Podcasts about Foster care

Welcome to the What to Expect While Fostering and Adopting podcast! I'm Christine Marie, adoptive mom, former foster parent, and biblical mindset coach. Whether you're considering foster care, navigating adoption, supporting birth families, or trying to hold it all together in the middle of the unknown, you're in the right place. In today's episode, I sit down with Jeremy Walden, foster and adoptive dad, college professor, ministry leader, and co author of The Heart Work of Foster Care. Jeremy shares his family's powerful journey through foster care and adoption, including adopting one child and later welcoming her siblings, building relationships with biological parents, and witnessing restoration, reunification, and healing unfold over years of faithful obedience. This is one of those conversations that reminds you foster care isn't a moment. It's a long road of love, patience, boundaries, and trust in God. Jeremy opens up about: • The real challenges of foster parenting and adoption • Supporting birth families with compassion and humility • How foster care impacts marriage and biological children • Saying yes, saying no, and protecting your family while keeping your heart open • Why foster care is truly heart work, caring deeply, loving deliberately, and trusting God when outcomes aren't guaranteed Jeremy and his wife have adopted three children from foster care and have cared for many more over the past decade. With over 25 years of ministry experience and 15 years as a college professor, Jeremy brings both practical wisdom and deep faith to this conversation. He also shares about their book, The Heart Work of Foster Care: A Hopeful and Honest Guide to Foster Parenting, a Christ centered resource filled with real stories, encouragement, and practical insight for anyone walking the foster care journey. Jeremy is currently conducting an anonymous survey to better understand how fostering impacts foster parents' marriages. If you'd like to participate, you can find it here:

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.Should you consider adopting or fostering a child who is older than a child already in your family? Are there things you can do to make it easier for all the children? We talk to Elizabeth Bohlken, Director of Education and Support at Children's Home Society and Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota, to talk about the preparation, joys, and challenges of disrupting birth order.In this episode:What is disrupting birth order?Why is this a topic that prospective adoptive or foster parents should educate themselves about?When combining children by birth and adoption, is it better for the adopted child to be the eldest, the youngest, or in the middle?Is there an age gap that is most recommended or best practice between children when disrupting birth order?Are there similarities between families that have a blend of children by adoption and birth, and families with blended children from divorce and remarriage?How much does age really matter?At what age is a child least affected by having their birth order disrupted?At what age is a child most affected?Is it best to disrupt the birth order of the eldest or the youngest in a family?How should parents handle a situation where the newly adopted child is older in age but younger on an emotional or behavioral level?What steps can prospective adoptive or foster parents take to prepare children already in the home for the adoption of a sibling, especially an older child?What type of sleeping arrangements should parents use in the first couple of months at home when they are adopting a child who is older than their other children?What types of behaviors might a parent or caregiver see in the early stages of this new dynamic?Why is sibling rivalry a common outcome of disrupting birth order?How to handle physically aggressive behavior between children?Practical tips to ease the transition for all the children in the family.Parenting mentalities/techniques to help a family adjust to a disrupted birth order?What is virtual or artificial twinning?What should parents consider before adopting a child of a similar age (within about 9 months) to a child already in the family?What are the warning signs that parents need to get help with an adoption that disrupts birth order or involves virtual twinning?What type of therapies or therapists should families look for to support birth order changes or artificial twinning?What should parents understand about the risk factors of sexual or physical abuse that a child may have experienced before being adopted or placed in this foster home?Where and how do parents get help to support their family in the transitions of disrupting birth order?Resources:Sibling Relationships (Resource page)Support the showPlease leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them.Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content: Weekly podcasts Weekly articles/blog posts Resource pages on all aspects of family building

In this episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, host Travis Vangsnes and co-host Courtney Williams welcome Jeanette Yoffee, a clinical psychologist and advocate for foster care and adoption. Jeanette shares her personal journey through foster care and adoption, emphasizing the importance of understanding grief and loss in children. She discusses the significance of open adoption, the need for connection, and the various interventions she has developed to help children cope with their experiences. Jeanette also introduces her book, 'The Traumatized and At-Risk Youth Toolbox,' which provides practical tools for parents and caregivers. The conversation highlights the importance of mattering and connection for children in foster care, encouraging foster parents to create a safe and supportive environment for their children.Checkout her website and all her tools and resources:https://www.jeanetteyoffe.com/TakeawaysJeanette Yoffe shares her personal journey through foster care and adoption.Understanding grief and loss is crucial for children in foster care.Open adoption allows children to maintain connections with their birth families.Children need to know they matter and are valued.Interventions like the 'sad bag' help children cope with grief.Foster parents should lean into the discomfort of children's feelings.Jeanette's book provides practical tools for parents and caregivers.Children often recycle questions about their past as they develop.It's important to separate a child's behavior from their identity.Creating a safe environment helps children thrive. 

In a weary world with so many problems, the folks at CASA Baltimore County are providing leadership and care for foster children in need of loving, caring home environments. Jennifer Stine of CASA Baltimore County tells Nestor about the organization and he confides about his amazing adoptive parents who wanted and needed a child in Dundalk 50 years ago. This one is personal. The post Jennifer Stine of CASA Baltimore County tells Nestor about loving homes for children in foster care first appeared on Baltimore Positive WNST.

Alright, let me lovingly disrupt a popular slogan.Everybody loves to say, “We're all God's children.”It sounds warm. It sounds inclusive. It sounds like something you'd put on a coffee mug with a sunset behind it.And some of you are already ready to say Amen—not because it's biblical, but because we tend to think that being a child of God is automatic because He created us all, and on top of that, because He created us all with purpose.All true, however, biblically speaking, we are not automatically God's children. That may make some of you cringe, but it is absolutely Scripture.God's divine plan was never for humanity to be born into forced allegiance with HimClosing Song: God's Legitimate Children - produced by Deborah OcasioSupport the showwww.BibleDeliverance.org

My guests for this episode are Paul and Katie Bernard.  Whether you are thinking about foster care, whether you are in the trenches of foster care, or just curious, you will enjoy this conversation.  Paul and Katie have been foster parents of 15 children, 5 of which they have adopted. Resource: Connecting Bridges Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/CBMilwaukee 

Hello and welcome to the A&F podcast with Scott Casson-Rennie AMBII and Al Coates.  This was recorded the day of the Children's Minister's announcement on the Adoption & Special Guardianship Support Fund and the announcement of a consultation. So, after a little banter we get right into it and unpack our views on it. Frankly we pull no punches and throw caution to the wind of ever getting Josh Mac on the podcast.  We also unpack the announcement for an extra 10,000 carers and after a short pause we get onto the issue of is foster caring a job!  Below is the link to the FASD Ireland conference. A limited number of Early Bird tickets are now available - secure your place today: www.fasdireland.ie/conference If you're an adoptive parent and are wanting to join the 'Walking with Families' online FB group you can join here  or  if you want to sign up to the weekly online support meetings for adopters caring for children with challenging behaviour you can do so here   As always if you've experience of adoption, fostering or special guardianship from any perspective personal or professional and would like share that on the podcast please get in touch through the Facebook page, BlueSky or email us at AandFpodcast@gmail.com Listen/subscribe on iTunes here Spotify here

On Thursday's show: Last week, the dean of the University of Houston's College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences asked faculty he oversees to sign a document attesting they are not "indoctrinating" their students but are instead teaching them to think critically. One of those professors, Robert Zaretzky, responded with an op-ed in the Houston Chronicle saying he will not sign the document. He joins us to explain why.Also this hour: Houston's diversity shows up everywhere, including in foster care. We discuss how families navigate caregiving of children from different cultural backgrounds.Then, we visit this year's ongoing Mardi Gras celebrations in Galveston to learn how they're different from what happens in New Orleans.And, ahead of the Chinese New Year, which begins Feb. 17, we learn more about Chinese Americans' cultural and economic impacts here in Houston. And we talk about some of the Chinese constellations in the night sky with an area astronomer.Watch

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.Did you know that the current reigning Miss Kentucky is a foster alum? We spoke with Ariana Rodriguez about her life leading up to the pageant circuit, what motivates her, and how her foundation, The Lucky Ones, is changing foster care experiences for foster kids in Kentucky.In this episode, we talk about:You made history as the first Miss Kentucky to have been in foster care. Can you start from the beginning and give us the story that led to this title?What was it like living with your grandparents? What were the positive changes? What was hardest about this time of your childhood? How did that time in kinship care help shape who you are today?Were you able to stay in touch with your siblings?What gaps or “pain points” for kids in foster care or kinship care did you experience in those years?How did these lived experiences begin to transform into a passion or mission for advocacy? Was there a pivotal moment when you said, “This is my platform”?What personal strengths emerged from your past that you leaned on (resilience, empathy, leadership, etc.)?How do your childhood and care-system experiences continue to inform your daily life, mindset, or choices?Are there challenges or triggers that still surface for you because of your past experiences? How do you navigate them?What are your relationships with your siblings like now? Tell us more about The Lucky OnesDo you have a specific story you can share that illustrates the impact of your work?Are you gaining new connections and collaborations to help further the mission of your platform?What's next for you, personally (as Miss Kentucky, as an advocate, as a leader)?What's next for The Lucky Ones? Are there new programs to launch, etc?What advice do you have for young people currently in the foster or kinship-care system who may feel uncertain about their future?For foster or relative caregivers?If you could speak directly to the decision-makers (legislators, social services, educators) about one thing to make a meaningful difference for foster/kinship care kids, what would that be?Support the showPlease leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them.Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content: Weekly podcasts Weekly articles/blog posts Resource pages on all aspects of family building

In this episode we answer emails from Tim, Anderson, and Pete. We discuss using a Golden Butterfly portfolio for intermediate accumulation, converting 529s to Roths and excessively levered portfolios for small children.  (I can't make this stuff up.)But first we share Mary's mission with Fairfax CASA and explain how steady advocacy changes a child's path, and roll out our Fairfax CASA fundraising campaign in connection with National Child Abuse Prevention Month.Links:Fairfax CASA Donation Page:  Donate - Fairfax CASAThe Starfish Thrower Philosophy from Episode 441 (Cool New Video!):  The Starfish Thrower Philosophy With Mary.mp4 - Google DriveMary's CASA Case Adoption Story:  The Johnson's Foster Care & Adoption Story FIRE Takes Podcast:  FIRE Takes PodcastPortfolio Charts Drawdown Calculator:  Drawdowns – Portfolio ChartsTestfolio Backtester:  testfol.ioPete's Leveraged Leeroy Jenkins Portfolios:  testfol.io/?s=l7aMOsy4720Breathless Unedited AI-Bot Summary:Ever wonder how to save for a goal that's a few years away without riding stock-market whiplash or leaving too much on the table in cash? We walk through a practical, risk-aware path for mid-term savings and pair it with something close to our hearts: Mary's work with Fairfax CASA, where trained volunteers are a constant for kids navigating abuse or neglect cases. You'll hear what CASA volunteers actually do—attend hearings, coordinate services, write court reports, and keep showing up—plus the data that proves consistent advocacy moves outcomes.From there, we dig into building an intermediate-term portfolio using a risk parity approach like the Golden Butterfly. We explain how to model a real alternative to HYSAs: use long-history T-bill data instead of SHY, add regular monthly contributions to reflect real life, and examine drawdown length and worst-case windows over three to five-year spans. You'll learn why shorter, shallower drawdowns can matter more than headline returns when timing is uncertain, and how Testfolio helps you compare paths with clarity. We also unpack a powerful planning angle: rolling leftover 529 funds to a Roth IRA under current rules, including holding periods, beneficiary considerations, earned income needs, and why Roth contribution capacity is too valuable to waste.We don't shy away from the spicy stuff either—managed futures, leverage, and the gap between theory and practice. Rather than letting fear set the rules, we talk about small, controlled experiments that build skill and confidence. That shift—from anxiety to informed action—can change both your portfolio and your peace of mind.If this resonates, support Fairfax CASA via the link in the show notes and mention Risk Parity Radio or Mary Vasquez in the comment box. Then hit follow, share the episode with a friend who's stuck between stocks and savings, and leave a quick review to help more DIY investors find us.Support the show

God's expectation for His church is clear: care for vulnerable children and families in need. With 430 children in foster care and fewer than 100 families to help in many communities, children are sleeping on office floors and in hotel rooms. James 1:27 defines pure religion as visiting orphans and widows in their affliction - not just writing checks, but showing up redemptively. These children need unconditional love, security, and someone to fight for them. The greatest commandments call us to love God and love our neighbors sacrificially. When we truly love God, we grow in our love for people, leading us to radical acts of service for those who need it most.Support the show

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, more than 11,000 children and teens are in Georgia's foster care system. Data also reveals more than 500 youth transition out of the foster care system, many needing assistance, housing, and resources as they adjust to adulthood. Allison Ashe, the CEO and president of Wellroot Family Services, talks with “Closer Look” host Rose Scott about the work of Wellroot and the expansion of their newly renovated apartment community, The Oaks. She also discussed details about Wellroot's 2026 Reaching Teens Summit, slated for February 26-27 at the North Georgia Conference United Methodist Center. Plus, a long list of Republicans and Democrats is vying for Georgia’s top elected office, and we are months away from the gubernatorial primary. In an effort to run an effective campaign, candidates spend money on advertisements, canvassing, and more. We hear from Atlanta-based political strategist Fred Hicks, who says people vote with their dollars. Hicks broke down campaign spending and fundraising, as well as how much money each candidate has raised so far, and the three measures used to track a candidate’s overall campaign dollars.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Foster care doesn't just enter a home; it enters a marriage. With Valentine's Day approaching, this episode of Restoried opens an honest conversation about how foster care changes marriage when court dates, therapy, and survival replace date nights and quiet conversations. Lisa is joined by her husband JJ as they reflect on eight years as licensed foster parents and over a decade supporting children and families in foster care. They share how foster care changed their marriage, from communication and emotional connection to dividing responsibilities and making decisions together. They discuss real challenges, including exhaustion, grief, spiritual warfare, and times of being out of sync. They explore how spouses carry weight differently and how tension can arise if not addressed. The conversation also covers practical realities, including managing responsibilities, navigating caseworker roles, and checking in regularly to avoid resentment. At the heart of the episode is hope. Lisa and JJ share how God used the hardest seasons to strengthen their marriage. Through prayer, shared heartbreak, and choosing each other daily, their marriage grew deeper and anchored in Christ.  Episode Highlights:  Foster care impacts marriage Balancing grief and logistics Communication is key Shared hardships strengthen love Relying on God Intentional connection matters Practical tips for parents Find More on Hope Bridge: Visit Our Website  Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Facebook  Register for Mobilize Ohio 2026 

