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In this conversation, Michelle sits down with educational advocate Sharon Dunlevy to demystify foster-care realities—what licensing really takes, why trauma shows up like “behavior,” and how schools can (and should) support healing with the right plans and people.

Sharon shares:

What becoming a foster parent actually requires. Background checks, home studies, annual license renewals, and 20–40 hours of new training each year—with CPR/First Aid often required in addition (and, in states like Indiana, not counting toward those hours).

IEPs for emotions are real. Trauma can look like ADHD or withdrawal. Under IDEA, kids may qualify via Emotional Disturbance or Other Health Impairment—and supports must match needs, not labels.

Why online “school” isn’t a fix. Post-COVID, many kids were pushed to virtual programs for behavior; most don’t learn there. Trauma-aware classrooms plus in-person connection beat isolation every time.

Brains can heal. Safety, attachment, and repeated positive experiences rewire neural pathways; caregivers can coach “big feelings” into words and regulation without shame.

Caregiver burnout is common—grace is required. Secondary trauma is real. Use respite, therapy, and boundaries. You can’t pour from an empty cup.

Quote to tape on the fridge:
“Listen first. Behavior is a message—decode it before you correct it.”

Whether you’re a foster parent, kinship caregiver, or raising a complex kid, Sharon’s message is simple: steady relationships plus trauma-informed supports turn survival skills into school success.

👤 About Sharon Dunlevy
Sharon is an educational advocate who trains foster parents to navigate schools, secure trauma-aware services, and use IDEA/504 tools to protect kids’ learning.

🔗 Connect with Sharon
Website: www.sharondunlevy.com
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: fostercaretrainingtoday
Instagram: @sharondunlevy72
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sharondunlevy
#ComplexKidsSimpleSolutions #FosterCare #TraumaInformed #ParentBurnout #IEP #504Plan #SchoolAdvocacy #Attachment #Neuroplasticity

Listen to this episode and more at
https://wisdom4complexkids.com/complexkidssimplesolutions

🎧 Connect with Michelle:
Website: www.wisdom4complexkids.com
Instagram: @michellechoairy
Join the community: Wisdom 4 Complex Kids Facebook Group

💌 Have a question or want to share your story? Email Michelle at [email protected]

🧠 Want simple tools that actually work?
Download the free advocacy toolkit: wisdom4complexkids.com/the-ultimate-advocacy-toolkit-pdf