A Fostered Life Podcast

Ep 6: Adopted at 20—A Conversation with Brittney

One of the things I’ve noticed over the years is that, while I have a lot to learn from other, more experienced foster parents, mental health professionals, books, etc., the people who have taught me more than anything about how to be a good foster parent or foster caregiver if you prefer is children who are or were in foster care. The kids who have come and gone from our home as well as adults who are former foster youth have taught me more than anyone about what it’s like for kids in foster care and what they need most from those of us who step in to care for them when they are in trauma or transition. One of the things I love about this podcast is that it’s giving me a chance to connect with people like today’s guest—former foster youth who are willing to share from their experiences in order to help foster parents like me do a better job caring for our kids.

Brittney entered foster care when she was 16, but her journey with the department of child services and CPS started way before that—years earlier. Brittney spent most of her childhood bouncing around between friends and family members, going from school to school (or sometimes not going to school at all), experiencing many forms of trauma and violence, before finally entering foster care as a teen. When she did, she landed in a home where her life changed dramatically for the better. As I listened to Brittney, I noticed a theme that comes up over and over when I hear from former foster youth, and that theme is presence. What foster youth need more than anything else when their own parents are unable or unwilling to care for them is a caring adult who is consistently present—someone who is there for them through thick and thin and able to give unconditional love and patient guidance. 

It’s so important for us foster parents to hear from those who have lived through the system. So with that, here’s my conversation with Brittney.

For more information and resources for foster parents, please visit afosteredlife.com, where you’ll find blog posts, youtube videos, and social media links so you can connect with others on the foster parenting journey.

If you’re interested in supporting my work at A Fostered Life, please go my Patreon page, where you can become a patron. Just one dollar a month helps offset the cost of producing these resources and enables me to offer them freely to new and prospective foster parents, and I’m grateful for the support of my patrons.

Thanks for listening and thanks for caring about foster care.

Ep 5: Back to School with Ernest Henderson, Jr.

Welcome to A Fostered Life, the show in which we explore the various facets of foster care through the voices of the many people who participate in the system. I’m your host, Christy Tennant Krispin, and this is episode five. 

 

It’s back to school time, and for youth in foster care, that can either be a really good thing or a really, really hard thing (or a bit of both.) Today I’m speaking with Ernest Henderson, Associate Director of Eastern Washington Education Programs at Treehouse. Ernest not only brings the professional insights of someone who devotes his career to helping foster youth succeed in school, but he also brings a background of being a former foster youth and a former foster parent. In this episode we discuss some of the ways a foster parent can support their child in school, how to navigate communicating with your child’s teachers and school personnel, and tips for preparing your foster youth to succeed in a new school. We also touched on positive discipline for youth in foster care and ways to empower and encourage our kids. Ernest mentioned a few things for foster parents to learn more about, including the Every Student Succeeds Act, and I’ve included several helpful links in the shownotes for this episode—so be sure to check those out. I really appreciated what Ernest had to share, and I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did! 

 

Links discussed in this conversation include:

Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

ESSA At a Glance—What You Need to Know

Treehouse for Kids

Treehouse Educational Advocacy

 

Contact Ernest Henderson, Jr:

ernest.henderson@treehouseforkids.org

 

For more information and resources for foster parents, please visit afosteredlife.com, where you’ll find blog posts, youtube videos, and social media links so you can connect with others on the foster parenting journey.

If you’re interested in supporting my work at A Fostered Life, please go my Patreon page, where you can become a patron. Just one dollar a month helps offset the cost of producing these resources and enables me to offer them freely to new and prospective foster parents, and I’m grateful for the support of my patrons.

Thanks for listening and thanks for caring about foster care.

