Podcasts about foster parenting

Let us know how you enjoyed this episode!Have you ever considered foster parenting?In this episode, I am joined by Foster Parent Partner, Laura to talk about what foster parenting actually looks like behind the scenes.Laura shares about the emotional realities of caring for children impacted by trauma, how foster parenting affects marriage and family dynamics, and the support systems that help foster families navigate the challenges that come with stepping into this role.In this episode, we discuss:• What foster parenting actually is and how the process works• The emotional and behavioral challenges foster parents may encounter• How foster parenting impacts marriage, work, and family life• Why communication and flexibility matter so much in foster homes• Common struggles foster families face that people rarely talk about• The role of compassion, boundaries, and support systemsLaura also shares details about her book First Time Fostering, which helps hopeful and new foster parents feel more prepared and supported as they navigate the realities of foster care.If you've ever wondered whether foster parenting might be right for your family, this episode will help you better understand both the beauty and complexity of the journey.Connect with Laura:https://www.youtube.com/@foster.parentinghttps://youtube.com/shorts/gvU8Y4tNDD4https://www.tiktok.com/@fosterparenting/https://www.facebook.com/Foster.Parent.PartnerThanks for listening!Connect and send a message letting me know what you took away from this episode: @michellepurtacoachingIf you would like to support this show, please rate and review the show, and share it with people you know would love this show too!Ready to put a stop to the arguments in your marriage?  Watch this free masterclass - The #1 Conversation Married Couples Need To Have (But Aren't)Support the show

Drop us some Fan Mail. Thanks!Foster families are doing significant work to support both the children in their homes and the parents of those kids. What do they need to thrive in this work? We talk with Cathleen Bearse, a licensed therapist, foster mom, and the creator of Fearless Fostering. She supports foster and adoptive parents with practical tools, emotional guidance, and trauma-informed strategies with her real-life experiences and clinical expertise.In this episode, we talk about:Your organization is called ‘Fearless Fostering' – what does that mean to you right now in the work that you do with foster families every day?What makes fostering profoundly worth it in your life and in your family, even when it's hard?What are some unexpected joys in fostering that people don't hear about enough?When things feel heavy, how do you recommend resource parents reconnect with their ‘why'?What are the challenges that catch foster parents off guard the most?Where do you see foster parents becoming depleted or overwhelmed?What is often misunderstood about the emotional weight of fostering?How does isolation show up in foster parenting?How can fostering strain a household without the right support?What patterns have you seen in marriages or partnerships under stress?How does chronic stress show up in foster parents' mental and physical health?What early warning signs should families not ignore?If you could give every foster parent four supports, what would they be?CommunityTherapeutic SpacePermission to UnschedulePermission to Focus on “Just You”What does realistic self-care actually look like for foster parents?Where should foster parents begin if they realize they need more support?How can they pursue continuing education without becoming overwhelmed?What would you say to someone who wants to foster but fears they aren't strong enough?What is one message you want every foster parent to hear today?Finally, what would a strengthened foster family look like five years from now if we truly supported them well?Resources:Self-care for Foster ParentsWhat is Respite Care and How Do I Access It?What Foster Parents Want You to Know About FosteringSupport 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 podcastsWeekly articles/blog postsResource pages on all aspects of family building

In this episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, hosts Courtney Williams and Travis Vangsnes welcome back Laura, the Foster Parent Partner, a well-known figure in the foster care community, to discuss her new book, 'First Time Fostering.' The conversation explores the complexities of foster care, the importance of realistic expectations for prospective foster parents, and the balance between honesty and recruitment. Laura shares insights on preparing for new placements, the unique challenges faced by single foster parents, and essential items that can aid in fostering. The episode concludes with a discussion on learning from mistakes in foster care, emphasizing the importance of adapting to the needs of children in care. The three also discuss the complexities of foster care, focusing on how to communicate with children about their circumstances, the impact of trauma on behavior, and the importance of resources and training for foster parents. They emphasize the need for empathy and understanding in dealing with children who have experienced trauma, and provide practical advice for those considering becoming foster parents.Pickup a copy of Laura's new book "First Time Fostering: A Practical Guide for Supporting Kids in Foster Care"https://a.co/d/0hKa3tjWTakeawaysFoster Care Awareness Month is a time to highlight the need for families.Laura's book provides practical advice for new foster parents.It's important to balance honesty with the need to recruit foster families.Single foster parents play a crucial role in the foster care system.Preparation for foster children includes both physical and emotional readiness.Therapeutic toys can help children communicate and process their experiences.Documentation and organization are key for single foster parents.Convertible furniture can save money and space for foster families.Sensory items are essential for helping children regulate their emotions.Learning from past mistakes is vital for growth in foster care. Parents should answer children's questions about foster care age-appropriately.Children may come into foster care with fears and misconceptions.Books about foster care should be chosen carefully to avoid misleading outcomes.Foster care is about stepping in to help families in need.Conversations about foster care should evolve as situations change.Trauma can manifest in various behaviors in children.Empathy and compassion are crucial in supporting children in care.Training and resources are essential for effective foster parenting.There will always be an element of uncertainty in foster care.Being open to learning and adapting is key to successful foster parenting. Thank you for listening to this episode of The Foster Friendly Podcast.Learn more about being a foster or adoptive parent or supporting those who are in your community.Meet kids awaiting adoption.Join us in helping kids in foster care by donating $18 a month and change the lives of foster kids before they age out.Visit AmericasKidsBelong.org and click the donate button to help us change the outcomes of kids in foster care.

