Podcast appearances and mentions of rob scheer

Could you do with higher self worth? Do you put yourself down? Do you see yourself as bad? Good enough? Rob aged out of foster care homeless at 18. He struggled to see his self worth. Listen in as he shares his learnings on seeing our essential goodness. At any given time, there are more than 330,000 youth in foster care in the United States. An estimated 700 children enter the system each day, and most arrive with little more than the clothes on their backs. Those who do have belongings are often given a trash bag in which to pack up and carry their life's treasures. Rob Scheer experienced this indignity firsthand. Over forty years ago, he entered foster care and walked up to his foster home carrying a tattered and torn trash bag. He aged out of foster care at the age of 18, became homeless, and again carried his possessions in a trash bag. After graduating high school (while still homeless), serving in the military and moving on to have a successful career as a banker, Rob, along with his husband Reece, decided to grow their family by adopting from the foster care system. When his children arrived on his doorstep with their belongings in trash bags. Rob was floored. How, after forty years, were children in the foster care system still carrying their things in a bag used for trash? Rob and his family decided it was time to change this practice and the idea for Comfort Cases was born. With the vision of assembling backpacks filled with comfort and personal care items to deliver to local DCFS, the Scheer family invited their community to pack some cases. The first Packing Party was held in December of 2013 and shortly thereafter Comfort Cases was established as an official 501(c)3. To date, more than 300,000 Comfort Cases® and Comfort XL duffel bags have been distributed to children in foster care in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and now in the United Kingdom, with Comfort CasesUK launched in 2022.  Rob's ultimate goal is for every youth to receive a Comfort Case® upon entering foster care. Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, Comfort Cases has been featured on The Ellen Show, The Today Show, The View, and NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt, just to name a few. In 2017, an Upworthy video featuring Comfort Cases received over 150 million views and in 2018 Rob Scheer was named one of CNN's Heroes. Rob and Reece Scheer are also featured in Bryce Dallas Howard's documentary film Dads on AppleTV+. Rob is the host of Fostering Change, a weekly audio and video podcast that brings in guests of prominence who discuss issues regarding foster care, adoption, LGBTQ+ and other timely and topical issues. Now in its 7th season, Fostering Change has been ranked the #1 Podcast for Adoption and Foster Care issues two consecutive years. The author of A Forever Family: Fostering Change One Child at a Time, Rob's memoir tells the inspiring story of his journey from foster care to foster parent and his drive to rebuild a broken system. In May, 2022, Rob received an Honorary Doctoral Degree, a Doctorate of Humane Letters, from Lynn University, where he also delivered the commencement speech. Rob lives in Maryland with his husband Reece, their five children and multiple pets including dogs, goats, chickens and a pig named Penelope. https://www.instagram.com/rob_scheer https://www.facebook.com/comfortcases/ https://www.facebook.com/robscheer6 https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-scheer-27482653/ https://comfortcases.org/ Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help.

As Father's Day approaches, this week's episode of Fostering Change is one of our most personal conversations yet.For years, listeners have heard Rob Scheer share his family's story through the lens of a former foster youth, adoptive father, advocate, and founder of Comfort Cases. This week, he sits down with his youngest son, Tristan, for an honest and heartfelt conversation about family, foster care, belonging, and the journey they've shared together.Tristan joined the Scheer family as an infant, alongside his older brother, Greyson, instantly transforming the family from two children to four. Today, at 17 years old, he's a high school junior, an accomplished football and track athlete, and a young man beginning to think about college, adulthood, and the future ahead.Together, father and son reflect on growing up in a family built through foster care and adoption, what it was like being surrounded by advocacy and public service, and how Tristan defines family, belonging, and home.More than a Father's Day episode, this is a conversation about love, resilience, healing, and the lasting impact of showing up for one another.Conversation HighlightsTristan's perspective on growing up in the Scheer familyWhat it means to be part of a family formed through foster care and adoptionGrowing up around Comfort Cases, advocacy, and public serviceThe values Rob and Reece worked to instill in their childrenHow family is built through commitment, consistency, and loveLessons learned from fatherhood, family, and shared experiencesAthletics, college aspirations, and Tristan's hopes for the futureWhy belonging matters at every stage of lifeWhy This Episode MattersThis conversation reminds us that foster care is not ultimately about systems, policies, or paperwork.It's about people.It's about children finding stability, growing into young adults, building relationships, and creating futures for themselves.As Father's Day arrives, we also recognize that families come in many forms. Some young people have traditional fathers in their lives. Others are guided by foster fathers, adoptive fathers, grandfathers, uncles, brothers, mentors, coaches, teachers, or caregivers who step forward when they're needed most.And many are still searching for that connection.To all those who show up, stay present, and help a young person know they matter: Happy Father's Day.And to every young person experiencing foster care, may this conversation remind you that family is not defined by biology alone. Family is built through love, commitment, and the people who choose to stay.

Who gets to tell the story of adoption?For generations, adoption narratives have often been shaped by agencies, systems, and families. But increasingly, adoptees themselves are taking ownership of those stories and offering perspectives that are more complex, nuanced, and deeply personal.This week on Fostering Change, Rob Scheer is joined by acclaimed author, educator, and activist Shannon Gibney, whose award-winning memoir, The Girl I Am, Was, and Never Will Be, explores transracial adoption, identity, race, belonging, and the lifelong process of understanding where we come from.As an adoptee, Shannon brings lived experience to a conversation that challenges assumptions and invites listeners to think more deeply about identity, voice, and perspective. Together, Rob and Shannon explore how adoption stories evolve over time, why adoptee voices matter, and what it means to reclaim ownership of one's own narrative.This is not a conversation about simple answers. It's a conversation about listening, understanding, and making space for experiences that have too often been left out of the discussion.Conversation HighlightsHow adoption narratives are evolving to include more adoptee-centered perspectivesThe unique complexities of transracial adoption and identity formationWhy race, culture, and belonging remain important parts of the adoption conversationHow Shannon uses "speculative memoir" to explore memory, identity, and possibilityWhat it means for adoptees to reclaim and tell their own storiesWhy listening to lived experience strengthens conversations about adoption and foster careAbout Shannon GibneyShannon Gibney is an award-winning writer, educator, and activist whose work explores race, identity, family, and adoption. She is the author of several acclaimed books, including The Girl I Am, Was, and Never Will Be: A Speculative Memoir of Transracial Adoption, which received a Michael L. Printz Honor and a Minnesota Book Award.In addition to her writing, Shannon teaches at Minneapolis College and was named Educator of the Year in 2023. Her work encourages readers and audiences to engage thoughtfully with questions of identity, belonging, and social justice.Connect with Shannon Gibney

In today's episode of Psych Talk I chat with Rob Scheer, founder of Comfort Cases, about the United States foster care system. We start the discussion with Rob sharing his personal experience with the foster care system. We discuss Comfort Cases, a non-profit organization Rob founded, and what inspired him to create it. We discussed the foster care system in the United States and some of the challenges that children and youth in the U.S. foster care system often face. Rob discusses the connection between the U.S. foster care system and mental health and highlights some areas of the U.S. foster care system that he feels need to improve. We end the discussion by highlighting ways individuals can get involved with children and youth in foster care.Information shared by guests on Psych Talk are reflective of their own values, perspectives, and life experiences. Psych Talk values platforming various perspectives and experiences even if those views are not necessarily reflective of Psych Talk's values and perspectives. Connect with Rob:Website: www.comfortcases.orgIG: @rob_scheerIG: @comfortcasesPodcast: Fostering ChangeConnect with Me:Follow me on IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jessicaleighphd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow the podcast on IG ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@psych.talk.podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on TikTok ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jessicaleighphd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow me on Threads ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jessicaleighphd⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Welcome to Group Therapy Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ways to Work With Me:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mind Over Matter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LGBTQ+ Affirming Masterclass⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Be a guest on my podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Resources:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Anti-Racism Resources⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LGBTQ+ Affirming Resources⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Helping Professional's Guide to Boundary Setting⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Intro/Outro Music⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Life of Riley⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ by Kevin MacLeod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music License⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

What happens to a child when they grow up in foster care… and no one ever comes for them?Not when they're five. Not when they're ten. Not even when they're fifteen.This week on Fostering Change, Rob Scheer is joined by Jennifer Pinder, Executive Director of You Gotta Believe!, an organization that has spent the last 30 years proving that it is never too late for a young person in foster care to have a permanent, loving family.As an adoptee herself, Jennifer brings both lived experience and professional leadership to this conversation — helping challenge the harmful belief that older youth are “too old” for adoption or permanency.Together, Rob and Jennifer discuss why older youth are so often overlooked, the emotional realities of aging out of foster care alone, and how You Gotta Believe! is redefining what family can look like for teenagers and young adults in care.At the center of this conversation is a simple but powerful truth: every child deserves belonging, commitment, and someone who will show up for them — no matter their age.Conversation HighlightsWhy do thousands of youth age out of foster care each year without permanent family connectionsThe misconceptions and fears that prevent many families from considering older youth adoptionHow You Gotta Believe! focuses exclusively on permanency for older youth in foster careWhy lived experience matters in leadership, advocacy, and building trust with young peopleWhat permanency and belonging truly mean for youth who have spent years in the systemAbout Jennifer PinderJennifer Pinder is the Executive Director of You Gotta Believe!, a nonprofit dedicated to finding permanent families for older youth in foster care. Since joining the organization in 2020, she has led efforts in advocacy, communications, fundraising, and strategic growth as the organization celebrates its 30th anniversary.An adoptee herself, Jennifer brings a deeply personal connection to the organization's mission and works alongside a team that includes many individuals with lived experience in child welfare.Connect with Jennifer & You Gotta Believe!

