In this final episode of the “Aging Out” series on the Foster Friendly Podcast, hosts Travis Vangsnes and Kristen Allender welcome Adrienne Caldwell, author of ‘Unbroken: Life Outside the Lines.’ Adrienne shares her gritty and powerful journey through foster care, detailing her experiences with trauma, resilience, and the importance of supportive relationships. She reflects on her time in a therapeutic foster home and the contrasting experience of living with a host family in Germany, emphasizing the need for better support and understanding within the child welfare system.
Adriene and the hosts discuss the challenges faced by foster youth, the importance of education and training for foster parents, and her journey of writing a book to raise awareness and provide resources. The discussion highlights the need for better support systems for kids in care, especially as they age out of the system, and emphasizes the importance of community engagement and ongoing training for foster families.
Grab a copy of Adriene’s book Unbroken:
https://a.co/d/0chJ20XA
Takeaways:
- Adrienne’s mother was untreated schizophrenic and physically abusive.
- She was placed in foster care at 12 years old.
- Adrienne experienced severe emotional and psychological abuse in foster care.
- She won a congressional scholarship for a foreign exchange program to Germany.
- The host family in Germany provided a healthy and respectful environment.
- Adrienne emphasizes the importance of therapy for children in foster care.
- She critiques the profit-driven foster care system.
- Oversight of foster care programs is critically needed.
- Adrienne’s experiences highlight the long-term effects of trauma.
- She advocates for better support systems for aging out foster youth. Only 3% of foster kids go on to college, highlighting a significant gap in educational support.
- Foster parents often lack adequate training to handle the complexities of foster care.
- Adriene’s book aims to serve as a resource for training foster families.
- Therapy should be mandatory for all foster children to address their emotional needs.
- A comprehensive action plan is essential for foster youth aging out of the system.
- Foster care experiences can vary widely, and many youth desire independence.
- Community engagement is crucial for supporting foster youth post-care.
- Writing about her experiences was a triggering but necessary process for Adriene.
- Foster families need to understand the trauma that children in care have experienced.
- There is a need for better vocational training and support for foster youth.
