FOSTER CARE AWARENESS MONTH Every May we recognize Foster Care Awareness Month (FCAM). It’s a month of awareness and reflection, and a time to correct misconceptions, elevate the voices of those with lived experience, and call people to action. The…
Charell’s Foster Care Journey Charell recently joined the Foster Friendly Podcast with America’s Kids Belong and shared her journey involving foster care and where that has ultimately led her. It all started when her great-grandmother fell ill, leading her to enter foster…
Fatherhood is a journey of making and becoming, shaped by relationships, choices, and imagination. In a recent conversation on the Foster Friendly Podcast, author and community building advocate Patton Dodd shared his own candid stories about his own experience with…
Foster care is a journey filled with challenges, joy, heartbreak, and immense love. Many caregivers step into this space with good intentions but often find themselves unprepared for the realities they face. If you’re considering fostering or are fostering, understanding…
In a recent episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, hosts Courtney Williams and Travis Vangsnes welcomed Jeanette Yoffe, a seasoned psychotherapist who herself was in foster care and later adopted. With over 20 years of experience, Jeanette offers a compassionate…
Are you contemplating foster care but unsure how it impacts your family? Or perhaps you’re seeking ways to support foster families beyond opening your home? In this blog, we explore foster care through the inspiring story of foster care influencer,…
Many assume that foster care is solely a system of loss, upheaval, and trauma. And while all these factors are ever present and difficult realities, they don’t tell the whole story for each individual or for the system itself. For…
In a recent episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, hosts Brian Mavis, Courtney Williams, and Travis Vangsnes answered recent listener submitted questions. This was a great way to delve into some of the complexities and emotional nuances of foster care.…
We can’t protect our children from every evil in the world, but what we can do is protect them from a specific group of people. — Krista Ritchie In a recent episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, hosts Brian Mavis and Courtney William engaged in a…
If you’re considering becoming a foster parent, one of the biggest milestones on the journey is the home study. Just hearing the phrase can make people nervous. However, a home study isn’t designed to intimidate you. It’s designed to prepare,…
This post is part of our podcast series on Go Upstream. In Episode 1, we set the stage with the heart behind the book and the vision for a world where every child belongs. “It is easier to build strong…
“Leadership should be born out of the understanding of the needs of those who would be affected by it.” Marian Anderson The Foster Friendly Podcast was excited to welcome the recent guest, Rapid City Mayor Jason Salumun to the show. Jason…