What does it take to break the cycle of trauma and create a forever family?In this powerful episode of From Foster to Forever, host Rachel Fulginiti sits down with foster care advocate, author, and Comfort Cases founder Dr. Rob Scheer.Rob's story begins in foster care. As one of ten children removed from his biological family, he entered the foster care system carrying his belongings in a trash bag—a reality still faced by many foster youth today. After aging out of care, overcoming trauma, and building a successful life, Rob went on to adopt five children through foster care and become one of the nation's leading voices for foster care reform.Together, Rachel and Rob discuss:✅ Foster care and adoption realities that prospective foster parents need to understand✅ Why permanency matters for children in foster care✅ The challenges and rewards of foster-to-adopt parenting✅ Transracial adoption and raising Black children in a white family✅ Maintaining healthy relationships with biological families after adoption✅ Trauma, resilience, and breaking generational cycles✅ Foster youth aging out of care✅ Advocacy efforts to eliminate trash bags in foster care✅ How Comfort Cases is helping children enter foster care with dignity and hopeRob also shares why he believes every child deserves unconditional love, stability, and a permanent family—and why communities must do more to support struggling families before children enter foster care in the first place.Whether you're a foster parent, adoptive parent, social worker, CASA volunteer, child welfare professional, or someone considering foster care adoption, this episode offers practical wisdom, inspiration, and hope.About Rob ScheerDr. Rob Scheer is a former foster youth, adoptive father of five, author of A Forever Family: Fostering Change One Child at a Time, and founder of Comfort Cases, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting children entering foster care with backpacks filled with essential items instead of trash bags. Through advocacy, education, and direct support, Comfort Cases has impacted hundreds of thousands of children nationwide.Resources MentionedComfort Cases https://comfortcases.org/A Forever Family: Fostering Change One Child at a Time https://shop.comfortcases.org/shop/signed-copy-of-a-forever-family-by-rob-scheerComfort Cases Scholarship ProgramCASA Volunteer Program https://nationalcasagal.org/advocate-for-children/be-a-casa-gal-volunteer/Rob Scheer website https://scheerfocus.com/Connect with From Foster to ForeverIf this episode inspired you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone interested in foster care, adoption, foster parenting, or child advocacy.

Today on 8000 Promises, Rob Scheer shares his story of resilience from Childhood in foster care to becoming a powerful advocate for foster children and their families. Discover how we can induce systematic change with bravery, storytelling and intentionality.A little about Rob, He is the Founder of Comfort Cases! A non profit Organization that gives “backpacks filled with comfort and personal care items for youth entering the foster care system.” He is an individual who entered and exited foster care with the same Trashbag and decided to do something about it. Rob went from the foster system, to homelessness, Navy, successful businessman, advocate, and proud father of five from the same shattered foster care system. He is the author of bestselling memoir “A Forever Family,” and award winning podcast “Fostering Change.” Join us as he shares his journey, experience and passion for true systematic changeHere are links to Rob's Socials! Bio | Instagram | Facebook | Website | A Forever Family Book | Fostering Change PodcastHere is also a link to Comfort Cases!!!     Mentioned podcast with Adam StarksYou can find me on Instagram at ⁠AdiTilfordWrites⁠, Facebook at ⁠AdiTilford-Author ⁠and at my website ⁠AdiTilford.com.⁠Follow my writing at 8KP's Anam Cara with Adi TilfordCreated By Adi TilfordProduced by Tyler Tilford-HamlinCover Art by Megan Henry with Mountain Roots PhotographyBackground Music by Ken Kuhns Jr.

As National Foster Care Awareness Month comes to a close, this episode of Fostering Change focuses on something deeply important: what happens when organizations stop working in silos and start working together for young people.This week, Rob Scheer is joined by two Los Angeles-based leaders making a meaningful impact in the lives of youth connected to foster care: Beth Ryan, Executive Director & Founder of Stepping Forward LA, and Jorie Das, Executive Director of Friends of the Children Los Angeles.Together, their organizations are helping young people navigate some of the most difficult transitions imaginable — aging out of foster care, finding stability, building community, and creating long-term support systems rooted in consistency and trust.Beth Ryan's work through Stepping Forward LA focuses on youth transitioning out of foster care, with programs centered around mentorship, housing support, internships, workforce readiness, and a first-of-its-kind app designed by and for foster youth.Jorie Das leads Friends of the Children Los Angeles, which provides long-term professional mentorship to youth facing systemic barriers through a unique 12+ year commitment model focused on stability, prevention, and long-term success.Throughout the conversation, Rob, Beth, and Jorie explore how collaboration between nonprofits can strengthen outcomes for youth — and why consistent relationships remain one of the most powerful tools for healing and success.Episode HighlightsWhy aging out of foster care remains one of the biggest challenges facing young adultsHow mentorship and long-term relationships improve outcomes for youthThe importance of nonprofit collaboration instead of competitionHow Los Angeles reflects both the scale of the foster care crisis and the opportunity for innovationWhy Foster Care Awareness Month must lead to meaningful action and engagementAbout the GuestsBeth Ryan is the Executive Director & Founder of Stepping Forward LA, a nonprofit supporting youth aging out of foster care through mentorship, housing support, workforce development, and community-based solutions. As the organization approaches its 10-year anniversary, Stepping Forward LA continues expanding its impact across Los Angeles.Jorie Das is the Executive Director of Friends of the Children Los Angeles, an organization providing long-term professional mentorship to youth facing systemic barriers. Under her leadership, the organization has expanded across Los Angeles County, helping youth and caregivers through a prevention-focused model built on consistency and trust.Key Questions from This EpisodeWhat prompted the creation of Stepping Forward LA and Friends of the Children Los Angeles?What are the biggest challenges youth face when aging out of foster care?Why does long-term mentorship matter so much?How can nonprofits collaborate more effectively to support youth?What role do community, housing, and workforce development play in long-term stability?How can people move beyond awareness and take meaningful action?Connect with the GuestsStepping Forward LA

On this episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer is joined by Christie Werts, a former foster youth, Army veteran, author, and adoptive mother whose life has come full circle through foster care.Christie shares her journey in her book, Life's Sad Story, God's Love Story, tracing a path from childhood trauma and separation to healing, compassion, and building a family of her own.This is an especially emotional conversation for Rob, who reflects openly on the painful experience of his own mother leaving him and his siblings — and the lasting impact that loss has had throughout his life.Together, Rob and Christie explore how childhood trauma shapes identity, how healing can emerge in unexpected ways, and what it means to return to the foster care system — not as a child, but as a parent determined to create something different.At the center of Christie's story is compassion: a decision to foster and later adopt her husband's ex-wife's child in order to keep siblings connected and together.And by the end of the conversation, Christie leaves listeners with a message that becomes the emotional heartbeat of the episode: this is ultimately a love story — about God, healing, and hope.As Christie shares: “There's a love story ahead of you. And it's gonna be ok.”Episode HighlightsChristie's journey from foster youth to foster and adoptive parentThe emotional impact of childhood separation and abandonmentHow trauma and healing can exist side by sideA remarkable decision to keep siblings together through adoptionThe role of faith, compassion, and second chances in rebuilding familyAbout the GuestChristie Werts is a former foster youth, Army veteran, author, speaker, and mother of five whose life has come full circle through foster care and adoption. After experiencing trauma in the system as a child, she later returned to foster care as a parent, ultimately adopting a child connected to her own family.Through her book, Life's Sad Story, God's Love Story, Christie shares a deeply personal journey of resilience, faith, healing, and compassion.Key Questions from This EpisodeWhat inspired you to write Life's Sad Story, God's Love Story?How did your childhood experiences in foster care shape your life?What led you to step back into foster care as a parent?How did the decision to adopt your husband's ex-wife's child come about?What did healing look like for you over time?How have kindness and compassion shaped your family today?What message do you hope listeners take from your story?Connect with Christie

