Category Foster Friendly Podcast

In this episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, Brian Mavis and Courtney Williams interview Larry and Tammy May, a couple who adopted a child after their own children had grown up. The conversation explores their decision to adopt, the challenges they faced, and the importance of being brave and stepping out of the norm. They discuss the partnership between them and how they supported each other throughout the adoption process. The Mays also share their experiences of raising a child from a hard place and how it differed from raising their biological children. 

Overall, the episode highlights the importance of considering adoption at any stage of life and the rewards it can bring. Larry and Tammie May share their experience of becoming empty nesters and deciding to open their home to a child in need. They adopted internationally from El Salvador and were unaware of the crisis in the foster care system until they saw the staggering number of children in need. This realization led them to become CASA volunteers, advocating for children in the court system. They encourage others in the retirement stage of life to find ways to make a difference, emphasizing that retirement doesn't mean ceasing to work but rather finding the next adventure. They also highlight the importance of compassion and understanding for both the children and their biological parents in the foster care system. Through their work with Indiana Kids Belong, they raise awareness and engage businesses and faith communities to support children in foster care.

Takeaways

- Adoption is a viable option for couples at any stage of life, including empty nesters.

- Being brave and stepping out of the norm can lead to fulfilling experiences and making a difference in the lives of children.

- Having a strong partnership and supporting each other is crucial when considering adoption.

- Raising a child from a hard place can be challenging but also rewarding, and previous parenting experience can provide valuable insights.

- Adoption is a journey that requires thought, prayer, and openness to God's guidance. Becoming empty nesters can be an opportunity to open your home to a child in need and make a difference in their life.

- Retirement doesn't mean ceasing to work, but rather finding the next adventure and making a meaningful impact.

- Compassion and understanding are essential when working with children in the foster care system and their biological parents.

- There are various ways to support children in foster care, such as becoming a CASA volunteer or engaging businesses and faith communities to raise awareness and provide resources.

More from America's Kids Belong:

Learn more about being a foster or adoptive parent or supporting those who are in your community.

Meet kids awaiting adoption.

Please consider donating today to support our mission to dramatically improve the experiences and outcomes for kids in foster care.

Becca Bramley, a foster care caseworker, discusses her background and role as a therapeutic foster care program manager. She explains the difference between general foster homes and therapeutic foster homes, highlighting the intensive support provided by the latter. Becca also delves into the concept of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and the impact of trauma on children in care. She emphasizes the importance of finding qualified foster parents, particularly for teenagers who often face conflict with their parents. The need for stable homes for older youth is a national trend in foster care.

Becca also discusses the importance of understanding the needs and experiences of foster children. She emphasizes the need to approach their behavior with empathy and compassion, recognizing that trauma and pain are often behind their actions. Becca shares an inspirational story of a group of siblings placed in different foster homes but maintained a strong bond and continued to support each other. She also addresses the issue of caseworker burnout and highlights the importance of self-care and staying authentic to provide the best support for children and families.

Takeaways
- Therapeutic foster homes provide intensive support for children with high-intensity needs, while general foster homes offer less intensive care.
- Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are traumatic experiences that children endure, and they can have a significant impact on their well-being.
- Finding qualified foster parents is crucial, especially for teenagers who often face conflict with their parents.
- Stable homes for older youth are in high demand in the foster care system.
- Understanding and addressing the underlying trauma behind a child's behavior is essential for effective care and support. Approach the behavior of foster children with empathy and compassion, recognizing that there is often trauma and pain behind their actions.
- Maintaining sibling relationships is crucial for the well-being of foster children, even if they are placed in different foster homes.
- Caseworker burnout is a significant issue in the child protection sector, and self-care and authenticity are essential for managing the emotional challenges of the job.
- Supporting foster families is just as important as being a foster family, as it helps them stay in the game and love the children well.
- Continued education and seeking therapy can help caseworkers develop the skills and tools necessary to support children with trauma.

More from America's Kids Belong:

Learn more about being a foster or adoptive parent or supporting those who are in your community.

Meet kids awaiting adoption.

Please consider donating today to support our mission to dramatically improve the experiences and outcomes for kids in foster care.