Ep 4: Trauma Informed Parenting: A Conversation with Therapist Dena Johnson

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Episode 4

 

Today I'm speaking with Dena Johnson, an adoptive mother and trauma and attachment therapist who focuses her practice on counseling foster and adoptive families. The first time I heard Dena speak was at a conference for foster and adoptive parents several years ago. I was really struggling with some of the challenges of being a caregiver for children with a background of trauma, and I was so grateful for her honest, down-to-earth, approachable and hopeful tone and helpful practical insights for parents and caregivers. Dena shares really informative content about trauma-informed parenting on her Facebook Page at Dena Johnson Counseling, and today I asked Dena to talk a bit about what she would say to her younger self with the benefit of years of experience and hindsight. Dena offers transparency and vulnerability, letting us know we are not alone when we’re facing challenges and struggles as we seek to serve our children with compassion and empathy. She’s been a real blessing to me, and I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. 

 

For more resources for foster parents, including videos, articles, recommended resources, and more, visit www.afosteredlife.com.

Ep 3: Helping Teens in Care Launch Successfully—A Conversations with Alex and Jesse from Treehouse

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Episode 3

In 1988, a group of DSHS social workers grew tired of seeing the deprivation often faced by children in foster care. They started purchasing the little things needed to help children feel loved and capable—things like birthday presents and school supplies—funded by community bake sales and car washes.

That little band of dedicated social workers evolved into what is known today in the state of Washington as Treehouse, an organization that helps more than 7,000 youth in foster care each year. Offering programs that focus on academic success, fulfilling key material needs and providing the important childhood experiences every child deserves are the focus of this organization, and in 2012, Treehouse embarked on a bold and ambitious goal to address the alarmingly high high school dropout rate among youth in foster care. Treehouse has acquired a track record of success in helping youth in foster care thrive, and today it’s my pleasure to be speaking with two of Treehouse’s finest team members: Launch Success Coach Alex Cornell and PR Specialist Jesse Colman.

For more resources for foster parents, including videos, articles, recommended resources, and more, visit www.afosteredlife.com.

Ep 2: Open Your Heart (and Home!) to Teens in Foster Care—A Conversation with Lacey

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Episode 2:

Lacey entered foster care for the first time when she was six months old. After spending her entire childhood in and out of foster care, including attending thirteen (!!!) different elementary schools, Lacey was adopted just two weeks shy of her eighteenth birthday. Today, she is a wife and mother who is thriving in her forever family.

Oh, and she and her husband just became licensed as foster parents, too!

In this episode of A Fostered Life, Lacey and Christy chat about some of Lacey's experience as a foster youth, how she ended up being adopted, and what her relationship with her adoptive family is like now, twelve years later. 

If you are hesitant about fostering teens, I know that listening to what Lacey has to say will inspire you to reconsider. There is so much to be gained by giving a teenager in foster care the security and love of a forever family and watching them heal over time. 

 

For more resources for foster parents from A Fostered Life, visit www.afosteredlife.com.

Ep 1: From Foster Youth to Foster Parent—A Conversation with Amber M. Jewell

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Episode 1:

As a licensed master social worker, previous youth in foster care and current foster parent, Amber Jewell has a unique perspective on the foster care system and how it affects youth. In this inaugural episode of A Fostered Life, Amber sheds light on how being part of the system can affect youth in care, and she gives some helpful input on what teens in care need in order to thrive as they move into adulthood.

Despite the hardships that come in life, Amber believes in the power of any individual, at any age to make positive changes, impact others and improve their phase of life. She has confidence in the ability of professionals to plant many seeds in the lives of those they serve, and she offers her input in this podcast to help foster parents grow and gain insight and skills in order to better serve the children in our care.

To learn more about Amber or invite her to share her remarkable and inspirational story with your organization, visit her web site (www.ambermjewell.com).

For more resources for foster parents from A Fostered Life, visit www.afosteredlife.com.

Introducing A Fostered Life Podcast!

Welcome to A Fostered Life, the show in which we explore the various facets of foster care through the voices of the many people who participate in the system. Host Christy Tennant Krispin interviews former foster youth, social workers, foster parents, therapists, and others, and these conversations provide personal glimpses at the challenges and triumphs of families whose lives intersect with foster care.

For foster parent resources from A Fostered Life, including videos, blog posts, and The Flourishing Foster Parent support community, please visit www.afosteredlife.com. (You can also leave feedback about the podcast there!)