On this episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer is joined by David Sussillo, a neuroscientist, author, and former youth who experienced a childhood marked by instability, poverty, and time in group homes.His story begins in environments many children in foster care and group settings know all too well — uncertainty, trauma, and systems that don't always provide the support they should. But his story doesn't end there.Through a combination of resilience, critical intervention, and moments where someone stepped in, David found a path forward. Today, he is a leading neuroscientist who has worked at Stanford, Google, and Meta, studying the very thing that shaped his life: the human brain.His memoir, Emergence, is not just a story of survival — it is a powerful reminder of what can happen when even one opportunity changes the trajectory of a child's life.This conversation challenges us to ask a difficult but necessary question: how many children are out there right now, just one moment away from a different future?Episode HighlightsGrowing up in instability, poverty, and group home environmentsHow trauma shapes memory, identity, and developmentThe role of mentors, teachers, and small interventionsFrom survival to success in neuroscience and researchReflecting on resilience, loss, and the paths not takenAbout the GuestDavid Sussillo is a neuroscientist, author, and adjunct professor at Stanford University. After a childhood marked by instability and time in group homes, he earned a PhD in computational neuroscience from Columbia University and has worked at leading institutions, including Google Brain and Meta.His memoir, Emergence: A Memoir of Boyhood, Computation, and the Mysteries of Mind, tells the story of his journey from trauma to transformation.Key Questions from This EpisodeWhat led you to write Emergence now?What was it like to revisit your childhood experiences through writing?How did you navigate growing up in group homes and unstable environments?Who were the people who helped change your path?What role did small moments or opportunities play in your journey?How do you reflect on your success alongside those who didn't have the same outcome?What would you say to a young person facing similar challenges today?Closing ThoughtSometimes it doesn't take everything changing — it takes one moment, one person, one opportunity.And for a child navigating instability, that can be the difference between surviving and becoming something far beyond anyone's expectations.Connect with David

Teatime with Miss Liz Presents: Rob Scheer of Comfort Cases , May 12th | 3 PM EST Title: From Trash Bags to Dignity: Changing Foster Care One Child at a Time Tagline: No child entering foster care should ever carry their life in a trash bag. Feature Description: This powerful Teatime with Miss Liz welcomes Rob Scheer, founder and CEO of Comfort Cases — a nationally recognized nonprofit transforming the foster care experience for children across the United States and beyond. Rob's story begins with heartbreak, survival, and resilience. After enduring abuse and entering foster care as a teenager, carrying his belongings in a torn trash bag, Rob eventually aged out of the system and became homeless while still in high school. Years later, after building a life, serving in the U.S. Navy, and growing his family through foster care adoption with his husband Reece, he witnessed his own children arriving with their belongings in trash bags — just as he had decades before. That moment sparked a movement. Since 2013, Comfort Cases has distributed more than 320,000 backpacks and duffel bags to 50 states, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and the United Kingdom. More than replacing trash bags, Rob's mission is restoring dignity, comfort, and humanity to children navigating unimaginable transitions. This heartfelt conversation will explore:* The realities of foster care* Trauma, resilience, and healing* Building purpose from pain* The importance of dignity for youth* Advocacy and foster care reform* Creating change through compassion and action. Introduction for Live Show: “Welcome everyone to Teatime with Miss Liz, where we serve real-life T-E-A through stories that change lives and open hearts. Today, we welcome Rob Scheer, founder of Comfort Cases, whose mission to restore dignity to children in foster care is transforming lives across the world, one backpack, one child, and one act of compassion at a time. ”Closing Summary Rob's journey reminds us that some of the deepest pain can become the foundation for an extraordinary purpose. Through Comfort Cases, he is not only replacing trash bags — he is restoring dignity, hope, and humanity to children who deserve to know they matter. Bio: Rob Scheer is the founder and CEO of Comfort Cases, a foster care advocacy nonprofit distributing backpacks and essentials to children entering care. A CNN Heroes honouree, author, speaker, and podcast host, Rob uses his lived experience to champion dignity, resilience, and reform within the foster care system. One Word Empathetic Favourite Colour Yellow His T-E-A* Purpose* Resilience* Compassion Driven By Purpose Three Phrases That Share His Story* Foster care survivor* Turning pain into purpose* Restoring dignity for children Social Media & Links* Comfort Cases Website* Instagram – Comfort Cases* Instagram – Rob Scheer* TikTok – Comfort Cases* Facebook – Comfort Cases #TeatimeWithMissLiz #ComfortCases #FosterCareAwareness #DrivenByPurpose #MakingADifferenceOneCupAtATime

This episode kicks off National Foster Care Awareness Month — a time not just to reflect, but to act.On today's Fostering Change, Rob Scheer welcomes back Laura, The Foster Parent Partner, a therapeutic foster parent, mentor, and now author of First-Time Fostering, releasing May 12.This conversation focuses on a question many people ask, but far fewer answer: what does it actually take to become a foster parent?Not the idea of it — the reality.Laura brings practical, real-world insight into what fostering looks like day to day, what new foster parents need to understand, and how to move from thinking about it to stepping into it. As a returning guest, she builds on her previous conversation with Rob to go deeper into the emotional, logistical, and human side of fostering.As we begin National Foster Care Awareness Month, this episode serves as a starting point for those considering how they can be part of the solution.Episode HighlightsWhy National Foster Care Awareness Month should lead to action, not just recognitionThe gap between thinking about fostering and actually saying yesWhat foster parenting really looks like day to dayCommon fears and misconceptions that hold people backHow support, mentorship, and community make fostering possibleAbout LauraKnown as The Foster Parent Partner, Laura is a therapeutic foster parent, content creator, and mentor who supports individuals navigating the foster care journey. Through her platform, she helps new foster parents move through the licensing process and prepare for their first placement with confidence.Her new book, First-Time Fostering, is a practical, honest guide designed to equip future foster parents with the tools, expectations, and clarity needed to take that first step.Key Questions from This EpisodeWhat inspired you to write First-Time Fostering — and who is it for?What makes this book different from others about foster care?Why does Foster Care Awareness Month matter, and how should people respond?What are the biggest fears that stop people from fostering?What does fostering really look like on a daily basis?What role does community play in helping foster parents succeed?What should someone do if they're on the fence right now?Closing ThoughtAwareness is only the beginning. What matters is what comes next.Foster care doesn't need more observers — it needs more people willing to step in, show up, and say yes.

On this episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer is joined by Jennifer Griffith, author of Both Sides of Then: Finding Love After Abandonment and host of the About Your Mother podcast.This conversation centers on a deeply personal and universal question: how much of who we become is shaped by the relationship we have—or don't have—with our mother?Jennifer's memoir explores abandonment, generational trauma, and the search for understanding and connection. While her story is not rooted in foster care, the themes resonate deeply. Many children in foster care experience separation from their biological parents, particularly their mothers, making this conversation especially relevant to identity, belonging, and emotional development.Together, Rob and Jennifer explore how early relationships shape us, how patterns are passed down, and how telling the truth about our stories can open the door to healing and transformation.Episode HighlightsHow maternal relationships influence identity and self-worthThe lasting emotional impact of abandonment and separationUnderstanding and breaking cycles of generational traumaWhy storytelling can be a powerful tool for healingHow these themes connect to the experiences of youth in foster careAbout the GuestJennifer Griffith is an author, speaker, and host of the About Your Mother podcast, where she explores the stories that shape identity and relationships. Her debut memoir, Both Sides of Then: Finding Love After Abandonment, examines generational trauma, resilience, and the lasting influence of family history. Through her work, she encourages others to better understand their past and find meaning in the connections that define them.Key Questions from This EpisodeWhat did writing your story teach you about understanding where we come from?Why is the “mother story” such a powerful lens for identity?What does healing look like when relationships are complicated or absent?How do early experiences of separation shape a child's sense of self?Where does healing begin for someone carrying a difficult family story?Connect with Jennifer

On this episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer welcomes back Jodi Grinwald, founder of Today is the Day, co-founder of Applaud Our Kids Foundation, and author of the new book Today is the Day: LIVE IT!.Jodi is a returning guest to the podcast, and we're excited to continue this important conversation around opportunity, connection, and impact.Jodi's work is grounded in a simple but powerful idea: if the table doesn't exist, build it — and make sure others have a seat.Her new book, Today is the Day: LIVE IT!, expands on that philosophy, encouraging readers to take action, lead with purpose, and create meaningful impact in their own lives and communities.

