If you’ve been thinking of joining The Flourishing Foster Parent, this week would be a great time to join for two reasons.

First, the next FFP Coaching Call is Saturday at 9:00 AM (PST), and the topic we’ll cover is relevant for so many foster parents. I’m excited to offer this coaching call, not because of the topic (it’s a pretty devastating one), but because of the fact that I know it will help so many of you feel more prepared and equipped.

I’ve invited pediatric nurse and Premier Baby Planners co-founder Monica Simmons to be our guest, as we discuss all things NAS (Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome).

The sad fact is, if you foster babies, chances are you will at some point have a baby with NAS. With the rise in heroin addiction especially, babies are coming into care with challenges related to having been exposed to illicit substances in utero.

It’s important for foster parents to be informed about how best to care for a baby experiencing the after-effects of in-utero exposure and withdrawal, and to help get services in place early to address potential cognitive and developmental delays.

And all substances are not alike! We’ll talk about various substances and how they can affect a baby’s brain, both in the short-term and long-term.

This call is for members of FFP only, and there are currently 14 more spaces available. I know it will be beneficial! Members of FFP, look for your call-in invitation via this week!

The second reason this is a great week to join FFP is that we are just eleven days away from the end of your chance to win a free copy of one of my favorite books for foster and adoptive parents, “Wounded Children, Healing Homes.” Everyone who is a current member of The Flourishing Foster Parent on November 30 will be entered in a drawing to win one of four copies of this wonderful book.

The Flourishing Foster Parent is an online support and resource community for current and in-process foster parents. We hold weekly Coaching Calls, which are live calls on Google Meet, where we often hear from experts in fields related to foster care and/or experienced foster parents. Some weeks, we just share with one another the trials and triumphs of our experiences as foster parents. Recordings of most of the calls are available to members of the community as long as they are current members.

Membership is month-by-month, and you can cancel your involvement at any time. The cost is $20/month to have access to the live calls and the exclusive resource library of previous calls and other content.