This time of year, I read and hear lots of questions about the best ways of teaching gratitude. Over the years, the best technique I have found is one simple word — don’t. Read more in today's blog post, up now! ysoacademy.com/pages/blog?p=d…

A story from Southaven, Mississippi, illustrates the importance of good training and policies in how to deal with an issue youth organizations often face— when sexual activity between minors becomes a mandated reporting event. Read more in today's post! ysoacademy.com/pages/blog?p=m…

The winter holidays are a good time to think about how we can help individual foster families. This time of year, there is an even greater need for community support. Today's blog post shares some ways to help those within our networks. ysoacademy.com/pages/blog?p=p…

One common suggestion for foster, adoptive, and blended families during the winter holidays is to create new family traditions. Today's blog post shares some ideas to try for building new traditions that work for you and your family. ysoacademy.com/pages/blog?p=c…

Holidays can be a profoundly difficult time, especially for our foster, adoptive, or stepchildren. Today's blog post shares some insight on how to help our children navigate the holiday season. ysoacademy.com/pages/blog?p=h…

Children's rejection of Plan B parents is rarely about us or our character traits. If you're experiencing rejection from a child, you're not alone. Today's blog post talks about navigating holidays as a foster, adoptive, or stepparent. Full post up now! ysoacademy.com/pages/blog?p=h…

Decorations are packed, guests have left, and your kids are melting down. As a Plan B parent, you may have noticed that the weeks after holiday gatherings can be more difficult than the holiday itself. Today's post shares ways we can respond and help. ysoacademy.com/pages/blog?p=h…

Creating child protection policies is a significant milestone for youth serving organizations (YSO). But writing effective policies is just the beginning. Read more in today's post! ysoacademy.com/pages/blog?p=b…

A recent report out of Sacramento demonstrates how the absence of written documentation can destroy careers, leave children vulnerable, and create institutional failures—even when everyone involved believes they followed proper procedures. ysoacademy.com/pages/blog?p=w…

January is National Mentoring Month. There’s no doubt that mentoring is an incredibly important resource for children who have suffered trauma, but it can be hard to distinguish good mentoring from predatory grooming. Read more in my latest blog post! ysoacademy.com/pages/blog?p=m…

The instinct to fix issues internally, though universal and well-meaning, might be a big mistake for your organization. Read more in today's blog post, "When Good Intentions Meet Bad Allegations: When Your Organization Needs Independent Investigations". ysoacademy.com/pages/blog?p=w…

The decision to bring in an independent investigator represents a turning point for your organization. Debbie Ausburn discusses how to choose an independent investigator in her latest blog post. ysoacademy.com/pages/blog?p=h…

Join us as we discuss the importance of background checks with an expert, Maggie Benson of Sure Check Background Screening. We’ll be live on February 26, 2026 at 1:00 pm EST. To get more information and sign up, visit this page: yso-academy.kit.com/crcwebinar

Is there a way to break cycles and help our kids start to move forward in their lives? Yes! My latest blog post shares some techniques that will help. Find the full post up now on the YSOA blog! ysoacademy.com/pages/blog?p=h…

When looking into independent investigators, it's common to turn to attorneys and former law enforcement. This can be a good instinct, but it is important to look closely to determine if they're a good match. Read more in today's blog post! ysoacademy.com/pages/blog?p=c…

Tom Rawlings and I are speaking at the Safer Churches conference in Atlanta on March 5, 2026. Our topics are clergy privilege and how to audit child protection policies. YSO Academy is a sponsor, and we would love to see you there! ecap.net/saferchurches/

When looking into independent investigators, it's common to turn to attorneys and former law enforcement. This can be good, but it is important to look closely to determine if they're a match for your organization. Read more in today's blog post! ysoacademy.com/pages/blog?p=c…

With Valentine’s Day is coming up, it is a natural time to focus on appreciating our spouses. But sometimes we don’t feel very appreciative, particularly during the difficult journey of parenting a blended or foster family. Read more in today's post! ysoacademy.com/pages/blog?p=a…

Becoming a foster parent is a life-changing decision, and doing so while single can feel daunting. However, with preparation and support, single foster parents can provide a loving and stable environment for children who need it most. ysoacademy.com/pages/blog?p=h…

As Child Abuse Prevention Month begins, it can be a helpful time for Plan B parents to reframe their thinking about prevention and how it relates to their journey and their child's journey. Read more in my latest blog post. ysoacademy.com/pages/blog?p=w…