On this episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer is joined by Katy Encalade, President and CEO of Egg Donor & Surrogate Solutions, who has spent more than two decades helping to create and support families.Katy brings a unique and deeply personal perspective to this conversation. She has been a foster parent, an egg donor, and a surrogate — offering a rare view across multiple paths of supporting children and building families. Her experience as a foster mom serves as a meaningful bridge, grounding this conversation in the realities of child welfare while expanding the lens to include other ways people can step in to help.While Fostering Change often focuses on foster care, adoption, and permanency, this episode broadens that perspective. Katy encourages listeners to consider that there are many ways to support children and families — whether by opening your home, helping someone become a parent by choosing to be a surrogate or egg donor, or finding other ways to show up with compassion and responsibility.Episode HighlightsHow foster care, surrogacy, and egg donation connect through a shared purpose of supporting children and familiesThe importance of lived experience, including Katy's time as a foster parentWhy stability, care, and belonging remain central across all family-building pathsThe role of ethics, transparency, and trust in family-building workEncouraging people to explore different ways they can help support children and familiesAbout the GuestKaty Encalade is the President and CEO of Egg Donor & Surrogate Solutions, an organization that has helped create more than 2,000 families worldwide. A former foster parent, egg donor, and surrogate, she brings both personal experience and professional expertise to her work. Katy has spent more than two decades advocating for ethical, transparent, and relationship-driven approaches to family-building, previously served as Board Chair of the Society for Ethics in Egg Donation and Surrogacy, and now serves as Board Chair of Families Out Loud.Connect with Katy

On this episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer is joined by Mordy Kurtz of The Boxery, a company that demonstrates how even behind-the-scenes business operations can play a meaningful role in supporting children in foster care.At Comfort Cases, partnerships are essential. The Boxery has been a valued partner, providing boxes and shipping materials that help deliver Comfort Cases to children across the country. While this support may not always be visible, it is critical to ensuring that essential items reach youth who need them.Mordy leads marketing and growth at The Boxery, bringing creativity and purpose to an industry often viewed as purely transactional. Through initiatives like Givebox, the company is demonstrating how businesses can integrate giving into their everyday operations and make a meaningful impact in their communities.This conversation explores how companies of any size or industry can align their operations with purpose and become active participants in supporting causes like foster care.Episode HighlightsThe role of operational partnerships in supporting nonprofit impactHow The Boxery contributes to Comfort Cases through logistics and infrastructureBringing creativity and brand voice to a traditional industryThe importance of customer-focused, solution-driven marketingHow initiatives like Givebox integrate giving into everyday business operationsAbout the GuestMordy Kurtz leads marketing and growth at The Boxery, where he focuses on creative branding, customer-first marketing, and building systems that help businesses operate more effectively. With more than 15 years of experience, including work with nonprofits, he brings a purpose-driven approach to business and is helping expand The Boxery's impact through initiatives like Givebox.About the PartnershipThe Boxery supports Comfort Cases by providing essential packaging and shipping materials for nationwide distribution. This partnership highlights the importance of infrastructure and logistics in delivering resources to children experiencing foster care.Connect & Learn More

Rob Scheer is the founder and CEO of Comfort Cases, an international nonprofit dedicated to bringing dignity and hope to youth in foster care. His and the organization's mission is clear: to eliminate the heartbreaking and dehumanizing practice of children being handed a trash bag to carry their belongings when entering the foster care system. Since founding Comfort Cases in 2013, Rob and his team have distributed more than 300,000 backpacks and duffle bags filled with essential and comforting items to youth in every U.S. state, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the United Kingdom.In this episode, Rob and I discuss Rob's journey and how he came around to start Comfort Cases. We also get into the importance of education in the lives of foster children and how a teacher's kindness helped him in a difficult time.For all links and resources mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://www.educatorforever.com/episode179.

On this episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer is joined by leaders and advocates working directly with young people transitioning out of foster care: Sarah Baumgartner of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Brian Robinson of Kids' Voice of Indiana, and Princess Martinez Casanova, a foster youth leader and member of the Youth Impact Board at Kids' Voice.For Comfort Cases, partnerships have always been central to the mission. The organization's first corporate Packing Parties began in Indiana with Elevance Health and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in 2008. Since then, Anthem has remained a longstanding partner, demonstrating an ongoing commitment to corporate responsibility and to supporting children and youth experiencing foster care.Today, that commitment continues through collaboration with Kids' Voice of Indiana, working together to raise the voice of youth transitioning out of foster care by creating resources, providing transition support, and expanding opportunities for education and career advancement.As Foster Care Awareness Month approaches in May, this conversation highlights the importance of recognizing the needs of young people preparing to age out of the system — and the role partnerships play in helping them build strong, independent futures.Episode HighlightsThe importance of supporting youth as they transition out of foster careHow corporate partnerships can expand resources and opportunities for young peopleThe role of Kids' Voice of Indiana in advocating for older youth and preparing them for independenceThe impact of mentorship, advocacy, and youth voice in shaping better outcomesReal-life success stories, including pathways to higher education and career developmentAbout the GuestsSarah Baumgartner is the Older Youth Case Manager on the Foster Care Team at Anthem Indiana Behavioral Health Services. She brings more than 20 years of experience in mental health, including residential treatment, school-based counseling, and private practice. Her work focuses on supporting older youth as they transition from foster care to adulthood.Brian Robinson is the Director of Older Youth Initiatives for Kids' Voice of Indiana. With more than 25 years of experience working with children and families, including serving as a Guardian ad Litem since the early 1990s, he centers his work on preparing older youth in foster care for independence.Princess Martinez Casanova is a bilingual education advocate, foster youth leader, and member of the Youth Impact Board at Kids' Voice of Indiana. After immigrating from Mexico as a teenager and entering foster care at fourteen, she is now attending DePauw University on a full scholarship, studying Education Studies and Spanish, and advocating for foster youth and immigrant communities.About the WorkThe collaboration between Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Kids' Voice focuses on:Transition support for youth aging out of foster careElevating youth voice and advocacyExpanding access to education and career pathwaysThese efforts reflect a shared commitment to helping young people move from foster care into adulthood with the tools, support, and opportunities they need to succeed.Connect & Learn MoreKids' Voice of Indiana: https://kidsvoicein.org/Facebook: @AnthemMedicaidInstagram: @anthembcbsX (Twitter): @AnthemBCBSLinkedIn: Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield – Medicaid Health Plans

On this episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer is joined by Karen Segal, founder of Photo Safe, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting what many children in foster care often miss: photographs and personal memories.For most families, childhood photos are a given. They capture milestones, friendships, and the small moments that help us understand who we are and where we come from. But for many children experiencing foster care, frequent moves and disrupted connections mean those memories are rarely preserved.Photo Safe was founded to close that gap. Through a network of volunteer photographers, the organization has provided more than 60,000 professionally taken and framed photographs to youth connected to foster care and their families.At the heart of Photo Safe's work is a commitment to safety and confidentiality. Every image is securely archived and preserved so children can access their memories safely now and decades into the future.In this conversation, Rob and Karen explore why photographs matter for identity, how preserving childhood moments can help young people build a sense of belonging, and why something as simple as a picture can become a powerful anchor in a child's life.Episode HighlightsWhy childhood photographs play a vital role in identity and emotional developmentThe often-overlooked reality is that many youth in foster care grow up without documented memoriesHow Photo Safe protects images through secure archival systems and strict confidentialityThe lasting emotional impact of framed photographs and preserved milestonesHow preserving memories helps youth maintain a connection to their own storyAbout the GuestKaren Segal is the founder of Photo Safe, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving childhood photographs for youth in foster care. After a 30-year career in financial technology with firms including Merrill Lynch, Citigroup, and Barclays, she now serves as a Quality Executive at Ernst & Young. Through Photo Safe's volunteer network of photographers, the organization has provided more than 60,000 framed photographs to children and families connected to foster care while maintaining rigorous standards of privacy, security, and long-term archival preservation.Connect with Photo Safe

Send us Fan MailThe black garbage bag. You may or may not know its significance in the foster care system. Either way, my guest this episode will inspire you. Among other things, Rob Scheer is the author of A Forever Family: Fostering Change One Child at a Time and the founder of Comfort Cases, a nonprofit with the #BAGBUSTERS rallying cry and the mission to “inspire communities to bring dignity and hope to youth in foster care.” My hope is that you will never look at a black garbage bag the same way again. More information about Rob, his nonprofit Comfort Cases, and his book, A Forever Family: Fostering Change One Child at a Time, is at talkingaboutkids.com. 

