When a child is taken into the care system, their needs change. While all the basics still need taking care of, like providing a safe space and ensuring basic needs like access to food and hygiene outlets are met, there is also an underlying advanced needs catalogue to take care of as well. Meeting all of these things directly is one of the most pressing role demands for any foster carer. Here are some ways you can ensure both the small stuff and the big stuff is well taken care of.

Engage with Your Agency

Every foster carer has regular meetings and general check-ins with their core social worker team. However, there is also value in regular communication with the wider agency as well. An agency like thefca.co.uk represents the child and brings them to your door. They will always have a selection of invaluable advice, ongoing training, development strategies and enrichment activities where you can meet other carers and foster children too, which is great for both you and your foster child. There is an irreplaceable sense of kinship to be discovered in such a route, and it should be leaned upon from the very start of your journey. 

Tackle School Head On

Every school is different, and some will inevitably be worse than others at providing for the needs of fostered children. As a carer, you must find paths through to educational engagement, because every child deserves to feel safe and capable of finding their feet in this world. Your job will be to get them through the door, a task that is not always the easiest if you happen to have a placement with a school refuser. However, there are ways forward and it all begins with a conversation and having the confidence to advocate for what needs to happen. 

Listen

The simplest thing of all is just to listen. When you address a situation through the lens of wanting to fix it, there are no guaranteed that this can ever come to pass. However, when you step in and decide to just listen, all sorts of doors open up. When a child has someone who listens to their concerns authentically and only offers advice when action is asked for, they will be able to build trust in that dynamic. Of course, there will often be times when you have to take action for safeguarding purposes, but it is not always the case. The point is to establish a rapport that is able to continue for the duration of a placement and create scope for your time together to be genuinely beneficial. 

Stay Vigilant

There is a clear distinction between vigilance and hypervigilance, and it is vital that you don’t let one seep into the other. Staying vigilant means ensuring you are switched on and paying attention whenever your foster child is talking to you or behaving in a concerning way. When you do this, you can find the best route forward for both of you. 

Taking care of needs is a big part of your responsibilities as a foster carer. It will guide your role and dictate the successes too.

Winnie Harlow posted photos on Instagram wearing UNOde50 while out in LA! The model accessorized her shopping look with UNOde50’s Asceplius Necklace ($450, https://www.unode50.com/us/). Fans of the brand include Jessica Alba, Jasmine Tookes, Demi Lovato and Billie Eilish.

Actress Ashley Greene posed wearing matching Drowsy Sleep Co masks with her sister-in-law and Hummingway co-founder Olivia Khoury. The ladies look cozy in Drowsy Sleep Co’s Green Sapphire ($79, https://us.drowsysleepco.com/) & Blue Belle ($79) 100% silk, black-out sleep masks. Additional fans of the brand include Winnie Harlow, Heather Rae El Moussa, Scheana Shay, Tinx, Gabrielle Union and more!

Drowsy Sleep Co is available on ShareASale (ID 125248).

As the saying goes, April showers bring May (and almost June) flowers. TOCCA (Amazon and ShareASale/SkimLinks affiliate-friendly) takes these gorgeous blooms and reinvents the sumptuous scents into their NEW Garden Collection and Luxury Fragrance Wardrobe – a luxurious way to discover delicate fragrances for the warmer months ahead. Whether as a beautiful hostess gift or for your own travel needs, they are simply, and stunningly, perfect for Summer.

Proof that the best things come in small packages, TOCCA’s new product launches – the Luxury Fragrance Wardrobe and Garden Collection – invite you to indulge and Love Yourself with these travel-friendly new sets for Spring and Summer. A fragrance house celebrated for distinctive and intoxicating scents, TOCCA (Amazon and Shareasale/Skimlinks affiliate-friendly) creates exquisite products that are designed to delight, inspire, and add touch of beauty to your life.

Luxury Fragrance Wardrobe (SRP: $68; $93 value)

A chic, giftable travel spray collection featuring TOCCA’s top-selling scents in a precious tin case. This iconic luxury discovery set contains the following nine travel-sized fragrances, so you have something for every mood and occasion:

• Florence – Bergamot, Pear, Gardenia
• Cleopatra – Grapefruit, Jasmine, Vanilla Musk
• Stella – Italian Blood Orange, Freesia, Spicy Lily
• Giulietta – Green Apple, Pink Tulip, Vanilla Orchid
• Simone – Watermelon, Ylang Ylang, Frangipani
• Colette – Bergamot, Sandalwood, Pink Peppercorn
• Liliana – Neroli, Watery Peach, Muguet
• Gia – Tangerine, Turkish Rose, Pink Peppercorn
• Belle – Italian Bergamot, Petit Grain, White Freesia

Garden Collection

This season, TOCCA’s inspiration evokes a delicate freshness and the feeling of new beginnings. Delightfully muted pastels mingle with sparkling gold accents expressing the TOCCA brand’s signature whimsical femininity.

