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Welcome to The Tool Kit page, a carefully selected page of resources and tools to help you live a life on mission. I also include resources and tools that I use to build my business. I only recommend what I utilize or have used in the past.

Before digging into the resources that I know and trust, an important disclosure:

Some of the links below are affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. This commission comes at no additional cost to you. Please understand that I have experience with all of these companies, services, or books, and I recommend them because they are helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions I make if you decide to buy something. Please do not spend any money on these products unless you feel you need them or that they will help you achieve your goals.

[highlight background=”#7fd5fa”]Foster Care and Adoption[/highlight]

Books

Obviously this isn’t an exhaustive list, but these are a few that I recommend especially if you are beginning on this journey.

The Connected Child: Bring hope and healing to your adoptive family Danielle and I read this book before we became licensed to foster. We refer to it over and over as a reference book to help us parent with connection.

The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind This book is a great partner book with The Connected Child as it explains how trauma impacts a child’s brain during the developmental years.

Anatomy of the Soul: Surprising Connections between Neuroscience and Spiritual Practices That Can Transform Your Life and Relationships This book has quickly become one of my favorites. I have also heard Dr. Thompson speak at conferences. A great combination of the first two books.

The Out-of-Sync Child: Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Processing Disorder (The Out-of-Sync Child Series) Ever wonder why your child reacts to different stimuli with some really outlandish behavior? This book will help you understand exactly what sensory processing is.

ALL IN Orphan Care: Equipping The Church To Help Kids And Strengthen Families Jason Johnson provides great material for churches wanting a healthy foster care and adoption ministry.

Foster and Adoptive Parenting: Authentic Stories that Will Inspire and Encourage Parenting with Connection Yes, I wrote this book, and I highly recommend it if you want to parent with connection. I take connected parenting principles and share how our family and others apply them in real life…both with success and failure.

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Websites with tons of helpful  resources

Jason Johnson Blog – Jason is a an adoptive and foster dad, author, speaker, and trainer. On his blog you will find insightful articles and helpful resources for support groups and church ministries.

CAFO (Christian Alliance for Orphans) – CAFO unites organizations across the world for the purpose of caring for orphans and vulnerable children.

The Forgotten Initiative – The Forgotten Initiative (TFI) resources, supports and networks Advocates across the nation, helping them grow sustainable foster care ministries in their communities.

Empowered to Connect – Empowered to Connect provides companion resources (workbooks, courses, videos, etc.) that highlight the biblical principles behind The Connected Child.

Fostering Hope Austin – Fostering Hope Austin provides training and support to families, churches, and every participant in the foster care process emphasizing trauma informed care.

The Circle of Security – Circle of Security International presents trainings around the globe focusing on the early intervention models to increase attachment and security.

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Counseling and Support

I recognize that this list contains those close to where I live, but I list these here because some provide online support and resources in the form of live and recorded webinars and phone consultation.

Creative Therapies – Creative Therapies by Marti Smith Seminars offers workshops that are practical, fun, and enthusiastic. Marti is a trauma informed occupational therapist.

Robyn Gobbel Counseling – Robyn is a Licensed counselor who works with children with a trauma background. She also pours into other therapists. You can find many previously recorded webinars on her site. If you use the promo code “CAMP” at checkout, you will receive a discount on any webinar you purchase.

Stand Up Eight – If you are located in the Greater Austin area and are an adoptive family looking for in-home professional support. Stand Up Eight is a nonprofit mainly supported by donors so that they can offer their services to families at a very low rate. Use the promo code “CAMP” to get $100 off your first month of service.

Here are a few Facebook support groups. I do recommend these; however, the best kind of support group is one you can find in your community where you can do life together.

Parenting with Connection (Facebook group) – This group supports parents in implementing connection based tools. For more information on the models that we support please reference The Connected Child by Karyn Purvis, Beyond Consequences Logic and Control by Heather Forbes and No Drama Discipline by Dan Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson.

Support group for Foster2Forever (Facebook group) – A support group for foster parents who a part of the Foster2Forever Forum.

Adoptive Families (Facebook group) – A community resource from Adoptive Families magazine—www.adoptivefamilies.com—information, advice, and support— for people considering adoption, families going through the adoption process, and parents raising adopted children. 

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[highlight background=”#7fd5fa”]Missions (Local and Global)[/highlight]

Books

These are books that I have read over the past several years. They challenge and equip me to live a life on mission.

When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor . . . and Yourself This book helped me understand how to truly help someone who is in need. I have applied these principles in many areas.

Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream David Platt challenges us to live life centered on others. The book also provides practical application.

The Hole in Our Gospel Special Edition: What Does God Expect of Us? The Answer That Changed My Life and Might Just Change the World Richard Stearns, CEO of World Vision, “uses his journey to demonstrate how the gospel-the whole gospel-was always meant to be a world changingsocial revolution, a revolution that begins with us.”

The Forgotten Ways: Reactivating Apostolic Movements

Enough: Finding More by Living with Less

The Key to the Missionary Problem

The Art of Neighboring: Building Genuine Relationships Right Outside Your Door

The Monkey and the Fish: Liquid Leadership for a Third-Culture Church (Leadership Network Innovation Series) I read this book while riding in a van in the middle of Thailand. One of my favorites.

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Websites I recommend

Verge Network – An advocate and champion for movements of gospel-centered Missional Communities, Verge Network exists for church leaders, students, entrepreneurs, artists, urban innovators, business leaders, community development specialists, non-profit leaders, church planters and everyday leaders – anyone pursuing the mission of God, in community, whatever the context, for the sake of the Gospel.

Explore God – Resources including videos, articles, and discussion groups that answer questions people have about God.

Perspectives – Perspectives is a course offered nationwide that disciples God’s people to live on mission.

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[highlight background=”#7fd5fa”]Blogging, Podcasting, Writing, and other related resources[/highlight]

I use or have used all of these tools, so I can recommend them from personal experience.

HostGator Web Hosting – In my opinion this is the best web hosting company for those beginning their online blog or business.

ConvertKit  – I switched to ConverKit from another top email list management company in 2016. ConvertKit makes managing your email list and setting up autoresponders so easy and user-friendly. Segmenting my email subscribers into groups so that they get content specific to their individual needs has never been more simple.

I highly recommend using ConvertKit for your email list building.

Scrivener Writing Tool – I used Microsoft Word when I began writing my first book a few years ago. This quickly became cumbersome and confusing. That is when I found out about Scrivener. It is a fantastic tool for writers. The learning curve is a little tough. That is why I recommend a tutorial that I also used—Learn Scrivener Fast. It is well worth the additional investment.

Get Learn Scrivener Fast to help you write your book.

Self Publishing School – I knew I needed some guidance and accountability when I wrote my second book. Self Publishing School provided both. If you want to self publish your book, but you are not sure how to do it, this school is for you.

Happy Self Publishing – This service will also help you publish your book. I used them to design my book cover, but they offer many other services.

 

 

 


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