What happens when a child is handed a trash bag instead of a sense of belonging? And what if that child grows up to change the system that failed him? In this powerful and special Podcasthon episode of HIListically Speaking, host Hilary Russo sits down with Rob Scheer, founder of Comfort Cases, to talk about trauma, resilience, and what it really means to restore dignity to children in foster care. From homelessness and heartbreak to building a global movement that has helped over 300,000 kids, Rob's story is the definition of turning pain into purpose. But this conversation is bigger than foster care. It's about empathy, community, remembering that we all have a role to play to walk each other home.   Learn more about Rob, Comfort Cases and How You Can Help Change Lives comfortcases.org Follow on social media at @comfortcases JOIN HILARY ON SUBSTACK - THE BRAIN CANDY BLUEPRINT! ⁣https://substack.com/@hilaryrusso ⁣ GET THE PODCAST NEWSLETTER TO STAY IN THE KNOW! https://www.hilaryrusso.com/braincandy⁣   DISCOVER HAVENING TECHNIQUES TRAININGS & WORKSHOPS⁣ https://www.hilaryrusso.com/training⁣ ⁣ BOOK HILARY FOR YOUR NEXT EVENT OR ATTEND!⁣ https://www.hilaryrusso.com/events⁣ ⁣ CONNECT WITH HILARY⁣ https://www.linkedin.com/in/hilaryrusso⁣ https://www.instagram.com/hilaryrusso⁣ https://www.instagram.com/hilisticallyspeaking⁣ https://www.youtube.com/hilaryrusso⁣ https://www.hilaryrusso.com/podcast⁣ ⁣ MUSIC by Lipbone Redding⁣ https://www.lipbone.com⁣

On this episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer is joined by his friend, Pedro Andrade, an Emmy Award–winning journalist, producer, and global storyteller whose work explores identity, culture, and what it truly means to be a family.Pedro is the host and producer of the HBO Max documentary series Somewhat Familiar, which follows Pedro and his husband as they adopt a baby and travel the world exploring how families are formed across cultures and communities.One episode of the series is especially meaningful to the Fostering Change community. Episode five featured Rob Scheer and the Scheer family, offering an honest look at foster care, adoption, and what permanency can look like in real life.In this conversation, Rob and Pedro revisit that experience and explore how storytelling can expand our understanding of family, bring visibility to foster care, and inspire more compassionate conversations about belonging.Episode HighlightsHow media and storytelling can redefine traditional ideas of familyWhy foster care stories deserve a place in global conversations about belongingPedro's experience of becoming a parent and how it shaped his perspective on adoptionWhat the Scheer family story revealed about permanency and resilienceThe role of documentaries in shifting public understanding and reducing stigmaAbout the GuestPedro Andrade is an Emmy Award–winning journalist, producer, and global storyteller known for his work exploring culture, identity, and human connection. He is the host and producer of the HBO Max documentary series Somewhat Familiar, which follows Pedro and his husband as they navigate adoption while exploring family structures around the world. Through his work, Pedro highlights diverse stories of belonging and invites audiences to see family through a wider, more compassionate lens.Connect with Pedro

Rob Scheer, founder of Comfort Cases and author of A Forever Family: Fostering Change One Child at a Time, joins Julie and David to share his deeply personal journey — from growing up in the foster care system himself, to adopting four children and witnessing firsthand that nothing had changed. When his kids arrived carrying trash bags, Rob didn't just feel the pain — he built a movement. In thirteen years, Comfort Cases has delivered over 300,000 backpacks filled with essential, dignity-restoring items to foster children across all 50 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico. Rob shares what goes into every case (and why every detail matters), how he built a national organization powered by everyday people, and why he believes our legacy is defined by what we give — not what we take.Learn more and donate at comfortcases.org Rob's podcast: Fostering Change Rob's book: A Forever Family: Fostering Change One Child at a Time

Send a textCNN Hero. Featured on HBO Max's Somewhat Familiar with Pedro Andrade. A national advocate transforming the lives of children in foster care.In this powerful episode of the Today is the Day Changemakers Podcast, host, connection strategist, and author Jodi Hope Grinwald sits down with Rob Scheer, founder of Comfort Cases.Rob's story begins with a painful reality experienced by far too many children entering the foster care system—arriving at a new home carrying their belongings in a trash bag. Having grown up in foster care himself, Rob transformed that experience into a powerful national movement dedicated to restoring dignity, compassion, and hope for children entering the system.Through Comfort Cases, Rob and his family are helping change the foster care experience for thousands of children by replacing trash bags with backpacks filled with essential items and comfort objects—ensuring that every child feels valued and supported during a difficult transition.In this meaningful conversation, Jodi and Rob discuss:• Rob's journey growing up in foster care • The moment that inspired the creation of Comfort Cases • Why dignity and compassion must be part of the foster care system • Turning adversity into advocacy and lasting impact • The power of connection in creating meaningful changeRob's work has earned national recognition, including being named a CNN Hero, and his family's mission was recently featured on HBO Max's series Somewhat Familiar with Pedro Andrade, helping bring international awareness to the importance of supporting children in foster care.About the HostJodi Hope Grinwald is a connection strategist, speaker, consultant, and author of Today Is the Day. LIVE IT!. Through her platform Today is the Day, Jodi works with leaders, entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and organizations to strengthen relationships, align purpose with action, and build meaningful impact through connection.Her book Today Is the Day. LIVE IT! brings together inspiring voices who stepped beyond the edge of comfort and into the center of impact—reminding readers that one decision, one conversation, and one moment of courage can change everything.Stay ConnectedFollow Today is the Day for more inspiring changemaker conversations and stories of impact:Facebook & Instagram @todayisthedayliveit#cnnhero #fostercare#nonprofit#comfortcases#HBOMaxSupport the show

On this episode of Fostering Change Podcast, Rob Scheer is joined by Temple Lentz — nonprofit CEO, local elected official, and debut novelist — for a thoughtful conversation about what happens when the systems designed to protect vulnerable families don't always work the way they're supposed to.Temple is the author of the novel Not Quite Home, which explores the cracks in America's social service safety net. While the book is fiction, its themes are grounded in real-world experience. Having worked both inside nonprofit leadership and as an elected official, Temple brings a rare systems-level perspective to the conversation.Together, Rob and Temple discuss the gap between policy and lived reality, how well-intentioned systems can sometimes cause unintended harm, and why storytelling may be one of the most powerful tools we have to illuminate the need for reform.Episode Highlights• Why systems meant to help families often fall short• The unintended consequences of well-intentioned policies• What people misunderstand about how social service systems actually function• Why fiction can humanize policy failures more effectively than reports and data• How civic engagement and storytelling can open doors to meaningful reformAbout the GuestTemple Lentz is a nonprofit CEO, local elected official, and debut novelist. She earned a BA from the University of Chicago and a master's degree in Organizational Leadership from Claremont Lincoln University. Her writing has appeared in outlets including the Portland Mercury, Vancouver Business Journal, Live Wire! Radio, New City Chicago, and the Windy City Times.Her first novel, Not Quite Home, examines the human impact of systemic gaps within America's social safety net.Connect with Temple

On this episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer sits down with Dr. Liz DeBetta — an award-winning writer, educator, and solo performance artist whose work explores adoption, trauma, identity, and healing through storytelling.Dr. Liz is the founder of Migrating Toward Wholeness, a trauma-informed, arts-based healing framework, and the author of Adult Adoptees and Writing to Heal. Her work centers on an often-overlooked truth: adoption isn't a moment — it's a lifelong identity journey.This conversation is especially meaningful for Rob, who reflects on his own experience adopting his son Alex, who joined the Scheer family at 18 and was formally adopted at 22 — a powerful reminder that belonging and permanency have no age limit.Together, Rob and Dr. Liz explore how adults navigate adoption-related grief and identity, why healing can unfold later in life, and how storytelling becomes a transformative tool for reclaiming voice and wholeness.Episode HighlightsLate and adult adoption as meaningful and transformativeHow writing and embodied storytelling support trauma integrationWhat “wholeness” means for identities shaped by early lossThe role adoptive families play in supporting adult adoptees over timeAbout the GuestDr. Liz DeBetta is an award-winning writer, educator, and solo performance artist whose work focuses on adoption, trauma, and identity through narrative expression. She is the founder of Migrating Toward Wholeness™, the author of Adult Adoptees and Writing to Heal, and the creator of the acclaimed one-woman show Un-M-Othered, which examines adoption and patriarchy through embodied storytelling. Holding a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies, she blends research, lived experience, and art to support healing and identity integration.Connect with Dr. Liz