In this episode of Fostering Conversations, host Amy Smith welcomes back Laura from Foster Parenting to discuss her first book, First Time Fostering. Designed as a practical field guide, the book brings together real-world strategies, scripts, and community-sourced wisdom to support new foster and kinship caregivers. Laura explains why she created a manual that caregivers can jump into by topic, rather than reading cover to cover. The conversation explores how the book helps families who are licensed, waiting for placement, or already feeling overwhelmed. They dive into what caregivers can control inside their homes, from building trust and connection to handling sleep, food, boundaries, and hard conversations.  Amy and Laura also discuss preparing friends and family for fostering, responding to inappropriate questions, advocating with caseworkers, knowing when to say no to a placement, and supporting permanent children already in the home. This episode offers reassurance, validation, and practical tools for foster parents at every stage. In this episode, you'll hear: Why First Time Fostering was written as a practical, topic-based field guide How new foster parents can use the book when they feel overwhelmed What caregivers can control inside their homes, even when the system feels chaotic The power of scripts and role-play for hard parenting moments How to prepare friends, family, and community before placements arrive Ways to respond to inappropriate or insensitive questions Why saying no to a placement can sometimes be the most supportive choice The importance of putting agreements with caseworkers in writing How fostering impacts permanent children in the home Why flexibility and reassessment are essential throughout the year Resources mentioned: First Time Fostering by Laura Available through major retailers via https://firsttimefostering.com Follow Laura on Instagram at Foster.Parenting Learn more about foster care in Utah at Utah Foster Care Transcript Amy: Tune in to today’s episode we chat with Laura from Foster Parenting. Talking about her first book a must read for all foster parents. Welcome to Fostering Conversations. I’m your host, Amy Smith. Today we have Laura from Foster Parenting. That is what she’s known for on her Instagram, and she’s joining us again for the second podcast and we’re so excited to have her. Thanks for being here, Laura. Laura: Thanks so much for having me back. Amy: I’m excited because you are putting out a book. Yes, I’m excited and , all of the feelings.So I was privileged enough to get to read the book, so I’m excited to chat with you about it today. Tell us the name of the book and then tell us why you wrote this. Laura: So it’s called First Time Fostering. And I wrote it because a lot of people were asking for it. That was the start is everyone’s like, I binged all your videos, but I wish I could have this all written down. there’s so much in the comments, but like, how do I put it all together? And so I was like. you know, maybe I could do some blog posts, which I started doing. But then that became like another thing to look through and figure out and navigate. And I know that, new foster and kinship providers don’t have a lot of time. They’re in the weeds. And so I really wanted to get all of that. Rich information shared on my platform from the community all in one spot. And so that is the book. It’s everything compiled together into one place to support, new caregivers. Amy: I love that because the very first thing I think that you say in the book is this is a manual. You can read the whole thing through. You can just go by topic. And it is from the very beginning, it is so well organized that it’s truly like,okay, I need help with this specific topic. Okay, this page, bam. I love that. Laura: I really was just drawing from, what I’ve been doing online for, the last few years is people come to me for a very specific, like, oh, we haven’t been sleeping. what are we doing wrong? Or , what am I not thinking of? And so that was the thought process is okay, let’s just talk about maybe the pain point and go to that specific place of the book. I also, prefer books like that so I can find an answer quickly. Amy: The second I started reading, I was kinda laughing at myself because there’s so many books that people recommend to foster families and you’re like, cool, I have to read the 700 page book, and half of it is scientific language that I don’t know. your Book was not overwhelming, I loved. Laura: And I think there are so many books out there that support in different ways, right? It is important to understand child development, how trauma affects the brain, all of the different parenting methods and, therapeutic interventions. and so I did wanna create something that was different, I didn’t wanna replicate a lot of the great things already out there I wanted to add to it and create something different. Amy: I think you succeeded so beautifully. Laura: Thank you. I try to be practical and to the point. Amy: This is such an easily used book, people that are considering foster care, this is really what it looks like. I think what we’re gonna chat a little bit more today is these families that are licensed, maybe they’re waiting for their first placement, or maybe they have their first placement a few weeks in. How does this book help them now? Laura: And that is the goal, right? It’s the field guide. So here we are, we’re ready to go. we’re about to say yes, or we’ve just said yes. Now what? And my hope is that people will, take a bullet point here and there and feel confident as they navigate some of these brand new situations. And for me, I was a first time parent too. And so it was important for me to include. extra info for those of us who maybe don’t have that context and don’t understand, this whole other world of parenting that we’re just being introduced to for the first time. Amy: that’s so true. that was not how I came into foster parenting. I had parented for 12 plus years, and then brought in kids, and so I think. That’s a really good insight that you have into that because there are so many foster parents who have never parented before, and I wouldn’t have even considered that. So I love that you have that consideration and that perspective. Laura: Thank you. Amy: So let’s talk about when someone is like, I am in over my head. What am I doing? They grab your book. What should they do with that book? Laura: Okay. So if they’re already in a place where they’ve said yes, and they’re like in over their head, then I think going straight to part two, which is the middle of the book, the crux of the book, and that is all of the interventions and things you can do within your home, because that the end of the day, is what we can control. Amy: For sure. We’re not waiting on a therapist. We’re not waiting on this or that. Laura: Yeah, there’s so much of foster care and foster parenting that we have no control over, and it can be really frustrating and disheartening as well. And so I wanted to provide as much information as possible of things we can control. Which is our caregiving. It’s our day-to-day life with children in our home. And so what I would encourage someone to do if they’re feeling overwhelmed, is to go to part two. And, part two opens up some of the foundational parenting skills of foster parents where we talk about. I hate the word basics. I need a better word for that, but it’s the starting point of what we do. And that starts with, you know, points of connection, instilling trust and bonding with our kids and different ways to do that. And then, you could also go to a very specific place, maybe you’re struggling with finding foods that they will eat or they’re up a lot at night. You could go to that very specific chapter, to help you and brainstorm some fresh ideas if you’re stuck. Amy: tell us how you came up with all the different topics. Like you’re saying the, the section two has these tangible ways to help. How did you come up with those specific topics? Laura: I, spent many years listening to the community and there is definitely themes that come up and, in my previous career life I was in, consumer market research. I was a moderator and focus groups and qualitative research. And pulling insights from community members is something that I have naturally done professionally. And so it was very interesting to me to see. What was coming up over and over and over again. And I would even ask what’s the basic skill that you’re doing in your house every single day? And I would hear from thousands of people. And so it was really just narrowing down like this is the key things that people are talking about. And obviously grounded in my personal experiences too, things that I’m doing on a day-to-day basis. I would hear about all the different parts of the day, this is troubling. Or this kid’s experience neglect and it’s impacting. every part of the day with different nuances, and so I tried to break it through to just be as practical as possible to meet you in those moments. Like here we are at the dinner table, I’ve met you there. Here’s some things you can think about. Amy: I love in your book, and this is I think the majority of your Instagram as well, are these script or these narratives or these role playing essentially, where you show what the kid might be doing and then you show what the caregiver, how they would respond. And I think those are really invaluable because you can tell someone, Hey, this is what it could look like. But when actually read or hear or see. See on your Instagram, someone role playing. It just clicks a little more and gives you a little more confidence to engage in that. Laura: Yeah, I was a little worried if that would translate to the page because I think, to your point, seeing and hearing it, and so I really wanted to be as straightforward and direct as possible. And so I have listed a lot of scripting, starting points for caregivers. Just, if you’re entering this conversation for the very first time, here’s something you could maybe say, adapt it to your tone, the kid, the personality, all of that. I felt like that’s what caregivers needed and that’s what I needed. If I’m just being honest, Amy: Yeah, Laura: no, I, sometimes I do, but I still to this day will practice what I’m gonna say if I know this is gonna be tricky, or if something did not go as planned, like we had an issue, there was like an escalation and I didn’t respond in a way that was supportive to the kid. I sometimes will think about, okay, what could I say differently next time and practice that so that when that moment comes. I have it ready to go. And so I wanted to offer that to everyone, that read my book and I do offer it online as well, of something just to start with or just to try differently next time. it might be more supportive because, all of these hundreds of people have said this is really what was the thing that helped them in that moment. Amy: I know for me personally, I had an experience, not even foster care related, but a few months ago it was like, I got put in this really. Difficult situation and I just froze and I didn’t know what to do and I had to reach out to my friends and say, this is what just happened. What should I do? And they told me. And then the next day I was like. I knew that answer, but I couldn’t do it in moment ’cause I was so overwhelmed at the time. And that’s exactly what your book can offer is sure, I know how to handle kids at bedtime, but for some reason I can’t remember right now and I just need to go read an example of what I should say and Laura: Yeah. Or even just to confirm you’re on the right path too. Like , things take time, especially for kids who are new to our home. but even if they’re not, like things change, things happen and we have to show up again and again and again, and it takes a lot of time. To build trust, and then obviously,if things change in the case or something happens with their parents or at school or friends or whatever, that changes a lot of the interventions you do. But I hear you and I feel the same way sometimes. I’m like, I’m overwhelmed. I don’t know, like what I should be doing. And sometimes you just need a little brainstorm session and that’s that’s what it is. My book is just. Bullet point list if I’m being direct, like it’s just a list of okay, here’s the brainstorm. What resonates, what could work? What haven’t you tried? maybe this nuance could unlock something different. Amy: I made a list of like my favorite of your book, or maybe what I hadn’t thought about. I fostered for four years, and some of the things I was like, oh my gosh, that’s such a good idea. So if you’re okay with would love to just just to give people a taste of what is in there, so one of the first ones is, I loved this. I did not do this at all. Never even thought about it. And such a good idea. so that is that you give a sample email to family and friends, Hey, we’re going to be fostering. Hey, you might see new kids with us. Hey, don’t ask these dumb questions. you say it much kinder, but that’s how I would say it. I never did that. I never forewarned people Laura: yeah. we can’t,expect everyone to know if we don’t know what to do or say, Certainly our friends and family may also not know, and honestly, it comes from some trial and error. I know for me. I did send an email out, but I didn’t always address everything specifically, and then things came up and like after I was like, oh, we should probably talk about that later when the kids aren’t around. I think a lot of people are facing these like friction points with friends and family, all from a place of goodness and care and wanting to just engage in the process, which is. Great. I’d never wanna shut people out, sure there’s privacy, but we can’t foster alone. We have to let our friends and family in and make them a part of the experience in order for this to be sustainable. And so I’m glad that part stood out to you. I hope that helps other people kind of get things rolling. Amy: Yeah, because I remember the very first week, our very first placement, she was a teenager. I took her to a youth group that I ran, did not warn any of these youth that I was bringing a new teen with me that lived with me.And one of the other youth was like, wait, why does she live with you? Laura: I was like, um, you know, just and I said something stupid who wouldn’t wanna live with me? I like that. Humor’s a big, we’re like deflecting or just like sidestepping. That is a part of what we Amy: But how much better would it have been if I educated that youth group, like what our family dynamic may look like in future, and gave them that opportunity to learn before I brought kids Laura: Yeah,can also, take it and, depending on the age of the youth is align on the story with them too. So they know what they’re walking into. Like who do they think I am? what do they think of this situation? Or what’s the story that I want out there? And I think that can be a really great place to start because of course our kids are with us and in community with us, and we want that. And I think getting everyone aligned is a really important part. Amy: Yeah, it is. So I loved that. I loved that aspect that you shared. some of the other things that I loved,going along with that, you share actual ways to respond to inappropriate questions, which I loved. Because like me, once again, I’m gonna just say something’s stupid, but Laura: which is But it’s helpful for people like me that either don’t know or didn’t think of it and just oh, that is such a great response. So simple. But I didn’t think of that. So those types of responses definitely are crowdsourced and, community members along the way have shared like, oh, this is how I usually say it. And I’m like, oh, that is much better than what I said, put it in the list. And I think that, in all of that sharing of experiences, we can really, refine what we’re doing, what we’re saying, and how we’re communicating things. because I definitely have also not responded, or I’ll just freeze, to what you said earlier. Amy: Sometimes you’re just really caught off guard, like, why would you even ask that? Laura: Oh, I didn’t think of that even being a comment or question, and I, I’m not sure. Amy: Yeah. And it’s also refreshing to know all people are asking dumb questions. Like you say, people are for the most part, good intention, but all foster parents and kids in foster care are getting some dumb questions or inappropriate questions, Laura: inappropriate and insensitive or just, people have a lack of awareness and knowledge and, that’s, aside from kind of the work with this book and everything, I do have a broader community that comes to my page just to learn about what is foster care. And there’s a lot of just preconceived notions and just like myths and things that, that people don’t understand. there’s a lot to learn. A, everyone is learning. We’re still Amy: Exactly, and even foster parents are like, oh, wow, had no idea that’s what this entailed or that’s what I was gonna be doing. I love that. some of the other things I loved that you don’t only just. Have this amazing book, but you also share great apps and other books and resources, and a lot of them I hadn’t heard of. There’s a lot of the traditional ones that I think many foster parents are rolled out, and it’s, ingrained for us to read and participate with. But you had a lot of good ones that I hadn’t even heard of yet, and Laura: Oh, thank you. Yeah, I try to include like resources, shopping lists, checklists, things to, that I’ve collected along the way too, because how can one person know everything? I think. That’s what makes foster care so tough. And I’ve even had, workers reach out and be like, what was that thing that you sent me the other day? it’s hard to keep track of all of those resources and details, so I’m glad there were some new ones on the list. I’m constantly finding new things too. Amy: It just gives people what they need. They can look at the resources and say, yeah, this one helps me, or No, this one But it gives them, instead of them having to do a lot of it gives those tools, which everyone needs, but especially foster parents need. Laura: I find that, Google searching or asking like an AI chat bot, the information is not great. And, I think the best source of information is obviously professionals and the team, but other individuals going through it because like I said, you can’t know everything. It is impossible there’s so much out there to help knowing is half the battle. That’s part of the problem with the system is, it’s hard to understand it all. Amy: It is really hard and it’s hard to know what to do before things come up or during things come up or after. Like it is, information can be overwhelming and it also can be lacking. You can also be so uninformed sometimes that you don’t know of different options Laura: I didn’t know to even ask that question. I didn’t know what I didn’t know. It’s Amy: right, Exactly. okay, this one I really loved you have a whole section on saying, no this isn’t the right placement, or this isn’t working, or I can take this kid for seven days, or whatever it is. I think that is so important because I don’t feel like it’s actually super acceptable in foster care world and it should be, Laura: and to be honest, I’ve gotten a lot of pushback just from the broader communities on, some videos where I share about this because, people think while you signed up to Foster, you should be saying yes in every case. this is the job, right? And it absolutely is the job. But I think we have to be super mindful about who we are saying yes to. And what makes sense for our home, our family this time right now. Because, if we said yes to a kid and we can’t end up, providing the best support for them, or something comes up, Then we’ve now caused another, traumatic event for them. If they have to move homes and it, it can get really. Bad for the kids if they’re just moving around in a lot. So I think saying no is part of it, and knowing your boundaries knowing what your parameters are. You of course have to be flexible because there will always be surprises and changes and things you weren’t aware of. Flexibility is definitely part of it, saying no is part of it too. Amy: It really is. And that was something that I feel like I had to learn the hard way. And so I love that you just have a whole section about that of it’s okay. And also I think you even say put it in writing. like whether that’s, Laura: a hundred times in the book. Amy: I love that though, because it’s so true. First of all, these caseworkers have 5 million cases, so they’re not gonna remember. Second of all, then you both can remember Laura: Mm-hmm. what was agreed to. that’s like the kind of like a basic skill and advocacy, right? Get everything in writing and it’s just the first step. So yes, if you can step in for a weekend, a short amount of time, if you’re doing emergency care for the short term, that is definitely needed. So kids are not sitting in offices or going to hotels. but yes, having it in writing is a good place to start that relationship and start that advocacy. once again, that’s a simple thing, but like, oh, I told the caseworker at so really they’re gonna remember no, they’re not. But we think they are, I think a lot of people, enter the foster care world for the first time and think it operates like, other businesses. Yeah. Their own job. And I have heard from a lot of community members, I would be fired if I did this or said this or missed this. And it’s I understand. but it operates differently. And also there’s a lot of behind the scenes nuance that foster parents are not aware of, not allowed to be aware of. And, There’s that too, so we can look at a situation and think we get it and we know why we haven’t heard from that worker. It’s because they’re too busy when Speaker: Right? Laura: reality, something else might be happening. every Amy: that’s a good perspective. maybe this will be the final thing that I, one of my favorite things, but, I love that you talk about permanent kids in the home. I love that not only does your book focus on, these relationships with the kids, the kids that are in foster care, but you talk about permanent kids, whether they’re biological, adopted, whatever, but they are permanently in your home. Share a little bit about like why that’s so important and how that made it into your book. Laura: I think it’s one of the top questions or concerns or worries that I hear from a lot of community members is how will this impact the children already in my home? my bio kids, like kids who are here through adoption in other ways, and, It’s not talked about in the training, it’s usually not a consideration. there’s so much to cover in pre-service training, And I think a lot of workers assume this is your family and your children and you manage that and every foster home will handle that differently. But that leaves a lot of areas of question, worry, concern for foster families or people who are interested in fostering and, I tried to, incorporate them throughout. Obviously they’re not the focus of the book, but I felt it was important to include some considerations because they’re along for this as well. It’s life changing for. All kids in the home, when kids move in and when they move out, when things change with the case that impacts all of the children, not just, the kid whose parent maybe missed a visit that is a full family, dynamic shift maybe for the evening. So it’s something to think about. It’s a starting point to think about, because every family has its own dynamics, of course. but I’m glad you noticed that. I wanted to make sure that all those points of view were considered. Amy: I just think it’s important because I did have permanent kids in my home started the process and when we ended the process. And at the beginning it’s like this new and exciting thing. Like, oh, we’re gonna have extra kids in our home, and it sounds so fun. And then you have ’em and you’re like. Oh my gosh. This is a little more intense than we maybe thought, Laura: could you share something that was maybe surprising or something that was like, oh, I didn’t think of this. Amy: Yeah, so we had, a ton kids come through our home because I did take crisis calls, so we had a lot of kids come in the middle of the night and they would be gone by the next morning or three days later, and then a few that stayed a long time, and a few that. Stayed forever. but there was one particular teenager who came, she was like almost the exact same age as one of my daughters, and my daughter was having a literal meltdown when I got the call, they, were pre at the time. She having a meltdown about some stupid whatever. And I would always ask my big kids, are we willing to take this and so they’re like, oh yeah. Immediately she goes from meltdown to just I’m so excited. This is gonna the best thing ever to have a new sister that’s the same age. And the first week they were best friends. They everything together and I was like, this is great. This was not our first placement, but I such a great fit. All of the sudden my daughter’s I don’t like this girl. she is, yep. She’s sharing my room, she’s taking my stuff, she’s getting more attention. She’s getting to go shopping for all these clothes. ’cause she came with nothing. It just all of a sudden Not good. and she stayed with us until she reunified. we found some different boundaries. We split up their rooms. We ways that it worked and we ended on a good note. And it’s just sometimes it’s a lot for our kids. They go from really excited to have this new friend in their house to all of a sudden, oh, this friend’s not leaving. is getting more privileges than me. and you have to find that boundary where you’re still honoring that kid. That’s a bonus kid in your house, but also still the permanent kid that is there forever, Laura: Absolutely, you touch on a lot of things that I echo in the book as well, and just like allowing kids to change their mind and then revisiting all of those house rules or boundaries or set up, separating, creating spaces, all of those things are things to think about and consider as you, move through each phase. those first. Few days, few weeks are really a unique time. I think, very rarely does a kid move in and it’s just like that forever. There’s that getting to know you phase for everyone in the home and then you settle into daily life. Amy: Yeah. The honeymoon phase is real. Laura: Yeah,it is ever changing. I think definitely there’s a getting to know you. , And then, as trauma, reminders, big days happen each holiday season, all of those things throughout the whole year, each season brings its own change into a foster home. And,something that’s working really well for right now that lasted all winter. Now it’s spring, now it’s summer. Things feel different and there’s a lot of reasons and there’s a lot of accommodations and support needs from foster families. Amy: That is the perfect intro to why your book is so needed. I really do think your book is just so well done and so needed. ’cause I haven’t found another resource like that, Laura: thank you. I appreciate you noticing that. ’cause I definitely took some leaps and did some things a little bit differently so that it could feel lot different and stand out from some of the other guidebooks out there. So thank Amy: So tell listeners where and when they can buy it or what the different platforms are that they can get it on. Laura: Okay, so it’s available on all major retailers online, so you can go to first time fostering.com and that will kinda link to all the major, bookshop, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, target, Walmart, all of those. So it’s pre-order until May 12th and then it comes out for foster care awareness month. And then, it will be available everywhere. You can also ask your library if they’ll carry it or talk to your agency worker and see if they could add it to their lending library. I. Amy: And you told us before we were recording that you were doing an audio of it as well. Laura: Yes, There will be an audio narrated by me, that will be out at the same time. And so if you prefer to listen, I wanted to make this information as accessible as possible to anyone that needs it and wants it. Amy: Awesome. I love that. it is such a needed resource. I am honored that I got to read it early. So thank you. And thank you for joining us today. So if you want to learn more from Laura, you can go to Foster dot parenting on Instagram or first time fostering.com. Laura: You got it. I really appreciate it. Thank you for taking the time to chat with me and for doing a pre-read of the book. Amy: I truly enjoyed it so much. So thank you. Laura: Right. Thanks so much for having me. If you wanna learn more about foster care, head over to www.utahfostercare.org.