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.Question: I recently listened to a podcast featuring an adoptee, a birth mother, and an adoptive parent, which was great. The adoptee talked about when it hit her that she was adopted and feeling like her birth mother threw her away. My sons are adopted through the foster care system. One is technically still a foster child. My oldest was removed from his birth mother immediately after being born and placed with us. My second son spent about a year with his parents in a very neglectful situation, and drugs were a factor in both situations. I'm wondering how to respectfully have that conversation with my sons when the time comes. Note, please, that we are a two-dad household, so there's no hiding the adoption from them.Resources:Talking about Adoption at Different AgesHow to Make and Use an Adoption LifebookTalking with Young Children About Adoption and Birth ParentsBooks for Kids Adopted from Foster Care9 Things Adoptive Parents Must Do Before Age 13Support the showPlease leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them.Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content: Weekly podcasts Weekly articles/blog posts Resource pages on all aspects of family building

The ongoing Undercover Policing Inquiry started again this week. It is believed at least 50 women were duped into intimate relationships with undercover officers over decades. Alison, not her real name, spent five years living with a man she knew as Mark Cassidy, who was in fact a married undercover Police Officer whose real name was Mark Jenner. She joins Nuala McGovern along with BBC London journalist Ayshea Buksh, who has been following this inquiry.The government has announced plans to relax fostering rules and create 10,000 new places for vulnerable children in England. Roxy and her mum Judy, from the BBC's recent Traitors series, join Nuala to discuss. Roxy was fostered until the age of five before being adopted by Judy. They are also joined by Sarah Thomas, Chief Executive of The Fostering Network.Paula Varjack talks to Anita about her show Nine Sixteenths. It examines the fallout from the infamous Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake ‘wardrobe malfunction' incident at the 2004 Superbowl and the backlash that almost ruined Jackson's career. The play questions what this says about the demographics of who controls the media, the scrutinising of black women in the public eye and asks if anything has changed.We hear a lot about ‘mum guilt', but what about the guilt that can come along with not becoming a mother? Writer Ellen C Scott is child-free by choice but has recently experienced guilt towards her parents because she won't be providing them with grandchildren. She recently explored the topic for Stylist magazine and was surprised by how much it resonated with other women. Ellen and psychotherapist Professor Hannah Sherbersky discuss.AI companions are becoming increasingly common, with one in three adults now using them for conversation, advice and support. Now recent research from Bangor University has shown that many teen AI companion users believe their bots can think or understand. That research prompted Nicola Bryan, a reporter for BBC Wales News to investigate and acquire an "AI boyfriend" of her own in the process. Nicola talks to Anita about what happened next.The Puppini Sisters are celebrating 20 years of their antique pop, neo-burlesque swing music. Their new album The Birthday Party marks two decades since their debut, Betcha Bottom Dollar, spent almost a year on the Billboard chart in the US. It became the fastest-selling jazz album in UK chart history, with their fans including Robbie Williams and King Charles. They join Nuala to discuss their music.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Dianne McGregor

Our guest, Missy Bell, is the Director of San Diego for Olive Crest, an organization dedicated to preventing child abuse by strengthening, equipping, and restoring children and families in crisis one life at a time. In this conversation with Jami, she brings wisdom and insight into common fears parents have when deciding to adopt a teen and how to overcome them.

Imagine standing between your parents with a baseball bat at just six years old, desperate to protect your mother—that was the terrified reality that forged the unstoppable spirit of today's guest, Megan.  In this episode of Spotlight on Good People, we explore how Megan turned personal childhood trauma into a revolution, founding Better Together to save families from a broken, reactive government foster care system  We discuss how her organization acts as the "Uber of doing good," connecting isolated families in crisis with volunteer neighbors who offer temporary homes, mentorship, and jobs—keeping nearly 100,000 people together and out of the system From Naples to the Governor's office, learn how this proactive, voluntary model is proving that the power of a caring community is far more effective than government intervention  .In this episode, you will learn:Why the government foster care system is often reactive and costly ($45,000 per child) compared to proactive community support 5.How Better Together uses a volunteer-driven model to host children and help parents find work through church partnershipsThe incredible story of how Megan and her husband have hosted 25 children in their own home 11.How you can support families in Southwest Florida right now—whether by hosting, mentoring, or donating supplies https://bettertogetherus.org/ #naplesfl #sogp #ropsalons #meganrose #bettertogetherGot someone in mind who deserves the spotlight? Shoot us a text and let us know! We'd love to hear from you!

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.Are you familiar with pathological demand avoidance? Do you need helpful strategies to raise a child with the challenging behaviors that characterize PDA? Listen in to this conversation with Dr. Cynthia Martin, a clinical psychologist, the former Senior Director of the Autism Center at the Child Mind Institute, and founder of CM Psychology in Manhattan, NY.In this episode, we discuss:What is Pathological Demand Avoidance?What makes PDA different from typical defiance or resistance?Is PDA considered an official diagnosis, or is it more of a way to describe a cluster of behaviors that we're seeing in some kids?What do we know about the underlying causes?How does PDA relate to other conditions like autism or ADHD? What are the overlaps with trauma, prenatal substance exposure??What are the types of behaviors parents or caregivers might see?How can a caregiver tell the difference between a child who can't comply and one who won't comply?Where do parents start when considering if their child has a PDA profile?What observations or examples should parents share to help a clinician understand their child's challenges?What kinds of strategies are effective for parenting a child with PDA traits?How can parents reframe their approach so that daily demands — like getting dressed, brushing teeth, or doing homework — don't turn into constant battles?What types of therapies or interventions tend to be most helpful? What do you say to caregivers who are feeling worn down and ineffective? Where do they start?How can a parent or caregiver set their child up for success even if they do have this PDA profile?What words of hope or encouragement would you offer to parents and caregivers just starting to investigate?Resources:Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) in Kids - Child Mind InstituteDemand Avoidance: Why Kids Refuse to Follow Directions - Psychology TodaySymptom Tests for Children: Is Your Child Showing Signs of Pathological Demand Avoidance? - ADDitude: ADHD Science & StrategiesUnstuck & On Target - Evidence-Based Curricula and Resources for Professionals and Families to Support Executive Functions.Support the showPlease leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them.Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content: Weekly podcasts Weekly articles/blog posts Resource pages on all aspects of family building

In this episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, host Brian Mavis and co-host Courtney Williams interview Jamie Finn, a prominent figure in the foster care community. Jamie shares her personal journey into foster care, the impact on her biological children, and the importance of self-care for foster parents. They discuss her book 'God Loves Kids', the need for supportive communities, and the challenges foster parents face, including burnout and the reasons many quit. Jamie emphasizes the importance of saying yes to children in need and the eternal impact of foster care.Pickup Jamie's new book--God Loves Kids: A Gospel Centered Book About Foster Carehttps://a.co/d/052zNuJ9Checkout her org: Foster the Familyhttps://www.fosterthefamily.org/Instagram:@fosterthefamilyblogTakeawaysJamie Finn is a well-known advocate in the foster care community.Foster care can significantly impact biological children in positive ways.Self-care is crucial for foster parents to avoid burnout.Foster parents need to feel supported and seen in their roles.The goal of foster care is often reunification, which can be challenging for foster parents.Children in foster care need families, not just temporary homes.Every moment spent with foster children can have lasting effects.Foster parents should be trauma-informed to better support the children in their care.Community support is essential for the sustainability of foster care.The journey of foster care is filled with both challenges and rewards.

In this powerful and deeply human episode of The Undeletable Dad Podcast, Tracy Poizner sits down with Ron Platt - serial entrepreneur, foster father, and systems-level advocate for families navigating divorce and parental alienation.Ron shares the personal journey that led him to create the first divorce insurance product of its kind, alongside a national membership organization designed to support single and divorced families holistically — financially, emotionally, and structurally.This episode is essential listening for fathers who want to protect their relationship with their children, even when life throws unexpected obstacles in the way.Ron's foster parenting journeyHow becoming a foster father reshaped his understanding of family, permanence, boundaries, and advocacy — and what it taught him about children who've experienced trauma and instability.Why traditional systems fail divorced familiesFrom courts to child support enforcement to mental health access, Ron breaks down where the cracks are — and why parents often fall through them.The creation of Divorce Insurance (Support Insured)A groundbreaking insurance product that ensures child support and alimony payments continue in situations where the paying parent:DiesBecomes disabledIs involuntarily unemployedDeclares business bankruptcyThis protection prevents parents from being labeled “deadbeats” due to circumstances beyond their control — and protects children from sudden financial disruption.How Support Insured actually worksAffordable annual premiumsCoverage tied only to court-ordered support amountsUp to 12 months of continued payments during hardshipAvailable to either parentWhy this matters for fathers facing high-conflict divorceFinancial collapse often leads to loss of parenting time, court sanctions, and alienation. This product helps fathers stabilize during crisis — without losing access to their children.The mission of NASDF (National Association for Single & Divorced Families)A first-of-its-kind membership organization offering:Free & discounted mental health supportCareer and employment resourcesChildcare and family discountsAdvocacy for foster care reformPrograms aimed at preventing intergenerational povertyFoster care reform & child advocacyRon explains how privatization, instability, and lack of consistent therapeutic care harm foster children — and what systemic changes must happen next.Divorce doesn't just separate families — it exposes them to financial, emotional, and institutional risk.This episode shines a light on practical solutions, not platitudes. Ron Platt isn't theorizing — he's building infrastructure that protects parents and children when life doesn't go according to plan.If you're a father navigating:Divorce or post-divorce instabilityChild support pressureFear of losing access to your kidsSystemic unfairness…this conversation will give you clarity, options, and hope.National Association for Single & Divorced Families (NASDF)

In this powerful episode of RISE Urban Nation Podcast, host Taryell Simmons sits down with Constance “Serenity Sage” English, founder of the UnYes Movement and Siblings United Visitations, to explore how she transformed foster care trauma into a faith-rooted national reform movement. Serenity shares her journey from being silenced and separated from siblings to becoming a bold advocate for family preservation, sibling restoration, and healing-centered systems change. Drawing on her lived experience, spiritual grounding, and visionary leadership, she introduces the UnYes Movement as a reversal of every harmful label placed on foster youth—a resounding YES to identity, belonging, faith, and justice. This conversation is a call to action for leaders, advocates, and changemakers to move beyond awareness into restoration, and to help build communities where children are seen, heard, and never alone again. Links & Resources:

It's an amazing thing to be able to look back over years of waiting and grief and struggle and say that it was all leading somewhere good. My guest, Molly Duble, testifies to that in today's episode as she shares her journey to adopting her two girls. There's still pain. There's still struggle. But given the choice, she'd go back and say yes all over again.  This episode is part of Moms Take Ten's Foster and Adoption Series that comes out the first Monday of each month. If this episode encouraged you, check out some of the other conversations in this series. They are so good! I am a Connected Families certified parent coach offering small groups for moms, individual parent coaching, and workshops. To learn more, head to https://www.lyssastoyko.com/ Help other mamas find encouragement through Moms Take Ten by rating and reviewing this show. That would be a blessing to both them and me. Thank you for your time! Want to say hello? Follow me on Facebook and Insta @lyssastoyko Email me at momstaketen@gmail.com  

When young people age out of the foster care system at age 18, they often don't have a place to go. In South Jersey, young women who can't afford their own place or college yet, or who just need some support, can go to Unique Sistas Transitional House, recently established by Yolanda Stephenson. Racquel Williams talks with Yolanda and their Housing and Community Development Manager, Tracy Harris, about the challenges these young women face and how Unique Sistas helps. Then, on Shara in the City, we visit the William Way Center's art exhibit, "The Tangle I've Gotten Into", on display at Imperfect Gallery while the center is under renovation. Shara Dae Howard speaks with artist and Philly LGBTQ+ community icon Arleen Olshan, who helped form the foundation of Philly's LGBTQ+ activism. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode of Barely Famous Kail sits down with Dover, Delaware entrepreneur Bobby Jones the owner of Brightside for a raw conversation about what it really looks like to rebuild a life when your starting line is nowhere near everyone else's.Bobby opens up about growing up in poverty, navigating foster care, and how early decisions can shape the way you see yourself for years. We talk about the mindset shifts that helped him break cycles, what redemption actually requires, and why “starting over” doesn't always mean leaving town. If you've ever felt trapped by your past, overwhelmed by where to begin, or like you're carrying a story you didn't choose this one will stick with you.Listen in for a powerful, honest conversation about resilience, accountability, second chances, and building something you're proud of one decision at a time.Follow Bobby here and check out BrightSide For full video episodes head to patreon.com/kaillowryTo shop all merch head to kaillowry.comThanks for supporting the show by checking out the sponsors!Hiya: for 50% off their best selling children's vitamin head to hiyahealth.com/famousDripDrop: Right now, DripDrop is offering podcast listeners 20% off your first order. Go to dripdrop.com and use promo code famous. Talkiatry: Head to Talkiatry.com/famous and complete the short assessment to get matched with an in‑network psychiatrist in just a few minutesProgressive: To get your auto insurance quote head to progressive.comLeesa: Go to Leesa.com for 20% off PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code BARELY, exclusive for my listeners.Shopify: Start your one dollar a month free trial period at shopify.com/famousSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of The Charity Charge Show, we sit down with Rob Scheer, founder of Comfort Cases, a nonprofit that has delivered more than 300,000 backpacks filled with essentials to children entering foster care across all 50 states, Washington DC, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom, and soon Canada.Growing Up in the SystemRob did not come to foster care as an advocate. He came as a child who lived it.He entered foster care because of abuse, not neglect. Cigarette burns on his body are reminders he still carries at 59 years old. Like many children in the system, he became a number, a file, a case. When he aged out at 18, he joined the tens of thousands of young people who are pushed out with no safety net. Within 24 hours, most become homeless. Rob was one of them.He survived addiction, multiple suicide attempts, and repeated psychiatric hospitalizations. At 24, after nearly dying from an overdose, he made a decision that changed everything. He chose forgiveness. Not to excuse what happened, but to take his life back.That decision did not make him a hero. It made him accountable.The Numbers We Do Not Like to Talk AboutDuring the episode, Rob challenges some of the most commonly repeated foster care statistics and explains why many of them understate the reality.Here is what stands out:More than 400,000 children are in foster care in the United States.Roughly 23,000 youth age out every year.New homelessness counts show over 80 percent of people experiencing homelessness were touched by foster care at some point.Former foster youth are far more likely to experience PTSD than combat veterans.Only about 8 percent earn a four year college degree. That number improved recently, but it is still unacceptable.Rob makes one point very clear. If a child enters foster care, society has already failed. ---------------------------About Charity ChargeCharity Charge is a financial technology company serving the nonprofit sector. From the Charity Charge Nonprofit Credit Card to bookkeeping, gift card disbursements, and state compliance, we help mission-driven organizations streamline operations and stay financially strong. Learn more at charitycharge.com.

