Debi Grebenik’s work spans three decades of working in child welfare. She was a pastor’s wife for 37 years until her husband retired. She is mother to three grown children and grandmother to seven. She is passionate about guiding others to understand trauma and its impact.
One way that we create order out of our unknowns is by sorting things into categories. Humans seek to find the connections between seemingly unrelated items. While this may work for kitchen organization, it can fall very short when looking at children, …
Social workers are often misunderstood. Some people would say they take children; some might describe their role as do-gooders. As a licensed clinical social worker for over thirty years, I am delighted to be part of the social work profession and want …
The lifelong impact of ACEs is clearly significant, and I think it is something we should be talking about more.
The impact of trauma on children is significant. The first three years of a child’s life create their blueprint for life. Children are vulnerable and unable to meet their own needs during their early years. When a child’s needs are met by a caring, con …
If you are a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher, or your life intersects with children in any way, you must think and talk about child abuse.
Sure, your family experiences times of joy together, but you also encounter behavioral outbursts that leave you clueless. If only you had a secret decoder ring to help decipher your adopted child’s behavior.
If there is even one significant adult in a child’s life who will provide consistency and unconditional love and support, that child can attach.
With awareness and planning, the adoption journey can be one that promotes growth, blessings, and healing for all involved.
The adoption journey is resplendent with unforeseen detours, mountaintop experiences, formidable challenges — and magnificent views of God’s grace all along the way. Without preparation, this journey can be more than challenging. With awareness and pla …
It’s essential for families to develop the ability to cope with the stress that adoption can place on parents and kids.
The most successful adoptive families are those who know they need support and know how to draw upon every resource available.
Suggestions for an effective bonding experience
Don’t be afraid to ask for help when needed, and don’t be frozen in your fears of what others will think or say.
Attachment is the affectional tie between two people.
The sensitive parent is attuned to his or her child’s natural rhythms and responds to those appropriately and timely.
