Foster Carolinas – Details, episodes & analysis

Walking in Her Shoes

In this conversation, Aaliyah Drake shares her experiences growing up in foster care and the impact it has had on her life. She reflects on her childhood, the importance of family dynamics, and the role of faith in her journey. Aaliyah offers insights for foster parents on how to create a welcoming environment for children in care and provides advice for foster kids on navigating their experiences. The discussion highlights the significance of community support and the potential for personal growth despite challenging backgrounds. 🕒 New episode drops every Monday 📺 Watch the full conversation on YouTube 🎧 Listen on all major podcast platforms Join us for this moving conversation that bridges understanding and inspires change.

Walking in Her Shoes

This week on PERSPECTIVES, Aaliyah Drake opens her heart and shares her powerful journey through the foster care system – from the moment she was taken into care to how those experiences shaped who she is today.

Raw. Honest. Unforgettable.

Aaliyah's story reminds us why these conversations matter. Her perspective as a former foster youth offers invaluable insights that every foster parent, social worker, and advocate needs to hear.

"These aren't just stories – they're lived experiences that can help shape a better future for foster youth."

🕒 New episodes drop every Monday 📺 Watch on YouTube 🎧 Listen on all major podcast platforms

Join us for this moving conversation that bridges understanding and inspires change.

Today we are excited to present this episode we recorded with our fantastic friends and generous donors, Joey and Brittany Logano from the Joey Logano Foundation! You are able to hear their heart behind their partnership and support of organizations that are serving children in foster care. If you have heard us talk about Bridge Camp on here, you can thank the Logano's for their partnership in making that happen each year.

These two help us see where a big platform can be used for so much good. To make everyday operations happen around here, it takes funds and resources, and this couple help provide those funds and resources. Is this the area you can also step into to help those affected by foster care? I know you will be inspired by listening in.

The Joey Logano Foundation is hosting a charity concert on Thursday, May 25 in Charlotte, NC! You can visit this link to find out more details on how to join them in this endeavor for good: https://joeyloganofoundation.com/joey-logano-concert-for-charity-at-coyote-joes/

THANKS FOR LISTENING!

Follow along with us on:

Instagram: @lotcarolinas

Facebook: Least of These Carolinas

AND visit our website:

www.lotcarolinas.com

Listen in today to hear our host, Susanna Kavanaugh, talk to Pastor Ray Hardee from The Pointe Church about how and why he is so passionate and involved in the foster care crisis. This friendship between these two and the partnership between LOTC and The Pointe go way back. It is helpful and beneficial to know there are churches out there that see a need and make strides in helping fulfill that need.

Pastor Ray helps us see there are very basic, noncommital steps we can take at first that leads to understanding and then a desire to get involved in this world in some capacity. The "big C" Church has the answer to the foster care crisis, and we enjoyed talking strategy and heart today on this topic.

THANKS FOR LISTENING!

Follow along with us on:

Instagram: @lotcarolinas

Facebook: Least of These Carolinas

AND visit our website:

www.lotcarolinas.com

Join us for the first episode in our new series, "Who is Helping?" Rebekah and Abbey are Least of These Carolinas' own and they take you through the core questions that will be asked throughout the series to all of our guests. In this episode, they answer the questions for themselves and relive some of the fun, challenging, and heart-warming stories they have experienced through their years working/volunteering in the world of foster care.

As we continue this series, we want you to see all of the avenues that are available in serving and advocating for children experiencing foster care. There is no one route to making a difference in the foster care system. Join us through this series and see the possible ways you can support and get involved!

THANKS FOR LISTENING!

Follow along with us on:

Facebook: Least of These Carolinas

Instagram: @lotcarolinas

AND visit our website:

www.lotcarolinas.com

This week we brought questions to Susanna that are from friends who do not have background in the world of foster care. We took questions straight from those who want to know more, but have not had experience with foster care up close. We have had a great time in this series of laying a foundation of "basic" knowledge so we can all move forward with a basis of understanding.