A Conversation About Community, Connection, and Caring for Kids in Need When Heather Frost joins Janet Michael on The Valley Today, she brings a message that hits close to home: hundreds of children across the Shenandoah Valley desperately need stable, caring families. As Foster Parent Coordinator for Embrace Treatment Foster Care, Heather sees firsthand how the shortage of local foster homes affects vulnerable kids throughout our region. The Scope of the Problem The statistics paint a sobering picture. At any given time, Virginia has approximately 5,000 children in foster care. Remarkably, 40% of these children are teenagers—the age group that proves hardest to place. Breaking this down to our local communities reveals the true scale of the need. Frederick County and Winchester together care for 120-150 children at any time, while Shenandoah County serves 40-60 kids. Even smaller Clarke County has 15-25 children in the system annually. Meanwhile, larger counties like Loudoun regularly have 250-300 children awaiting placement. Furthermore, the consequences of inadequate foster care resources extend far beyond childhood. More than 1,000 young people age out of Virginia's foster care system each year without finding a permanent family. This failure dramatically increases their risk for homelessness, unemployment, and involvement in the justice system—outcomes that could be prevented with stable family support. Why Location Matters Heather emphasizes a crucial point that many people overlook: where a foster child lives makes an enormous difference in their recovery and development. When children must be placed far from their home communities due to a lack of local foster families, they lose vital connections. They leave behind their schools, their therapists, their neighborhoods, and often their extended family members who still play important roles in their lives. "The research shows these things really matter in terms of getting over the trauma that the kids have gone through," Heather explains. Maintaining these connections helps children recover faster and build resilience. Consequently, Embrace actively seeks foster families throughout the region—from Winchester and surrounding counties to Harrisonburg and even Loudoun County—to keep kids rooted in familiar territory. What Treatment Foster Care Really Means Unlike traditional foster care through the Department of Social Services, Embrace provides treatment-level care for children with more complex needs. These kids often face challenges like ADHD, developmental disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, or post-traumatic stress. However, Heather quickly dispels any notion that foster parents must navigate these challenges alone. Instead, Embrace treats foster parents as integral members of a treatment team. The agency provides extensive initial certification training, then continues with monthly sessions covering new strategies, specific situations, and emerging best practices. Additionally, foster parents receive 24/7 support—whether they need a phone consultation or an in-person visit. This comprehensive approach transforms foster parents from isolated caregivers into supported professionals working alongside schools, social services, and community partners. Breaking Down Barriers and Misconceptions Throughout the conversation, Heather addresses common concerns that prevent people from considering foster care. First, she tackles the financial question head-on. All foster children receive Medicaid coverage, eliminating worries about medical expenses. Moreover, foster parents receive stipends to cover clothing and other necessities, though Heather acknowledges these don't cover every expense. Community support, like the Front Royal Chamber's annual fundraiser for foster families, helps fill remaining gaps. Second, Heather confronts the fear that potential foster parents lack the necessary skills or experience. "We're not looking for perfect people," she emphasizes. "We're just looking for people who will show up, who will be there, who want to help children." The certification process takes approximately 90 days and includes about six weeks of training classes, which can be completed virtually or in person based on family preferences. The Power of Stability and Connection Perhaps the most compelling part of the conversation centers on how dramatically children can transform when given stability and structure. Heather acknowledges that many foster children arrive labeled as "difficult" or "hard to manage." Nevertheless, she's witnessed countless times how these same children soften and thrive once they realize someone will consistently show up for them. "Just having someone who cared about them" makes all the difference, Heather notes, recalling stories from community members who approach her at events like Apple Blossom to share their own foster care experiences. Janet reinforces this point, observing that labels hurt children and that removing those labels allows kids to flourish in ways that might seem impossible at first. Importantly, Heather doesn't sugarcoat the experience. "I'm not gonna say it's all butterflies and rainbows a hundred percent of the time," she admits. Yet she describes the profound reward of watching relationships develop between foster children and their families. "When a child and a foster parent have that relationship and you get to watch it grow, it's just very beautiful." From Foster Care to Forever Families The conversation also explores how foster placements can evolve into permanent adoptions. Embrace dual-certifies foster parents for both fostering and adoption, creating flexibility as situations develop. Sometimes a child initially expected to reunify with their biological family cannot do so. In these cases, foster parents who've built strong relationships over months or years often choose to adopt, providing the permanent stability these children desperately need. This possibility becomes especially meaningful for teenagers. As Janet points out, raising any teenager presents challenges—foster or biological. However, the opportunity to guide a young person from a traumatic past toward a stable future offers rewards that transcend typical parenting experiences. The Urgent Call to Action As the conversation concludes, Heather issues a straightforward invitation: if you're even slightly curious about foster care, reach out for a conversation. There's no obligation, no cost, and no pressure. Visit embracetfc.com to learn more and indicate your preferred method of contact. The agency will respond according to your comfort level, whether you're just exploring the idea or ready to begin classes. Ultimately, the message resonates clearly throughout the conversation: the Shenandoah Valley's foster children need local families who represent their communities and cultures. They need people who will maintain their connections to schools, therapists, and extended family. Most importantly, they need adults who will simply show up—consistently, reliably, and with genuine care. The need is great, but so is the potential for impact. As Heather reminds listeners, foster parents don't need to be perfect. They just need to be present.

In this powerful episode of MaternalRx on the Pharmacy Podcast Network, host Danielle Plummer, PharmD, speaks with pharmacist Willie Bawarski and his wife, Olivia, about their deeply personal journey through infertility, IVF treatment, foster care, and adoption. Willie and Olivia share the emotional, physical, and financial realities of trying to conceive, navigating fertility treatments, and facing the grief that often accompanies infertility. When their path to parenthood changed, they chose to open their hearts and home through foster care and adoption, ultimately building a beautiful family in ways they never expected. This conversation highlights the critical role pharmacists and healthcare professionals play in supporting patients experiencing infertility and those considering foster care or adoption. Listeners will gain practical insight into using compassionate language, empathy, and trauma-informed care to support individuals and couples during some of the most vulnerable seasons of their lives. Whether you are facing infertility, exploring IVF, considering adoption, working within maternal health, or caring for patients on these journeys, this episode offers hope, validation, and a reminder that family is defined by love, not biology.

A two albums formatted episode of We Have A Technical ends up taking two very different detours into trance music, of all things. First, we're looking at the just remastered and digitally reissued sole LP from Portland duo Violet Arcana, 1994's In The Scene Of The Mind, which takes the road less travelled by slowing and stretching trance programming into psychedelic ethereality, and finding commonalities with contemporaneous downtempo approaches to electro-industrial and dark ambient. Next, 2012's Altered Creature by Fostercare has us flashing back to the aftermath of witch house, in which all manner of bands and producers were experimenting with the occult, sample-happy liberty that genre afforded, including Fostercare's grimy cyberpunk read on a wide range of classic rave styles.

#205 - Some stories don't just move you—they recalibrate your sense of what's possible. Adriene Caldwell grew up in the crosshairs of untreated schizophrenia, constant relocation, and a home life that spun from denial to violence. After losing the grandmother who shielded her, she entered a foster system that should have offered stability and instead delivered degradation: separate dishes, floor seating, and rules designed to remind her she didn't belong. The stats she shares are brutal—one in five inmates are former foster youth, seven in ten foster girls have a child by 21, and fewer than three percent use free college benefits—but the real shock is how incentives often reward keeping kids “high need” rather than helping them heal.What changed her trajectory was a lifeline she claimed for herself: a coveted congressional exchange to Germany. There, a host family modeled warmth, boundaries, and trust. Adriene learned German the hard way—by speaking it every day—aced tough classes at a college-track school, and felt the shift that happens when someone insists you sit in the front seat for the view. Returning stateside just shy of 18, she found no plan waiting and wrote letters up the chain until one emerged. Along the way, a third-grade math teacher delivered hotel toiletries to a housing project, and a fierce English teacher stocked her classroom with computers and left one to Adriene before she died. Those acts—practical, personal, and precisely timed—became stepping stones to scholarships and a future she couldn't yet picture.We also explore why Adriene wrote Unbroken, Life Outside the Lines, and how revisiting old case files forced a reckoning with both the parts of survival that became manipulation and the parts that deserve pride. Her message to teens at the edge is simple and urgent: your life won't always look like this, and soon your choices will shape what comes next—numbing or healing, hiding or asking, repeating or rebuilding.If this conversation resonates, share it with someone who needs proof that change is possible. Subscribe for more human-centered stories, rate the show to help new listeners find us, and tell us: what moment shifted your path?To learn more about Adriene and her book check out www.unbronkencaldwell.com and check her out on Instagram @unbrokencaldwell.You can also find more information about the show at www.thehumanadventure.net and check out my Instagram @humanadventurepod. 

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.Talking about the difficult parts of our child's story, like abuse or prenatal substance exposure, can be overwhelming. Kelly Weidner, the co-founder and Executive Director of Haven Adoptions & Family Services in Ambler, PA. She has 28 years of experience in foster care, residential care, and adoption, which will help us navigate these challenging conversations with our kids.In this episode, we discuss:What kinds of issues do we mean when we say “difficult parts” of a child's story? What are some of the everyday challenging conversations that adoptive parents must tackle?Why is it necessary to introduce these potentially painful, complex issues to our kids?Why are parents reluctant to talk about these issues?What steps should adoptive parents take when choosing to start these conversations? Where do they start?What is a Lifebook, and how can parents use them to introduce and build on the story as their child grows?What should be included?How does a Lifebook differ between the types of adoption?What if your child wants to bring their Lifebook to school or show it to people outside the family?What language can you use with young children to lay the groundwork for later, with more details filled in as they grow?How would a parent start the conversation about being conceived during a rape or abusive relationship, across several ages or stages, to build understanding?As another example, should we tell our kids about abuse or neglect that happened to them if they don't remember it? How?Should you tell a child that her birth mother's use of drugs or alcohol during pregnancy might be the cause of their learning disabilities? How do you help your child understand how much of his story he should share with others outside the family?What if you don't believe the birth mother's story of what happened? What if you don't know the details of what happened, just that something “big” did happen?How can adoptive parents help their children understand that they are more than the difficult parts of their history and that they are not doomed to repeat their birth parents' mistakes?What are some practical tips for supporting our kids after we've had to share hard-to-hear information?Resources:Suggested Books for Adoptive FamiliesUsing Lifebooks to Explain Complex Issues in Adoption to KidsBuilding the Framework for Adopted & Foster Children to Process the Hard Parts of Their StoriesSupport the showPlease leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them.Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content: Weekly podcasts Weekly articles/blog posts Resource pages on all aspects of family building

This episode is a deep dive into the world of foster care - specifically, fostering a teen as a single woman. Our guest, Emily Ellett, shares her personal journey as a foster parent with candor and insight, shedding light on the realities, challenges, and heartfelt moments that come with it. We tackle the common misconceptions surrounding these kids and how the truth often varies from what's painted for potential foster parents. Emily's experiences reveal the rollercoaster of emotions that come with fostering teens, the unexpected hurdles, and the moments that make it all worth it. We chat about the importance of having a solid support system and the need to be open about what help you might need, all while keeping it real and relatable. Listen to hear all about love, resilience, and the complexities of foster care!From Foster to Forever takes a deep dive into the heartfelt and often unpredictable world of foster parenting in its latest episode featuring audiobook narrator and singer Emily Ellet. Listeners are treated to Emily's personal journey into fostering, which began from a place of genuine desire to help children who need a stable and loving home. The episode sheds light on the rigorous certification process she underwent, which served as her introduction to the realities of foster care, while also highlighting her personal experiences with trauma and the impact it had on her journey. Throughout the episode, Emily shares candid anecdotes about her first placements, illustrating the joys and difficulties that come with fostering teens who have faced significant challenges. Her reflections reveal the complexities of navigating relationships with not just the children but also with her own family, who were unsupportive of her decision to foster. This narrative not only underscores the emotional rollercoaster of fostering but also emphasizes the importance of having a solid support system in place. Emily's transparency about her struggles, including the miscommunication with caseworkers and the emotional toll of her experiences, offers a realistic perspective that is often overlooked. The overarching message of the episode is clear: fostering is a journey filled with challenges, but the love and connection foster parents bring to the lives of children make it a deeply rewarding endeavor. Emily's story serves as both a cautionary tale and an inspiring guide for those considering fostering, reminding listeners that while the path is not easy, it is undeniably worthwhile. This episode is a valuable resource for anyone looking to understand the realities of foster care, especially when fostering an older child.Takeaways:Fostering can be a wild ride, and it's crucial to go in with your eyes wide open about the potential challenges ahead.Getting into fostering isn't just about helping kids; it's about knowing your own limits and having a solid support system in place.The reality of foster care often differs from the rosy picture painted by agencies; transparency is key for success.Foster parents need to be aware that the kids they take in may have complicated histories that could trigger their own past traumas, especially older children and teens.Links referenced in this episode:fromfoster2forever.com