How do you build a clean-label snack brand from scratch?In Episode 208 of On The Delo, Shannon shares how she turned a home kitchen idea into The Best Bar — a handcrafted snack brand now sold across Arizona, from AJ's Fine Foods to the Grand Canyon and Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.What started with a $2,000 investment, a Vistaprint logo, and Arizona's cottage food law has grown into a six-year journey built on grit, consistency, and doing things differently.Delo and Shannon break down what it really takes to build a food business from the ground up — without cutting corners.From hand-chopping ingredients and fulfilling orders out of her own kitchen, to landing major retail placements, this is a story about building a brand with intention, not shortcuts.They also get into:Scaling without losing qualityClean-label products and ingredient integrityThe reality of hiring and growthSobriety, healing, and personal disciplineWhy sleep, gratitude, and routine matter more than most people thinkWhether you're building a product, growing a business, or just getting started, this episode is a real look at what it takes to turn something small into something sustainable.Chapter Guide (Timestamps):(0:00 - 2:35) Devour Phoenix Intro, Booth Memories & Event Prep Systems(2:36 - 6:21) Shannon's Origin Story: Minnesota Roots, DC Nannying & Learning to Cook(6:22 - 8:34) 10 Years in Wine Sales, Sommelier Cert & Choosing Sobriety 19 Years Ago(8:35 - 11:36) Foster Parenting, Health Turning Point & Giving Up Refined Sugars(11:37 - 14:10) Shannon's Kitchen Cottage Food Start, $2K Investment & the Birth of The Best Bar(14:11 - 17:05) AJ's Fine Foods, Peddler's Son Distribution & the Fox 10 Segment Moment(17:06 - 20:36) Hardest Part of Entrepreneurship: Hiring, Delegating & Work-Life Reality(20:37 - 23:56) 200 Trays a Week, 4,896 Bars in One Order & Hand-Making Every Single One(23:57 - 27:00) Bar Flavors Deep Dive: Original, Chocolate Chip, Cacao & Seed Bar Charity Tie-In(27:01 - 29:30) Scaling Challenges, Pitching Natural Grocers & Saying Yes Before You Know How(29:31 - 33:11) Healing Hospitality, Joy Bus Donations & Why Food and Community Go Together(33:12 - 36:15) Shannon Today vs. Shannon 2020: GCU Space, Grand Canyon Lodges & Personal Growth(36:16 - 42:00) Rapid Fire: Music, Cacao Bar Sleeper Pick, Sneakers, Beach Getaways & Grow Bigger

In this episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, hosts Brian, Courtney, and Travis discuss the I Belong Project, a program aimed at helping children in foster care find families. This is a unique episode because some of the stories shared on this episode come from our staff on the ground in various states across the country. The hosts listen and react and also share their own personal stories and insights from their experiences in foster care and adoption, highlighting the importance of storytelling and social media in raising awareness and engaging potential adoptive families. The conversation emphasizes the need for better matching of children with families and the challenges faced by kids in the foster care system.The hosts discuss the challenges faced by hard-to-place children in the foster care system, the importance of creative advocacy in finding families for these children, the significance of sibling bonds in the adoption process, and the complex emotions surrounding grief and loss in adoption. They emphasize the need for awareness and compassion in addressing the needs of these children and the families that support them. Learn more about about our I Belong Project and meet kids waiting for adoptive families:https://americaskidsbelong.org/meet-the-kids/TakeawaysCourtney has been a foster mom for 18 years.The I Belong Project helps children find families through storytelling.Social media plays a crucial role in raising awareness.Many families inquire about children they see in videos.The project has filmed over 4,258 kids without turning anyone down.Kids in foster care often wait years for adoption.The best advocates for children are the children themselves.Matching families to children is a critical process.The project has led to increased inquiries from first-time foster parents.There is a family for every child, and connections can be biological.  Kids who are hard to place often wait a long time for families.Reunification efforts may fail, leading to the need for adoption.Many hard-to-place kids have special needs or siblings they want to stay with.Creative advocacy can change perceptions and outcomes for children.Siblings being separated in adoption is a common but challenging issue.Keeping siblings together can provide emotional support during adoption.Adoption comes with grief for biological families and foster families.Understanding the grief involved in adoption is crucial for adoptive families.Adoptive parents often face their own grief while supporting their children.The journey to adoption can lead to unexpected family connections.

