One Trusted Adult: How to Build Strong Connections & Healthy Boundaries with Young People

Trusted Adults = Accessible, Boundaried, Caring

Research shows that just one trusted adult can have a profound effect on a child’s life, influencing that young person toward positive growth, greater engagement in school and community activities, and better overall health. Those of us who teach and mentor young people must learn to build trust while outlining clearly the limits that keep the relationship healthy and our professional practices sustainable. In this revised edition of One Trusted Adult, you’ll find:

• A new research-backed framework for building trust and strengthening connection with young people
• Updated strategies for setting boundaries that protect young people while also supporting adults’ long-term career sustainability
• A focus on possibility rather than problems, with an emphasis on making care for students visible and intentional
• Practical language to use in daily interactions
• Reflection questions, team-training tools, and concrete strategies for strengthening community

Whether you’re an educator, mentor, coach, administrator, parent, or anyone else supporting youth, this new edition of One Trusted Adult—filled with fresh perspectives and timely insights—will become your companion, your catalyst, and your call to action.