Certified Coaches

Hi, I’m Jenna, a certified parent coach and mom to three uniquely designed kids. My parenting journey, including autism, emotional and behavioral challenges, IEPs, foster care, and adoption, has shaped my heart for supporting families, especially those with neurodivergent children. Rooted in faith, grace, and the Connected Families framework, I provide practical tools and encouragement to help parents restore calm, connection, and confidence in their homes, guiding families toward greater joy, peace, and purpose.

Read more…

Serving alongside my husband in Pastoral ministry for over 25 years, I have had the privilege of facilitating numerous parenting classes for the families in our church and have also encouraged and equipped moms in the challenges of motherhood through our MOPS/MomCo and Mom2Mom groups. Throughout the journey of raising our 3 biological children, I’ve grown through reading books for personal growth as well as parenting, especially in the area of overcoming anger. In 2019, we embarked on the journey of foster care and adoption and quickly realized that we needed a new set of parenting tools to address the unique challenges that come when a child has experienced trauma. Connected Families was the answer to our prayers! I’ve been encouraged and filled with hope as I’ve seen the framework help us provide a safe environment for all of our children to flourish and grow in relationship with us and with each other. Read more…

I have a master’s degree in early childhood special education and over 11 years of experience as an educator in special education, preschool, and early elementary. I spent several years as a stay-at-home mom when my children were young and currently teach kindergarten at a Christian school. I have special interests in both children’s and parents’ mental health and working with parents of children with disabilities, neurodivergence, and giftedness. I was honored to help adapt the CF Discipline that Connects course to a professional development workshop for educators and to pilot this program with over 30 kindergarten-8th grade teachers at my current school. I was also a guest on the CF podcast episode 202, “Practical Classroom Management Strategies that Work”. My mission as a Connected Families parent coach is to empower parents and educators with the tools, strategies, and mindset needed to navigate the challenges of raising and educating children in today’s world. My husband and I came to Connected Families as clients in 2019 looking for a better way to parent our two sensitive and intense neurodivergent children. I was immediately impressed by how seamlessly the Connected Families Framework marries current brain research with Biblical truth. Connected Families has transformed not only how I parent but my professional work as an educator and teacher trainer, as well as my personal faith in Jesus. It would be my joy to partner with you as a parenting coach for your family or as a speaker and trainer for your church or school. I am available to coach clients in person in the Twin Cities metro area of Minnesota and worldwide via Zoom. I am available as a workshop speaker for churches and schools in the upper midwest. My prayer for all of my clients is that they will feel equipped to meet the children in their care with true unconditional love while also developing capability, wisdom, and responsibility. Read more…

We had reached a crisis point with one of our boys when we reached out for coaching from Connected Families. Their gospel-infused framework, with very practical tools, has been transformative in so many ways. We wish we had known of Connected Families years ago! Rob is a Physician Assistant and Esther is a nurse and lactation counselor. We currently serve as missionaries in Guatemala. If you are Spanish-speaking, have kids with medical/special needs, or have sensitive or intense children, we would be glad to connect! Cuando llegamos a un punto de crisis con uno de nuestros hijos, empezamos un proceso de coaching con Connected Families. El enfoque céntrico del evangelio y las herramientas prácticas han sido transformadoras en múltiples maneras. ¡Sentimos que hubiera sido bueno conocer de Connected Families hace muchos años! Robert es asociado médico y Esther es una enfermera con especialidad en lactancia materna. Actualmente servimos como misioneros en Guatemala. Si prefieren comunicarse en español, tienen hijos con necesidades especiales o hijos intensivos/sensitivos, sería un gusto platicar. Read more…