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.Raising kids impacted by adoption, foster care, or kinship care can do a number on your marriage or life partnership. Join us for a conversation with Jeremy & Jara Walden, authors of The Heart Work of Foster Care: A Hopeful and Honest Guide to Foster Parenting, about strategies to re-prioritize and strengthen your most significant relationship.In this episode, we discuss:How can raising kids together enhance a marriage or relationship? Why are kids in our community often harder to parent?Trauma, loss, neglectPrenatal substance exposureChallenging behaviors that come from those experiencesWhy and how might our kids' needs test our adult relationships?What are some of the additional stressors our relationships may face when fostering or adopting kids who've been exposed to trauma?  What are some challenging behaviors kids who've experienced trauma can bring that might be particularly difficult for the marriage?What are some signs that we may be neglecting or at least not maintaining our significant relationship?How does your history impact your marriage, while raising kids with trauma impacts?Can you offer specific strategies for “going back,” healing, or re-prioritizing our marriages or partnerships if we are listening to this and realize we haven't done so?How do single parents prioritize the adult relationships that they value?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 podcastsWeekly articles/blog postsResource pages on all aspects of family building

I'm excited to introduce you to a new friend this week on the podcast. Her name is Kim Patton, and she's an author as well as a foster and adoptive mom living in North Carolina with her husband, Kevin, and their daughters, Eden and Shiloh. Her journey into foster parenting and eventually adoption came after she and her husband endured years of infertility. That's obviously something my wife Emily and I can relate to, and I'm so grateful Kim let us in on her experience. It's an amazing example of dealing with deferred dreams and accepting that God's will is different from our own. I love how she explains the ways in which she's found beauty through it all.A big part of our conversation centers around her latest project, the Foster Mama Journal, which was created specifically for foster moms and families. Foster care can be a rather difficult endeavor, and Kim designed this journal to help foster moms process what they're experiencing and reflect on what God may be teaching them along the way.Kim shares about the ups and downs of foster and adoptive parenting, the lessons God has taught her through those experiences, and how writing has helped her navigate difficult seasons. We also talk about her broader writing journey and some of the books she's published over the years.If you've ever been connected to foster care or adoption, or simply walked through a season that felt heavy and uncertain, I think you'll find a lot to resonate with in Kim's story.You can learn more about Kim and her work, including Foster Mama Journal, online at kimpatton.com, on Instagram @fostermamafriend, and on Substack. She's also the host of the Book Therapy Podcast.I'd also love to connect with you on Substack, where I write essays and share updates about future episodes. You can find that at ⁠The Road Ahead⁠.You can also find me on Instagram and Twitter ⁠@ColeClaybourn⁠, and on Facebook under ⁠Cole Douglas Claybourn⁠.All episodes are now available in full on YouTube. Just search ⁠In No Hurry Podcast⁠ and subscribe to be notified when new episodes go live.If you enjoyed this, consider sharing it with a friend or someone in your life who might need to hear it. And if you want to stay connected, follow In No Hurry Podcast on ⁠Instagram⁠ and the new ⁠TikTok⁠ page for clips, updates, and more from these conversations.

In this episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, hosts Courtney Williams and Travis Vangsnes welcome Kayla Moffitt, a dedicated mother of five and a TBRI practitioner. The conversation begins with Kayla sharing her journey from being a youth pastor to becoming a foster parent, highlighting the challenges and joys of welcoming five siblings into her home overnight. Kayla discusses the emotional complexities of parenting children from traumatic backgrounds, particularly the grief she experienced when her father passed away just as her new children were moving in. The hosts and Kayla delve into the importance of understanding trauma-informed care and the necessity of regulating one's own emotions as a parent to create a safe environment for children who have faced significant hardships.As the discussion progresses, Kayla emphasizes the need for community support for foster families, sharing her experiences with both helpful and unhelpful forms of assistance. She stresses that love alone is not enough; foster parents must also be equipped with knowledge and resources to effectively support their children. The episode concludes with Kayla offering practical advice for future foster parents, urging them to meet children where they are emotionally and to be patient as they navigate the complexities of building trust and relationships. This heartfelt conversation is a testament to the resilience of foster families and the importance of community in the foster care journey.Follow Kayla on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/makingthemoffitts/Checkout our free trauma training workshop:https://americaskidsbelong.org/lp/trauma-sensitivity-workshop-training/Takeaways:Love is not enough; understanding is crucial.Meet children where they are emotionally.Community support is vital for foster families.Regulate yourself before attempting to regulate a child.Foster parents need tangible help, not just good intentions.

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:

Abortion has become the prevailing human rights crisis of our time, and many Christians remain silent. In this episode, we speak with Brian Saksa about why Christians must confront abortion with conviction, courage, and pro-life action.Brian explains why abortion is not just a political issue, but a moral and spiritual crisis—and how passive faith within the Church has allowed abortion to continue. He shares how God moved him from silent belief to bold obedience, even at personal cost.This episode is a clear call to Christians who say they are pro-life but struggle with fear, silence, or inaction. If you're ready to understand what faithful obedience looks like in a culture of death, this conversation will challenge and equip you.Chapters:[00:00] Podcast Preview[01:14] Topic and Guest Introduction[03:54] Brian's Faith Journey: From Childhood to College[08:56] Confronting Passive Faith: The Call to Action[13:15] Turning Conviction into Action: The Pro-Life Movement[16:00] Leaving Comfort to Fight Abortion Full-time[19:42] Paying the Cost of Public Pro-life Conviction[22:35] Speaking Truth Outside Abortion Clinics[26:52] A Mother Who Chose Life[31:20] The Journey of Foster Parenting[35:20] The Fight for Life: The White Rose Resistance[40:18] Taking Action: Steps to Make a Difference[46:40] Every Christian's Role in the Pro-Life MovementResources mentioned:The White Rose Resistance Website: thewhiterose.lifeSupport Brian's mission: Text STAND to 50155Guest's bio:Brian Saksa is the Minnesota Director for White Rose Resistance, a pro-life organization committed to rescuing children from abortion and awakening the Church to courageous, faith-filled action. He is also the Founder and CEO of ReachMore, a mission-driven company that helps Christian business owners grow their impact while fueling gospel-centered pro-life outreach.After nearly a decade in the for-profit world—rising from entry-level recruiter to divisional leadership—Brian transitioned into nonprofit development. During that time, he helped expand Alliance Family Services, a pregnancy resource center in Wisconsin, from two locations to six in just 18 months.Today, Brian combines entrepreneurship, advocacy, and frontline ministry as he leads efforts to defend the unborn, support mothers in crisis, and challenge Christians to move from passive faith to bold obedience. He and his wife, Abby, live in Minnesota with their children and continue to pursue a calling to reach more people, save more lives, and glorify Jesus.Call to action:Make sure to visit yourbiggestbreakthrough.com for your FREE access to our e-book and audiobook, "Unstoppable: Divine Intervention in Overcoming Adversity," showcasing six powerful real-life stories. Get ready to be inspired by these mind-blowing breakthroughs!To learn more about Wendie and her Visibly Fit program, visit wendiepett.comTo find out more about Todd and his coaching program for men, find him on the web at toddisberner.com.All the links you need to subscribe to the podcast are at both our websites! And if you feel so inclined, we'd be honored if you were to leave a rating and review of our show. It definitely helps with us being more visible to more people.And if we like it, we might just read your review on the...

In this episode of the Foster Friendly podcast, host Brian Mavis and co-host Courtney engage with Pam Bauer, a mother of 14 adopted children, to discuss the complexities of adoption, grief, and parenting. Pam shares her insights on the challenges of raising a large family, the importance of addressing grief in adopted children, and the need for open conversations about their birth families. The discussion emphasizes the significance of understanding loss, building connections, and providing emotional support to adopted children as they navigate their unique journeys.TakeawaysAdopted children often experience grief related to their biological families.Grief can be an opportunity for attachment and healing.Open conversations about adoption are crucial for children's understanding.Children may feel divided loyalties between adoptive and biological parents.Rituals can help children process their grief and loss.Understanding emotions and body language is essential in parenting adopted children.Grief is a lifelong journey that evolves over time.Adoptive parents should encourage their children to express their feelings.Children need to know they are loved and valued regardless of their background.It's important to recognize the mixed emotions surrounding adoption.Whether you're considering becoming a foster parent or just want to better understand the adoption ecosystem, this conversation offers wisdom, hope, and practical insight from someone who's lived it out for decades.