This episode of Fostering Change was originally scheduled to air in March — but after recording, Rob Scheer felt the conversation was too important to wait. He personally requested that it be released early so listeners could hear it as soon as possible.Rob is joined by Rachel Bruno, a Nashville-based author, speaker, and advocate whose deeply personal experience with the child welfare system ignited a powerful call for accountability and reform.After her children were unlawfully removed by child protective services, Rachel found herself confronting a system where parental rights, due process, and family integrity are often overlooked. Instead of staying silent, she fought back — ultimately securing a seven-figure civil rights settlement and emerging as a leading national voice for families facing similar injustices.Rachel is the author of Fractured Hope: A Mother's Fight for Justice and founder of Giver of Light, an organization dedicated to supporting families navigating child welfare involvement. Together, Rob and Rachel discuss hope after trauma, the urgent need for accountability, and why lived experience must guide ethical, child-centered reform.Episode Highlights• How one mother's fight sparked national conversations about reform• What families experience when due process is ignored• Accountability and justice within child welfare• How Giver of Light supports families in crisis• Why lived experience belongs at the center of policy change

Nonprofits exist to serve people — not paperwork.But too often, outdated financial systems slow growth, strain leadership, and pull focus away from mission-driven work.This week on Fostering Change, Rob Scheer sits down with Stephen Garten, Founder & CEO of Charity Charge, a Public Benefit Corporation built exclusively to support the financial needs of nonprofit organizations.Stephen launched Charity Charge in 2015 after recognizing a widespread problem: nonprofits were forced to rely on banking and financial tools never designed for how they actually operate. Today, Charity Charge serves more than 3,000 nonprofits nationwide, offering nonprofit-specific credit cards, bookkeeping and compliance tools, gift cards, and over $60 million in working capital — empowering leaders to focus on impact instead of infrastructure.Rob and Stephen also reflect on their recent crossover conversation, following Rob's appearance on Stephen's podcast, The Charity Charge Nonprofit Spotlight, where they continued discussing leadership, transparency, and sustainability in the social sector.

In this episode of the Adoption Journey podcast, host Tarcia Smith interviews Rob Scheer, a remarkable individual who shares his journey from foster care to becoming a successful author and advocate for children in the system. Rob discusses his early experiences in foster care, the importance of education and support from teachers, and the challenges faced by children in the foster care system. He emphasizes the significance of unconditional love in parenting, shares insights on adoption, and highlights the work of Comfort Cases, an organization he founded to provide support for children in foster care. Rob's story is one of resilience, hope, and the power of community.

As Fostering Change continues through Season 7, this episode dives into an urgent but often unseen issue: menstrual and postpartum poverty, and how it impacts girls in foster care and communities around the world.Rob Scheer sits down with Yvonne Esipila Patron, Co-Founder and CEO of the PATESI Foundation, an organization working globally to ensure women and girls have the dignity, resources, and education they deserve.In 2025, Comfort Cases and PATESI began a powerful partnership to make sure no girl entering foster care faces her first night without essential menstrual supplies. Through this collaboration, PATESI donates up to 10,000 emergency menstrual kits each year, included in Comfort Cases® backpacks for girls ages eight and up — providing dignity, protection, and confidence during moments of deep transition.Together, Rob and Yvonne unpack why menstrual poverty remains invisible, why postpartum poverty continues long after childbirth, and why involving men and boys is key to ending stigma and driving real change.Episode Highlights• The global impact of menstrual poverty and why it's rarely discussed• How entering foster care can make menstruation even more stressful for young girls• What the Comfort Cases × PATESI partnership delivers each year• Why postpartum poverty deserves national attention• How male allyship strengthens long-term solutionsAbout the GuestYvonne Esipila Patron is the Co-Founder and CEO of the PATESI Foundation, a global nonprofit dedicated to ending menstrual and postpartum poverty. With a background in public health and sustainable development, she has spent her career advancing reproductive health equity, youth empowerment, and community-driven solutions.Connect with PATESI

As Fostering Change continues into the new year, this episode tackles one of the most urgent issues facing child welfare today: the national shortage of foster parents and what it means for children who need safe, stable homes.Rob Scheer is joined by Kelsey Davis, National Director of Foster Parent Recruitment, and Stacy Brindley, National Treatment Director at StepStone Family & Youth Services. Together, they explore why fewer families are stepping forward, how misconceptions about fostering hinder progress, and why supporting foster parents is essential to better outcomes for children.With more than 343,000 children in foster care and fewer than 200,000 licensed foster homes nationwide, this conversation goes beyond the numbers. Kelsey and Stacy share how StepStone approaches recruitment differently, centers trauma-informed care, and treats the entire family as part of the healing process.Episode HighlightsThis episode explores why the foster parent shortage continues to grow and how it directly impacts children who need consistency and belonging. The discussion challenges common myths about fostering, explains why recruitment messaging must change, and emphasizes that strong outcomes depend on strong support for foster parents.Listeners also hear why trauma-informed care must include the whole family, not just the child, and how communities can get involved with StepStone through volunteering, respite support, and national initiatives beyond fostering.As Rob notes, “We must get more qualified families to support our youth in foster care.” And as Kelsey reminds us, fostering works best when families know they are not doing it alone.About the GuestsKelsey Davis is the National Director of Foster Parent Recruitment at StepStone Family & Youth Services. A former Title I educator with an MBA in Marketing, she leads national strategies to recruit, train, and retain foster families through people-centered, community-driven outreach.Stacy Brindley is StepStone's National Treatment Director and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with nearly 30 years of experience. She has worked across residential treatment, therapeutic foster care, independent living, and in-home services, and now leads trauma-informed and evidence-based practices nationwide.Learn MoreWebsite: https://www.stepstoneyouth.com/

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

In this powerful episode, Rob Scheer sits down with Lindsay Lendyak, South Carolina State Director for Isaiah 117 House, to talk about one of the most overlooked moments in foster care: Removal Day.Instead of children waiting for hours in government offices, Isaiah 117 House creates a warm, home-like space where kids can exhale, eat a meal, change into clean clothes, and feel safe while caseworkers find placement. Lindsay shares why this model is a true game changer for children, foster families, and social workers alike, and how South Carolina is rapidly expanding its footprint.What You Will Hear in This Episode* What Removal Day really looks like, and why so many youth remember it as the hardest day of their lives* How Isaiah 117 House replaces a cold, adult-centered setting with comfort, dignity, and stability* The heart of the model: trauma-informed volunteers providing steady, calm presence during a chaotic moment* How community support builds a stronger system around children and the professionals serving them* South Carolina growth updates, including York County and new houses coming soonQuotes to Highlight* Lindsay on why this matters: “Nearly all of them recount removal day as the worst day of their lives.”* Lindsay on the mission: “We can fix how foster care begins for our kids.”* Lindsay on what kids experience at Isaiah 117 House: “It's a yes… For a kid who's lived a life of nos, that is a game changer.”* Lindsay on why the system needs community: “Every single person should help a child in foster care. Full stop.”South Carolina Updates* York County opened September 2025* Greenville County expected to open early spring 2026* Horry County fundraising begins February 2026* Lexington County kickoff coming early 2026Why This Episode MattersThis conversation is a reminder that children enter foster care because of choices other people made, and that the first hours of care should not add trauma. Isaiah 117 House proves that a better beginning is possible, and it starts with community saying yes to dignity.Links and Ways to ConnectMain Website: https://isaiah117house.com/York County Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/isaiah117houseyorkcoscYork County Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isaiah117houseyorkcoscLinkTrees:York County: https://linktr.ee/isaiah117houseyorkcoscGreenville County: https://linktr.ee/isaiah117housegreenvillescHorry County: https://linktr.ee/isaiah117househorrycosc

As Fostering Change continues into the new year, this episode tackles one of the most urgent — and evolving — challenges facing young people today: staying safe, informed, and supported in a digital world.Rob Scheer is joined by Jenny Coleman, a nationally recognized expert in child welfare and abuse prevention, and a former foster parent whose work is grounded in both professional expertise and lived experience.Jenny serves as Director of Stop It Now!, a national organization focused on preventing child sexual abuse through education and early intervention. She also leads What's OK?, a first-of-its-kind online platform and free helpline where teens and young adults can anonymously ask questions about relationships, boundaries, sexting, consent, and online behavior — without fear or shame.In this conversation, Jenny helps parents, caregivers, and educators better understand how to talk with young people about tough topics — especially as AI-generated and non-consensual images become an increasing form of peer-driven harm.Episode HighlightsYouth Safety in the Digital AgeHow sexting, cyberbullying, and online exploitation are changing — and what adults need to know.New & Alarming TrendsWhy recent data shows a sharp rise in AI-generated inappropriate images targeting teens, most often created and shared by peers.What's OK?How this research-backed platform empowers youth ages 14–21 to ask honest questions and get reliable guidance.What Caregivers Can DoPractical steps for parents and caregivers, including how to respond, stay connected, and support youth without judgment.A Foster Care PerspectiveWhy trauma-informed, prevention-focused conversations are especially critical for foster and adopted youth.About Jenny ColemanJenny Coleman, MA, LMHC, has spent more than 30 years working in child welfare as a clinician, educator, and prevention advocate. She is the Director of Stop It Now! and leads What's OK?, an innovative online resource for youth navigating questions about sexual behavior, consent, and boundaries. A former foster parent and longtime foster care trainer, Jenny brings a compassionate, prevention-centered approach to keeping young people safe.ResourcesStop It Now!: www.stopitnow.orgWhat's OK?: www.whatsok.org✨ Why This Episode MattersThis episode is a reminder that prevention starts with conversation. When young people have access to trustworthy information — and adults willing to listen without judgment — safety and resilience follow.