Lawrence Joss delves into the complex issue of parental alienation and estrangement, emphasizing that these challenges are not merely family issues but systemic problems that require a broader understanding and intervention. He introduces five key reasons that contribute to these dynamics, drawing insights from therapist Kathy Himlin, who has extensive experience working with families affected by these issues. The conversation highlights the emotional turmoil children face when feeling rejected by a parent, the detrimental effects of prolonged separation, and the role of the legal system in exacerbating these problems. Joss and Himlin discuss actionable steps for parents to repair relationships and the importance of attachment-focused parenting in fostering reconnection.Key TakeawaysParental alienation is a systemic issue, not just a family problem.Children often feel rejected when they reject a parent, indicating an attachment rupture.Time without contact deepens trauma and reinforces feelings of rejection.The legal system can worsen family dynamics by prioritizing litigation over healing.Attachment-focused parenting can help reopen doors to connection.Chapters00:00 – Parental Alienation Is More Than a Family Problem 01:06 – Who This Episode Is For & Why Awareness Matters 01:55 – Children Reject When They Feel Rejected 03:33 – Understanding Attachment Ruptures in Development 05:04 – Why Time Without Contact Deepens Trauma 07:01 – Foster Care vs. Family Court: A Critical Gap 08:45 – How the Legal System Can Worsen Alienation 09:29 – When Litigation Replaces Healing 10:20 – Attachment-Focused Parenting That Reopens Doors 13:39 – Healing Is Still Possible, Even After YearsIf you wish to connect with Lawrence Joss or any of the PA-A community members who have appeared as guests on the podcast:Email - familydisappeared@gmail.comLinktree: https://linktr.ee/lawrencejoss(All links mentioned in the podcast are available in Linktree)Connect with Dr. Rebecca Bailey:https://polyvagalequineinstitute.comPlease donate to support PAA programs:https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=SDLTX8TBSZNXSsa bottom partThis podcast is made possible by the Family Disappeared Team:Anna Johnson- Editor/Contributor/Activist/Co-hostGlaze Gonzales- Podcast ManagerConnect with Lawrence Joss:Website: https://parentalalienationanonymous.com/Email- familydisappeared@gmail.comThis podcast is made possible by the Family Disappeared Team:Anna Johnson- Editor/Contributor/Activist/Co-hostGlaze Gonzales- Podcast ManagerConnect with Lawrence Joss:Website: https://parentalalienationanonymous.com/Email- familydisappeared@gmail.com

In this powerful and heartbreaking episode of Chicks on the Right, we sit down with Jamie Williams, a Washington State foster mom and former labor & delivery nurse, who is sounding the alarm on a child welfare system in crisis.Jamie shares firsthand accounts from inside Washington's foster care system, exposing how the “Keeping Families Together Act” has made it nearly impossible to remove children from dangerous homes—even when drugs, neglect, and extreme risk are present. Since the law's passage, child fatalities and near-fatalities have surged, while state officials deflect, downplay, and silence concerned foster parents. This is a must-watch conversation for anyone who cares about children, parental rights, foster care reform, and government accountability.Subscribe and stay tuned for new episodes every weekday!Follow us here for more daily clips, updates, and commentary:YoutubeFacebookInstagramTikTokXLocalsMore InfoWebsite

Meet Mickey Ibarra - a name that defined Latino excellence in Washington D.C. for decades.On this episode of the Latino Vote Voices: Mike Madrid sits down with the former Assistant to President Clinton who went from Utah foster care to the West Wing, and is now preserving Latino stories for future generations.Mickey opens up about his father's path from bracero worker in Oaxaca to successful small business owner in Sacramento, and how reconnecting with his Mexican heritage at age 15 transformed his life during the height of the Chicano movement in 1966. He recounts witnessing Robert F. Kennedy and Hubert Humphrey campaign in 1968, following his father's footsteps to serve in Germany during the Vietnam era, and ultimately finding his calling in public service.As founder of the Latino Leaders Network and author of the newly released "Latino Leaders Speak: Volume Two," Mickey discusses his mission to preserve and celebrate Latino success stories across all sectors of American society. He reflects on the parallels between the turbulent 1960s and today's political climate, offering wisdom on how young Latinos can navigate uncertainty and prepare for opportunities they can't yet imagine.-Recorded Jan 12, 2026.-Check out Mickey Ibarra's latest work: 'Latino Leaders Speak: Personal Stories of Struggle and Triumph, Volume II' -https://artepublicopress.com/product/latino-leaders-speak-personal-stories-of-struggle-and-triumph-volume-ii/Latino Leaders Network Website: https://www.latinoleadersnetwork.org/latino-leaders-speakBill Clinton's ad referenced in the episode: 'A Man From Hope' - https://mediaburn.org/videos/the-man-from-hope/-Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more episodes of The Latino Vote Podcast! Watch our episodes on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@thelatinovotepodcast Find us on Substack: https://substack.com/@thelatinovotepodcast Follow us on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheLatino_Vote Visit our website for the latest Latino Vote news and subscribe to our newsletter: latinos.vote If you want more of our discussions and behind the scenes please join our Patreon (www.patreon.com/thelatinovote) for exclusive content and opportunities!

In this episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, Tyler Hunter shares his profound journey through foster care and adoption. He reflects on the challenges he faced, the coping mechanisms he developed, and the importance of community and support in his life. Tyler emphasizes the transformative power of foster care, the significance of forgiveness, and the need for advocacy in the child welfare system. His story is a testament to resilience, personal growth, and the impact of unconditional love and support.TakeawaysFoster care can be a life-saving experience.Masking feelings is a common coping mechanism for children in care.School can provide a safe haven for foster children.Finding a sense of normalcy is crucial for foster youth.Forgiveness is essential for personal healing.Community support is vital for children in foster care.Foster parents play a critical role in a child's life.Vulnerability is a challenge for many who have experienced trauma.Positive affirmations can significantly impact a child's self-worth.Advocacy is necessary to improve the foster care system.

Adriene Caldwell returns to continue to share the pivotal moments that shaped her path and the unexpected resilience that emerged when the odds were stacked against her. After facing homelessness, a broken family and abuse, she turned those pressures that broke her into strengths. In the second and final part of our conversation, we continue to discuss what helped her become unbroken.Contact me at silverliningshandbookpod@gmail.comCheck out the Silver Linings Handbook website at:https://silverliningshandbook.com/Check out our Patreon to support the show at:https://www.patreon.com/thesilverliningshandbookJoin our Facebook Group at:https://www.facebook.com/groups/1361159947820623Visit the Silver Linings Handbook store to support the podcast at:https://www.bonfire.com/store/the-silver-linings-handbook-podcast-storeVisit The True Crime Times Substack at:https://truecrimemessenger.substack.comThe Silver Linings Handbook podcast is a part of the ART19 network. ART19 is a subsidiary of Wondery and Amazon Music.See the Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and the California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Flexibility and openness are the name of the game when it comes to fostering and adopting, and our guest, Nikki, really drives that point home today. She's got a heartwarming story about her journey through foster care, navigating the ups and downs with grace and humor. From dealing with unexpected placements straight out of the hospital to fostering a medically fragile baby, Nikki shares the real scoop on what it's like to open your home and heart to kids in need. We also dive into how her family adapted, the community support that came through in spades, and the bittersweet moments of attachment and letting go. So, grab your headphones and settle in for a chat that's not just insightful but also sprinkled with wit and wisdom—perfect for anyone curious about the foster care world! Diving into the heart of foster care and adoption, we chat with Nikki Zakocs, an audiobook narrator and former foster mom who shares her journey through the often chaotic but incredibly rewarding world of fostering. From the moment she and her husband decided to open their home to children in need, Nikki emphasizes the importance of flexibility and an open mind. With three biological kids already in tow, they embarked on a deeply personal journey that began with a lot of research and conversations about what it means to be a foster family. She candidly recounts her initial hopes of adopting internationally, only to discover that the path to foster-to-adopt was not just feasible, but also filled with unexpected joys and challenges. Nikki paints a vivid picture of her first placement, a newborn baby girl who arrived just days after they were licensed, and the whirlwind of emotions that came with it, including the overwhelming feeling of court appearances and the reality of potentially having to let go of the children she grew to love. The conversation flows effortlessly as Nikki shares the ups and downs of fostering, from the excitement of welcoming new children into her home to the heart-wrenching moments of saying goodbye. She reflects on the bonds formed and the lessons learned along the way, highlighting how her experiences have shaped her family's view of love and compassion. The episode is sprinkled with humor and warmth, as Nikki recounts the hilarious and chaotic moments of having multiple kids in the house, including the supportive network of friends and community members who rallied around her family with clothes, baby supplies, and a whole lot of encouragement. We also discuss the emotional toll fostering can take on both parents and biological children, yet how it ultimately opens their hearts and minds to the realities of life for many children in the system. As we wrap up, Nikki shares her insights on keeping the connection with biological families and how her views have shifted over the years. She champions the idea that fostering is not just about providing a temporary home, but about being part of a larger family narrative that includes birth families, reinforcing the importance of understanding and compassion in a child's life. This episode is a treasure trove of wisdom for anyone considering fostering or simply wanting to understand the complexities of foster care better.Takeaways:Flexibility and an open mindset are essential when entering the world of foster care.The experience of fostering can profoundly change your perspective on life and parenting.Involving your biological children in the foster care process can provide valuable lessons about empathy and community.The emotional attachment formed during fostering is real and can lead to heart-wrenching goodbyes when children are reunified with...

Jeanette Yoffe's journey from foster care to becoming a psychotherapist illustrates the profound impact of resilience and advocacy on healing. In our conversation, we delve into her extensive experience working with trauma, loss, and disrupted attachment, all while highlighting her upcoming book, *The Traumatized and At Risk Youth Toolbox*. This resource is packed with over 160 interventions designed specifically to support foster youth, addressing misconceptions about their behaviors and emphasizing the necessity of empathy and understanding. Jeanette's insights challenge common narratives, revealing the complexities behind foster youth's actions and reminding us that their defiance often signals deeper concerns about protection rather than rebellion. Join us as we explore the importance of creating safe spaces, the role of storytelling in recovery, and the urgent need for systemic change in the foster care landscape, all while sharing a few laughs along the way.Becoming Bridge Builders is back with a captivating discussion that dives deep into the complexities of foster care and trauma recovery, featuring the incredible Jeanette Yoffe. As an adoptee who spent six years in foster care, Jeanette brings a wealth of personal experience and professional expertise to the table. This episode spans a range of topics, from the nuances of attachment theory to practical interventions for trauma-informed care, including her upcoming book, the Traumatized and At Risk Youth Toolbox. Listeners will gain insights into the critical role that understanding and empathy play in the lives of foster youth, as Jeanette passionately articulates the importance of recognizing their behaviors not as defiance, but as protective mechanisms borne from deep-seated trauma. Her anecdotes provide poignant examples of how a supportive environment can foster healing, and she emphasizes the need for professionals to approach these children with patience and an open heart. Moreover, Jeanette's unique perspective as a therapist and performer highlights the transformative power of storytelling in trauma recovery, making this episode not only informative but also deeply moving. In this episode, we're not just skimming the surface; we're diving headfirst into the emotional waters of foster care and trauma recovery. Jeanette Yoffe's insights challenge common misconceptions surrounding foster youth, highlighting the dire need for empathy and understanding. She shares her journey of turning personal pain into purpose, emphasizing that healing isn't a linear process but rather a lifelong journey that requires ongoing support and understanding. The conversation unfolds with an exploration of her practical tools, such as the self-forgiveness pool and the distress hill, designed to help young people articulate their feelings and reclaim their sense of agency. Jeanette's advocacy for open adoptions and the importance of birth family connections resonates throughout the dialogue, providing a fresh lens through which to view the foster care system. Her warmth and wisdom shine through as she invites listeners to consider the broader implications of trauma-informed care, making this episode a must-listen for anyone involved with youth in vulnerable situations.Join us as we navigate the intricate landscape of foster care and trauma recovery with Jeanette Yoff, whose commitment to bridging the gap between pain and healing is palpable. This episode is a treasure trove of insights, offering listeners a framework for understanding the experiences of foster youth and the importance of creating safe, nurturing spaces for their development. Jeanette's work through the Cecilia Center and her innovative toolbox for youth underscores the necessity of equipping caregivers and professionals with the right tools to foster resilience and healing. The conversation also touches on the role of storytelling in trauma recovery, as Jeanette shares her experiences in...

In January 1984, President Ronald Reagan issued a presidential proclamation to create National Sanctity of Human Life Day, which is usually celebrated on the third Sunday of January. Each year, pastors and churches across the United States use this day to bring awareness to the attacks against human life through the abortion industry. Join us for a special presentation from Kenneth Aycock from Families 4 Families, a faith-based foster care agency committed to connecting local churches with loving families to care for children in Georgia’s foster system. Together, we’ll learn of the many ways people can get involved in foster care and ask, “What can we say ‘yes’ to today?”

