New Year, New Beginnings

By Brenda deLaet, Director of Permanency Training

Happy New Year! I hope you and your family were able to enjoy celebrating the arrival of the new year in a way that felt meaningful. January often arrives with a sense of possibility. Everyone’s talking about New Year’s resolutions, and there’s a new calendar, a clean slate. For foster and adoptive parents however, the idea of a “fresh start” can feel both hopeful and complicated. Our families are built through loss, transition, resilience, and love—often all at once. So, what might January and New Year’s intentions look like for CHS families?  

Traditional resolutions tend to focus on self-improvement: exercising more, eating better, and staying organized. While those goals aren’t bad, foster and adoptive families often benefit from a different kind of focus — one rooted in connection, compassion, and sustainability. Rather than aiming for perfection, January can be an opportunity to reset expectations and recommit to what truly matters. 

A fresh start might begin with grace. Many of our children are navigating big emotions, trauma histories, and ongoing transitions. Progress is rarely linear. As we enter a new year, we can resolve to offer ourselves and our children more grace — grace on hard days, grace when routines fall apart, and grace when healing takes longer than expected. Letting go of the pressure to “fix everything” can create space for growth. 

January can also be a time to strengthen connections. Instead of setting goals around behavior change alone, consider resolutions that build relationships: one-on-one time each week with each child, more shared family meals, or a simple bedtime routine that prioritizes connection over completion. For children who have experienced disrupted attachments, consistency and presence often matter far more than grand gestures. 

For foster and adoptive parents, self-care is not a luxury; it’s essential. A meaningful resolution might be to ask for help sooner, attend a support group, reconnect with a trusted friend, or schedule regular moments of rest. Caring for yourself models healthy coping for your children and helps ensure you can continue showing up for them. 

January is also a good time to revisit routines and support. What worked last year? What didn’t? Small adjustments — earlier bedtimes, clearer expectations, visual schedules, or additional professional support - can make a significant difference. A fresh start doesn’t require an overhaul; sometimes it’s about making one small change that brings more calm into your home. 

Finally, consider involving your children in an age-appropriate way. Some children may enjoy naming hopes for the new year rather than resolutions. Others may prefer focusing on what makes them feel safe or proud. This can empower them and reinforce that their voices matter. 

As we step into January, remember that a fresh start doesn’t erase the past—it builds on it. Our families are shaped by resilience, patience, and love – moment by moment, one day at a time. This year, may our resolutions be gentle, realistic, and rooted in connection. Sometimes the most powerful new beginning is simply choosing to keep going, together. 

We are grateful to have you as part of our CHS family and look forward to walking alongside you in this new year. 

Try This: A Gentle January Reset  

• Choose one word for your family (e.g., calm, connection, patience). Revisit it when days feel hard. 
• Add one small connection ritual — a nightly check-in, a shared song in the car, or a weekly walk. 
• Name one support you’ll lean on this month: a friend, support group, your specialist, or a member of the training team.  
• Let go of one unrealistic expectation — for yourself or your child — and replace it with grace. 
• Celebrate small wins each week, especially effort and progress, not perfection.