In this kickoff to National Adoption Month, host Brian Mavis sits down with his cohosts (and adoptive parents) Courtney and Travis to discuss the real-world challenges and beauty of adoption. Together they unpack common myths about adoption, share their own powerful stories—from fostering to international adoption—and explore the ethical and emotional complexities that come with saying “yes” to a child.Key topics covered:Their family stories: international adoption, adoption through foster care, and breaking “birth order”The biggest myths about adoption—cost, home ownership, and who's eligibleWhy “foster to adopt” isn't the right mindsetThe ethical advantages of adoption through foster careThe “marriage of adoption” and the lifelong commitment it representsWhat support (and lack thereof) adoptive families can expectThe I Belong Project and how it's helping connect waiting kids with forever familiesPractical, heartfelt advice for those considering adoptionWhether you're just exploring adoption or already in the process, this episode offers honest insight, encouragement, and direction from those who've lived it.Resources MentionedAmerica's Kids Belong – www.americaskidsbelong.orgLearn more about the I Belong Project and watch videos of kids waiting for adoptionExplore “The Fostering Front Door” to learn about ways to get involved

In this episode of LaidOPEN Podcast, Charna talks with Dr. Chelsey Hague-Zavaleta, an expert in applied educational neuroscience and social–emotional learning. Together, they explore what it really means to raise calm, connected kids — and how to do it without losing your mind (or yourself) in the process. They unpack the science of co-regulation, discuss the difference between gentle and authoritative parenting, and share practical tools for managing stress behaviors and creating family balance. Dr. Chelsey offers compassionate insights for parents, teachers, and caregivers looking to build calmer, more cooperative relationships with children, and with themselves. Charna also introduces her upcoming group program designed to help parents and individuals deepen their self-regulation and embodiment practices. "When we learn to regulate ourselves, our children learn safety through us." — Dr. Chelsey Hague-Zavaleta Show Notes:  00:00 Introduction and Personal Wish for Parenting 00:53 Introducing Dr. Chelsey and Her Expertise 02:41 Chelsey's Journey and Parenting Course 05:13 Parenting Challenges and Co-Regulation 07:45 Gentle Parenting vs. Authoritative Approach 15:54 Tone and Nonverbal Communication in Parenting 20:54 Handling Parental Preferences and Boundaries 30:17 The Ineffectiveness of Negative Commands 30:51 Positive Framing in Parenting 32:38 Intervening Before Explosions 34:04 Handling Stress Behaviors 35:21 Challenges of Co-Parenting and Transitions 37:57 Adoptive and Foster Parenting 45:09 Embodiment and Raising Self-Aware Children 53:22 The Power of Praise and Positive Reinforcement 56:11 Conclusion and Resources ✨ Subscribe to LaidOPEN for more conversations about intimacy, self-regulation, and the science of connection.

Listen in to learn about Layne Miller. We talked about people and the many children they've taken in to their home as foster parents over the past 25 years. Politics are about people and people matter.. 

In this episode of the Foster Friendly podcast, hosts Brian, Courtney, and Travis discuss the challenges of parenting in the digital age, particularly focusing on the impact of electronics on children and foster youth. They explore the complexities of managing technology access, the implications of the Foster Youth Bill of Rights, and the importance of establishing rules for electronics in the home. The conversation also delves into the dangers of technology for kids in foster care, the significance of location tracking, and the necessity of open communication about online safety. The episode concludes with resources for foster parents to navigate these challenges effectively.Bark: Parental controls and device monitoring toolhttps://www.bark.us/TakeawaysParenting is inherently challenging, and electronics add complexity.Electronics can affect children's focus and attention.The Foster Youth Bill of Rights grants kids access to technology.Establishing rules for electronics is crucial for safety.Location tracking can pose risks for foster youth.Open communication about online dangers is essential.Foster parents should be proactive in discussing technology use.It's important to balance freedom and safety in technology access.Foster youth may have different experiences with technology than biological children.Resources and support are vital for foster parents managing electronics. Thank you for listening to this episode of The Foster Friendly Podcast.Learn more about being a foster or adoptive parent or supporting those who are in your community.Meet kids awaiting adoption. Join us in helping kids in foster care by donating $18 a month and change the lives of foster kids before they age out.Visit AmericasKidsBelong.org and click the donate button to help us change the outcomes of kids in foster care.

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.Question: Are there travel restrictions when you are fostering? For example, my family lives out of state, but can I bring the child with me when I travel to visit family?Resources:Working as Part of a Foster Care TeamWorking with the Birth Parents for the Child's Best InterestBecoming a Foster ParentSupport 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

Tune into the newest episode of our Energy Works Podcast, where science meets spirit to help you heal, energize, and thrive. In this heartfelt episode, Lauren sits down with her best friend, fellow energy practitioner, author, teacher, and recent TEDx speaker, Hilary Crowley. Fresh off the TEDx stage, Hilary opens up about the powerful message behind her talk, the emotional experience of delivering it, and the deeply personal stories she had to leave out due to time constraints. But what didn't make it into the final cut finds its place here, especially the life-changing lessons she's learned through her journey as a foster mom.Together, Lauren and Hilary explore what it means to love, let go, and lead with energy on stage and at home.They dive into:-Preparing for and delivering a TED Talk-The power of airing and releasing personal stories, both publicly and privately-How compassion and healing shaped Hilary's journey as a foster mom-What it truly means to raise a good heart in a world that often demands self-protection-The challenge and gift of keeping an open heart through uncertainty, growth, and change-The unexpected gifts of foster parentingTune in to break down why compassion, surrender, and release are essential practices for parents, and for all of us.  Chapters:00:00- Introduction 00:51- Starting the Conversation with Hilary01:53- Discussing Hilary's Book and Its Release02:10- Reflecting on Pandemic Challenges and Book Launch05:40- The Impact of Hilary's TED Talk06:36- Vulnerability and Self-Criticism08:01- The Journey of a Foster Mom28:50- The Power of Apology and Compassion31:53- Healing and Compassion32:46- The Power of Airing and Repairing33:53- Challenges of Fostering and Adoption35:33- The Swimming Metaphor36:58- Exploring the Foster Mindset38:30- The Importance of Compassion44:40- The Role of Suffering49:37- The Call to Foster52:17-  Reflections on Teaching and Impact01:01:46- ConclusionEpisode Resources:Hilary Crowley's TED Talk: https://youtu.be/1p6LFmd-eys?si=jIk3iRj6GH_bE_u5 Sign up for FREE weekly Newsletter: https://www.energymedicineyoga.net/Listen on Spotify: Energy WorksListen on Apple Podcasts: Energy WorksFollow us on Instagram: @EnergyMedicineYogaFollow us on Facebook: @EnergyMedicineYoga#EnergyMedicineYoga #EnergyWorksPodcast #WellnessPodcast #FosterParenting #TEDxTalk #CompassionAndHealing #RaisingAGoodHeart #KeepAnOpenHeart #AiringAndReleasing

In this episode of the Gladden Longevity Podcast, Dr. Jeffrey Gladden and Dr. Aimie Apigian delve into the intricate relationship between trauma, healing, and the body's response to stress. They explore how trauma is imprinted in the nervous system and tissues, the importance of movement and agency in overcoming trauma, and the biological mechanisms that underpin these experiences. Through personal stories and scientific insights, they discuss the role of energy in healing, the impact of childhood experiences, and the potential for reframing traumatic events to regain control and foster resilience. This conversation offers valuable perspectives on navigating the complexities of trauma and the path to recovery.   For Audience ·       Use code 'Podcast10' to get 10% OFF on any of our supplements at https://gladdenlongevityshop.com/ !    Takeaways ·       Trauma is imprinted in the nervous system and tissues of the body. ·       Understanding one's own trauma can lead to healing and growth. ·       The biology of trauma involves energy conservation and stress responses. ·       Movement and agency are crucial in overcoming trauma. ·       Reframing traumatic experiences can help regain a sense of control. ·       The impact of childhood experiences shapes adult responses to stress. ·       Somatic experiences can help reprogram trauma responses. ·       Energy levels are linked to trauma responses and mental health. ·       The nervous system's state influences our ability to cope with stress. ·       Healing is possible through understanding and addressing trauma.   Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Trauma and Healing 04:14 The Journey into Foster Parenting 07:13 Understanding Trauma Through Personal Experience 10:08 The Biology of Trauma and Its Effects 12:54 Generational Trauma and Its Impact 15:47 Distinguishing Between Stress and Trauma Biology 18:46 The Autonomic Nervous System's Role in Trauma 21:40 Psychological Studies on Trauma Responses 23:20 Understanding Trauma Through Animal Studies 25:27 The Impact of Trauma on Neural Pathways 27:29 Reprogramming the Body's Response to Trauma 28:36 Muscle Memory and Trauma Responses 30:36 The Role of Movement in Healing 32:54 The Limitations of Talk Therapy 36:54 Reframing Trauma and Its Unbearable Nature 43:09 Reframing Trauma as Opportunity 44:56 The Purpose of Life and Authenticity 46:35 Agency and Movement in Healing 49:20 Neurodevelopment and Sense of Agency 52:25 Measuring Agency Through Movement 55:14 Energy as a Key to Overcoming Trauma   To learn more about Dr. Aimie: Email:  aimie_kris@hotmail.com Website: https://biologyoftrauma.com/   Reach out to us at:    Website: https://gladdenlongevity.com/     Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Gladdenlongevity/    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gladdenlongevity/?hl=en     LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/gladdenlongevity    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5_q8nexY4K5ilgFnKm7naw

On this episode of Practice Makes Parent, Rebecca and Danny discuss the complexities and rewards of foster care with Jamie Finn, founder of Foster the Family and host of The Real Mom podcast. The discussion covers the emotional and logistical challenges of fostering, the importance of unity and intentionality in family decisions, and the critical role of faith and sacrificial love in parenting. Jaime shares personal anecdotes and practical advice, emphasizing the mission-oriented nature of foster parenting and the ways it can spiritually and emotionally transform both parents and children. Receive the book Filled: 60 Devotions for the Foster Parent's Heart for a gift of any amount. Article featuring Jamie & her husband Alan. Wait No More Sacred Search We'd love to hear from you! Visit our Homepage to leave us a voicemail.

