How Family Dynamics are Unique in Kinship Families
World-renowned kinship expert, Dr. Joseph Crumbley, will explain how family dynamics in kinship families differ from those in other families.
Children frequently arrive on a family member’s doorstep with little warning. They may have experienced traumatic, life-changing events by witnessing substance use or domestic violence, or having a parent die or be incarcerated. They may have experienced separation, abuse, or neglect, the consequences of which may be felt over the long term in the form of attachment issues, challenging behavior, and struggles in school.
Kin caregivers often struggle with their own trauma and experience anger, guilt, and shame, especially when it is their own adult children who are unable to parent. They may experience disappointment at having to put their own plans on indefinite hold, or a sense of being completely overwhelmed and unprepared for being a caregiver at their current stage of life.
This webinar, co-hosted by Network partner ZERO TO THREE, will address how trauma can present in both kin caregivers and children in their care, and how it impacts relational health. Explore practices associated with trauma-informed care to better support the kin caregivers you serve. Our presenter is Dr. Mike Sherman, a licensed clinical psychologist and NAPA/UC Davis Infant-Parent Mental Health fellow. Dr. Sherman is an expert in infant and early childhood mental health and has presented internationally. For more than 15 years, he has worked at the nexus of community mental health and child welfare programs, including direct service provision, supervision, training, consulting, program development and administration. His work focuses on the integration of mental health in community and child welfare systems and the intersection of trauma- and relationally-driven practice.
This webinar will be supplemented by two learning community sessions, where you can take a deeper dive into this topic and participate in highly interactive conversations with your peers. One session, led by Dr. Sherman, will focus on trauma in children using a case study approach. The second session will focus on trauma in caregivers, engaging a panel of kin caregivers, facilitated by Network Subject Matter Expert Dr. Joseph Crumbley. You will need to register for these learning community sessions separately, using the links below.
Wednesday, June 3, 2026 – 3:00-4:00 p.m. ET – Learning Community Session
Case Studies with Dr. Mike Sherman: Explore how traumatic life experiences can present in children, from newborns through teens, and participate in an interactive discussion on supportive strategies. Register for June 3.
Wednesday, June 17, 2026 – 2:00-3:00 p.m. ET – Learning Community Session
Panel Discussion with Dr. Joseph Crumbley: Join us for a panel discussion with kin caregivers on traumatic life experiences from their perspective, and how agencies can best support them and their families. Register for June 17.
See Upcoming Events
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Trauma-Informed Care for Kinship/
Grandfamilies This webinar, co-hosted by Network partner ZERO TO THREE, will address how trauma can present in both kin caregivers and children in their care and how it impacts relational health.
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Housing for Grandfamilies: A Rising Need
As social service agencies and policy makers grapple with increasing demands for grandfamily and kinship housing, this webinar features two organizations that are providing much-needed housing for grandfamilies.