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

Happy New Year from all of us at Fostering Change! We hope you had a joyful holiday season filled with rest, connection, and moments that centered what matters most. As we step into 2026 together, we're excited to continue bringing you meaningful conversations that uplift, educate, and inspire. Season 7 is already shaping up to be one of our most impactful yet — and we're thrilled to kick off the year with today's guest.

As we close out an extraordinary year of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer welcomes Becky Santoro, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Foster Village Charlotte — a nonprofit reshaping foster care by focusing on the people raising and supporting children every day: foster, kinship, and birth families.A former educator and foster parent herself, Becky witnessed firsthand how overwhelmed and isolated caregivers can feel. She also saw something powerful: children thrive when the adults caring for them are supported, equipped, and connected. That realization led her to co-found Foster Village Charlotte in 2018 — a community-driven model that has since expanded nationwide through a growing network of Foster Village affiliates.Today, Becky and her team not only serve families across the Charlotte region, but also coach and mentor emerging affiliates across the U.S., helping communities build their own “village” of wraparound care. From practical resources to emotional connection to dignified, trauma-informed visitation spaces, Foster Village is reimagining what it means to care for children by caring for the caregivers who love them.

As we head into Christmas week, Fostering Change brings you an extraordinary story of resilience, determination, and transformation.Rob Scheer is joined by Carolyn Aronson, founder and CEO of It's A 10 Haircare — one of the most successful Latina-owned beauty brands in the world.Carolyn's journey began in foster care, where she learned independence, grit, and perseverance at a young age. From those early experiences, she built a career as a hairstylist and salon owner before creating a single product that would change the beauty industry forever. Today, It's A 10 Haircare is a billion-dollar global brand, selling more than 10 million bottles annually in over 130 countries, and inspiring a new generation of entrepreneurs.Beyond her business success, Carolyn is a devoted philanthropist whose generosity supports foster care organizations, youth empowerment, LGBTQ+ advocacy, disaster relief efforts, and workforce development programs. Her message is simple yet powerful: success isn't measured only by what you build — but by how you give back.In this inspiring conversation, Rob and Carolyn explore how her time in foster care shaped her vision, the creation and growth of an iconic global brand, and why purpose and philanthropy remain central to her work.In this episode, Rob and Carolyn discuss:How Carolyn's early experiences in foster care fueled her ambition and compassionThe creation and explosive growth of It's A 10 HaircareBuilding a billion-dollar company rooted in authenticity, quality, and empowermentHigh-profile collaborations with DJ Khaled, Fat Joe, Travis Kelce, Tyson Beckford, and moreHer commitment to philanthropy — from pandemic aid to wildfire relief to youth empowermentThe upcoming 20th anniversary of It's A 10 in 2026Carolyn's forthcoming book on beauty, confidence, and perseveranceAbout Carolyn AronsonCarolyn Aronson is a self-made Latina billionaire, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. After navigating the foster care system, she built It's A 10 Haircare into a global beauty powerhouse now valued at over $1 billion. Her Rewind It 10 men's line has earned national attention through celebrity collaborations, and she has donated millions in products and funding to causes nationwide. Carolyn continues to inspire through her message of grit, generosity, and reinvention.Connect with Carolyn:

As we move deeper into the holiday season, Fostering Change continues to shine a light on the small acts of kindness that create powerful, lasting impact. This week, Rob Scheer sits down with his longtime friend Luke Mickelson, founder of Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP) — a nonprofit built on one simple mission: “No kid sleeps on the floor in our town.”What started in 2012, when Luke built a single bed for a family in need, has grown into a global movement. Today, SHP has 400+ chapters across 46 states and 4 countries, and has delivered nearly 300,000 beds to children who would otherwise be sleeping on the floor.As Luke shares:“When I found out a child was sleeping on a pile of clothes, it changed me. I realized I could sit there and do nothing, or I could get my feet on the ground and build another bed.”SHP empowers communities to take action by building beds locally, training new chapters, and helping neighbors come together through service — proving that every community can solve this issue in its own backyard.In this episode, Rob and Luke discuss:How one small idea grew into a global movementThe often unseen crisis of child bedlessnessSHP's “Humans Helping Humans” approach to volunteerismWhat it takes to start a chapter in your own communityWhy staying focused on a simple mission fuels sustainable growthLuke's story is a powerful reminder that transformative change often begins with a single decision to help someone else.

This week on Fostering Change, Rob Scheer is joined by Dionna Carter, founder of the Foster Teen Christmas Outreach, an initiative that began in 2019 and has now raised more than $1.3 million in gift cards for teens in foster care. As Dionna explains, “Teens are often forgotten during the holidays — everyone wants to buy toys for the little kids, but teens also want to feel included and seen.”What started with one county has grown into a statewide movement, driven by simple generosity and community partnership. Each year, thousands of youth receive gift cards that offer dignity, autonomy, and a reminder that their community cares.Dionna also leads the Foster Hope Holiday Fest, happening Sunday, December 7 in Columbus, Ohio — a resource fair designed to support youth preparing to age out of foster care. “We wanted to be a bridge,” Dionna shares, “because so many teens lose support networks as they age out. This event shows them that help is available.”In this episode, Rob and Dionna discuss:How a small idea grew into a statewide giving movementWhy gift cards matter for teens in foster care during the holidaysThe impact of the Foster Hope Holiday Fest and how the community can participateHow listeners anywhere can start similar outreach efforts in their own countiesDionna's message is simple and powerful: “Even if you impact one youth, it is so worth it.”Learn More & Support:Foster Hope Holiday Fest – December 7, Columbus, OH https://onedotchurch.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/3054175Website: www.dionnacarter.comInstagram: @FlyAndShyyyFacebook: Dionna CarterLinkedIn: Dionna Carter

As we close out National Adoption Awareness Month, Fostering Change honors the advocates, parents, and changemakers who work to ensure every child waiting in foster care finds a permanent, loving family.This week, host Rob Scheer welcomes back Marcy Bursac, nationally recognized adoption advocate, author, podcast host, and adoptive mom. After adopting siblings from foster care, Marcy founded The Forgotten Adoption Option, developed free tools used by over 12,000 prospective parents, and launched a national reading program to help normalize adoption conversations in schools.Her new book, It's Okay to Talk About Adoption, invites people to open their hearts and conversations—because when we talk about adoption, we help waiting children find families faster.In this episode, Rob and Marcy explore:Why conversations matter“There are more than 100,000 children in U.S. foster care waiting for adoption—and many adults do not know adoption from foster care is often free. Awareness can change outcomes.”The Forgotten Adoption OptionHow her nonprofit breaks down barriers and helps families navigate adoption with clarity and confidence.Her new book“We need to give people permission to talk about adoption—without fear, stigma, or shame.”Marcy's message is powerful:“Every time someone starts a conversation about adoption, a waiting child or sibling group moves one step closer to a permanent family.”Book Release UpdateIt's Okay to Talk About Adoption is now available in audiobook and eBook formats. Paperback pre-orders are open through January 15, 2026.Purchase links:Kindle: https://bit.ly/4oDvifpBookBaby: https://store.bookbaby.com/book/it%E2%80%99s-okay-to-talk-about-adoptionAudiobook available on Apple Books, Google Play, Chirp, eStories, Hoopla, OverDrive, and Everand.Learn MoreWebsite: www.forgottenadoptionoption.orgInstagram: @marcybursac | @forgottenadoptionoptionAfter listening, please like, comment, and share our podcast. Your support helps expand the conversation and bring awareness to the thousands of children waiting in foster care.As we conclude National Adoption Awareness Month, we invite you to keep talking—in your homes, schools, and communities. Every conversation helps move a child closer to belonging.New episodes release every Tuesday. Questions, comments, or guest suggestions: dthalberg@comfortcases.orgThank you for listening and for being a good human.