We hope you reflect back on what has been talked about over the last 2 months and have that basis of understanding on things like acronyms, licensing agencies, and why children are in foster care. This week's episode will help in that and we look forward to moving into the next series entitled, "Who is Helping?" You'll learn the different areas in which people are improving the lives of children who are experiencing foster care and what they do on a daily basis and how they started out.

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Follow along with us at:

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Instagram: @lotcarolinas

AND visit our website:

www.lotcarolinas.com

Happy Friday, listeners! You are in for a treat today! Katie Kiker, a licensing supervisor at 7 Homes, a private licensing agency here in NC, is on the podcast today. I know you will benefit from her wealth of knowledge because I know I sure did! 

On this episode, you will hear the basics on what a private foster care licensing agency is and what they can offer their families, what the best mindset is to reach success when becoming a foster parent, and an extremely uplifting story that will surely put a smile on your face and possibly bring a tear to your eye. Throughout the episode, you will hear Katie's heart for these children and the families she serves every day. She is a dedicated member of the foster care system, and we appreciate all she is doing in love and service to these super cool kids!

If you are interested in connecting with Katie or learning more about 7 Homes, visit their website at: www.7homes4kids.com

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Follow along with us at:

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Instagram: @lotcarolinas

AND visit our website:

www.lotcarolinas.com

You have 2 old, familiar voices, if you have been around for a while, on today's episode. Abbey and Selina sit down to educate on some of the very basics of foster care. Why are children in care? How do you get licensed? Who is licensed? What is kinship care? Why are kids living in different counties than where they are from? Dive into these answers with us!

Selina has welcomed several children into her home and Abbey is young, but very eager to welcome children into her home ASAP. We hope that you hear both of their hearts behind the conversation they have today. Especially close to the end, hear that fear around welcoming children into your home is scary, but not a reason to not welcome children into your home. These children are worth it and we would LOVE to be a resource to you.

Call the office of Least of These Carolinas at 704-215-4344 and ask for Abbey or Selina and they would both love to help you walk this journey of foster care and becoming a foster parent!

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Follow along with us at:

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Instagram: @lotcarolinas

AND visit our website:

www.lotcarolinas.com

We here at Foster Carolinas are so happy to have hosted Fearless Fostering's Cathleen Bearse on todays podcast! She is a foster care informed therapist and she has a heart for those who are entering into the world of foster care, as she wants them to be informed and have more knowledge than she did before she entered into this world. Cathleen is so knowledgeable and you will definitely walk away knowing more after this episode.

You will get a glimpse inside of how the body experiences trauma, whether that be the child entering your home or the foster mama/dad/siblings. She talks about the biggest thing that she and her husband had to navigate was the system as there really is nothing to compare it to and nothing about it is "normal." Though there are some trauma incurred by stepping into the foster care arena, there is so much worth and love and enjoyment that comes out of fostering. One of my very favorite quotes from Cathleen is, "until you know you want to say no, SAY YES." SO GOOD!

THANKS FOR LISTENING!

Make sure you are following along with us AND Cathleen:

Facebook: Least of These Carolinas AND Fearless Fostering

Instagram: @lotcarolinas AND @fearless_fostering

AND visit our websites:

www.lotcarolinas.com AND www.fearlessfostering.com

The world of foster care is intimidating. It is unfamiliar for most and disconnected from many of the realms most people find themselves in regularly. We here on Foster Carolinas do not want that to be a reason for you to shy away from getting involved in foster care in some capacity. Todays episode will help us all get on the same page when it comes to terms and acronyms that are used in and around foster care. 

With a shared basis of understanding, we can do more for the children and families experiencing foster care. We hope that is where this episode and the episodes to come takes us... a shared basis of understanding. All for the goal of serving children in foster care well.

Please go to the Foster Family Alliance of NC website to learn more about them: www.ffa-nc.org

You can go to this link to find the 'Alphabet Soup' PDF for these and more acronyms at your fingertips: https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:3eadf390-3f1c-3690-9c17-2bca6b00cbd1

THANKS FOR LISTENING!

Make sure you are following along with us on social media:

Facebook: Least of These Carolinas

Instagram: @lotcarolinas

AND visit our website:

www.lotcarolinas.com