Supporting children well takes more than simply managing behavior. Parents and educators need practical tools to understand what children are communicating, respond confidently to challenging moments, and build relationships that help children grow.

Rooted Foundations Initiative offers engaging, relationship-based parent education and educator professional development for schools, preschools, churches, and community organizations.

Led by Julia Friar, MSW, a social work professional and Certified Positive Discipline Parent and Classroom Educator, each program combines professional knowledge with realistic strategies adults can begin using immediately.

Now booking programs for the 2026–27 school year and beyond.

Signature Programs

FROM CHAOS TO CONNECTION

Parent Workshop | 60–75 Minutes | $500

Practical tools for less yelling, fewer power struggles, and more cooperation at home.

Parenting can quickly become a cycle of repeating, reminding, negotiating, yelling, and wondering why nothing seems to work.

This practical parent workshop helps families understand what may be underneath challenging behavior while learning simple strategies for creating greater cooperation and connection at home.

Parents will learn how to:

• Understand what children's behavior may be communicating

• Use kindness and firmness at the same time

• Reduce unnecessary power struggles

• Give directions in ways that encourage cooperation

• Use limited choices and calm follow-through

• Respond to challenging moments without relying on yelling, threats, or shame

Parents leave with practical language and tools they can begin using with their children right away.

Investment: $500

RAISING RESILIENT KIDS

Parent Workshop | 60–75 Minutes | $500

Helping children navigate big feelings, frustration, mistakes, disappointment, and life's challenges.

We want our children to be confident and resilient—but resilience isn't built by making sure children never struggle.

This workshop helps parents learn how to support children through difficult emotions and everyday challenges without immediately rescuing, fixing, or removing every obstacle.

Parents will learn how to:

• Help children navigate big emotions

• Validate feelings while still maintaining boundaries

• Know when to help—and when to allow appropriate struggle

• Respond constructively to mistakes and failure

• Encourage problem-solving and independence

• Build confidence through capability rather than constant praise

• Help children develop the belief, “I can handle hard things.”

Parents leave with practical strategies for raising children who feel supported while becoming increasingly capable and confident.

Investment: $500

BEYOND THE BEHAVIOR

Educator Professional Development | 90 Minutes | $750

Understanding what's underneath challenging behavior—and responding with connection, consistency, and confidence.

Challenging behavior can quickly become one of the most exhausting parts of working with children.

But behavior rarely tells the whole story.

This professional-development session helps educators look beyond simply stopping unwanted behavior to understand what may be contributing to it—and how to respond in ways that maintain clear expectations while teaching the skills children need.

Educators will learn how to:

• Identify what may be underneath challenging behavior

• Set developmentally appropriate expectations

• Use connection before correction

• Maintain kind and firm classroom boundaries

• Respond to defiance, dysregulation, and power struggles

• Redirect behavior without shame

• Use practical strategies that encourage regulation and cooperation

• Build belonging, responsibility, and capability in the classroom

Educators leave with realistic strategies and language they can begin using in their classrooms immediately.

Investment: $750

What Your Program Includes

Every Rooted Foundations program includes:

• Engaging, practical instruction

• Real-life examples and immediately usable strategies

• Guided reflection and opportunities for questions

• Take-home resources for participants

• Programming led by Julia Friar, MSW

• A supportive, judgment-free approach to parenting and behavior

Programs can be offered as a school parent night, PTO/PTA program, preschool parent event, faculty professional-development session, church family-ministry event, moms-group program, or community workshop.

Meet Julia

Julia Friar, MSW
Social Work Professional | Certified Positive Discipline Parent Educator | Certified Positive Discipline Classroom Educator | Speaker

Julia is a social work professional and family educator with a background centered on children, youth, and families. She is a Certified Positive Discipline Parent Educator and Certified Positive Discipline Classroom Educator and has experience supporting children and families across clinical, educational, advocacy, and community settings.

Through Rooted Foundations Initiative, Julia translates relationship-based principles and professional knowledge into practical strategies parents and educators can actually use in everyday life.

Her approach is warm, realistic, and judgment-free. Rather than expecting perfect parents, perfect teachers, or perfectly behaved children, Julia helps adults better understand behavior, strengthen connection, maintain healthy boundaries, and confidently guide children as they develop the skills they need.