As Fostering Change continues our celebration of National Adoption Awareness Month, we're highlighting the voices reshaping what adoption looks like in America—and making it more equitable, inclusive, and accessible for all families.This week, host Rob Scheer sits down with Becky Fawcett, founder of Helpusadopt.org, a national nonprofit adoption grant program helping thousands of families overcome the financial barriers to adoption. What began in Becky's New York City apartment in 2007 has grown into a multimillion-dollar organization that has transformed countless lives—and this month, Helpusadopt.org celebrates its 18th anniversary.Becky's own adoption journey—welcoming her daughters Jane and Brooke—inspired a lifelong commitment to changing a system that makes building a family so difficult for so many. Her mission is simple and powerful: every child deserves a loving, permanent home, and no parent should be prevented from adopting because of cost.In this inspiring conversation, Rob and Becky discuss:• The personal story behind Helpusadopt.org—and how one mother's vision became a national movement for adoption equality.• The staggering financial realities of adoption and how these costs prevent too many children from finding homes.• What it means for Helpusadopt.org to reach its 18-year milestone—and how its impact continues to grow across all 50 states.• The importance of inclusion and diversity in adoption: “Love makes a family—not money, not zip codes, not who you love or where you come from.”• How you can help ensure that more families can adopt—and that every child waiting for a home has the chance to thrive.Becky's story reminds us that changing the world doesn't always start in a boardroom. Sometimes, it begins at a kitchen table—fueled by love, determination, and the belief that every child deserves a family.

Welcome to the first episode of Fostering Change for National Adoption Awareness Month—a month dedicated to celebrating families formed through adoption and raising awareness of the thousands of children still waiting for their forever homes. As we move toward National Adoption Day on November 22, we'll be sharing special conversations all month long.We also invite you to visit comfortcases.org to explore how Comfort Cases is celebrating this important month through meaningful partnerships and programs—including our 2nd Annual “Coats for Comfort” Coat Drive, ensuring every child in foster care has warmth, dignity, and hope this winter.Today, our host Rob Scheer welcomes back one of our favorite guests, Peter Mutabazi—author, speaker, and founder of Now I Am Known. Many of you know Peter as the “Foster Dad Flipper,” a man who has opened his home and heart to more than 40 foster children and adopted three. He joins us again to talk about his brand-new book, Love Does Not Conquer All, a raw and beautiful reflection on the realities of foster care, parenting children with trauma, and learning that love—while powerful—is only the beginning.In this deeply moving episode, Rob and Peter discuss:How to love children for who they truly are, not who we hope they'll become.Why every child needs at least one adult they can call, depend on, and trust.How to prepare kids for independence by teaching life skills—“Every foster parent should give their kids the tools to survive when they're on their own: laundry, banking, cooking, confidence.”The importance of empathy and connection—“Empathy isn't in our DNA,” Rob shares. “It must be taught.”Peter's wish for the system: “I wish I could foster a family before a child is taken—mentor parents the way we mentor kids. Imagine the change if we did for parents what we do in foster care.”How to handle the heartbreak of goodbyes when a child leaves your home: “Be the uncle. Stay in their life. Don't disappear.”This conversation reminds us that parenting, in all its forms, is an act of courage, consistency, and unconditional care. And don't miss the end—there's a heart-warming surprise you'll want to experience for yourself.

Advisory: This episode includes sensitive discussion about addiction, family estrangement, and emotional loss.This week on Fostering Change, host Rob Scheer welcomes back two dear friends — Julie and David Bulitt — for one of the most personal and moving conversations of the season. Rob and his husband Reece have known the Bulitts for many years, and their honesty, humor, and heart have made them audience favorites.Julie is a licensed clinical social worker with more than 30 years of experience in family therapy, and David is a leading family-law attorney in the D.C. metro area who has spent decades helping parents and children navigate painful transitions. Together, they've raised four daughters, built nearly 40 years of marriage, co-authored two acclaimed books (The Five Core Conversations for Couples and Secrets of Strong Couples), and co-host the podcast Conversations for Couples.In this emotional and thought-provoking episode, Rob, Julie, and David explore what it means to lose a child while they're still alive — to addiction, estrangement, or emotional distance — and how families can begin to heal.Topics discussed include:* Ambiguous loss: Grieving a child who is still living and learning to coexist with that pain.* Addiction and family systems: How substance use can fracture relationships, redefine love, and challenge every parent's hope.* Parenting through heartbreak: “We can love our children fiercely and still have to let go,” Julie shares. “Healing doesn't mean forgetting — it means finding peace with what is.”* Balancing love and self-protection: “You reach a point where love also means protecting yourself and your family from chaos,” David reflects.* Hope beyond the silence: Grace, therapy, and community as pathways to reconnection.This episode is a testament to honesty, empathy, and the complicated beauty of parenthood. If you or someone you love is struggling with a similar loss, may this conversation offer comfort and understanding.

⚠️ Advisory: This episode includes discussion of child abuse and family trauma.Welcome to this week's episode of Fostering Change, where host Rob Scheer speaks with Susan Chesnutt — a family law attorney, child welfare advocate, and former foster youth based in Vero Beach, Florida.Susan's journey is one of resilience and purpose. After growing up in the foster care system, she became a child abuse investigator for Florida's Department of Children and Families (DCF), then earned her law degree and founded The Chesnutt Law Firm, focusing exclusively on child welfare and family law. She also hosts the podcast From Foster Care to Family Law: A Child Welfare Focus, where she and her guests unpack the toughest issues facing families today.In this powerful conversation, Rob and Susan explore:✅ Lived experience as a foundation for advocacy.“I know what it's like to feel powerless in a system that's supposed to protect you. That's why I fight so hard to make sure every child—and every parent—has a voice.”✅ What really happens inside a DCF investigation.Susan breaks down the process from the inside, reminding families that “you have rights, even when it feels like you don't.”✅ Why empathy matters in family law.Her trauma-informed approach prioritizes safety, healing, and understanding over blame.✅ A call for systemic change.“We can't fix the child welfare system until we start valuing families instead of labeling them. Real reform begins with compassion.”Susan's unique perspective—combining lived experience, government service, and legal advocacy—shows how justice and empathy must go hand in hand.

CONTENT WARNING: ADULT/DISTURBING THEMES — ABUSE & VIOLENCEWelcome to this week's episode of Fostering Change. Our host, Rob Scheer, sits down with an extraordinary guest — Baron Li, co-owner of Four Tiers Contracting and founder of the CKMD Army.Baron's journey is one of unimaginable pain, resilience, and redemption. A former foster youth who endured 17 placements and severe childhood abuse — including being burned with a clothing iron and cigarettes at just three years old — Baron later survived an attempted murder-for-hire plot that left him shot nine times. Yet, through it all, he transformed trauma into purpose.Today, Baron is building homes and hope through Four Tiers Contracting, employing and mentoring aged-out foster youth, and expanding CKMD Army — a nationwide movement uniting the foster care community with a 50-state resource network.In this powerful and emotional conversation, Rob and Baron discuss:How a childhood marked by violence and instability shaped Baron's mission to help others rebuild their livesHis incredible survival story: “I was shot nine times, left for dead — but I chose not to be a victim. I chose to live, to forgive, and to give back.”How Four Tiers Contracting provides aged-out foster youth with steady employment, mentorship, and a pathway to independenceThe vision behind CKMD Army (Can't Keep Me Down) — a 50-state foster care resource network empowering youth, families, and advocates nationwideWhy Baron believes resilience is forged through service — and that “purpose is the only thing stronger than pain.”Baron Li's story is a testament to the human spirit — proof that even after the darkest moments, there is light. Trauma can shape us, but it never has to define who we become.

This week on Fostering Change, host Rob Scheer welcomes Tracey Heisler, Executive Director of CASA of Somerset, Hunterdon, and Warren Counties (CASA SHaW) in New Jersey.CASA—Court Appointed Special Advocates—ensures that children in the child welfare system have a voice in the courtroom and access to the support they need to thrive.With nearly two decades of leadership at CASA SHaW, Tracey shares:

Welcome to a special Best of Edition of Fostering Change! Originally aired during National Foster Care Awareness Month, this powerful conversation is worth revisiting.In this episode, host Rob Scheer sits down with the incredible Charell Star—author, speaker, and foster care advocate. Many first discovered Charell through her moving feature in Humans of New York. Now she returns to share wisdom from her brilliant new book, Trash Bag Tales and Other Stories from an Accidentally Happy Life.Her story is raw, funny, and deeply empowering—proving that resilience, joy, and self-discovery can grow from even the hardest beginnings.

Welcome to this week's episode of Fostering Change, hosted by Rob Scheer.

What started with one simple question—“What can I do with my old bras?”—turned into a global movement.