Resource Families Thrive

In past episodes we have talked about how disparities exist in foster care- minority and marginalized groups are a larger part of our foster care population than they should be. Part of this is because of those things people don't always realize they hold: implicit bias in particular. Erin Reynolds, Associate Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, joins us again to talk about how we as an agency and a foster care program do what we can to overcome these internal challenges. For more information please visit our website at SSYAF.ORG or call our main office at (916) 344-0199. Views and opinions expressed in Resource Families Thrive are those of the hosts or guests and do not represent the viewpoints of the agency. While we make every effort to ensure that the information we are sharing is accurate, we welcome any comments, suggestions, or correction of errors.

For the past few years we have talked a lot about two primary ways people can help children and families who are supported by different systems of care: providing foster care and mentoring. There are, of course, other ways that you could be involved in supporting your community- and one of those is through charitable giving. While people think about giving most around holidays, this is a year-round endeavor coordinated by our Philanthropy team. Jessica Kreb from Philanthropy joins us for this episode to share how people like you support our programs year-round. For more information give us a call at (916) 344-0199 or visit our website at SSYAF.ORG.

Research shows us that when a child or teen stays in their community, with people they already know, the impacts of entry into the foster care system are reduced. This is called Kinship Care, and is increasing in priority through legislation and policy changes. This month we're joined by Risha from our Family & Youth Partnership program, sharing her lived experience as a kinship caregiver. To learn more about our kinship supports including the approval process, call (916) 344-0199 or visit our website at SSYAF.ORG.

This time of year is a great time to think back on what we have done in the Foster Care realm, and what we are looking forward to doing. Who better to explore with than our Program Director, Danielle Paminto? In this episode we discuss some of the driving factors behind our program and operations, and some of the upcoming changes to the foster care system as a whole. To learn more contact us at (916) 344-0199 or visit our website at SSYAF.org. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by guests and the host are their own and do not always reflect the positions or policies of the organization as a whole.

In the past we have talked about terms like “generational foster care,” and the ways cycles happen in our systems. Cycles of abuse, neglect, hurt feelings, loss, or grief. How do we break those cycles and replace them with something new- healing, love, family, or permanency? It is our great pleasure to be joined by Will Gabri, one of our Board Members, who shares his experiences from being a former foster youth to a resource parent and, eventually, adoptive parent. To learn more call us at (916) 344-0199 or visit our website at SSYAF.ORG.

When a child or teen enters foster care they may feel a loss of voice or autonomy. A lot of decisions are made for them- where they live, maybe where they go to school, timelines for major events like reunification, adoption, or emancipation. To ensure youth always have a seat at the table and a voice, we have Youth Advocates who help them to advocate for themselves. To learn more about being a resource parent for older youth or teens in care, call (916) 344-0199 or visit or website at SSYAF.ORG.

In previous episodes we have discussed systemic disparities across systems of care. We know that young people of color, those from the lgbtq+ population, those with visible and invisible disabilities, and any other marginalized group may be overlooked, not receive the supports they really need, or have a harder time finding permanency with a supportive family. This month we are focusing on the steps our organization takes to support diversity, equity, and inclusion. For more information contact us at (916) 344-0199 or visit our website at SSYAF.ORG

Our previous program director used to say that social workers are Masters of Seeding and Watering (MSW). When a family is with us for a while and adding children to their families, what are we doing but helping a beautiful garden to grow? This foster care awareness month we are joined by Irik Edens, whose family has fostered and adopted children from the system and made sure each child's family of origin remains connected to them, creating a rich and healing environment for everyone. For more information call us at (916) 368-5114 or visit our website at SSYAF.ORG.

We receive many questions about what a home should look like or how to get it ready as someone goes through the Approval process. I think there is some nervousness- the question lingers "will my home make the cut?" That answer is Yes. Join us this month to learn a little bit more about what a home walkthrough can look like and some of the reasons why we have to do the things we do in pursuit of approving new resource families. To learn more visit our website at www.ssyaf.org, or give us a call at (916) 344-0199.

It is not uncommon for a family to ask about behavior of children in care, or say they'd like to find a child with "low or no behaviors." The question always arises: What does that actually mean? It is our hope that if we share with you what "behavior" looks like, and more importantly how a family can help a child to manage and learn through their behaviors, that they will feel more empowered to solve challenges together. Note: We are aware of any audio issues that happened during recording but hope you find this episode enjoyable and informative. For more information on how to become a resource parent, call us at (916) 344-0199 or visit our website at SSYAF.ORG

A program like Pathways to Permanency needs a strong director to steer the ship. When we are supporting youth and families in their journeys to permanency, it's important to have someone able to look at the big picture as well as the individual impacts. We are lucky enough to have such a leader in our Program Director, Yuri Kimura. Today we get to hear her perspective on foster care and our program. For more information please call us at (916) 368-5114, or visit our website at SSYAF.ORG.