And why you were never meant to carry it alone. There's a lot of talk about the logistics of foster care. The background checks. The home studies. The training hours. Even the bedtime routines and trauma-informed parenting techniques. But what no one really talks about — at least not out loud — is the emotional load that comes with foster parenting. It's not just heavy. It's complicated. And most days, it's completely invisible to everyone but you. If you've ever felt like you're carrying the weight of everyone else's emotions while your own are bursting at the seams… If you've ever wondered why this feels so hard even when you're doing everything “right”… If you've ever asked, “Am I the only one falling apart quietly behind the scenes?” This post is for you. Let's name the emotional load foster moms carry — and talk about how to stop carrying it all alone. Join the Foster Mama Lifeline here: https://stan.store/fearless_fostering/p/reclaimed-mama-community-pfdw5q2k Find all my resources here: https://stan.store/fearless_fostering

In this episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, hosts Courtney and Travis engage with Abby Crooks, a veteran foster parent and founder of Fostering Faithfully. Abby shares her personal journey into foster care, the challenges and rewards of fostering, and the importance of community support for foster families. The conversation highlights the significance of celebrating foster children's birthdays and the emotional complexities of being a foster parent. Abby emphasizes the need for realistic expectations and the importance of finding joy in small victories while navigating the foster care system. She shares personal experiences and insights on fostering, emphasizing the importance of balancing personal life with parenting, the role of play in family dynamics, coping with grief and emotions associated with fostering, navigating the foster care system, and the key messages from her book 'Simply Available'. She highlights the need for foster children to feel loved and supported, and the importance of self-care for foster parents.Learn more about Fostering Faithfully and checkout their resources. Checkout Abby's guest blog for AKB on trauma and parenting.

I loved this conversation with Tori Hope Petersen, an author and passionate advocate for foster care.Tori starts the conversation by sharing the challenges of foster parenting (including how hard it is to say goodbye).The heart of our conversation is around breaking the unhealthy patterns in our life. Tori shares what this has looked like in her own life. Tori shares how to make hard changes in your own life (especially if you have childhood scars).Grab a copy of Tori's new book Breaking the Patterns that Break YouThanks to our amazing partners on this episode: Vern Eide & Mission HaitiVern Eide Motorcars is a growing employee-owned company that offers sales, service, and financing of automotive, motorcycle, and power sports lines, including Acura, Ford, Chevy, GMC, Honda, Hyundai and Mitsubishi brands. Whether you live locally or across the country, visit verneide.comMission Haiti is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to love Jesus, love others, and make disciples in the country of Haiti. They live out that mission by training and coming alongside current and future leaders for the cause of Christ. To learn more, visit Mission-Haiti.orgSubscribe to The Conversation on YouTube and watch the full interview with Tori: youtube.com/@adamaweber Sign up for The Crew: adamweber.com/thecrew  

In this episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, Melissa Smallwood shares her profound journey through the foster care system, her experiences as a young mother, and the resilience she developed along the way. From her abrupt entry into foster care to the nurturing relationships that helped her thrive, Melissa emphasizes the importance of hope, support, and the impact of positive influences in the lives of children affected by trauma. Her story serves as a testament to the power of resilience and the role of caring adults in fostering growth and healing. In this conversation, Melissa shares her transformative journey from engaging in high-risk behavior to becoming a dedicated advocate for young mothers and foster care. She emphasizes the importance of support systems, the impact of trauma, and the need for commitment in foster care relationships. Melissa reflects on her own experiences in foster care, the role of community support, and the significance of self-reflection for effective parenting. Her story highlights the power of resilience, education, and the importance of creating safe spaces for children in care.Checkout: Melissa's coaching services for foster and adoptive families (Mending Hearts Coaching)

In today's engaging conversation Carol McLeod interviews Melissa Briggs, a passionate Hebrew language teacher as well as a foster parent. Along with her personal story and love of scripture, Melissa shares five essential Hebrew words that every Christian should know, emphasizing both their deeper meanings and applications in daily life. Tune in to be inspired to bring the richness of scripture in its original languages into the practicalities of life following Jesus. Sign up for the Explore Hebrew course at https://www.explorehebrew.co.uk/And don't forget to use code ‘Significant' for a significant discount! Connect with Carol at https://www.carolmcleodministries.com/ or email her at carolmcleod@carolmcleodministries.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/carolmcleodministriesInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolmcleodministriesYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQE6z9U5VR9tjoJB1NAsgMw

In this episode of the Foster Friendly podcast, hosts Brian, Travis, and Courtney discuss the realities of foster parenting, focusing on what foster parents don't need to do. They share personal experiences, emphasizing the importance of embracing imperfection, learning from failures, and providing stability for children in foster care. The conversation highlights the balance between generosity and realism, encouraging foster parents to create a nurturing environment without overwhelming children with excess. In this conversation, the hosts discuss various aspects of foster care, emphasizing the importance of making informed decisions, understanding placement dynamics, and the challenges of adhering to traditional norms like birth order. They highlight the necessity of family support, the impact of past trauma on foster parents, and the reality that one does not need to be a savior or a stay-at-home parent to foster effectively. The discussion aims to debunk common myths and encourage potential foster parents to take the next steps in their journey.Learn more about being a foster or adoptive parent or supporting those who are in your community.

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.Question: I just became a foster parent of a 14-year-old girl. She came with a cell phone paid for by her prior foster family. I told them I wanted to take over payments. I also want to sit down with her periodically and spontaneously and ask her to show me what she's been doing on her phone while I show her what I do on my phone. I hope she will realize she can tell me anything and that I won't hide things from her. Is this a good idea? How should I approach it? Do you think it will build trust, or will she resent it? Resources:Managing Technology & Screens (Resource page)Welcoming an Older Child to Your Home (Resource page)Raising Foster Children (Resource page)Support the Show.Please 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

When foster care feels overwhelming, how do we hold on to hope? How do we define success? How do we find light when so much feels dark? Nate and Kristen Crew are my guests on the podcast today. They have been married for almost 15 years and have 7 children – four adopted through foster care and three by birth. Rather than a specific “calling” to foster, they pursued foster care out of a desire to live out the basic commands in Scripture to care for those who are vulnerable. Nate is a pastor at CityLight Church in Virginia and together they love to encourage others through what God has taught them. In this episode, you'll hear how Nate and Kristen strive to live out their calling as Christians, the difference that reliance on God has made in their story, why it doesn't require a “special moment” to start getting involved with foster care, how to hold on to hope when the journey is hard, and more. Find resources mentioned and more in the show notes: https://theforgotteninitiative.org/nate-kristen-crew-242/

Send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.Summer break is just around the corner for families of school-aged children – whether you are ready or not. You may already be planning your annual vacation, buying pool passes, and buying tickets online for local venues to enjoy together as a family. However, you may also dread your child's hours of unscheduled time. It's understandable – transitioning from your predictable, regimented school-year routine to a less structured summer routine can shock your kids' systems. How do you plan to survive the summer with your kids impacted by trauma?Resources:Surviving Summer with Kids Impacted by Trauma (Article)Helping a Child Heal from Trauma (Resource page)Raising Foster Children (Resource page)Support the Show.Please 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

Send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.Join this inspiring discussion with two former foster youths who talk about their time in foster care and how that experience shaped them. Lanitta was a pregnant and parenting teen growing up in the North Carolina foster care system. In May of 2022, she joined the 2% population of former foster youth that graduate from post-secondary education with a bachelor's degree in business administration and finance. Mayia Warren was in foster care and later adopted by her grandmother. She has multiple invisible disabilities, albinism, and is visually impaired. In the spring of 2021, Mayia graduated with a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology. She is an advocate in multiple fields such as: disability, foster care, children and families, and wellness. She is also an independent recording artist, poet, author and philanthropist.In this episode, we cover:Synopsis of your life story.What were the hardest parts of being in foster care?What were the better parts, if there were any?What would you want foster, adoptive, and kinship parents to know about how it feels to be in foster care?What have been the long-term impacts of sexual abuse?What helped you heal from the sexual abuse if you consider yourself healed?What would you want foster, adoptive, and kinship parents to know about how to help a child or youth heal from sexual abuse? What can these safe adults do to help?You have both “succeeded” despite many obstacles. What do you contribute your success to?Snippet of Mayia's new album: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1t9j1coN76ZarHnTDkDClXYuPZm2ya-t3/view?usp=drivesdk Support the Show.Please 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

Send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.A Lifebook is the story of how your child came to be yours and the story of his life before he came to you. Adoption is only one aspect of your child, and at some point, his life merges into your life. However, he had a life before he came to your family, and his Lifebook tells this part of his story.ResourcesAdoption Lifebooks (Suggested Books)Welcoming an Older Child to Your Home (Resource Page)Transitioning a Child to Your Home (Resource Page)Support the Show.Please 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

Send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.Do you want to help your adopted or foster child work through the big issues they may face in life? Join our discussion of the seven core issues with Allison Davis Maxon, a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She is the co-author of Seven Core Issues in Adoption and Permanency, The Seven Core Issues Workbook for Parents of Traumatized Children and Teens, and The Seven Core Issues in Adoption and Permanency Workbook for Children and Teens.In this episode, we cover:The 7 core issues in adoption and foster care: Loss, Rejection, Guilt/Shame, Grief, Identity, Intimacy, Mastery/ControlThese 7 core issues impact all adoptees and foster kids to some degree and are crucial for adoptive and foster parents to understand.They also impact all members of the adoption or foster care triad: adoptee or foster child or adult, birth parent, and adoptive/foster parent. Today, we will focus primarily on how these 7 core issues impact adoptees and those who spent time in foster care and what role parents can play in helping their children process these issues.These core issues can manifest themself differently in children at different ages and stages.Parents can provide guidance and support, allowing the child to feel every emotion deeply. They can also use education, understanding, awareness, and acceptance tools to encourage the child to move forward.Loss.What have adopted and foster kids lost?What can parents do to help? Rejection.How have adopted and foster kids been rejected?What can parents do to help? Guilt/Shame.What causes adopted and foster children or adults to feel guilt or shame?What can parents do to help? Grief.What can adopted and foster children or adults grieve?What can parents do to help?Identity.What are the universal identity issues faced by adopted and foster children or adults?Additional issues for transracial adoptees.Having the label “foster” to your identity is shaming.Does openness in adoption “cure” this issue?What can parents do to help? Intimacy.What issues with intimacy are common with adopted and foster children or adults?What can parents do to help?Mastery and Control.What mastery and control issues are common with adopted and foster children or adults?What can parents do to help?Our children can heal!*As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, but we only recommend books that we value. Thanks for your support! Support the Show.Please 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 week we're joined by our friend Kavin to talk about his experiences as a short term foster parent! Foster care is an important service that really doesn't get the attention it deserves. The fact of the matter is that kids across the world through no fault of their own find themselves in difficult, scary situations where they are taken out of their home, away from their families, and placed in the care of strangers. The reasons vary a lot more than I was aware of. They can involve everything from respite to abuse and can last anywhere from a few days to the rest of their childhoods. Regardless of the situation, think about how you would feel to be 6 or 8 years old and suddenly be placed in a strange house with people you don't know. Could you relax? Could you go to sleep? Could you find it in yourself to trust that these people have your best interest at heart? It's a pretty frightening position for a youngster, and extremely delicate for the family taking care of them. Over the last year, Kavin and his family have cared for over 20 children through short term foster care. As you will hear, this is a labor of love that requires a lot of his family, but one that they are passionate about. I think you'll find this discussion informative! If you'd like to learn more about becoming a foster parent, the rules and requirements in your state, or simply some ways to help children in foster care, go to www.adoptuskids.org

