Vulnerable Children in a Digital Age
What Scripture and Science Say About Early Adversity and Technology
The CAFO Research Center's latest book offers caregivers and practitioners the latest research and hopeful guidance on helping children navigate technology in ways that support long-term healing and resilience.
Christian caregivers and practitioners are guiding vulnerable children through a digital world that is shaping them in powerful and unseen ways.
Yet children who have experienced early adversity are even more susceptible to the neurological, emotional and behavioral risks associated with digital technology use.
Without a clear understanding of this increased sensitivity, well-intentioned decisions may unintentionally increase harm or overlook critical needs. The rapid pace of technological change and mixed messages about its impact can further complicate wise decision-making.
As a result, caregivers are left navigating high-stakes choices without the integrated, faith-grounded and evidence-informed guidance necessary to protect and support these children well.
Navigate Technology Wisely for the Children in Your Care
Vulnerable Children in a Digital Age brings together the wisdom of Scripture and insights from science to help Christian caregivers and practitioners understand what’s at stake and respond with confidence. This book offers practical, evidence-informed strategies to see risks and opportunities, gain actionable practices and navigate emerging challenges. You will be well-equipped to help vulnerable children navigate technology in ways that support long-term healing and resilience.
What to Expect
In Vulnerable Children in a Digital Age, you’ll find a faith-based, science-informed guide to help you understand the unique risks digital technology poses to children who have experienced early adversity — and how to respond with wisdom and care.
A Clear, Integrated Understanding: Gain a deeper understanding of how early adversity and digital technology interact, grounded in both Scripture and scientific research, so you can see risks and opportunities with greater clarity.
Evidence-Informed, Practical Strategies: Find concrete tools and actionable practices to set boundaries, guide technology use and respond to challenges in real-world caregiving and program settings.
A Faith-Guided Framework for Wise Decision-Making: Develop a framework rooted in biblical principles to help you make consistent, discerning decisions about technology use and support long-term healing.
Tools & Templates to Apply Learning (Bonus Feature): Receive access to an exclusive Caregiver Tech Toolkit, a compilation of curated resources to help you implement new learning.
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"In a world where technology is shaping childhood at an unprecedented pace, Vulnerable Children in a Digital Age offers a compassionate and urgently needed guide for caregivers, ministry leaders, educators and professionals serving children impacted by trauma, foster care, adoption and vulnerability."
"Vulnerable Children in a Digital Age makes a timely and important contribution to the growing conversation about child safety, risk and protection in digital environments. Biblically grounded and research-based, it offers a much-needed framework for understanding how existing vulnerabilities may be amplified online and responding to them with greater wisdom, clarity and care."
"Technology use among children and adolescents is one of the most important conversations happening right now, yet children who have experienced early adversity are often overlooked. Vulnerable Children in a Digital Age is a needed resource for our time, equipping readers to create environments and develop practices that help children heal and thrive in the digital age."
"In 30 years of working with vulnerable children, one thing is clear: They need protection and guidance in every area of life, including how technology impacts them. That responsibility belongs to us as safe adults, and this book is an invaluable resource to help us do it right and prevent future harm."
"Vulnerable Children in a Digital Age offers the kind of wisdom I wish every caregiver had. It is deeply grounded in both research and faith, yet so practical for everyday life. We walk away from each page with a better understanding of the risks children face online, but also with the hope and strategies to nurture connection, resilience, and healthy boundaries in this digital age."
"An indispensable guide for the modern caregiver. Vulnerable Children in a Digital Age brilliantly bridges the gap between scientific research and scriptural wisdom, offering a compassionate, 'greenhouse' approach to technology. Instead of advocating for total isolation or unchecked access, this book equips us to build long-term resilience and self-governance in our children — especially those healing from early adversity."
About the Authors
Nicole Gilbertson Wilke, Ph.D
Nicole Wilke, PhD, is a child welfare researcher, missionary, author, and marriage and family therapist dedicated to improving care for vulnerable children and families globally.
She currently serves as Director of the Center on Applied Research for Vulnerable Children and Families, bridging research and practice to improve faith-based care for vulnerable children and families around the globe. Her passion for this field stems from her family's experience with adoption and fostering and her extensive professional work with children and families at risk. Having lived on four continents, Nicole currently resides with her family in Peru, where they work to improve the nationwide system for children in alternative care.
Amanda Hiles Howard, Ph.D
Amanda Hiles Howard, PhD is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Samford University. Her scholarly work centers on understanding the impact of adversity on vulnerable children and their families, with a dedicated focus on enhancing the quality of services provided by communities, organizations, and governments.
Amanda serves as the Senior Scholar for the Christian Alliance for Orphans, supporting faith-based organizations in delivering exemplary care to at-risk children worldwide. In her free time, she enjoys camping and hiking with her husband, John, and their teenage sons, Elias and Silas.
Help Vulnerable Children Navigate Technology with Wisdom and Care
Create a Scripture-guided and evidence-informed plan to wisely steward technology in the lives of children in your care — protecting them from harm and guiding them toward healing and flourishing.
