Facilitating Attuned Interactions (FAN), a Guest Blog by Dr. Bridget Couture, Program Director of Loyola University Chicago School of Social Work

At Let It Be Us we work with experts in foster care, adoption, recruitment, education, and overall, social work.  As a Illinois licensed child welfare agency we have access to many accomplished social workers. Dr. Bridget Couture, from Loyola University’s Chicago School of Social Work, is writing for our newsletter about child abuse with specific helpful information on how to calm children. Dr Couture is the Director of Fostering Connections Training Institute (FCTI) at Loyola University. FCTI engages child welfare stakeholders in training focused on building skills toward improving relationships with youth in care. Dr. Couture’s research and practice is informed by her real-world experience as a foster parent and by her 15 years of working with young people and their families. We hope you find this helpful.

Susan McConnell, DSW(c), MBA

Founder and Executive Director | Let It Be Us
susanmcconnell@letitbeus.org
847-528-2044

Facilitating Attuned Interactions (FAN), a Guest Blog by Dr. Bridget Couture, Program Director of Loyola University Chicago School of Social Work

Thank you for being the hands and hearts of a system tasked with caring for the well-being of youth in care- “Wards of the State.” As a state, we are all responsible for these children, they are our children. However, you have made this personal, with a commitment to care for children who most need loving and caring adults in their lives. We know that being a foster parent is joyful and challenging.

When you notice the challenges of life building up and making it difficult to stay calm and focused, try some of these calming strategies yourself and with your foster child to slow down and be fully present.

• Breathing 

  • Intentional breathing is a helpful way to bring us to the present.

  • 5 Simple Deep Breathing Exercises to Reduce Stress Levels (adrenalfatiguesolution.com)

  • 3 Breathing Exercises for Stress, Energy & Strength — sio (stronginsideout.com)

• Grounding 

  • Becoming aware of our senses can be helpful in bringing us back to the present.

  • Easy Grounding Exercises — Dr. Stephanie Cordes, ND (drcordes.com)

• Imagery 

  • Calm – YouTube

  • New Horizon – Meditation & Sleep Stories – YouTube

• Self Talk 

  • Positive Self Talk is communicating with yourself in a way that helps you to feel more present, regulated, and accepting.

  • 100 Positive Self Talk Examples To Adopt Now – Empowered and Thriving

Calming is the foundation of the Facilitating Attuned Interactions (FAN) intervention we utilize at The Fostering Connections Training Institute. FAN teaches adults working in child welfare how to build strong relationships with the children and families they support. This training is focused on seeing and hearing the other–whether that be the child, caseworker, or foster parent, in order to respond flexibly. This training is associated with an increase in empathy and self-awareness, which ultimately strengthens the relationship between foster parents and the child in their care.

Dr. Bridget Couture

To learn more about FAN or to schedule a training with Fostering Connections Training Institute, please contact Dr. Bridget Couture at 773-682-2724.

• Fostering Connections Training Institute: School of Social Work: Loyola University Chicago (luc.edu)

• Facilitating Attuned Interactions (FAN) | Erikson Institute