Emergency Foster Bridge Program

Tuolumne County began participating in the Emergency Foster Bridge Program in 2018. The program continues to grow in its capacity to support the resource (foster) families, foster children, and their child care providers. There are three components to this program that are intended to ensure our goals are met.

The Foster Bridge Navigator

Eligible foster parents in Tuolumne County are referred by the Department of Social Services to the Foster Bridge Navigator at ICES for assistance in securing child care through enhanced child care referrals, subsidy application assistance, planning for long-term child care, and connections to community resources.

Emergency Child Care Voucher

Eligible families are referred by the Department of Social Services for time-limited assistance with child care payment.

Trauma-Informed Care Training & Coaching

The TIC Training & Coaching program was developed by the California Resource & Referral Network and West Ed as a component of the Emergency Foster Bridge Program. The intent of this program is to ensure that child care providers are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to support the needs of children who have experienced significant adversity, which may affect their development and behavior. Training and coaching are provided to child care programs county-wide. Providers are connected to community resources and support as needed.

Due to COVID-19, TIC training has been converted into a three-part virtual series. This training series covers two modules:

Coaching

Coaching is a secondary component of the TIC training program. Its purpose is to help providers with the implementation of the strategies learned through training and to provide ongoing support as needed.

Coaching Plans are developed individually to cater to the needs of the child care provider or center staff and the child or children in their care.

Module 1.1: Intro to Trauma

Defining Trauma
The Foster Care System
The Impact of Trauma on the Brain

Module 1.2: Key Strategies for Supporting Children with Histories of Trauma

Identifying Childhood Trauma
Responding to Childhood Trauma

Module 2.1: Strengthening Relationships

Building Resiliency in Children
Creating a Trauma Sensitive Environment
Strategies in the Environment to Reduce Triggers

Module 2.2: Enhancing Caregiver Resiliency

Burnout & Compassion Fatigue
Window of Tolerance
The Impact of Stress
Self-Care Strategies