In June I was one of eight representatives from our agency who attended the inaugural NMT Symposium, hosted by Dr. Bruce Perry, ChildTrauma Academy staff, and Hull Services, an agency in Alberta, Canada, that provides mental health and behavioral services to children and families. This trip allowed me ample opportunity for new experiences, and I was eager to get in … Continue
I recently heard a segment on National Public Radio’s “Fresh Air” about the incarceration of juveniles, and it really got me thinking. The show featured Nell Bernstein, who wrote “Burning Down the House: The End of Juvenile Prison.” So, I bought the book and shared some concepts with a SaintA group of staff members who meet regularly to discuss trauma … Continue
Over 40 years ago I was prodded to take a job after college with the Department of Children and Family Services. Reluctantly I skipped Europe and entered the world of full-time employment in child welfare. The job chose me, rather than the other way around. Last week there was discussion at the office about how best to retain workers. It … Continue
Since October of 2012, SaintA Caregiver Support specialists have been working to help ensure stability in out-of-home placements with relatives. The Caregiver Support Program is voluntary, but we understand that the first 30 days of having a child placed in someone’s home can be a challenging experience. So, our team (Allison Curtiss-Jaworski, Nikeyah Flagg, April Lowther, Michelle Lim, and Abigail … Continue
Donna entered SaintA’s Independent Living Services at the age of 19. At the time she had a dream of becoming a nurse, and she was just beginning her path at Mount Mary University. She was living with a roommate and managing life as well as a young adult could. She had aged out of the foster care system at 18, … Continue
Thanks to the support of our Board of Directors, a team of staff from SaintA had the opportunity to attend the inaugural Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics™ (NMT) symposium recently in Banff, Canada. It was a remarkable event bringing together 450 people from nine countries, six Canadian provinces, and 24 U.S. states to share practice ideas, research and lessons learned about … Continue
