults.
• The parent’s social web and why your support system is critical to your resilience.
• How to identify and grow your social web with practical tools and strategies.
• Barriers to building support and how to overcome them.
• When and how to seek professional help for your child or yourself.
• Building a culture of support so that connection becomes a family norm.

You’ll leave with a clearer picture of your current support network, a practical plan to strengthen it, and encouragement to take the next steps. Together, we’ll remind each other that you don’t have to do this journey alone and that connection is the key to healing.

Counts as a Therapeutic Class for TN DCS Foster parents.

Judy Lewis (judy@harmonyfamilycenter.org) TA

The best tool for de-escalating a child in crisis is a regulated adult … and a regulated adult with a plan is even better. This webinar will focus on:

• The caregiver’s approach and how to be in a supportive role with the child
• How to develop plans for averting crises and supporting children at different levels of an evolving crisis.

Counts as a Therapeutic Class for TN DCS Foster parents.

Stephen Hall (stephen@harmonyfamilycenter.org) TA

If your child is facing suspensions, expulsions, or discipline hearings, it can feel overwhelming and isolating. Challenging behaviors are connected to stress, unmet needs, or past experiences. This webinar will help you understand your rights as a parent, what schools are required to consider, and how to make sure your child’s voice and needs are heard during the discipline process.
We’ll share practical tips for navigating meetings, advocating for fair treatment, and exploring supportive alternatives so your child has the best chance to stay in school and succeed.

Counts as a Therapeutic Class for TN DCS Foster parents.

Judy Lewis (judy@harmonyfamilycenter.org) TA

The 7 Core Issues in Adoption and Guardianship are experiences faced by all members of the adoption/guardianship constellation. These are predictable and tend to arise in varied ways during the lifespan of each member. 

In this training, we will explore each of the core issues: Loss, Rejection, Shame and Guilt, Grief, Identity, Intimacy, Mastery and Control. We will look at how this might show up from infancy to adulthood for the adoptee, as well as how it could present for the caregivers, and all members of the adoption/guardianship constellation. 

Caregivers will be equipped with what to watch for in both themselves and their children, and will feel empowered to seek supports, discuss challenging topics with their child, and create a family dynamic that promotes healthy adoptee identity. 

Counts as a Therapeutic Class for TN DCS Foster parents.

Chrissy Seymour (marys@harmonyfamilycenter.org) TA

Every child experiences the world through their senses but for many children who have experienced trauma sensory processing can feel overwhelming. Their reactions to sound, touch, movement, or other sensory input may look like misbehavior when in reality, their brains and bodies are struggling to make sense of the world around them.

In this webinar we’ll explore: 

• What sensory integration is and why it matters.
• How sensory processing impacts your child’s behavior, emotions, and ability to connect.
• Practical strategies for identifying your child’s unique sensory challenges.
• Tools and approaches to create a more supportive home environment.
• Steps to begin building a personalized sensory diet to foster your child’s regulation, emotional well-being, and overall development.

You’ll leave with fresh insights, practical tools, and a framework to begin supporting your child’s sensory needs in daily life. By understanding and responding to their sensory world, you’ll help lay the foundation for healing, growth, and connection.

Counts as a Therapeutic Class for TN DCS Foster parents.

Judy Lewis (judy@harmonyfamilycenter.org) TA

There are different levels of a crisis and different de-escalation strategies that can be used at each level. This webinar will focus on:

• When to support and when to teach
• How to present yourself as an ally to a child and not just another obstacle
• How to stand, what to say, and what to do in the midst of a crisis

Counts as a Therapeutic Class for TN DCS Foster parents.

Amanda Felts (afelts@harmonyfamilycenter.org) TA

Even well thought out plans and the best attempts to offer support don’t always work to avert a crisis.  Sometimes, a child goes into fight (vs. flight) mode to protect themselves.  There are no good answers for how to handle violence…but there are some things that make it worse that we can learn to avoid.  This webinar will focus on:

• What to do and not to do when a child becomes violent
• When to call in others for support and what to expect of them
• How to care for everyone involved after a violent situation

Counts as a Therapeutic Class for TN DCS Foster parents.

Judy Lewis (judy@harmonyfamilycenter.org) TA