My journey to become a parent coach started when God called me and my husband into the process of rebuilding the foundations of our family. Connected Families was the complete answer to our question: “how”. Later I understood that the calling wasn’t only for the sake of our own family, but for something bigger that God is doing in this time. Through the grace of God, we’ve started to see the blessing of the Christ-centered transformation in our family, which is the main vision of Connected Families. I’m a mom of three sensitive and intense kids. I’m excited to coach and walk alongside families who long to see the gospel, God’s love and grace lived true in the midst of all the challenges of the daily life of their family and parenting. I also lead workshops, courses for small groups and translate Connected Families content into the Finnish language, which can help parents, as well as people who work with or are in any close connection with kids. I live and work in Finland. Polkuni vanhemmuuden valmentajaksi alkoi siitä kun Jumala kutsui minut ja mieheni “perheen perustusten uudelleenrakennusprosessiin”. Connected Families on ollut kokonaisvaltainen vastaus “miten”-kysymykseemme. Myöhemmin ymmärsin että tuo kutsu ei ollut vain omaa perhettämme varten, vaan osa jotain suurempaa, mitä Jumala on tekemässä tässä ajassa. Jumalan armosta olemme saaneet alkaa nähdä Kristus-keskeistä muutosta perheessämme, joka on Connected Families:n päänäky. Olen kolmen herkän ja intensiivisen lapsen äiti. Haluan valmentaa rinnalla kulkien perheitä jotka kaipaavat saada nähdä evankeliumin sekä Jumalan armon ja rakkauden tulevan eletyksi todeksi, läpi perheen ja vanhemmuuden haasteiden. Vedän myös työpajoja, kursseja pienryhmille sekä suomennan Connected Families:n sisältöä, josta voi vanhempien lisäksi saada apua kaikki kasvattajat ja lasten kanssa työskentelävät. Asun ja työskentelen Suomessa. Read more…

As a home educator, I understand the lifestyle and parenting challenges unique to homeschooling. I have experience with adoption, ADHD, sensory processing, primitive reflex integration, and highly sensitive children. I am a Connected Families parent coach trainer and work as a mentor and parent coach in the Thive Homeschool community. I also serve parents in my private coaching practice through one-on-one coaching, small group coaching, workshops, and a monthly newsletter. In 2015, our three sensitive and intense boys were 10, 8, and 5. My husband and I were in the same boat as you, struggling with parenting and knowing we needed better tools. We tried many approaches that relied heavily on behavior modification, but those philosophies felt unnatural and manipulative. We may have been getting some results, but they weren’t long-lasting and didn’t help build the family culture we longed for. When we discovered the Connected Families Framework, we found it clear, purposeful, and aligned with our values. It helped us grow wisdom in our kids and build a more connected family. Parent Coaching was the best investment we could have made for our family. It was a transformative experience that gave us a new perspective, helping us connect with our boys before jumping in to correct their behavior. It provided us with accountability and guided us through our unique parenting challenges. Not only has it brought more confidence and clarity to our parenting, but it has also brought more peace to our home. Now that we have two college-age kids and one finishing up homeschooling high school, I see the fruit of the Framework! That’s why I’m so deeply passionate about sharing these tools with families. We have experienced such an amazing transformation, and I am confident I can help your family experience this, too. What a blessing to see how God is equipping parents to disciple their children, who will one day pass this blessing on to their children. God is in the business of redeeming families. It would be an honor to walk alongside you on your journey! If you’re ready to bring more peace and connection to your home, I invite you to visit my website and book a free consultation. Read more…

The Connected Families framework combines all the things that I value–God’s word, brain research, heart transformation, and practical application–and explains it in a way that makes sense. Walking other moms through this framework, and helping them experience God’s grace and truth in their parenting is such a gift. Through parent coaching, you will discover a way of thinking, of being, that informs your parenting and changes the culture of your home. This might be hard, but it is worth it! I look forward to cheering you on along the way! As far as my own journey goes, big meltdowns, hitting, throwing things, and sensory challenges, were some of the reasons I decided to Google “Christian parent coaching.” And there in the search was Connected Families. As I read and listened and learned about the framework and its application, I felt seen. All the unique aspects of my family were acknowledged, and I felt hope that I could do this parenting thing well after all. I am a work in progress still, as we all will be for our whole lives, but every day I see evidence of God at work in me and my children. I rejoice in those victories! I am an adoptive mom of 3 kiddos, a former social worker and foster parent, and the host of the podcast Moms Take Ten. Read more…

I’m a trauma-informed Social Worker, Connected Families Certified Parent Coach, and founder of Truth + Grace. I have a decade of experience serving foster care and adoptive families, people in substance use recovery, and children/adults with mental health or neurodevelopmental conditions. I have personally experienced the life-transforming grace and truth of the gospel in my parenting through Connected Families and I love watching parents light up as they see for themselves how grace-based parenting brings peace and joy back into their homes. I help overwhelmed parents of young kids who are feeling defeated by persistent behavioral challenges, break free from yelling and unhelpful consequences by teaching effective, grace-filled strategies for correcting behavior while maintaining security, love, and connection with their child. ​If you want to enjoy your child again, motivate them towards better behavior, and experience deeper family connections – I would be honored to support you on your journey. I specialize in children’s mental health and trauma prevention. I have experience helping families with kids of all ages and feel especially called to support parents of young children ages 2-10. Read more…