As a mom of four children through birth and adoption, I've been there and done that in terms of parenting. I've made more than my share of mistakes and have had my share of successes as well. I've also had the privilege of interviewing the top parenting experts over the last almost 17 years we've been doing the Creating a Family podcast. It can be hard in the heat of the moment (and there are plenty of hot moments in parenting) to remember too many “rules”.  Listen for my top two tips for parenting.Resources:Parenting Kids with Challenging Behavior (Resource page)Raising Kids with Neurodiversity - ADHD, Autism, & Learning Differences (Resource page)Managing Technology & Screens (Resource page)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 podcastsWeekly articles/blog postsResource pages on all aspects of family buildingPlease leave us a rating or review RateThisPodcast.com/creatingafamilySupport the Show.Please leave us a rating or review RateThisPodcast.com/creatingafamily

Children adopted from foster care or from abroad have often experienced abuse, neglect, or trauma. These children require a different form of parenting. In 2015, we interviewed Dr. Karyn Purvis, author of The Connected Child: Bring Hope and Healing to Your Adoptive Family, and the founder and Director of the TCU Institute of Child Development. In this episode, we cover:Why is parenting kids who have been abused or neglected different from traditional parenting?What are the 3 most important things I should do during the first 6 months home with a newly adopted child?How can we discipline our children while still remaining connected and creating attachment?How can we help a child who has tantrums whenever he hears the word “no” or is told he can't do something?How long should parents stay home (if possible) when you adopt?An adult adoptee asks: I've seen before where you say that “Adoptive parents become the biological parents through connection. We change their Biology.” I've seen adoptive parents now call themselves biological parents because of this statement. I wonder if it isn't important for adoptive parents to accept they aren't their child's biological parents? Does their lack of acceptance affect how the child adjusts and reacts?You talk a lot about being proactive with children who have experienced abuse and neglect in order to help them and to improve their behavior. Can you explain what you mean?Parenting kids adopted from foster care and internationally can be hard on the marriage, especially when one of the parents is the one getting educated on the type of parenting these kids need and the other one has not “bought into” it yet. How to help that parent get with the program.Suggestions for maintaining a strong marriage when adopting older kids?How to handle criticism (implied or direct) about your parenting style when you are trying to follow the empower-to-connect style?Practical tools for encouraging attachment.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 podcastsWeekly articles/blog postsResource pages on all aspects of family buildingPlease leave us a rating or review RateThisPodcast.com/creatingafamilySupport the Show.Please leave us a rating or review RateThisPodcast.com/creatingafamily

Question: My foster child only likes junk food and will not eat anything that doesn't come out of a box. We aren't fanatics, but we try to eat pretty healthily. I don't want to feed the rest of my family the boxed junk, and I don't want to feed him separate stuff. Help!Resources:Food Issues (Resource page)Raising Foster Children (Resource page)Creating a Family Online Support Group 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 podcastsWeekly articles/blog postsResource pages on all aspects of family buildingPlease leave us a rating or review RateThisPodcast.com/creatingafamilySupport the Show.Please leave us a rating or review RateThisPodcast.com/creatingafamily

We talk a lot about the child's experience in foster care, but what is this experience like for the child's birth parents? You may be surprised! Join our conversation with Dr. Darcey Merritt, a professor at the University of Chicago School of Social Work who researches this topic.In this episode, we cover:What is a typical scenario, if there is such a thing, of how a parent finds themselves connecting with the child welfare system?What rights do parents/birth parents have within the system?What are some of the challenges birth parents face before the child is taken into custody?What are some of the challenges that they face once the child is in foster care?How can you become an ally to the child's parents?How does poverty factor in?Who most commonly reports a family to child welfare?How does race factor in?Research in the area of working memory on parental decision-making.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 podcastsWeekly articles/blog postsResource pages on all aspects of family buildingPlease leave us a rating or review RateThisPodcast.com/creatingafamilySupport the Show.Please leave us a rating or review RateThisPodcast.com/creatingafamily

Have you ever considered being a foster parent but thought that it was just too hard? You need to listen to this podcast with a group of experienced foster parents sharing the joys of being a foster parent.In this episode, we discuss:Why did you become a foster parent?We talk a lot about the challenges of fostering because we want people to go into it with realistic expectations, but we also need to talk about the many joys you have experienced as a foster parent. Let's go around round-robin style to share some of the joys.Does the pain of when a child leaves outweigh the joys?Does it bother you that many of the children you love and care for won't remember you?How to build a support system.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 podcastsWeekly articles/blog postsResource pages on all aspects of family buildingPlease leave us a rating or review RateThisPodcast.com/creatingafamilySupport the Show.Please leave us a rating or review RateThisPodcast.com/creatingafamily

Join us to talk about the very important topic of youth suicide. Our guest will be Dr. Angela Tunno, a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Assistant Professor at Duke University Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science. One of her areas of specialty is trauma-informed suicide prevention.In this episode, we cover:Suicide is one of the leading causes of preventable death in the US. How prevalent is suicide in the US for all ages?How common is suicide for people under 21? How common is suicide for children and youth in foster care or otherwise connected to child welfare?Why are youth in foster care at greater risk for suicide?What are some warning signs that a child or youth may be considering suicide?What are the risk factors for a youth or child who may be at greater danger of suicide?Are youth with other diagnoses more at risk for suicide? (For example, ADHD?)Who is in the position when a child is in foster care to recognize these signs? If you are worried that a child/youth may be contemplating suicide, what are the evidence-based steps you should take? How to be trauma-informed when helping to prevent a child or youth from committing suicide? Get support or therapy for yourself to help you cope and to help you support the youth better.When should we take the youth to the hospital?ResourcesAFSP: https://afsp.org/SPRC: https://sprc.org/TREVOR: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/International Association for Suicide Prevention https://www.iasp.info/ The Jason Foundation https://jasonfoundation.com/The Jed Foundation https://jedfoundation.org/ 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 podcastsWeekly articles/blog postsResource pages on all aspects of family buildingPlease leave us a rating or review RateThisPodcast.com/creatingafamilySupport the showPlease leave us a rating or review RateThisPodcast.com/creatingafamily

Question: I was the one who wanted to adopt.  My husband agreed because I wanted it so bad, but now, I'm the one who wishes we hadn't done it. We adopted a 5-year-old little girl, who is now 7.  The awful truth is that I don't love this child. I don't even like her very much. I wish I could turn back the clock. Resources:Creating and Cultivating Attachment (Resource)Understanding and Overcoming Blocked Care (Free Course)Creating a Family Online Support GroupThis 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 podcastsWeekly articles/blog postsResource pages on all aspects of family buildingSupport the showPlease leave us a rating or review RateThisPodcast.com/creatingafamily

Michael Laurie is an actor, a small group facilitator, and a parent. He talks with Paul about his road to recovery and shares his unusual story of becoming a foster parent, with all the love and pain that entails. More about Michael Laurie:www.MichaelLaurie.comIG @MichaelLaurieusWAYS TO HELP THE MIHH PODCASTSubscribe via iTunes and leave a review. It costs nothing. https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/mental-illness-happy-hour/id427377900?mt=2Spread the word via social media. It costs nothing.Our website is www.mentalpod.com our FB is www.Facebook.com/mentalpod and our Twitter and Instagram are both @Mentalpod Become a much-needed Patreon monthly-donor (with occasional rewards) for as little as $1/month at www.Patreon.com/mentalpod Become a one-time or monthly donor via PayPal at https://mentalpod.com/donateYou can also donate via Zelle (make payment to mentalpod@gmail.com) To donate via Venmo make payment to @Mentalpod Try Our Sponsor's Products/ServicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Are you confused about having an open adoption? Do you worry about what this means for your family. Join us today to talk about open adoption with Sara Easterly, an adoptee, Kelsey Vander Vliet Ranyard, a birth parent, and Lori Holden, an adoptive parent. In addition to co-authoring the book, "Adoption Unfiltered", they host a podcast of the same name.In this episode, we cover:What is meant by the term “open adoption”?Contact vs. openness.What open adoption is not:Co-parentingA courtesy to birth parentsConfusing to the kidsAbout/for the parentsWhat are some of the challenges of open adoption from the birth parents' perspective?Lack of understanding of what open adoption means when they place their child.Renewed pain after each contactTwo vs. oneLack of powerFearWhat are some of the challenges of open adoption from the adoptive parents' perspective?What are some of the challenges of open adoption from the adoptee's standpoint?What are some of the benefits of open adoption from the adoptee's perspective?What are some benefits of open adoption from the birth parent's perspective?What are some of the benefits of open adoption for adoptive parents?How to establish healthy boundaries with an open adoption, including both ways.Examples of healthy boundaries from the adoptive parents' perspective.Examples of healthy boundaries from the birth parents' perspective.Examples of healthy boundaries from the adoptee standpoint.Keys to establishing healthy boundaries.How do you handle “openness” when birth parents are unreliable?How to maintain an attitude of openness or the spirit of openness without contact.Importance of birth siblings. How the existence of children that the birth parents are parenting affects adopted children.Allow space for change and growth on all sides of the adoption constellation: birth parents, adoptive parents, and adoptees.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 podcastsWeekly articles/blog postsResource pages on all aspects of family buildingPlease leave us a rating or review RateThisPodcast.com/creatingafamilySupport the showPlease leave us a rating or review RateThisPodcast.com/creatingafamily