In this conversation, hosts Brian and Travis interview Britt Kelley, Foster Friendly Manager with Colorado Kids Belong. Britt is a former foster youth alumni and shares about her experiences as a teenager in foster care. They discuss the challenges faced by teens in foster care, the importance of supportive foster families, and the need for empathy and understanding. Britt shares her personal journey and offers insights into what foster youth need most from adults. The conversation highlights the significance of providing stability, predictability, and a sense of belonging to teenagers in foster care.

Takeaways

- Teens in foster care face unique challenges and need supportive foster families.

- Stability, predictability, and a sense of belonging are crucial for teenagers in foster care.

- Foster parents should involve teens in decision-making and help them navigate major life decisions.

- Teens in foster care often have a deep sense of empathy and a desire to help others.

- It is important to recognize the worth and value of teens in foster care and provide them with love and support.

More from America's Kids Belong:

Learn more about being a foster or adoptive parent or supporting those who are in your community.

Meet kids awaiting adoption.

Please consider donating today to support our mission to dramatically improve the experiences and outcomes for kids in foster care.

In this lively conversation, hosts Brian, Travis, and Courtney discuss the movie 'Sound of Hope' and its portrayal of a church in Possum Trot, Texas, that adopted 77 kids. They share their personal reactions to the movie and highlight the importance of understanding the context and time period in which the story takes place.

They discuss the need for trauma-informed training and support for foster and adoptive families within churches. They also emphasize the significance of creating a community that embraces and supports these families. The hosts also engage in a conversation around practices and paradigms for churches that are crucial in supporting and retaining foster families well and holistically. They also talk about criticisms they've heard from peoples' experiences around churches that have failed to meet the needs of foster families and make them feel like they belong.  The conversation concludes with recommendations for resources and training for churches interested in getting involved in foster care and adoption and caring for their people well.

More from America's Kids Belong:

Learn more about being a foster or adoptive parent or supporting those who are in your community.

Meet kids awaiting adoption.

Please consider donating today to support our mission to dramatically improve the experiences and outcomes for kids in foster care.

In this heartwarming episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, hosts Brian and Travis interview Woody and Mindy Houser, an inspiring couple from South Dakota who specialize in caring for children with high-level medical needs. The Housers share their journey into foster care, which began after the stillbirth of their daughter and led them to adopt two children from Korea and eventually foster children with significant medical needs.

Woody and Mindy discuss the challenges and rewards of fostering medically fragile children, emphasizing the importance of flexibility and support. Their real estate and property management business provides the necessary flexibility to attend numerous medical appointments and provide the specialized care these children need. They highlight how their own children have been positively impacted by their foster siblings, developing compassion and a sense of responsibility.

The episode explores the Housers' experiences with various medical conditions, including genetic syndromes and the use of medical equipment like ventilators and feeding tubes. They also discuss the importance of building a strong medical team and the support they receive from healthcare professionals.

Woody and Mindy emphasize that you don't need a medical background to foster medically fragile children—just a willingness to learn and a big heart. They provide practical advice for prospective foster parents, including the importance of building relationships with medical professionals and leveraging community resources.

Throughout the episode, the Housers' dedication and love for their foster children shine through, offering valuable insights and inspiration for anyone interested in foster care, especially for children with special needs.

In this latest episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, hosts Courtney and Travis are joined by Dr. John DeGarmo, a renowned foster care expert who has fostered over 60 children and is the director of the Foster Care Institute. Dr. DeGarmo is a global keynote speaker and foster care consultant, best selling author, and trauma informed presenter and trainer.

Dr. DeGarmo shares his extensive experience in the foster care system, highlighting the challenges faced by foster parents and the child welfare system. Dr. DeGarmo discusses the importance of both recruiting and retaining foster parents, noting that many foster parents leave within 18 months due to the overwhelming demands and lack of support. He emphasizes the need for comprehensive training for foster parents, particularly in handling mental health issues, which have surged among children during the pandemic and beyond.

The episode delves into the impact of the lockdowns on foster children, who lost access to essential support services, schooling, and in-person therapy. Dr. DeGarmo explains how these disruptions have exacerbated mental health issues and the importance of addressing these challenges to better support foster children.

Dr. DeGarmo also touches on the significant issue of social media and online safety, highlighting the vulnerability of foster children to online predators and the importance of training foster parents to navigate these dangers. Additionally, he discusses the systemic issues in the foster care system, including the high turnover rate of caseworkers and the need for better support and resources for both foster parents and children.

