Why Trust-Based Relational Intervention® Is Essential for Every Foster and Adoptive Home
When a child enters foster care or an adoptive placement, they bring more than a suitcase and a story—they bring experiences that have shaped their brain, their sense of safety, and the way they connect with the world. As caregivers, churches, and child-serving professionals, our greatest calling is to meet those needs with wisdom, compassion, and tools that actually help.
That’s why we are thrilled to introduce our newest training:
📘 TBRI 101: Building Trust and Connection from Day One.
A foundational course designed to equip you with the principles and practices of Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®).
This training will be led by Jessica, a seasoned TBRI Practitioner, Family Advocacy Director at Faith Church in Anderson, Indiana, and a longtime voice of hope in the foster and adoptive community. Married to her husband for 29 years, a homeschooling mom of two, and a leader deeply invested in family well-being, Jessica brings both professional expertise and real-life parenting wisdom to this course.
Why TBRI® Matters Now More Than Ever
Children from hard places don’t simply need a home—they need healing relationships. Traditional discipline models often fall short because they address behavior but not the pain beneath the behavior.
TBRI®—a research-based, trauma-informed approach—changes that.
Developed by Dr. Karyn Purvis and Dr. David Cross, TBRI® equips caregivers to understand trauma’s impact on the brain and body, and to respond in ways that build connection rather than fear or shame. It is one of the most respected models in child welfare today because:
- It is rooted in attachment science
- It prioritizes felt safety
- It focuses on strengthening relationships instead of controlling behavior
- It gives caregivers practical steps that work in real homes with real kids
Every foster or adoptive parent who has ever asked, “Why is this happening?” or “What do I do next?” will find answers—and hope—through TBRI.
What This Course Covers
In TBRI 101: Building Trust and Connection from Day One, participants will learn:
➡ The Core Principles of TBRI®
You’ll explore the Connecting, Empowering, and Correcting principles—the “why” and “how” behind meeting the needs of children with trauma histories.
➡ How Trauma Shapes Behavior and Attachment
Children do not fear because they misbehave—they fear because their early experiences taught them the world is unsafe. Understanding this changes everything.
➡ Practical Strategies You Can Use Immediately
This course equips you for day one—how to create felt safety, reduce fear-based responses, and build connection from the moment a child arrives.
➡ How TBRI Differs from Traditional Discipline
Many caregivers discover that what worked with their biological children doesn’t work with kids from hard places. TBRI helps bridge that gap.
Who This Course Is For
- Foster and adoptive parents
- Caseworkers and agency staff
- Kinship caregivers
- Church volunteers
- Anyone supporting vulnerable children and families
If you care for children who have experienced trauma, this training is for you.
Meet Jessica Aaron: Your Guide Through TBRI® Basics
Jessica brings more than credentials—she brings heart.
As a mom, a ministry leader, a monthly support group facilitator, and a TBRI Practitioner, she has walked with countless families through the highs and lows of the foster and adoptive journey.
Her approach is warm, practical, and grounded in experience. Whether she’s teaching how trauma impacts behavior or showing caregivers how to use connection strategies at home, Jessica’s passion shines through everything she does.
In her free time, you’ll find her outdoors, soaking up sunshine or relaxing around a campfire with her family—a rhythm of peace she helps families discover in their own homes through TBRI principles.
Why This Training Matters for Our Mission
Our work in the foster and adoptive community is about more than meeting needs—it’s about changing stories.
TBRI® empowers caregivers to:
- build trust
- create secure attachments
- reduce behavioral crises
- promote healing through connection
When caregivers are equipped, children thrive.
When children thrive, families stabilize.
When families stabilize, communities are transformed.
TBRI isn’t just a model—it’s a lifeline. And this course is your invitation to learn it.
Coming Soon
TBRI 101: Building Trust and Connection from Day One will be available soon through our training platform. Stay tuned for registration details and release dates.
If you work with children from hard places—whether in your home, your church, or your community—this course is a must.
Together, let’s build homes and environments where every child feels seen, safe, and deeply valued.