In January 1984, President Ronald Reagan issued a presidential proclamation to create National Sanctity of Human Life Day, which is usually celebrated on the third Sunday of January. Each year, pastors and churches across the United States use this day to bring awareness to the attacks against human life through the abortion industry. Join us for a special presentation from Kenneth Aycock from Families 4 Families, a faith-based foster care agency committed to connecting local churches with loving families to care for children in Georgia’s foster system. Together, we’ll learn of the many ways people can get involved in foster care and ask, “What can we say ‘yes’ to today?”

    Slam the Gavel welcomes back Debbie Carroll to the podcast accompanied by Lindsey Shaffer. Debbie was last on the podcast Season 5, Episodes 167, 180 and 236; Season 6, Episode 327.  Debbie discussed the Memorandum Of Procedure (MOP) and its disgusting implications along with the hard facts of foster care.     Lindsey discussed her history that she and her spouse had a baby girl 5-18-2104, but her spouse decided to move back in with his parents and brothers who were volatile. Lindsey didn't want to live with these brothers and she contacted CPS to see if they could offer other options such as housing. As a result her daughter was removed on 10-16-2015. Trying to find her way through what had unfolded with CPS and a certain caseworker, Lindsey wrote two books,"The Missing," and "Imperium Conflictus." These books can be found on Amazon, Google Play and Pay Hip.To Reach Debbie Carroll: carrolldebbie73@yahoo.com or considerationnonprofit.orgTo Reach Lindsey Shaffer: motivatedirishangel42@yahoo.comSupportshow(https://www.buymeacoffee.com/maryannpetri)Maryann Petri: dismantlingfamilycourtcorruption.comhttps://www.tiktok.com/@maryannpetriFacebook:  https://youtube.com/@slamthegavelpodcast?si=INW9XaTyprKsaDklhttps://substack.com/@maryannpetri?r=kd7n6&utm_medium=iosInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/guitarpeace/Pinterest: Slam The Gavel Podcast/@guitarpeaceLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryann-petri-62a46b1ab/  YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@slamthegavelpodcasthostmar5536  Twitter https://x.com/PetriMaryannEzlegalsuit.com   https://ko-fi.com/maryannpetrihttps://www.zazzle.com/store/slam_the_gavel/aboout*DISCLAIMER* The use of this information is at the viewer/user's own risk. Content on this podcast does not constitute legal, financial, medical or any other professional advice. Viewer/user/guest should consult with the relevant professionals. IRS CIRCULAR 230 DISCLOSURE: To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the Internal Revenue Service, we inform you that any U.S. federal tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (1) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (2) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein. Reproduction, distribution, performing, publicly displaying and making a derivative of the work is explicitly prohibited without permission from content creator. The content creator maintains the exclusive copyright and any unauthorized copyright usage is strictly prohibited.  Podcast is protected by owner from duplication, reproduction, distribution, making a derivative of the work or by owner displaying the podcast. Owner shall be held harmless and indemnified from any and all legal liability.Support the showSupportshow(https://www.buymeacoffee.com/maryannpetri)http://www.dismantlingfamilycourtcorruption.com/

Adriene Caldwell shares the pivotal moments that shaped her path and the unexpected resilience that emerged when the odds were stacked against her. After facing homelessness, a broken family and abuse, she turned those pressures that broke her into strengths. In the first part of our conversation, we discuss what helped her become unbroken.To preorder Adrienne's book:The Book | Unbroken: Life Outside the LinesContact me at silverliningshandbookpod@gmail.comCheck out the Silver Linings Handbook website at:https://silverliningshandbook.com/Check out our Patreon to support the show at:https://www.patreon.com/thesilverliningshandbookJoin our Facebook Group at:https://www.facebook.com/groups/1361159947820623Visit the Silver Linings Handbook store to support the podcast at:https://www.bonfire.com/store/the-silver-linings-handbook-podcast-storeVisit The True Crime Times Substack at:https://truecrimemessenger.substack.comThe Silver Linings Handbook podcast is a part of the ART19 network. ART19 is a subsidiary of Wondery and Amazon Music.See the Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and the California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As we continue an exciting new year of Fostering Change, this episode centers on possibility — what happens when lived experience, research, and belief in young people come together to rewrite outcomes.This week, Rob Scheer is joined by Dr. (Candidate) Shanté Elliott, a learning scientist, social innovator, and founder of TasselTurn — an organization reimagining how children in foster care and students experiencing housing insecurity move through school, graduation, and the transition to adulthood.Having experienced foster care herself, Shanté brings rare and powerful insight to her work. She blends academic research, technology, and deep empathy to help children in foster care not only stay in school, but truly see themselves as capable, worthy, and supported.What began in 2020 with a $300 grant has grown into a nationally recognized platform connecting young people with coaching, mentorship, and meaningful incentives tied to educational milestones.Now a PhD candidate at Northwestern University, Shanté has been recognized as a Forbes Changemaker, L'Oréal Paris Woman of Worth, and Echoing Green Fellow, with her work featured in Forbes, The Imprint, and Reader's Digest. In this conversation, she shares how education — when paired with trust and opportunity — can become a powerful pathway to stability, confidence, and economic mobility for children in foster care.

In our first podcast of 2026, we discuss new data on the administration's goal of A Home for Every Child, a new leader for the U.S. Children's Bureau, Trump's freezing of safety net funds in five states, and more. Reading RoomWhy We Are Putting the PIP on a PIP https://imprintnews.org/opinion/why-we-are-putting-the-pip-on-a-pip/269784How States Stack Up on Trump's “A Home for Every Child” Agendahttps://bit.ly/4qmHcLoTrump Administration Issues Deadline Demands Before Releasing Children's Aid https://bit.ly/4sDYV2uAlex Adams Seeks Names in Hasty Push For Personal Data of Minnesota Social Service and Foster Care Recipientshttps://bit.ly/4jIUgbCTrump Administration Cancels Several DEI-Related Child Welfare Grantshttps://bit.ly/3Nt2SH3Feds Asks 39 States To Stop Taking Foster Kids' Benefitshttps://bit.ly/4qjraC5President Trump Has Made His Pick for the Federal Children's Bureauhttps://bit.ly/4sDYFjOFoster Care and Child Maltreatment Mortality Rates in the UShttps://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2843235SOHO Forum: Should CPS intervene more?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0462gYjkbcThe Other Trump Child Welfare Doctrine Issued This Monthhttps://imprintnews.org/subscriber-content/the-other-trump-child-welfare-doctrine-issued-this-month/268999Candice Broce Faces Lawmakers About Georgia's Child Welfare Budget Crisishttps://bit.ly/4jIs7kWNew York Governor Signs Law to End Anonymous Reporting of Child Maltreatmenthttps://imprintnews.org/child-welfare-2/new-york-governor-signs-law-to-end-anonymous-reporting-of-child-maltreatment/269804The Number of Children in Los Angeles County Foster Care Has Plunged. The Imprint Set Out To Discover Whyhttps://bit.ly/456MbqZHow An Indigenous Mom's Adoption Journey Inspired Her Nonprofithttps://imprintnews.org/top-stories/three-precious-miracles-arizona-nonprofit/269711Crisis Confidential: Things We Learned So You Don't Have Tohttps://imprintnews.org/opinion/crisis-confidentialthings-learned/269818

This week, we're replaying one of our favorite conversations with Trisha White Priebe, an adult adoptee, writer, and speaker, and a mainstage speaker at Mobilize Ohio 2026.As we lead up to Mobilize Ohio, this week we're replaying a powerful conversation with one of our mainstage speakers, and next week we'll be sharing a brand-new episode featuring another Mobilize Ohio mainstage speaker. These conversations are meant to help prepare our hearts and minds for what's ahead and highlight the voices shaping this year's mainstage.In this episode, Trisha joins the show to talk about something we don't always think about: how families outside of the adoption or foster care world can help their children understand it. While many resources exist for adoptive and foster families, what about parents whose kids have classmates or friends who are adopted or in foster care? How do those families begin the conversation?Trisha shares practical, thoughtful ways to help children build empathy and engage in respectful, age-appropriate conversations about adoption and foster care. She believes every child benefits from learning how to talk about different kinds of families—and that small, intentional conversations can make a big difference.With honesty and compassion, Trisha brings her lived experience as an adoptee to the table, offering encouragement and hope to adoptees, birth families, and adoptive families alike. Her mission is simple: to help more people feel seen, supported, and understood.Episode Highlights: Meet Trisha White PriebeFoster Care & Adoption Giving Children the Language to Talk about Adoption Find more on Guest:Trisha's Website Find Trisha on FacebookFind Trisha on InstagramLife Song Find More on Hope Bridge:Register for Mobilize Ohio 2026Visit Our Website Follow us on InstagramFollow us on Facebook Register for Mobilize Ohio 2026!

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.Question: How do you deal with the emotions of not being able to adopt or foster because your husband doesn't share the desire?Resources:A Reluctant Spouse: When Only One Partner Wants to AdoptI Want to Adopt. My Partner Does Not.Creating a Family Online Support GroupSupport the showPlease leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them.Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content: Weekly podcasts Weekly articles/blog posts Resource pages on all aspects of family building