We talk about it a lot: foster care is a lot more than just caring for young children. There are older children in need of permanent homes, too. We support the process of finding permanency for older youth through our Destination Family program. The goal is to match youth who have at least one barrier to permanency (often age) with loving families who will nurture them. Hear from one of our resource parents who is on the path to permanency through Destination Family. For more information call (916) 368-5114 or visit our website at SSYAF.ORG.

We are always learning. We learn more about how to care for our youth, how to support our families, and how to support our pathways to permanency. The systems of care have learned that more youth are in need of various forms of support to get them through crises and learn new coping skills, and this means we need more families who will support those youth. Hear from three professionals who work with youth with specialized needs, and support the special families who care for them.

January is National Mentoring Month which means it is time to celebrate another of our programs- Wonder! We have had a chance to sit down with several of the mentors (called Guides) before, but this time we had the opportunity to talk with some of their Coaches so we can teach you even more about how the program works and how- and why- you should get involved! For more information please call (916) 368-5114, or visit our website at ssyaf.org.

As we learn more about the needs of youth in foster care, our approach has changed and programs have grown. This growth has included new sub-programs which fall into this idea of taking your parenting and care to the next level- serving more complex needs and supporting permanency for youth who may otherwise face barriers to finding it. Join us as we talk to the staff members dedicated to helping kids and families truly thrive, through their support and guidance. For more information please contact us today at (916) 368-5114, or visit our website at ssyaf.org!

It has been a little while since we posted a new episode; as we are working on new projects and developing new programs to introduce you to foster care and keep you updated on the changes to our program and the child welfare system as a whole, we also wanted to make sure to check in with you and remind you that we hope you are thriving. For more information please call us at 916-344-0199 or visit our website at ssyaf.org.

Pride month: A celebration of what a community has overcome. A chance to be free to be who you are. A chance to be colorful, to live out loud. And a chance to honor those who have come before us, those who will come after, and remember that not everyone has a safe place to celebrate themselves. Thank you for joining us this month as we talk about inspiring pride.

Many foster carers and social workers have worked with youth whose stories mirror that of Ma'Khia Bryant. Her life was important. She was special. We hope we can honor her and those like her. We are lucky enough to be joined by Amnoni Meyers, Resource Family Training Specialist, who was gracious enough to share the parallels between Ma'Khia's story and her own. Who she was and what she experienced are important, and connects back to three key points for all youth in care: 1. Can they name at least one adult with whom they feel connection? 2. What happened to them that makes them feel, think, or act the way they do? 3. How can we meet families and youth where they are to help improve the system as a whole? For more information please visit our website at ssyaf.org, or call (916)368-5114.

May is Foster Care Awareness Month! Part 1: Our goal in Recruitment and Outreach is to support you in making informed decisions: getting involved with foster care is a selfless decision and a big change to your life. Our hope is that by getting your questions early on, we can help you along your journey of understanding and education. This month our guests asked some of the most frequently asked questions we get asked when we take calls, attend events, or receive inquiries. Please feel free to send more our way! For more info about our organization visit ssyaf.org or call our Sacramento office at 916-368-5114.

Communication is the key in any relationship, and one of the most important parts of that is understanding the other person. How can you know you understand their message? By showing them; by using active listening skills you are demonstrating that your relationship with them matters, that you care about what they are saying and how they are feeling. You are naming emotions and working out the issues together. We hope you learn and practice a few tips and tricks! For more information give us a call at (916)368-5114 or visit our website at ssyaf.org

The child welfare system has changed more since 2017 than it has in its prior history. A large part of that is the expansion of Kinship Care. Kinship means anyone with a connection to a child in the foster care system. It is important to build this into our systems of care because according to research, youth in kinship care experience shorter times in foster care, fewer placement moves, and a higher likelihood of permanency. This month's guests are a couple who have experienced general foster care, adoption, and now kinship care. For more information please contact us at 916-368-5114 or visit our website at SSYAF.org

The past year it has been so much fun as we have been able to develop our podcast with your support. We have talked to more people than I can adequately represent in a review episode, but here are some of the most powerful moments we had. All of it comes back to "Why:" why foster care, why adoption, why mentorship; and why you are ready now. Thank you for being a part of this journey with us. We look forward to bringing you more content about the things you want to learn. For more info visit ssyaf.org, or call us at (916)368-5114.

