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PODCAST

The Foster Friendly Podcast

Courtney Williams, Brian Mavis, Travis Vangsnes

Welcome to The Foster Friendly Podcast. We’re bringing foster care closer to home by sharing stories from the front lines. We"re talking with former foster youth, foster parents and others who are finding unique and powerful ways to dramatically improve the experiences and outcomes for kids in foster care. The Foster Friendly podcast is brought to you by America’s Kids Belong, a nonprofit that helps kids in foster care find belonging in both family and community.

kids & family parenting

All Episodes

33:36

How One Colorado Church Is Loving Its Neighbors in...

The Foster Friendly Podcast ·

2024/10/09

In this episode, Pastor Buddy Sampson discusses the importance of foster care from a church perspective and the biblical mandate to care for orphans. He shares how his church, Overland Durango, meets the requirements to be a foster-friendly faith community by teaching about foster care, supporting foster families, and providing trauma sensitivity training. Pastor Buddy also talks about the connection between aging out of foster care and homelessness, emphasizing the need for adoptive love

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41:45

It’s Never Too Late to Bring Your Gifts and...

The Foster Friendly Podcast ·

2024/10/02

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

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41:12

Caseworker Shares Valuable Insights on All Things...

The Foster Friendly Podcast ·

2024/09/25

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

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37:22

What It’s Like Being a Teenager in Foster Care with...

The Foster Friendly Podcast ·

2024/09/18

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

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35:57

Inspiring Lessons From Sound of Hope: The Story of...

The Foster Friendly Podcast ·

2024/09/11

In this lively conversation, hosts Brian, Travis, and Courtney discuss the movie 'Sound of Hope' and its portrayal of a church in Possum Trot, Texas, that adopted 77 kids. They share their personal reactions to the movie and highlight the importance of understanding the context and time period in which the story takes place. They discuss the need for trauma-informed training and support for foster and adoptive families within churches. They also emphasize the significance of creating a

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46:56

Couple Shares Their Journey of Fostering Kids With...

The Foster Friendly Podcast ·

2024/09/04

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

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35:09

Leading Foster Care Expert Shares Powerful Stories...

The Foster Friendly Podcast ·

2024/08/28

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

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48:55

From Foster Care to PhD: Overcoming Education Hurdles...

The Foster Friendly Podcast ·

2024/08/21

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

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49:02

What’s Behind the Foster Care to Prison Pipeline?...

The Foster Friendly Podcast ·

2024/08/14

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

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27:17

A Critical Need for Fostering and Adopting Siblings...

The Foster Friendly Podcast ·

2024/08/07

Tina gives her testimony of being in the foster care system then being adopted. She is able to discuss what she had to go through during her time in foster care and her experience of recovering from the effects of being in foster care after being adopted. Tina elaborates on the issues of reciprocal adoption of siblings and the role she played as a mother figure in her brother’s life. She also talks about what led her to return to foster care as an adult and speak for those children who are

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51:06

Empty Nester Adopts Seven Siblings After Tragedy...

The Foster Friendly Podcast ·

2024/07/31

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

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34:33

Foster Friendly Communities Providing Huge Support to...

The Foster Friendly Podcast ·

2024/07/24

Nanette Kirsch, as the executive director of marketing and communications for America's Kids Belong (AKB), details her experience in tech marketing that contributed to spearheading AKB's marketing strategy. She delves into the idea of foster-friendly communities— underscoring that community support is vital to foster families. The discussion doesn't end there; it also sheds light on the Foster Friendly app. This innovative app bridges foster families with supportive entities: businesses,

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38:12

Advocating for Older Children in Foster Care with...

The Foster Friendly Podcast ·

2024/07/17

The latest episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast is spent with Barry Farmer. He is not only an adoptive father but a strong voice for foster care and adoption advocacy. Barry walks us through his personal narrative — a tale of being raised under kinship care and later becoming a foster parent at quite a young age. Barry and hosts, Travis and Courtney, all represent transracial adoptive families and talk about their unique experiences and observations in this space, sharing a few laughs

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49:05

The Foster Friendly Podcast Pilot

The Foster Friendly Podcast ·

2024/06/17

Welcome to The Foster Friendly Podcast. We’re bringing foster care closer to home by sharing stories from the front lines. We're talking with former foster youth, foster parents and others who are finding unique and powerful ways to dramatically improve the experiences and outcomes for kids in foster care.The Foster Friendly podcast is brought to you by America’s Kids Belong, a nonprofit that helps kids in foster care find belonging in both family and community.

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74 results

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