Welcome back to another episode of the unSeminary podcast. We're talking with Andrew Hopper, Lead Pastor of Mercy Hill Church in North Carolina. Planted in 2012 with just 30 people, Mercy Hill has grown into a multi-campus, fast-growing church known for its gospel clarity and sending culture. In this conversation, Andrew shares why adoption and foster care have become central expressions of Mercy Hill's mission—and how those practices flow directly out of the gospel. He also unpacks the heart behind his book, Chosen: Building Your Family the Way God Builds His. Is your church unsure how to engage big social needs without drifting from the gospel? Are you looking for a way to mobilize people beyond church walls while keeping discipleship front and center? Andrew offers a clear framework for doing both. Doing good as a sign of the kingdom. // Andrew addresses a common tension churches feel between community engagement and disciple-making. Mercy Hill refuses to treat these as competing priorities. Acts of service—whether foster care, adoption, or family restoration—are not the kingdom itself but signposts pointing to it. Meeting tangible needs creates openings for gospel conversations. These ministries don't replace evangelism; they amplify it by demonstrating the heart of God in visible ways. A church’s collective heartbeat. // Mercy Hill's deep involvement in adoption, foster care, and family restoration didn't start as a top-down strategy but emerged organically from the gifts and passions within the church. Many leaders and members have adopted children themselves, shaping the church's collective heartbeat. Rather than attempting to address every social issue, Mercy Hill chose to focus deeply on a few—believing churches are most effective when they lean into the specific good works God has prepared for them. This focus has mobilized hundreds of families and created a powerful witness in their community. Rope-holding and shared responsibility. // Not everyone is called to adopt or foster, but everyone can hold the rope. Drawing from the William Carey analogy, Mercy Hill equips members to support families on the front lines through prayer, childcare, meals, financial help, and presence. Over time, they've learned that rope-holding works best when built on existing relationships rather than formal assignments. The goal is to ensure no family fights alone in what Andrew describes as intense spiritual warfare. Big vision with baby steps. // Mercy Hill isn't afraid to cast a bold vision—whether for global missions, adoption, or church planting—but they pair that vision with accessible next steps. Prayer nights, giving opportunities, short-term service, and relational support allow people to grow into greater obedience over time. High challenge without guilt creates healthy discipleship. Why Andrew wrote Chosen. // Andrew wrote Chosen: Building Your Family the Way God Builds His not to promote a program, but to give churches a theological foundation for engaging adoption and foster care. The book weaves together Andrew's family story, Mercy Hill's journey, and a deeply gospel-centered motivation rooted in Scripture. Designed to be used individually or in groups, Chosen includes discussion questions and practical guidance for churches or small groups wanting to explore this calling in community. Andrew's prayer is that the book would catalyze thousands of Christian families to participate meaningfully in caring for vulnerable children and families. Gospel-driven motivation. // Underneath everything is Andrew's conviction that gospel motivation outlasts guilt. Behavior rooted in grace goes further than behavior driven by pressure. Adopted people adopt people. Chosen people choose people. That theological clarity fuels Mercy Hill's sending culture, their community impact, and their ongoing growth. To explore Andrew's resources on adoption, foster care, and grab his book, Chosen, visit andrewphopper.com/chosen or follow him on Instagram @andrewphopper. You can learn more about Mercy Hill Church at mercyhillchurch.com. Thank You for Tuning In! There are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, but you chose unSeminary, and I'm grateful for that. If you enjoyed today's show, please share it by using the social media buttons you see at the left hand side of this page. Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes, they're extremely helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show and you can bet that I read every single one of them personally! Lastly, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live! Thank You to This Episode’s Sponsor: Portable Church Your church is doing really well right now, and your leadership team is looking for solutions to keep momentum going! It could be time to start a new location. Maybe you have hesitated in the past few years, but you know it's time to step out in faith again and launch that next location. Portable Church has assembled a bundle of resources to help you leverage your growing momentum into a new location by sending a part of your congregation back to their neighborhood on Mission. This bundle of resources will give you a step-by-step plan to launch that new or next location, and a 5 minute readiness tool that will help you know your church is ready to do it! Click here to watch the free webinar “Launch a New Location in 150 Days or Less” and grab the bundle of resources for your church! Episode Transcript Rich Birch — Hey friends, welcome to the unSeminary podcast. We have got a multi-time guest on, and you know what that means. That means that I really respect, deeply admire, and want you to listen up, and today is no exception. Excited to have Andrew Hopper with us. He is the lead pastor of a church that they should be following, that you should be following. He’s a lead pastor of Mercy Hill Church with five locations, if I’m counting correctly, in North Carolina, and is repeatedly one of the fastest growing churches in the country. I love this church on many levels. They’re centered on the gospel and have a radical commitment to sending people to the nations. They have a desire to make disciples and multiply churches. Andrew, welcome to the show. So glad you’re here.Andrew Hopper — Man, I’m so pumped to be here. Love the podcast. Really appreciate it, man.Rich Birch — Yeah, I’m honored that you would come back. For folks that that don’t know Mercy Hill, give me a bit of a kind of an update. Tell us a little bit about the church.Andrew Hopper — Yeah.Rich Birch — Maybe update us from last time you were on.Andrew Hopper — Yeah, man. So just real quick, planted in 2012. We had 30 people, all you know kind of young professional age, and man, just really believe that God could do something incredible ah through, you know just through our our open hands, and he did.Andrew Hopper — And so it’s been 13 years. It’s crazy. We’ve been sort of pushing the same boulder up the same mountain for 13 years, just flywheel kind of concept and keep pushing. And ah the Lord has done an incredible thing, like you said, five campuses. And man, just moved into a new home and hub. That was from last time we had a chance. That’s been really great. Andrew Hopper — We were in a rented location for a long time as our main like broadcast campus. We’re a video-based multi-site. And so um it’s ah it was a three or four-year journey to raise the money and build this new facility. But we’re in, and the Lord has really blessed that with tons of new people, highest baptisms, sent ones, first time guest numbers, all everything that we’ve done. This has been a, you know, we’ve gone been on a ride – praise God for that. It’s it’s, um, it’s for his sake and his renown, but this year has been unlike the others. So it’s been…Rich Birch — Yeah, you were saying beforehand, it’s like 30 or something like 30 some percent year over year growth. That’s insane to keep up with.Andrew Hopper — It is man. And the, and the giving does not, uh, you know, the giving doesn’t happen.Rich Birch — Reflect that yet.Andrew Hopper — So it’s, it’s like, we’re trying to do ministry on a budget of a church that’s 3000, but a church that’s running 4,500. And it’s like, how do you do that effectively without killing everybody?Rich Birch — Nice.Andrew Hopper — All your staff, I mean, so, but we’re, we’re learning, man, we’re figuring it out. It’s fun. We got, we just planted our sixth church. So that’s apart from the campuses. This is first time, Rich, we’ve planted a church in our own city.Rich Birch — Oh, nice. That’s cool.Andrew Hopper — It’s been really, a really cool dynamic and it’s been fun. He’s doing great. Man, it was a college student that we met when he was 19 years old at North Carolina AT&T 10 years later. He’s an elder here. He’s done a lot of different things. And man, he goes and plants a new church in Greensboro about five minutes from one of our campuses and they’re doing great.Rich Birch — Wow. Yeah, that’s so good. Well, the thing, there’s lots I love about Mercy Hill, but one of the things that I’ve loved about your church from the you know the chance we’ve had to journey a little bit over the years about it is you just have real clarity around the mission, this idea of making disciples, multiplying churches. It’s like that has been rock solid from the beginning. When you think about we want churches to have discipleship at its core, this idea of a church that actually grows people up in their relationship with Christ. What matters most at the foundation? How are you keeping that so foundational to you know what’s happening at Mercy Hill?Andrew Hopper — Yeah, I think um I think that we always sort of bought into kind of what we see in Acts 2 as a little bit of a flywheel. We call it gather, group, give, go. A lot of churches have something like that.Andrew Hopper — The the difference, I think, at Mercy Hill a little bit than what I see ah in in in a lot of churches that we help mentor and coach is that 2020 hit and everybody was like, man, what is a church? What is discipleship? What are we going to do now? And and people were kind of… And I do think it was and it wasn’t, you know, it wasn’t just me. I mean, our, you know, our executive pastor Bobby, he was really integral in this. We sort of really doubled down on no, I kind of think the church is going to come back. Rich Birch — Right.Andrew Hopper — And I kind of think what we were doing is sort of what our church is set up to do. It kind of a brand thing. We are sort of a big box sending brand. And that, you know, for us, when we look at Acts 2, we’re like, dude, the gathering, there’s no more there’s no more important hour for discipleship and evangelism. And I know there’s a lot of things written against that. And people are kind of almost like downplaying it. Andrew Hopper — We’re just like, man, we just don’t believe it. We believe people need to be in a group. You know, we they need generosity is lead step in discipleship, give. And we got to teach people that there’s a mission bigger than themselves. And if we do that, it’s going to funnel more people into the gathering. Andrew Hopper — So I think fundamentally what I would say, we need to get, you know, we could talk about our value, you know we can talk about values to gospel and [inaudible] identity, but I think landing on you know, it’s very hard now to, to not get a word salad book form or thing. When you ask somebody, how are you making disciples? It can just be like…Rich Birch — Right. Very vacuous. Who knows what that means? Yeah.Andrew Hopper — For us, it’s just been a very clear, simple process.Rich Birch — Right.Andrew Hopper — Like, man, we believe if someone is in the gathering, if they’re in relationship, if they’re being pushed on generosity, and if they’re living for a mission bigger than themselves, that’s a current of maturity that will move them. They just get in the stream, they’ll move.Rich Birch — Yes. Yeah. Yeah. It’s so good.Andrew Hopper — that’s kind of So you know for us, I think that’s as, you know we’ve we’ve tried to simplify things there.Rich Birch — Yeah. And, and your last episode, I’ve pointed a ton of people to it, uh, to really, and we really unpack a lot of what you talked about there in more detail.Andrew Hopper — Right. Yeah.Rich Birch — You’re going to want to go back and, uh, and listen to that. You’ve reached as a church, you’ve reached a lot of people who don’t grow up in church that it’s like, there’s a lot of people who are there. You know, we used to say we ain’t your mama’s church, but mama didn’t go to church, you know? So, you know, and it’s been a long time that people were there. What challenges have you seen, you know, helping move people from curiosity into real ongoing discipleship? So like, I think there are, we’re seeing a swell of attendance across the country. People are like, oh, I’m kind of interested in this, but we got to move them from just, oh, this is something interesting to like, oh, I’m actually want to grow my relationship with Jesus.Andrew Hopper — Yeah, I mean, and it’s it’s funny too, Rich, you probably have a better bird’s eye view of this than I do. But I feel like churches that have been faithfully growing for like the last 10 years, they’re not really doing a lot different now. Or even though there’s this big swell happening, what I do think is that some churches have sort of decided like, oh, clarity does matter.Rich Birch — Yes. Yeah, that’s true.Andrew Hopper — And don’t try to be friends with the culture. We’re going to speak in and be prophetic. And, you know, even even to the you know Proverbs 25:26 says, you know, there’s there there’s no there’s no benefit in a muddied spring. You know, it’s like you got to be sort of you got to figure out if we’re going to be clear.Andrew Hopper — So, I you know, for me, I think like and you’re right, we do reach most of the people that we reach that are in the camp that you’re talking about our college age. We reach a lot of people, though, ah that are, you know, they’re they’re coming back to the faith because they’re a southerner.Rich Birch — Sure.Andrew Hopper — You know, they they kind of they kind of were, you know, they they did have some church in their background. They’re coming back. Their kids are not only born, but they’re realizing they’re sinners and they don’t have answers. They’re trying to figure that out.Rich Birch — Right. Right.Andrew Hopper — They’re coming back to church.Andrew Hopper — And, you know, I think the biggest thing that moves people from like interest into a decision point is just being very clear on this is what the gospel is. This is the life it compels you to. Are you going to be in or out?Andrew Hopper — One of the things we say at Mercy Hill a lot is like, man, if you’re if you’re just intrigued, you know, if you’re interested, you’re not going to stay at Mercy Hill because we’re never going to let you, you’re going to get pushed every week. And it’s like, man, people are not really in or like that. I’m not going to do that. You know, they’re just like, no I’m not going to sit here and get like pushed every single week on something I don’t really… And the flip side is when people say, all right, you know what? Stake in the ground. I’m in.Rich Birch — Yeah, we’re doing this, yep.Andrew Hopper — I wanna look like this, I want to build my life on this. It’s like, well, now, you know, it’s it’s man, I’m hopefully, you know, putting tools in the belt every single week to live that life.Rich Birch — Yeah. Yeah, it’s good. I do think there was a time where people wandered into our churches where I don’t think that happens as much anymore. I think people, when they arrive, they come with questions, with live active questions that they’re trying to wrestle with, kind of regardless of where they’re they’re at in their journey.Andrew Hopper — Yeah.Rich Birch — And they’re what you to your point around, you know, there’s no benefit in a muddy stream. People aren’t looking for anything that sounds like, well, what do you think? Because the reason why they’re there is because they’re asking questions. And so, you know, they’re they’re looking for clarity, like I think you’re saying. Rich Birch — Well one of the things I love about your church is there’s a high commitment to, you’re you’re you’re tearing down what I think is a false dichotomy. Sometimes I think when churches come to this idea of outreach or making a difference in their community, there’s this there can be this gap or false dichotomy between doing good in our communities and making disciples. Like we gave that up at some point. We were like, you can’t, you know, we can’t do both of those things for some reason. Why, why did we do that? Why did we, as churches say, we can’t both make a difference in our communities and also make disciples?Andrew Hopper — Yeah, I think it’s, I actually have a lot of sympathy for the fundamentalist leaning. I know it sounds a little bit weird. Rich Birch — No, that’s fine.Andrew Hopper — Churches that led from the, you know, from the good do good in your city kind of thing. I don’t think they’re right, but I do have sympathy for that because I understand how quickly that sort of, you know, is so hijacked by liberal, by theological liberalism to where it’s finally man we’re digging wells and wherever but we’re not talking about who the true source of living water is. Like we don’t want to be offensive we just want to do good without speaking the whole you know you know live your life as a Christian only use words if necessary, whatever, you know. And and I so I understand why people kind of fled and have fled that.Andrew Hopper — Like, you know, I’ve even had our church before when I when I talk about adoption or we we have a ministry, and a ministry called No More Spectators. We’re like moving people towards community ministry. And we had people kind of going on like, oh, my gosh, this seems like a sign of like churches start going this way and then they lose the gospel.Andrew Hopper — And I’m like, well, the reason you’re kind of feeling like that is because a lot of churches have done that. You know, you’re not [inaudible] like that just out of nowhere. Now, of course, I think it’s a little bit immature and we’ve got to push through. The way we talk about it, Rich, is, man, we want to do good in our community as signs of the kingdom coming.Andrew Hopper — They are not building the kingdom. You know, if we go repaint a house or house a homeless person, one day that person would parted with that house, whether they, you know, get messed up and leave or whether they do great and then would die one day, you know.Andrew Hopper — Or, if we have, ah you know, if we go and, and you know, we’re going to, for example, we have ah ah a family in our church that they need a ramp built because, man, the the brother is struggling with MS and he’s, they’re they’re fighting it like Christians do. We’re going to go do that. You know, we’re going to go build that ramp. That ramp’s going to rot and die one, you know, rot and rot away one day. And, you know, whether it’s 100 years from now or whatever.Andrew Hopper — Like it’s not literally the kingdom. But when the outside world sees us engage and, you know, our church will talk about this primarily when we think about community ministry, we think about it in terms of adoption, foster care and families count, which I can talk to you about. I think it’s bringing a sign of the kingdom that is to the community around us to say, hey, this is not the gospel. But it sure points to the gospel. Rich Birch — Right, right.Andrew Hopper — You know, it’s a pretty good signpost of like, yeah, there’s a kingdom coming where kids aren’t separated from their parents, you know. And and so that’s kind of the way that we think about, it’s not, you know, it’s not the kingdom. It’s a sign of the kingdom that is coming.Rich Birch — Yeah, let’s let’s dive in. So adoptions, foster care, families count. These are not small issues. Like you started with like putting a ramp on, painting somebody – those are like, okay, I can organize my head around that. And then we jump to what I think are obviously significant. How, it can be easy, I think, for church leaders it can be easy where, you know, we got a lot of fish to fry in our own backyard. When you see big problems like that, help us unpack that. Why do you as a lead pastor, why are you passionate about these issues? Why are these the things that you’ve chosen?Andrew Hopper — I think it’s, man, I think it’s great. I mean if you can’t if you don’t mind I’ll go back and give you a little bit of context. I’m a context [inaudible]… Rich Birch — Yeah, absolutely. Let’s do it. Yeah. Andrew Hopper — …number one so I always want to frame it in where we’ve been. But the short answer to the question is I think that every church because it is made up of individual believers that have individual gift matrix, you know they’re they’re gifted the church is gifted in a unique way because the people which are the church are gifted in a unique way, right? Andrew Hopper — And so to me, you know, slapping, you know, a top down every single church has to to manifest signs of the kingdom in X way, which, for for example, I’m not to pick on it, but like, you know, the whole diversity church kind of movement. I love you know, if that’s your brand, that’s awesome. That’s great. Go, go bring signs of the kingdom in that area. But you know what people do is they take their thing and then slap it on every single church. You know, this is the sign of the kingdom that you have to manifest.Andrew Hopper — I don’t think that. It takes every kind of church to reach a city because there’s all you know, there’s every kind of people in the city. Right? For us, though, and I think for a lot of churches that that maybe are are made up a little bit like we are, I think there is a lot of meat on the bone for adoption, foster care, families count ministry. And I think churches could be greatly helped by latching on to maybe, you know, something in particular, maybe this, maybe this specifically. How we got there, Rich, was we had we had, you know, huge movement in our church in 2019. I was very convicted.Andrew Hopper — Some of the exponential stuff was coming out, you know, mobilizing people outside the walls of the church. And I really was, man, I was just really affected by that. And I don’t want the dichotomy, you know, I don’t want, well, you your people serve in the church and not outside the church. It’s like, no, most people serve outside the church. If you watch them, they are serving inside the church as well. It’s it’s like a it’s like, man, you know, just just because serving inside the church is not the finish line, don’t demonize it because it is a starting place.Rich Birch — That’s good.Andrew Hopper — So it’s like, I don’t like that kind of whole thing. But but it did affect me to say, OK, what are we doing to push to the outside? So we we we did a thing. You would have loved this, man. But it except for the fact that it didn’t really work that good. OK, it was awesome.Andrew Hopper — It was, we still have the domain name – nomorespectators.com – I had the tagline: Jesus didn’t die to create spectators. He died to create servants, not spectators, workers, not watchers. We, man, you could go to nomorespectators.com and, you know, it was like, it was like a funnel for all of these community ministry opportunities in our city. So it was, you know, people from the housing, you know, authority type stuff would post things. And it was, it was all this kind of, it had a bunch of stuff in it. Andrew Hopper — In the end of the day, great idea. It was a little too complex. Our people latched on to the foster care, pregnancy network, you know, ended up being families count, Guardian ad Litem and adoption. So our guy that was over all that at the time our sending director, which is hard for me to have a good idea that ends up dying hard, okay that’s just tough for me.Rich Birch — You had a great sticky statement and everything. Come on.Andrew Hopper — I’m the king of sunken cost bias. Okay. Like, I’m like, dude. And so finally around 2020, he came to me and he said, bro, I know this is hard for you. Cause it was like a two year initiative. He’s like, this is hard. He said, No More Spectators needs to just turn into Chosen. And it needs to be like, you had this idea for 30 different things. It just, this needs to be our niche, man. You know, we we don’t do a lot of these other things, but we do this really well.Andrew Hopper — And it was hard for me. Ultimately, it was great wisdom by them, not me. And we started going down that road. And partly, I think it’s because, Rich, is heart is near to my heart. I have an adopted daughter. A lot of our staff have adopted kids. We just have a guy right now. Our associate director of first impressions at the Rich campus is in Texas right now, you know, bringing their daughter home.Andrew Hopper — I mean, so it’s just, and so it’s sort of started to morph into, and the the the big thing I’ll say, and I, you know, I’ve been talking a lot here, but the big thing I’ll say is, if you think about the way I just ah described all that, it doesn’t start with the need in the community. It starts with the gift matrix of the church. The poor we will always have with us. Like there there is no there’s no scenario until Jesus comes back that there’s no kids that need to be adopted, you know.Rich Birch — Right, right.Andrew Hopper — And it’s just the reality of it. And so there’s always going to be need in the community. It’s more about, okay, what are the Ephesians 2:10 works that your church, because the church is made up of people who are individually called, what are the you know what are those works that God has set out for your church? Rich Birch — That’s good.Andrew Hopper — And, you know, so for us, we just felt like, dude, this is a a heartbeat thing. Our people got more, they get more fired up. The greatest thing I’ve ever been able to mobilize our people for prayer for is go to the abortion clinic and pray. I mean, a thousand people on their face in the pavement. It’s like, it just strikes a chord with our church and who we are. So we wanna run after that.Rich Birch — Yeah. Well, I love that. And we’re going to dig out a bunch of this, but let’s think about it first from a perspective of somebody who’s maybe attended your church. They just started. They’re they’re relatively new, you know. The idea of something as weighty as adoption or foster care, that’s a big ask. And you know when you yeah how do I experience that as someone who’s just new? What are