Certified Coaches

Uwera Astrida is a parenting coach based in Rwanda. She helps parents build peaceful, connected homes using practical, grace-based tools inspired by the Connected Families framework. With experience mentoring children of different ages and backgrounds, she brings deep empathy and an understanding of African cultural realities.

Astrida equips parents to communicate with confidence, manage conflict, understand behavior, and raise children who feel safe, loved, and capable.

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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…

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…

As a counselor, homeschool mom of three, and pastor’s wife, I understand that every child, parent, and family is unique, and a one-size-fits-all approach to parenting is not sufficient. At Cedar Cove, we offer Christ-centered counseling to all ages, virtually and in person. As a counselor, I blend these skills and practices into my parent coaching. Counseling has given me a knowledge of relational and mental health struggles, giving me the ability to help parents and kids who are struggling at this level. Homeschooling my own sensitive and intense kids has given me insight into the particular challenges that can occur in this context. My husband has been in school or in ministry for the duration of our marriage. While this dynamic has been challenging at times, it has grown me in my ability to help those struggling in similar ways. In each of these settings, I have helped parents and children suffering from anxiety, depression, OCD, self-injury, ADHD, ASD, ODD, and PTSD. I have helped people walk through difficult transitions, grief and loss, and painful relationships. I offer a free consultation call to any family interested in pursuing parent coaching with me. Send me an email to set this up! I look forward to hearing your struggles and walking with you through them. Read more…

Discouraged? Overwhelmed? I’ve been there! Parenthood challenged me beyond myself, and Connected Families (CF) offered me hope to a level I previously thought was unattainable. While I looked at many other parenting resources first, once I found CF, everything else fell short in comparison. I love how deeply rooted the CF Framework is in both scripture and brain research. As your parent coach, I can help you understand the CF Framework and how it applies to your unique situation. Perhaps you’re reading my bio because you know me, or you know Connected Families. I can tell you that I was in a challenging home environment and felt called to invest in changing my family. The leap was absolutely worth it, and I’d love to talk through any questions you may have in a free fifteen-minute phone consultation. Below is my contact information, and below that is an easy-to-fill-out form if you would rather reach out without clicking any links. Read more…

As an adoptive mama of sensitive and intense kiddos, I found Connected Families while searching for resources to help my family thrive. The Connected families framework is practical without being prescriptive. I love how it takes God’s Word and our relationship with Him and integrates the latest brain science to guide our relationships. When I feel stuck in a situation, I can use the framework to process the next steps. Since becoming a parent, I have learned how uniquely and wonderfully each child is made. What “works” on one child doesn’t necessarily “work” on the next. This framework takes the “what” and makes it personal for each kid. I have 3 very different children and find that my interaction with each one is unique, yet the principles behind them remain the same. I can help you apply the framework for your family. I understand the family dynamics of children with mental health issues, ADHD, and intense feelings/behaviors. And, after the loss of my husband to cancer, I know what it is like to be a solo parent. God’s grace is enough. He says that He has given us everything we need for life and Godliness. I believe the framework is one of those gifts. I am excited to help you unpack it! 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 Thrive 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! 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…

By the grace of God, I have been involved in children’s ministry at different levels for more than 20 years. Children are gifts from God and they are given for purpose. As it is written in Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good work, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” This is not only for adults, it includes children. So, parents are responsible for helping children to fulfill their calling. I am always telling parents that parenting is not an option. The Connected Families Framework changed my attitude and approach to parent training. We need God’s grace and wisdom to serve and save children for eternal life. We have to encourage and learn from one another for good work. I am living in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where I work in children’s ministry for Wycliffe Ethiopia Bible Translation Association. I am passionate about encouraging and empowering Ethiopian parents wherever they are to raise their children in God’s grace. 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…

Lydia Rex is a mom of 2, Trust Based Relational Intervention practitioner, and Connected Families Certified Parent Coach. Formerly on staff at Connected Families, she has a special love for “sensitive and intense” kids and parents and the transformation that occurs when families grow and heal together! Lydia currently works with adoptive families as the Director of Family Support at Bien Aimé Farm in MN. Read more…

I am a part-time pediatrician, a full-time wife, a full-time mom of three energetic boys, and also a certified parent coach through Connected Families! My family loves to laugh and make memories, but we have often struggled in the day-to-day details. We believe the Lord has made each one of us just as we are, and we trust that He has a plan for our family, through both blessings and trials. Words often heard in our stories include ADHD, autism, anxiety, anger…we call them the A’s! Oh, and sometimes we can throw in asthma and allergies too! As you can imagine, parenting has not been an easy journey. Within our family, we have had struggles, anger, many tears, frustrations, hurt feelings, and even feelings of hopelessness. A friend told us about Connected Families several years ago, and my husband and I dove into all their resources we could get our hands on! Everything Connected Families has to offer is filled with HOPE! As we learned more about the framework, especially that our boys needed to feel safe and loved first, before we could teach them or correct them in anything, our family began to turn around. We are by no means perfect, and even though our boys are older—all teens now, we are still in the thick of it and continue to need the framework to guide us every day. In the end, our hope is we would always come back to our foundation—resting in Him—Jesus, our Rock, and our Refuge! As a pediatrician with 25+ years of experience, I seem to have also collected many patients and families who struggle with the same things we do—ADHD, autism, anxiety, and the heartache and challenges that come along with them. This has not been intentional, but I know that I am able to relate to families both as a doctor and as a Mom who “gets it.” It was also in this light that I was excited to see the development of Connected Families’ Sensitive & Intense Kids online course. In my pediatric work, I have never been able to find anything like it! The Sensitive & Intense Kids course, along with all Connected Families resources, is a beautiful blend of brain science, decades of experience, and a faith-based foundation. It has been my joy to begin sharing parts of what I have learned from this course within my pediatric practice and to watch parents also begin to see the glimmer of hope. Through coaching with me, either in general parenting, or specifically with sensitive & intense kids, this would be my vision for you as well–not to be your doctor, but to be your coach and still be that Mom who “gets it,” who now has been equipped with resources and tools to encourage you and guide you in a way that offers more hope to your parenting! During our sessions, my intention would be for you to feel comforted in knowing you are not alone and strengthened with a renewed vision for the days ahead in your family. “And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.” Matthew 7:25 Read more…