Kate and Brian Cairns are social workers and professional trainers. They are also parents. Several years ago, their family, which already included biological children, took in 12 more children over a span of 25 years, who remain members of the family to this day.

In this important and exciting book, they draw on the wealth of their personal and professional experience to provide a glimpse into the reality of family life with children who have experienced overwhelming stress. Through specific incidents, they vividly describe how the family responded to the needs of children who express strong emotions and exhibit difficult behaviors as a result of attachment issues, loss, abuse, and trauma.

Kate and Brian present different sides of this shared experience. Kate's writing focuses on trauma and brain damage, based on theory and research, and how these can be harnessed to work restoratively for children. Brian's work is purely practical. He explores everyday approaches and strategies that will promote resilience and empower the healing process.

Anyone interested in children who have been removed from their families or who work with them will find many inspiring, enlightening, and supportive insights into the positive outlook of this important work in this book.