some ways that I could get plugged in? What does that look like? That, that, cause I, I’m hard, it’s hard to imagine that I go from zero to, to, you know, adoption, you know, how do I end up or flying to Texas to, you know, pick up a kid. That’s a lot. Help me understand. How are you, cause I know you guys are so good at moving people along from kind of where they are to where you’re hoping to – what’s that look like? What’s the kind of, how do you bring people along in this?Andrew Hopper — Man, totally. I think you’re right. I think it’s a combination of big vision on one end and then baby steps on the other. But the big vision matters.Rich Birch — That’s good.Andrew Hopper — Like we don’t want to be scared of the big vision. So, you know, for example, our weekender process, which I know you talked about some, you know, that weekender process, you know, people literally for years, we would give them a passport application in the weekender process. Because we’re like you’re at this church you’re probably going to be overseas at some point on a mission trip. And so to me it’s like people are like dude that probably scares the crap out of people. And it’s like well, I mean we want to make sure they know what they’re getting into, you know. We’re not telling them they got to do that tomorrow… Rich Birch — Right.Andrew Hopper — …but that is the, and then and then there’s all these baby steps, right? Like hey come to you know, every February we do Sent weekend. Come to the prayer night. Like that’s a baby step. That’s not you getting on a plane to go to Nepal. But you know hey we’re doing this missions offering at the end of the year, like maybe get you know. So there’s all these I would say that our the way we think about Chosen ministry, which again: adoption, foster care, families count, and rope holding, which is a big part of this discussion… Rich Birch — Okay. Andrew Hopper —…is that way. It’s big vision on the front end so we’re never going to tell somebody, hey you know, I know you could never do this. Like I’ll never…I think people can do it and they should. Or or you know more Christians than are should. At the same time we’re also not guilting anybody. Like so I’m I you know the the first thing I’ll tell people is like, hey, you know we start talking about adoption. I always say always say, hey, we have not lined up a bunch of little kids in the lobby for you to take one home today, okay. And then I’ll tell them, that’s next week.Rich Birch — That’s great.Andrew Hopper — Okay, so yeah but and we we try hard to like put some levity in it. Man, we’re not everybody’s not going to do that. In fact, a minority, of a small minority is going to do it. But everyone can be involved and there are baby steps.Andrew Hopper — So we try to highlight giving, man. Like if you someone adopts from Mercy Hill, we pay 25% of their adoption. Okay.Rich Birch — Wow. Yep.Andrew Hopper — If they’re a member and they’re in a community group, they get 25%. All right, well, you know, we’re going to connect that. Like, man, you you are never going to adopt. You feel like that’s, but it’s like, well, I give $100 a month to the church. Rich Birch — Right.Andrew Hopper — Well, hey, what? You know, you’re you are you are supporting.Rich Birch — We’re making a difference.Andrew Hopper — We do parents night out, you know, for all of our foster and adoptive parents. We do it quarterly. It’s like, hey, those are opportunities to come and serve, man. You can serve the meal you can do. We do rope holding, which I know we’ll probably talk about. But but the the idea of rope holding is just like, man, I’m not going to do this, but I can be in the corner for somebody. They’re in my community group. I want to be their first call if they need a babysitter or they need, you know, a gift card, or whatever they need.Andrew Hopper — So I think, man, we try to do big vision. You know, we’re going we’re going to set a huge vision, you know, for 2030 for 2030. Actually, we just hit our vision for 2025, which is 200 adoptive or foster families. There’s a lot of ways people can be involved with it.Rich Birch — So good. There’s, I think thing I would encourage friends who are listening in, you really should be following Mercy Hill, Andrew, because I do think you’re a very unique communicator where you, and you just described it. And I think to you, it’s just like, that’s just what you do. But this idea of like, you’re calling people to a high bar, but you’re not leveraging shame, guilt. you know, it’s, and I think so many times our language can kind of lean in that direction. Or we can, if we really are trying to push people towards something, or we can just undersell the vision. You know We can be like, oh, it’s not that it’s not that big of a deal. You know It’s not for everybody. So I would encourage people to listen in.Rich Birch — Talk to me about rope holding. How is that, what’s that look like? Unpack what that looks like a little bit.Andrew Hopper — Yeah, so rope so the the the rope-holding analogy, which a lot of your listeners probably gonna already know this, but you know William Carey, Andrew Fuller, William Carey, father of modern missions, he’s he he he makes the statement, “I’ll dangle at the end of the rope in the pit, if you’ll hold the rope,” talking to Fuller. And Fuller held the rope for him. Like, you know, Carey the mission field, Fuller’s raising money, preaching sermons, organizing mission boards. So that’s kind of the picture. Right.Andrew Hopper — So we say, all right, not everybody is going to go down into the pit of foster care adoption, even even families count. I mean, these are these are massive spiritual warfare battlegrounds you know um which is one of the reasons why our church wants to be involved so much. I mean you if you want to talk about getting to the you can do all the rhetoric in the world, brother, you want to get to the very bottom of societal issues, you you be involved in somebody’s story that’s trying that’s trying to get their kids back from the foster care system. You’re trying to help them with that. I mean, every you could fatherlessness, poverty, drug abuse. I mean, everything you can think, you know.Rich Birch — Right.Andrew Hopper — So this this is just spiritual war. So what we tell people is like, hey, man. If we got people that are mobilizing for for adoption and foster care, we better have people in their corne,r because the enemy is going to bring his war machine.Rich Birch — Right.Andrew Hopper — And we see it all the time. I mean, you’re going to see, you know, a family steps in to adopt and you’re going to start seeing them, you know, there can be sickness. They can have marital problems. They can have financial things that come up. They can begin to believe lies, frustrations. I mean, There’s just so they can become, you know, their their heart can start getting hard toward the system. I mean, there’s so many things that come at them. And so what we say is we need people in their corner, right. Andrew Hopper — Now, it’s funny because like the way our church has operated was at first we said, all right, we’re going to we’re going to do, you know, the the community group is going hold the rope for the people. And and that that was fine. The problem is when we really kicked off this ministry, so many people got involved that it became overwhelming to the group. So we said we got to start this… Rich Birch — Right. Andrew Hopper — …rope holding ministry. The rope holder ministry is good. It’s like, what does a rope holder do? They kind of do whatever the person needs them to do. Rich Birch — Right. Andrew Hopper — So there are examples of the rope holding ministry going really well, where it’s like, hey, man, they’re they’re helping with ah child care with the other kids when they’re going to foster care appointments in court. And or, hey, we’re we’re helping you do some things around the house whenever you’re overseas doing your adoption, which is going to put you three weeks in country. You know, there are some good examples like that. Andrew Hopper — But the other thing that we’ve learned is, you know, foster care and adoption families that are that are walking through this, they’re going through a very trying time. And to just pair them with somebody they don’t know and say, hey, look, here’s your supporter, it can be a little bit like, oh, that’s awesome, and then they never reach out to them.Rich Birch — Right.Andrew Hopper — They never reach out – the rope holder’s ready.Rich Birch — Right.Andrew Hopper — But it’s just like, dude, I don’t I don’t know you. And this is a hard time.Rich Birch — Who are you? Yeah, yeah.Andrew Hopper — And so what we’re trying to figure out now as we reboot that rope holder idea is, you know, how how do you kind of integrate relationships they’ve already had? Almost like, hey, do you have this massive pool of people called rope holders? Or when an adoptive family comes up, you say to them, hey, who can we shoulder tap, rope holder for you.Rich Birch — That’s good.Andrew Hopper — And then we’ll train them.Rich Birch — Oh, that’s cool. Yeah.Andrew Hopper — But not have this pool, but say for you, we’ll put them in. So that’s kind of what we’re, so as part of our reboot for 2030, you know, that’s sort of what’s in our mind right now.Rich Birch — Yeah, that’s cool.Andrew Hopper — We have a whole playbook for the way we’ve done it, which anybody, you know, if anybody wants any of those things, they can go to AndrewPHopper.com/chosen. And I can send you any of that stuff we have, but on the rope holder side, you know, just full transparency, we’re still, you know, kind of, of you know, and I’m sure it’ll always be that way that we make an improvement.Rich Birch — Yeah, always trying to make it better. Yeah. And I want to, yeah, at some point in this journey, you decided, hey, we’ve got to put this vision and framework into writing, like we and you actually ended up writing a book, and friends who are listening in, I want to encourage you to pick up a copy of this book. Listen, we’re almost half an hour in. I know you’re interested in this. This is the kind of thing you, Andrew’s a trusted leader. He’s, I’ve had a chance to take a peek at the book. This will be super helpful for you. But, but that’s a lot of effort to put this together into a book. What pushed you from just leading this ministry to ultimately saying, hey, I want to capture this into a resource that could help other people?Andrew Hopper — Well, you know, Rich, I never really saw myself as like a writer, just like a practitioner, man. Let’s just keep keep working on the thing and going.Rich Birch — Right.Andrew Hopper — And truthfully, I got approached. Hey, would you have any interest in writing? You know, New Growth Press is the one that’s editing this book and putting it out. And it was funny, though, because the second I was asked, I was like, man, I know what we should do [inaudible] that should be what we should do. It’s it’s our it’s it’s my story’s family story with our special needs child that we’ve adopted. It’s our church’s journey. But more important than either of those two things, it’s a grounding in the gospel-centered motivation. Because I think that is what is so important. We don’t do guilt motivation. And you know, cute kids and sad, cute kids and and sad stories are good reasons, but they you need a great reason, because it’s hard. Rich Birch — That’s good. Yep.Andrew Hopper — You know, and the great reason is of course, adopted people adopt people. And so we delve way into the helplessness of our spiritual condition, how God adopted us and then how, you know, that provides a deep motivation for us to go and do the same for others.Rich Birch — Can you unpack that a little bit more? Because I think this is, ah to me, a core part of the book that I think is really helpful. Even if you’re maybe listening in, you’re thinking, okay, I’m not sure adoption or foster care is necessarily the thing, but you unpack this idea of gospel rather than guilt. And can you talk us through, you know, how, yeah, just talk us through that part, that concept a bit more. Just double click on that a little bit.Andrew Hopper — Yeah. So, you know, when we think about behaviors that flow from the Christian life, there’s really only two ways to think about it, right? Like one of them is we try to do things in order that God would approve of us, you know, that he would, you know, he would, ah he would, he would let us in his family, you know, those those types of things. And we, you know, this is for a lot of Baptistic world, which I am, this was kind of like, wow, this is really revolutionary, but that was 20 years ago – Keller and all that. You know, we just started understanding what more of a gospel center motivation. Andrew Hopper — Of course, the other way to think about Christian behaviors is you are part of the family because of what Christ has done for you. And the family has a culture. The family works a certain way. There’s fruit that will pop out in your life, not so that you can gain entrance into the vine. That’s not how it works. Like, ah you know, you don’t you don’t produce fruit to get in the vine. You produce fruit because you’re in the vine. Andrew Hopper — And so, you know, when we think about like like Titus 2, for example, we think about how the grace of God appears to all men, teaching us not just salvation, but teaching us to obey his commands. So there’s something about salvation that and is inherent to the gospel-centered motivation of of of going out, living the Christian life. You know, it’s it’s kind of the John Bunyan idea when they said, man, if you, you know, if you keep preaching this gospel message, people are going to do whatever they want to do. And he said, no, if I keep preaching this gospel message, people are going to do whatever God wants them to do. Rich Birch — Right.Andrew Hopper — You know, and so I think what we’ve done in this book is just say, hey, that that is true universally in our Christian life. Like if I’m not tithing and I’m stingy, I can do motivation in two ways. Number one, how dare you, you piece of trash that you never, you know why would you never give? Look what God, you know, blah blah blah, blah, blah, guilt, guilt, shame, shame. Right. Andrew Hopper — Of course, the other way to say is like, man, what kind of riches has God given you in the gospel? And what kind of inheritance do you now have as a son of the king? It’s like, all right, that’s powerful, you know, and it will it will take us places that guilt never can. Guilt will work for a while. You can put fire under somebody and it’ll move them. But if you put it in them, they’ll run through a wall, you know. Rich Birch — So true.Andrew Hopper — And so it’s like it’s like, hey, OK, so you could do it with all these different things. We’ve tried to take this book and do that with adoption to say, all right.Rich Birch — Right.Andrew Hopper — We know James 1:27, we need to care for the fatherless and the orphan. We understand. I mean, dude, there ain’t, when you talk about metaphors, there’s two big ones, marriage and adoption, you know? And so if you want to do adoption well, we can do it from two motivations. One motivation is look how many kids need. That’s all and that’s all true. That moves my heart. You know, look, can you believe this story of this kid? And that’s fine.Andrew Hopper — Of course, you could do guilt, too. Like, how dare you, you know, have this nice, happy family and not go adopt a little poor orphan kid. You know, you could do guilt. All those things will be fine. They’ll put fire under you a little bit. But if you want to put the fire in someone that is going to carry them through the long haul of all this stuff, I think it’s better to start with: All right. There’s kids that need to be chosen. Were you chosen?Andrew Hopper — You know, so like one of the you know, one I’ll give you an example. We know of a family here in the tribe. They’ve got an awesome son that is 20-something years old, kids got Down syndrome, and they adopted him from Ecuador. And his story was one day a carpenter was working on this building and he heard cries coming out of a dump, like a trash heap. This child had just been born and been left you know with his deformities had just been left for the dumpster. Andrew Hopper — And they brought him to the orphanage. And next thing you know, you know about three or four years later, he got adopted by this family that we know. And that family’s father, he said, Eddie’s story is my story. I was pulled from a trash heap by a carpenter. And if you it’s like that is powerful. Rich Birch — Right. Yes.Andrew Hopper — You know, when you start thinking about, man, in my sin, I was one who had no part and parcel in the kingdom of God. I was headlong in rebellion. I had rejected. I was not a son. And God lavished his love upon me, that I would be called his child. And if if that has happened to me spiritually, how could I not want to do that? Or at least help those. you know I’m not saying that’s a call for everybody, but be involved in others that are doing that as well.Andrew Hopper — And so that’s what we say. Adopted people, adopt people, chosen people, choose people. And hey, I didn’t answer your last question. Rich Birch — That’s fine.Andrew Hopper — Okay. Your last question was, why did we write the book? Very simply, I think more people just need to think about what I just said. You know, and I think churches do. And I think that if, you know, a lot of churches have adoption-minded people and a little bit of of fuel in that fire might create some really cool ministry in that church. And this book lays really well for being like, man, make it a small group resource for eight weeks. You know, it’s got questions at the end of each chapter.Andrew Hopper — Like my my prayer is that this book would catalyze tens of thousands of Christian adoptions. Rich Birch — Wow. Andrew Hopper — And that’s why we wrote the book.Rich Birch — Yeah. It’s and I thought the same thing as I was looking through it, that this would be a great resource for a small group, a great resource as a staff training thing. Because again, I think there’s two things happening on two levels. From my perspective, there’s what you’re actually talking about – adoption, but then there’s how you talk about it. And I think even both of those, I think could be interesting as a as a staff team to kind of unpack and think about. How do we ensure that what we’re doing is so gospel-infused. That’s part of why i love you as a communicator. I think you do such a good job on that. It’s just fantastic. So I would strongly encourage people to pick it up.Rich Birch — Help me understand the connection. So Mercy Hill is known for, or at least from my perspective, known as a sending church. You know, the thing, one of the and I’ve told again, I told you this before, you’re the first church leader I’ve ever bumped into that has connected new here guests to number of missionaries sent. This like idea of like this funnel of how do we move people all the way along to that? I think that’s incredible. How does that kind of sending culture and adoption, how does that fit together? How does that help kind of fuel the flywheel of what’s happening at Mercy Hill?Andrew Hopper — Well, you you helped me think about this when you came and did our one day for our for our Breaking Barriers group, you know, for the pastoral trainings that we do. Because in your church growth book, you talk about how, ah you know, community ministry is used as an evangelism tool. I’m not, I’m probably butchering the way you talk about it.Rich Birch — Yep. Yep. Oh, that’s good. Yep. That’s great.Andrew Hopper — That was like a big light bulb for me because because we we definitely do that, but we have not leveraged the communications of that.Rich Birch — Right.Andrew Hopper — And so, um you know, for us now, what we’re trying to really think about is how does our adoption of foster care ministry and rope holding and families count ministry, how does that create open? We call them open doors, right? Rich Birch — Yep.Andrew Hopper — Like, how does it create open doors, questions in the community, where people come in? And we’ve seen it. You know, so like when we’re talking about the sending culture, that pipeline starts when new people get interested in faith, they get interested in church.Andrew Hopper — And, you know, like, for example, we we had a guy, we just did a historic video. Man, he’s saved, baptized, serving now, ah or, you know, family, young family, prototypical Mercy Hill guy, like, man, just you know blue collar heart, white collar job, just that. I mean, just everything we talk about. Right. He’s our he’s kind of our guy. And the way he got connected was his boss had signed up to be a rope holder. And it just blew his mind. Like, why would a guy take limited time and go help these families? I mean, he of course, he thought it was a good thing. But it really intrigued them. Andrew Hopper — And so we’ve tried to we’re trying to leverage more of the communication side. It’s tricky. You don’t want to be like, hey, look at us you know in the community. At the same time, I’m like, man, this year, you know when we’re going to do a pretty significant upgrade to some of the there our foster care system has, there’s a house that has a backyard and the backyard is where families come to play with kids, play with their kids they’re trying to get back from the foster care.Rich Birch — Right. Yep.Andrew Hopper — And we’ve said like, you know what, man, if these parents are putting in, that needs to be like the best, the best backyard, and you know?Rich Birch — Right. Yeah, absolutely. 100%.Andrew Hopper — And so, you know, we’re, we’re going to do a significant investment in some, you know, whatever…Rich Birch — Play structures and yeah. Andrew Hopper — …like a, you know, whatever, like a pergola type thing. They’re going put a shed out there. All going to connect it, pavers, all that stuff is what we want to do. And, you know, we’re, we’re looking at that and I’m going like, yeah, I mean, I get it. Like you don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, but at the same time, that’s not for us. That’s for people that are interested to say like, why would a church do that? You know, like why do they care so much?Andrew Hopper — And it’s because, Hey, sign of the kingdom. We want to build families through adoption. We want to restore families through foster care and families count. This is part of that. So we’ve tried to we’ve tried to use it as a way. And I would really encourage church leaders to think about that. Like, hey, is your community ministry actually an evangelism strategy?Rich Birch — Right. Yeah, that’s good. Love that. And yeah, I would encourage you continue to encourage you to think through those things because I do think that there’s, we’ve seen that there’s huge opportunity for folks who don’t normally attend church. They’re interested the way I’ve said in other contexts is they see it as a good thing. We see it as a God thing. We’re not going to fight them over the semantics of it at the front end. Because like you say it’s it’s the kingdom puncturing through that grabs their attention and you’re like oh what what you know what’s going on there? It’s a first step – how do we encourage those people? Rich Birch — Like on that backyard project, I no doubt if you’re rallying a bunch of guys to go work there, I know that there are guys in your church who have friends who they could invite who don’t attend church who maybe would never walk in your church who’d say, hey, will you come and work for a Saturday for a couple hours and swing a hammer and help us do this thing? Let me explain what this is about.They absolutely would show up, right? 100% they’d show up and and they’ll get intrigued by that. And they’ll be like, oh, what’s going on there? That’s that’s fantastic. Rich Birch — Well, friends, unabashedly, I want you to pick up copies of, not just a copy, copies of this book. So where do we want to send people to pick up copies, that sort of thing?Andrew Hopper — Yeah, man, they can just go to andrewphopper.com/chosen. Rich Birch — Perfect. Yep.Andrew Hopper — The book’s out so they can pick up a copy. I mean, it’s also just like on Amazon or whatever, but that link will take you straight to New Growth Press.Rich Birch — Right.Andrew Hopper — So, yeah, man, would love it. Would love to hear from anybody who’s using it well in a church context um to catalyze Christian adoption.Rich Birch — Love it. Anything else you want to share just as we close and how can people track, go to the website, other places we want to send them as we close up today.Andrew Hopper — Also on Instagram, we have a lot of stuff on Instagram, andrewphopper on Instagram. Yeah, the last thing I would say as a closing thought, Rich, is you know, the Christian adoption boom has sort of happened 20 years ago. People started talking about this a lot more. And now you can feel in some of the podcast world and all that, there’s a bit of a backlash, not not to don’t do it, but also like, hey, no one told us how hard this was going to be. Andrew Hopper — You’re dealing with traumatic situations, kids that have been brought, you know, I mean, it’s, it’s crazy. One thing I try to do in this book is I try to say, Hey, that’s not a good reason to take our ball and go home, you know.Rich Birch — That’s good.Andrew Hopper — Instead we just need to try to shoot as straight as we can. And I do that in this book, man. It is hard. It’s you’re on the front lines of spiritual war. I mean, it’s almost like, dude, the, the, the greatest transfer of faith from one generation to another happens in the home. We love it when adults get saved. I get that. But let’s be honest. Statistically, where does it normally happen? Right. Rich Birch — Yeah. Kids. Andrew Hopper — And so if you got a home that’s broken apart, that Christians are trying to put back together, what did we think Satan was going to do? You know, and so instead of taking our ball and going home, let’s just call it what it is, and then ask the Lord to steel our spine… Rich Birch — That’s good. Andrew Hopper — …and to move forward with the mission. So, yeah, man, I’d love for people to pick it up. And I appreciate the time to talk about it today.Rich Birch — Andrew, thanks so much. Appreciate you. Just want to honor you for the work you do. You’re a great leader. And I love how God’s using you and your church to make a difference. Thanks for being on the show today.Andrew Hopper — Thanks, brother.