Throughout the episode, Dr. DeGarmo provides valuable insights and practical advice for fostering, underscoring the importance of community support and the role everyone can play in helping children in crisis.

Contact Dr. DeGarmo (for speaking and consulting) or access his vast array of resources in all things related to foster care.

More from America's Kids Belong:

Learn more about being a foster or adoptive parent or supporting those who are in your community.

Meet kids awaiting adoption.

Please consider donating today to support our mission to dramatically improve the experiences and outcomes for kids in foster care.

This week’s conversation explores how being in foster care impacts education. Dr. Danisha Keating is a former foster youth, a CEO, an international motivational speaker, and an author. She shares her personal journey and the challenges faced by foster youth in education. Dr. Keating also discusses the emotional struggles and trauma that foster youth experience, as well as the common lack of understanding and support from teachers and educators who often don't understand the implications of foster care. The conversation explores the importance of advocating for foster youth and helping them find their passion.

Dr. Danisha's book, 'From Foster to PhD: Letters from a Suitcase,' aims to motivate foster youth and educate others about the emotional aspects of their experiences. The conversation also touches on the need for empathy, support, and resources for foster youth in their educational journey. Children in foster care often experience frequent school changes, resulting in significant academic setbacks. Studies show that foster youth are more likely to graduate high school at a lower rate and have significantly lower rates of post-secondary education compared to their peers.

The education gaps can be overwhelming for both foster parents and youth, but it's important to recognize that catching up may not always be realistic. Dr. Danisha shares more thoughts around different approaches at looking at gaps and prioritizing real needs. Danisha really highlights the role of advocacy as foster parents. The goal should be to help foster youth find value in their education and empower them to define their own path.

The three also discuss Danisha's new documentary film, '33 Roofs' that highlights (from her own story) the educational and homelessness barriers faced by foster youth and how people can support them.

Connect with Danisha and check out her array of resources:

Learn more about being a foster or adoptive parent or supporting those who are in your community.

Meet kids awaiting adoption.

Please consider donating today to support our mission to dramatically improve the experiences and outcomes for kids in foster care.

Statistics cited in this episode:

1. Months of academic setbacks with each placement
2. Foster care-education outcomes
3. Additional resources and stats on education outcomes

In this episode, we explore the sobering and eye-opening correlation of many former foster youth who end up incarcerated. Social policy experts have deemed this all too common reality as the "foster to prison pipeline." Our guest, Bernie Lattner, has an extremely unique and helpful vantage into this phenomonen as a long time foster dad, mentor, and prison chaplain for a federal prison in Rochester, MN. Bernie is a single foster and adoptive dad and shares some really important insights through the lenses of fostering and being a prison chaplain.

Bernie, Travis, and Courtney engage in a conversation that explores some of the factors that connect the dots between foster care and criminal problems later. Bernie shares insights from prisoners on the things they now realize would have helped them when they were youth looking to find belonging and connection.

Bernie shares his story of growing up with a single father and becoming a foster father to three boys by 2006. He describe the struggles and joys of fostering, especially, kids that have reactive attachment disorder and other behavioral problems. Bernie also mentions his present case of working with a 17-year-old boy who, with Bernie’s intervention and assistance, was able to complete high school. Bernie shares an incredible story of a heart warming moment they share at his graduation.

Helpful information for single fathers and men who are thinking about becoming foster parents can be heard as well in this episode. Join us and listen to Bernie’s incredible story and get the understanding of fostering, adoption and mentoring from the person who has devoted his life to the well-being of the children and families.

Learn more about being a foster or adoptive parent or supporting those who are in your community.

Meet kids awaiting adoption.

Please consider donating today to support our mission to dramatically improve the experiences and outcomes for kids in foster care.