I became a Connected Families Coach to support the parents in our church body and the deeper I go with these materials and methods the more I am inspired! I love Connected Families because it is a call to live out the gospel in our closest relationships. Soaked in scripture, these ways lead each of us in our parenting journey humbly to the Cross of Christ (Do-overs) and help us grow to live out the fruit of the Spirit (restoring our children gently) and inspiring all to be a blessing as we parent with the Connect Families Framework. The majority of my time, outside of the care and keeping of my family (husband Matt and 3 teenagers), is given to leading Kids and Family ministry in Minnesota at my local church. This is work I love! For 8 years, with my team, I have had the great joy of loving on kids in Jesus name and building routines and memories that (I pray) will lead to deep abiding faith and home in the church for all those that grow up in our care. I believe strongly that in Christ “every family under heaven” (Eph 3:15) has been established, you are the right parents for your kids! I would be honored to walk with your family as a coach! It would be my hope to make this information personal and practical, prayerfully considering what your next step might be with all the tools of Connected Families at the ready. Read more…

Welcome to the Connected Families community. We belong together. Please relax and make yourself at home! “Hybrid Educator” describes my journey through Christian education, home education, and public education. My seven children are my favorite teachers! Our current educational landscape includes a university graduate, home school graduate, home school senior, and four public school students (in kindergarten, grade 2, grade 4, and grade 7.) Attending a tiny Christian college in Texas prepared me to teach at Christian schools in the United States and Africa before home-schooling my own children in New Brunswick, Canada. My husband, Michael, and I promoted curriculum at Home School Conventions across the country. Visions of family learning kept me dancing among blissfully harmonious expectations. Reality brought dissonance, overwhelm, and collapse. What was going on in me? What was going on in my children? My husband? Not the slightest clue! Just increasing pressure that I had to keep everyone happy, along with heaps of shame for failing so short of that goal. Without a wisp of awareness. A different question taunted, “What’s wrong with me?” My first encounter with Connected Families was hearing a radio interview that echoed the longing of my heart for true peace in my family. Healing and wholeness are possible! Relief flooded me, and hope carried me forward. Through grace-filled truth in courses, kindness, coaching, prayer, humor, and community, I continue to try again. Connected Families family members help me focus more on Jesus and His wonderful grace every day. How thankful I am for appreciative inquirers! Childlike wonder and curiosity are returning to my heart and home. Connected Families Parent Coaching is a transformational way to share the love I receive. Where are you in your parenting journey? Coaching empowers every parent to discover a unique next step for their divinely and intricately designed family. Let’s learn and grow together! Many of my “dance steps” remain awkward (and embarrassing for my children). Practicing to the music of God’s mercy is a delight. Connected Family resources are a gift from heaven. You don’t have to take my word for it! Where do you want to start? Linger on the Connected Families website discovering beautiful eternal harmonies. You might even find yourself dancing. “Lord, You are my true strength and my glory song, my champion, my Saviour! Songs of joy and victory are sung in the camp of the godly. The strong right arm of the Lord has done glorious things!” Psalm 118:14-15 Read more…

I am a registered nurse by trade and work in a Mom/Baby Unit – the best unit in the hospital. As much of an honor as it is to welcome new life into the world, it is an even greater honor to be a parent coach! I have three beautiful, unique, and passionate children. As they grew from babies into tiny humans, I quickly realized that all the books I had read on parenting weren’t enough. I didn’t have a practical plan for the way I felt God was calling me to raise my children. When my husband and I went through coaching, our perceptions changed. We now have hope and a God-honoring plan for parenting that combines my love for science with the grace and love of the Gospel. Coaching gave me the gift of connecting with my children in the most challenging moments. I feel I have been blessed to now be a blessing to others. It would be a joy and honor to support you in your parenting journey. Read more…

We are passionate about introducing parents who are tired of trying harder to a way of trying differently through the Connected Families Framework. Grounded in the Gospel and up to date with research in neuroscience, Connected Families teaches how to connect with your children with both messages of grace and accountability. We desire to walk with families as they cast a vision for building wisdom in their children over time. Tara is a middle school teacher turned stay-at-home mom and home educator to our 5 kids ages 0-11. In addition to being a busy dad and husband, David is an actuary and a lay pastor. He is available to coach with Tara upon request. His passion includes walking with other dads in their parenting journey. We are so grateful for Connected Families’ impact on our own family as it has strengthened our relationship with God, each other, and our children. Read more…