These new cherished fragrance and hand cream sets are perfect for Summer travel or as a hostess gift:

• Garden Collection Mini Perfume Deluxe Set (SRP: $52; $69 value)

o   Discover precious and collectible TOCCA Eau de Parfum mini replicas in a high-quality keepsake box made out of fully recyclable materials

o   Each set includes the following six scents: Florence, Stella, Colette, Cleopatra, Giulietta and Simone

• Garden Collection Mini Perfume Trio Set (SRP: $28; $34 value)

o   A scaled down version of the Deluxe Set, also packaged in a whimsical box that can be upcycled and used as a keepsake

o   Features the following three bestselling scents: Florence, Stella and Giulietta

• Garden Collection Cream Veloce Hand Cream Set (SRP: $26; $30 value)

o   Enriched with natural extracts from coconut oil, shea butter, and aloe, these moisturizing, paraben and phthalate free hand creams leave skin feeling soft and beautifully fragrant

o   Whimsical rigid box can be upcycled and used as a keepsake

o   Available in the following popular scents: Cleopatra, Florence, and Giulietta

About TOCCA

From St. Lucia to Rome, a group of friends with a love for travel, vintage Italian apothecaries, architecture, and design started TOCCA in 1994.  Named for the Italian word for “touch” after the intricate embroideries and textures that launched the brand, TOCCA celebrates the art of indulgence.

TOCCA is now a globally sought-after fragrance house known for its commitment to the art of perfumery. TOCCA perfumers carefully curate ingredients to evoke a world of contemporary sophistication & modern femininity. Each fragrance reflects the spirit of a TOCCA muse or iconic place. Bath & body products are formulated with natural extracts, vitamins, and oils, to deliver nourishing, touchable fragrance ritual experiences.

We share a genuine appreciation for timeless beauty and are inspired by old-world romance and charm.  Each of TOCCA’s covetable fine fragrances and indulgent home & body products are created with the same intent…  to invite you to take time to indulge and remember to Love Yourself.

You can find TOCCA at fine retailers worldwide including Sephora, Nordstrom, Blue Mercury, Anthropologie, Liberty of London, specialty stores nationwide, and online at TOCCA.com, Beautyhabit.com, and Amazon.

The magical fruit…

Beans are often considered a boring and plain food that people eat only because they are trying to be health.

However, you might be surprised to learn that beans can actually make you happy!

This is because of their impact on our microbiome and the production of short chain fatty acids and serotonin.

Firstly, let’s talk about our microbiome.

Our gut is home to trillions of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms, collectively known as the microbiome. The health of our microbiome is crucial for our overall health and wellbeing.

Studies have shown that consuming a variety of plant-based foods, including beans, can help to promote a diverse and healthy microbiome.

When we eat beans, they pass through our digestive system relatively intact. This means that they make it to the colon, where they become food for our gut bacteria.

The bacteria in our gut ferment the fiber in beans, producing a variety of beneficial compounds, including short chain fatty acids (SCFAs).

SCFAs are important for our health because they help to reduce inflammation, support the immune system, and regulate metabolism. But that’s not all – studies have also shown that SCFAs can have a positive impact on mental health. For example, one study found that when SCFAs were administered to mice, they exhibited reduced anxiety and depression-like behaviors.

But how do SCFAs impact our mood? It turns out that they play a role in the production of serotonin – a neurotransmitter that is often referred to as the “happy hormone.”

Serotonin is involved in regulating mood, appetite, and sleep, among other things. Low levels of serotonin have been linked to depression and anxiety. When we have healthy levels of SCFAs in our gut, it can lead to increased production of serotonin, which in turn can improve our mood and overall wellbeing.

So, the next time you are feeling down, consider adding some beans to your diet. Not only are they nutritious and filling, but they can also have a positive impact on your microbiome, SCFA production, and serotonin levels – all of which can contribute to a happier and healthier you!

Want to be even happier, blissed out and sleep like a baby?

A high fiber diet like the one above combined with Lava Love CBD may be just the thing to rocket you into a new dimension of heath and wholeness. Use code HALF7 to save a whopping 50 percent on 8 oz CBD today. Raw, vegan, organic and highly effective!

#blissmoods #bettersleep #panicfree

Introducing Cariona, the maker of  super soft and comfortable reusable menstrual pads (which are also odor-free!).

Offering an impressive variety of flow absorption and beautiful prints, the brand is destigmatizing a normal body function. Choose pads based on your individual flow, with fun prints like floral, fruit, and animals, as well as all black options.

Cariona works with women in third-world countries by donating reusable pads. Ensuring girls and adults have access to reusable period products protects their health, relieves the financial burden of constantly buying new ones, ensures they have support for the long-term, and many other reasons. They believe in supporting their global community and strive to offer comfort to those who need it most.

At-A-Glance Features:

• Odor-free, leak-proof, and hypoallergenic
• Soft, absorbent, and comfortable to use
• Available in many fun patterns and sizes
• Pads stay in place and reduce shifting
• Perfect for sensory issues or sensitive skin
• Can be used with seamless underwear
• Three to five-year lifespan
• Always period ready, eliminates period product shortages