Statistics cited in this episode:
1. Criminal Law Practitioner
2. Youth Today

Tina gives her testimony of being in the foster care system then being adopted. She is able to discuss what she had to go through during her time in foster care and her experience of recovering from the effects of being in foster care after being adopted. Tina elaborates on the issues of reciprocal adoption of siblings and the role she played as a mother figure in her brother’s life. She also talks about what led her to return to foster care as an adult and speak for those children who are waiting to be adopted. To the prospective and current foster parents, Tina offers them some tips to go by among them being to always avoid burning out. The last part of the conversation is a success story of three brothers brought together and adopted as a set. Seventy-five percent of siblings in foster care are separated, which severely affects children’s well-being and creates trauma. The main cause for the separation is the inability of foster homes to accommodate all the siblings. However, one should take into account additional and avoidable harms inflicted by splitting siblings. Children who remain with their siblings are better off in their transition and benefit from better academic, behavioral, and health status. However, there are occasions when it is better for the siblings to be separated and this is where communication in the form of visits, phone calls and writing letters is important. Foster parents should also be in a position to request for chances of the separated siblings to be connected.

 In 2019, Pam and her husband Gary were about to be empty nesters when she saw a story on Facebook about a sibling group of seven  whose parents were killed in a car crash. They were desperately needing a family who could keep them all together. It was then that she and Gary made the life changing decision to become new parents again after raising five of their own. Later, their adoption story went viral with an Instagram video that got shared by Kristin Bell and Michael Buble, among many others, propelling her following to more than 100,000 virtually overnight.

Their story was featured in People Magazine and Pam has been a guest on Kate Hudson's podcast and Jada Smith's talk show. With her new found platform, Pam is strong advocate in the foster care space and guides others on all things related to foster parenting and adoption. Pam's heart is to give kids in foster care the best home they can get and stresses the role of love in the process of healing. She talks about her experience of being a foster and adoptive mother and shares about the need to learn and seek help continuously. She also shares about the encouragement she found in her church and her close-knit relatives and friends and neighbors. Pam also talks about how she continues to engage the public on the issue of foster care and adoption through social media, specifically, Instagram. She stresses the fact that every person is capable of making an impact on the life of a kid in foster care and calls for people to really consider becoming foster and adoptive parents or finding ways of supporting those who are.

Follow Pam on Instagram:

Watch this video of Pam's story and hear more from Pam sharing about misconceptions when it comes to fostering.

Learn more about being a foster or adoptive parent or supporting those who are in your community.

Meet kids awaiting adoption.

Please consider donating today to support our mission to dramatically improve the experiences and outcomes for kids in foster care.

Nanette Kirsch, as the executive director of marketing and communications for America's Kids Belong (AKB), details her experience in tech marketing that contributed to spearheading AKB's marketing strategy. She delves into the idea of foster-friendly communities— underscoring that community support is vital to foster families. The discussion doesn't end there; it also sheds light on the Foster Friendly app. This innovative app bridges foster families with supportive entities: businesses, churches, and nonprofits offering discounts and backing. The end goal? To cultivate a sense of belonging plus bolstering support for foster families and ultimately enhancing experiences — even outcomes — for kids in foster care. Nanette discloses how individuals can emulate such models in their towns— thereby making a difference.

The latest episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast is spent with Barry Farmer. He is not only an adoptive father but a strong voice for foster care and adoption advocacy. Barry walks us through his personal narrative — a tale of being raised under kinship care and later becoming a foster parent at quite a young age. Barry and hosts, Travis and Courtney, all represent transracial adoptive families and talk about their unique experiences and observations in this space, sharing a few laughs along the way. The difficulties and delights that come with transracial adoption are among the key points Barry delves into, underscoring the value of having a cultural grasp, which plays significantly into such adoptions. His discussion also touches on his advocacy initiatives as well as the support system he extends to fellow foster and adoptive families, thus painting a complete picture of his involvement within this space.

Barry sheds light on his journey as both a foster and adoptive parent: an exploration into some of the challenges and joys involved in raising older children from foster care— an often misconceived endeavor riddled with preconceived notions which, according to him, only serve to create unnecessary barriers between parents and these children who direly need love and affection. Farmer speaks about the importance of advocacy and speaking out for children in foster care who tend to be forgotten. He shares details about his radio show, the Barry Farmer Morning Show, as well as his involvement in community work that aims to provide support for foster care and adoption. Barry's inspiring story, positive life outlook, and light hearted observations will put a smile on your face as you listen.

Follow Barry on socials:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iambarryfarmer/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/barry.farmer.33

Learn more about America's Kids Belong and the many ways you can get involved.

Donate today to support our mission to dramatically improve the experiences and outcomes for kids in foster care.