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.Question: Hello, thank you sincerely for your podcast and the work you do. It has helped me feel less alone and allowed me to better navigate foster parenting and adopting from foster care. My husband and I have two amazing boys; they have the same bio mom, and two older siblings each in a different family. Our youngest is 5. We met when he was 3 months. Our oldest is 8. We met when he was 3. He was removed at birth, then placed with his bio mom at 2 months, removed at 8 months, moved to a new foster family at 10 months, and placed with his legal father at 2.5. His bio mom took him illegally after a few months (with the legal father's consent). When he and his baby brother were removed and placed with us, he was sad and scared. We formally adopted our boys three years ago. He has grown into a beautiful, highly intelligent, and athletic boy. However, he has never accepted me as his mother. He refuses affection, pulls away, and looks at me with what I perceive as disgust. We are close with his bio family (siblings and mom), and he is regularly upset that he can't live with his bio mom. Sometimes he blames me. I try to explain, but he shuts me out. His siblings are not with their bio mom either. I keep trying to build a connection, but after 5 years, I am losing hope. It is very easy and natural with my youngest. When we are affectionate, I am afraid my older son will feel left out, but he pushes me away and often won't even let me be near him. When we have special time (just the 2 of us), I plan activities with him that he likes and is excited for, but he often complains and is unhappy during his time with me. He does not remember his life before we met very well, but will recollect things we did and say it was his bio mom. His professional evaluations report that he is well adjusted, but my husband and I have concerns. I know this may be normal, but I desperately want to connect with him. The constant rejection is painful. Any tips or advice are greatly appreciated.Resources:Why Foster Kids Create Fantasy FamiliesAttachment-Informed Tools for Working with Kids6 Tips for Creating Attachment8 Ways to Strengthen Attachment with Your ChildNavigating Challenging Behaviors: Practical Strategies for Parents (Free E-Guide)Support the showPlease leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them.Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content: Weekly podcasts Weekly articles/blog posts Resource pages on all aspects of family building

Kaitlin Davis is a social worker in Oklahoma who drives close to nine hours round-trip in the flatlands to meet face-to-face with foster children. With a shortage of foster families, especially in rural areas, long-distance placements are stretching a child welfare system that aims to help youth navigate sudden loss. Davis shares her Brief But Spectacular take on building hope for better futures. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Manhattan Institute's Rob Henderson shares his extraordinary journey from the chaos of the foster care system to becoming one of the leading voices on human nature, social class, and culture. He joined Rep. Crenshaw to break down the roots of America's growing crisis of meaning—especially among young men—and explore why childhood instability, not poverty, drives so many social outcomes. They dig into the failures of the foster system, the erosion of family structure, the search for purpose, and how discipline, responsibility, and strong values can rebuild the foundation of American society.   Rob Henderson is the best-selling author of "Troubled: A Memoir of Foster Care, Family, and Social Class." He is a Senior Fellow at Manhattan Institute. Find him on X at @robkhenderson.