Holidays throughout the year are typically focused on celebrations with family. Be it the 4th of July, Labor Day, or Christmas we spend those times celebrating with loved ones. So how do we support those kids who are currently living with someone other than their first family? How do we honor their traditions, maintain the important connections they have in their lives, and celebrate who they are? Amnoni and Daniel talk about all these points and more. For more information about our organization and programs, visit ssyaf.org or give us a call at 916-344-0199.

As a parent recruiter, I often say "we're not looking for homes for kids. A home is walls, roof, and 3 meals a day. We're looking for FAMILIES for kids." For the second episode of National Adoption Month we're talking to two such families- people who have put in the time, energy, and patience to help a child to thrive. What they have provided to their children are relationships that last a lifetime, first experiences they will never forget, and the opportunity to flourish. Join us and hear about these parents who went from being "for now families" to "forever families." For more information, please visit our website at ssyaf.org or call (916)368-5114.

Welcome to Part 1 of our 2-part celebration of National Adoption Month. We start with a foundational understanding of what adoption really means; for this episode we are joined by two members of our organization who are experts in the area of adoption competence. It is my hope that you will be able to take some of this understanding with you as your start your foster-to-adopt journey. Stay tuned for Part 2 when you will have the opportunity to listen to the stories of a couple of families who have completed the journey of adoption. For more information please visit our website at ssyaf.org, or call us at 916-368-5114.

October is Juvenile Justice Awareness month. Teens served by probation are often thought of as lost, tough, and resistant to help. The reality is they need what any other child in a system of care needs- stability and a safe place to land so they can grow and develop. This month we have the amazing opportunity to spotlight one of our programs that works directly with youth served by probation. We were also able to speak with one of our families whose focus has been not only teens, but teens with probation cases. For more information contact our office at (916)368-5114, or you can visit our website at ssyaf.org

Permanency: one of our most often-used words in everything we do. Our program is pathways to Permanency. For some kids that means they have a safe person to talk to, have fun with, or just spend time with. Wonder Mentors are there to support one child in finding new experiences and building new connections, and are an important part of the Permanency team in that child's life.

People wear multiple hats in life – we all have intersecting identities that contribute to our many layers of experiences, layers and layers of self. For members of marginalized or underprivileged groups, those layers can make it difficult to traverse systems. Imagine having to navigate through life identifying as a black person, a youth in foster care, a member of the queer community, a person with a disability, and an individual struggling with mental health – experiencing all of this at once. Now include this identity in a world where the following events are taking place: protests, riots, police brutality, and the murders of trans people of color. All those ongoing traumas are compounded. These are our true stories and our true lives. Thank you for getting to know us along this journey and letting us share ourselves with you. Please visit our website at ssyaf.org, or call Daniel Sederquist [916-870-6675] for any additional information!

Our program is carefully guided by two directors- Yuri and Jen- who have supported us through program growth and changes over the past several years; from state reforms to a fantastic merger which strengthened our combined agencies they have been a guiding force. We are lucky to hear more from Jen, to tell you more about what she does to support us, you, and the kids in your care. Please visit our website at ssyaf.org, or call Daniel Sederquist [916-870-6675] for any additional information!

The most important part of being a resource parent is just that: being a parent. Whether you are a forever parent or a for-now parent, you have an impact on young lives that can carry into adulthood. Hear from Nona, a 14-year veteran resource parent, about her experiences in foster care. Please visit our website at ssyaf.org, or call Daniel Sederquist [916-870-6675] for any additional information!

Crisis management comes first from knowing how we, as the adults in a situation, are feeling. Here are a few tips and tricks about how to keep yourself grounded so you can better assess a situation, and figure out how to best respond. Please visit our website at ssyaf.org, or call Daniel Sederquist [916-870-6675] for any additional information!

There is a lot of uncertainty in the world right now as all of us navigate the coronavirus pandemic. Join us as we share some tips on how to manage those uncertain situations for yourself and the kids in your care. Please visit our website at ssyaf.org, or call Daniel Sederquist [916-870-6675] for any additional information!

Being a Resource Parent means helping not just kids, but their families too. Meet some of the amazing people that help support those families as they navigate the complex system that is Child Welfare. Please visit our website at ssyaf.org, or call Daniel Sederquist [916-870-6675] for any additional information!

Welcome to Stanford Youth Solutions+Sierra Forever Families' first podcast! Learn more about the people working with families like yours, and how you can get involved to support kids in foster care. Please visit our website at ssyaf.org, or call Daniel Sederquist [916-870-6675] for any additional information!