Question: Hubby and I are finally ready to take the plunge and become foster parents. We wanted to wait until our youngest was in high school. We've started listening to your podcast, and you've mentioned on several of the shows that we would likely have a choice between the local county child welfare agency and a private agency. Which should we choose?Resources:Choosing a Foster Care Agency (Resource page)Becoming a Foster Parent (Resource page)Working as Part of a Foster Care Team (Resource page)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 podcastsWeekly articles/blog postsResource pages on all aspects of family buildingPlease leave us a rating or review RateThisPodcast.com/creatingafamilySupport the showPlease leave us a rating or review RateThisPodcast.com/creatingafamily

Are you parenting an adopted teen or young adult? Check out our interview about important conversations we need to make sure we have. Our guest is Katie Naftzger ,an LICSW, an adult adoptee, and the author of Parenting in the Eye of the Storm: The Adoptive Parent's Guide to Navigating the Teen Years. She also has a course for adoptive parents: The Four Paths To Securing The Relationship With Your Adopted Teen Or Young Adult.In this episode, we cover:What are two conversations we should have about adoption with our youth?What conversations should we have about mental health?What are some conversations we should have about race with our youth who are of a different race than we are?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 podcastsWeekly articles/blog postsResource pages on all aspects of family buildingPlease leave us a rating or review RateThisPodcast.com/creatingafamilySupport the showPlease leave us a rating or review RateThisPodcast.com/creatingafamily

Foster youth or children who have been in the foster care system make up over 80% of children being sexually exploited. What can you do to prevent this from happening to your child? We talk with Audrey Morrissey, Co-Executive Director of My Life My Choice, a survivor-led nonprofit fighting sexual exploitation of youth.In this episode, we cover:What are some of the different forms that sexual exploitation can take?What is included in sexual trafficking?Internet exploitation.How does grooming take place?Are foster children disproportionately represented in the sexually exploited population?Are children who have experienced trauma over represented?Seeking love and connection.Sexual exploit of boys?What can parents do to protect their children?What resources are available to parents and young people?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 podcastsWeekly articles/blog postsResource pages on all aspects of family buildingPlease leave us a rating or review RateThisPodcast.com/creatingafamilySupport the showPlease leave us a rating or review RateThisPodcast.com/creatingafamily

Do you think your child was exposed to alcohol or drugs during pregnancy? If so, a diagnosis can help your child access services and support. Check out this show with Dr. Yasmin Senturias, a developmental-behavioral pediatric specialist with 28 years of experience in developmental pediatrics and prenatal substance exposure. She worked with the American Academy of Pediatrics on developing their FASD Toolkit.In this episode, we cover:Prenatal Drug ExposureDo the impacts differ depending on what drug the child was exposed to? What's the difference between Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) or Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS). Short-term impacts? Is the impact less severe for legal drugs, such as nicotine and marijuana?Is the impact less severe for legal medications used to treat substance abuse disorders in pregnant women? What are the medical disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) or International Classification of Diseases (ICD) for prenatal drug exposure? Do these diagnoses have to be made at birth?What diagnosis is available if the child was exposed to drugs in utero but was not born dependent and didn't go through withdrawal, and therefore did not have a diagnosis of NAS or NOWS in their medical record?Do these diagnoses help the child and youth receive more services?What type of doctor can make this diagnosis? FASD:It is estimated that 1% to 5% of children in the United States may have an FASD. How common is drinking in pregnancy? (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data indicate that approximately 12% of pregnancies may have alcohol exposure.)Is the severity of the impact on the child, youth, or adult directly correlated to the amount of alcohol the mother consumed when pregnant?What are the actual diagnoses that exist on this spectrum of FASDs?Explain the differences in these disorders.Is one diagnosis better than another in terms of getting services and support for the child in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood?Are these different disorders linear on the spectrum from lesser to greater life impacts?Why is it important to get a diagnosis? Is it possible to get a diagnosis without mom admitting to using alcohol or drugs during her pregnancy? What to do if the child's record doesn't reflect that the mom drank during pregnancy?If you suspect or know that your child or youth was exposed to alcohol in utero, how can you get a diagnosis?What are some common misdiagnoses that kids and adolescents with prenatal alcohol exposure may get?What type of doctor can diagnose? Do you need a referral from your pediatrician to get an appointment with a specialist?Dual Exposure to Alcohol and DrugsHow common is the dual use of alcohol and drugs?How can drugs and alcohol together affect the child both in infancy and throughout life?Impact of TraumaHow does trauma interplay with prenatal substance exposure?Resources:American Academy of Pediatric Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders The American Academy of Pediatrics FASD Toolkit was developed in coordination with the CDC to raise awareness, promote surveillance and screening, and ensure that all children who possibly have FASDs receive appropriate and timely interventions. Focused primarily on proviSupport the showPlease leave us a rating or review RateThisPodcast.com/creatingafamily

Question: We adopted our son at two, but we were his foster parents since he was three months. He is now in second grade and is really struggling in school both academically and with bad behaviors. His teacher is not open to hearing me talk about trauma and how his trauma is impacting his learning and behavior. I think she thinks that since he's been with us for almost his entire life that he hasn't had trauma. We seem to be getting nowhere with her. Do you have any suggestions for helping her understand that there may be a cause for his struggles other than just being bad?We welcome our guest Sarah Naish, the CEO and Founder of the Centre of Excellence in Child Trauma in the UK to contribute to answering this question. Sarah is the adoptive parent of five siblings, a former Social Worker, and the author of many books on foster parenting, including The A-Z of Trauma-Informed Teaching. Resources:Helping Our Children Heal from Trauma (Resource page)Parenting Kids with Challenging Behaviors (Resource page)Back to School ResourcesThis 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 podcastsWeekly articles/blog postsResource pages on all aspects of family buildingPlease leave us a rating or review RateThisPodcast.com/creatingafamilySupport the showPlease leave us a rating or review RateThisPodcast.com/creatingafamily

Are you struggling to feel connected to your child? Do you sometimes wish you could turn the clock back and not be parenting this child? If so, you need to listen to this interview with Melissa Corkum, adoptee, adoptive mom, and co-author of Reclaim Compassion: The Adoptive Parent's Guide to Overcoming Blocked Care with Neuroscience and Faith.In this episode, we cover:What is blocked care, and how does it differ from blocked trust?What is the attachment cycle?What is the blocked care cycle?Does it only happen when parenting children with more extreme behavior issues?What causes a well-meaning parent not to be able to attach and bond with their adopted child?Is it more common with kinship caregivers—especially non-grandparents?What are the common emotions for parents who are experiencing blocked care?Ten signs of blocked care. To take the free assessment.   What can we do about this feeling of not liking or loving our child? We'll give some specific examples.Be kind to your body.Establish a healthy mindset.Surround yourself with life-giving people.Connect with your child.Can the situation have gone too far? 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 podcastsWeekly articles/blog postsResource pages on all aspects of family buildingPlease leave us a rating or review RateThisPodcast.com/creatingafamilySupport the showPlease leave us a rating or review RateThisPodcast.com/creatingafamily

Question: We are close to adopting two kids from foster care. Is there somewhere that shows the possible options for things we should ask for in adoption assistance?  I don't want to rely just on the child welfare office to hopefully tell us all the possible options. Resources:Josh Kroll, Adoption Subsidy Resource Center, Families Rising (Formerly NACAC)joshk@nacac.org651-644-3036, extension 115Foster Care Subsidies: What is Reasonable and How to Negotiate (On-Demand course on CreatingaFamilyEd.org)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 podcastsWeekly articles/blog postsResource pages on all aspects of family buildingPlease leave us a rating or review RateThisPodcast.com/creatingafamilySupport the showPlease leave us a rating or review RateThisPodcast.com/creatingafamily

Are you thinking about domestic infant adoption? This is an interview you must listen to! We talk with adoption medicine pediatrician, Dr. Todd Ochs, about common risk factors you should know about before adopting an infant.In this episode, we cover:Common Risk Factors in Domestic Infant AdoptionLack of prenatal care.Why do expectant moms who are considering making an adoption plan often have limited prenatal care?What is covered in prenatal care and how might a lack of prenatal care impact a baby?PrematurityWhat causes a premature birth?Poor prenatal care?Are expectant moms who are considering making an adoption plan more likely to have a premature birth?What are the risks with a premature birth based on the degree of prematurity?Prenatal exposureAlcoholWhat are some red flags that a mom might have abused alcohol during her pregnancy?Does the degree of impact differ depending on when alcohol was consumed in the pregnancy?What are the long- and short-term impacts of alcohol consumption on a child exposed prenatally?Very often, you will not have a diagnosis of FASD and won't be detected in the hospital post-natally.Resources to help parents of a child exposed to alcohol. Creating a Family has a facilitated interactive training for foster, adoptive, and kinship parents to help recognize kids who may have been prenatally exposed to alcohol or drugs, and best practices for helping this child thrive, on-demand courses, and additional resources on the long- and short-term impacts of prenatal substance exposure – visit the Raising a Child with Prenatal Exposure for find more information. Opioids List of opioid drugs in increasing degree of strengthCodeine.Hydrocodone (Vicodin, Hycodan)Morphine (MS Contin, Kadian)Oxycodone (Oxycontin, Percoset)Hydromorphone (Dilaudid)HeroinMethadone, SuboxoneFentanyl (Duragesic)Does the degree of impact differ depending on when in the pregnancy the opioid was used?Does the degree of long-term impact differ depending on whether the baby was born dependent or with a diagnosis of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome?What are the long- and short-term impacts of opioid exposure on a child exposed prenatally?Does the impact differ depending on what drug was involved or whether it was a legal or illegal drug?Methamphetamine CocaineMarijuanaHallucinogens, including EcstasyMental Health IssuesWhat is the genetic connection for the following mental health disorders? How heritable are these mental illnesses?Anxiety disorders, including panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and phobias.Depression, bipolar disorder, and other mood disorders.Personality disorders (antisocial, borderline, narcissistic, obsessive-compulsive)Psychotic disorders, including schizophreniaADHDAutistic Spectrum DisordersLegal Risk FactorsMost often in domestic infant adoption, the primary legal risk factor is an unknown or unidentified birth fatherControlled by state lawWork with your agency or attorney to understand the risk and what must be done to reduce your risk.Please review RateThisPodcast.com/creatingafamilySupport the showPlease leave us a rating or review RateThisPodcast.com/creatingafamily