You’ve made it!  It’s the end of August and our final “Best of Season 5” episode of the season, and we’ve saved a very special episode just for you.

Just a note that Season 6 will debut next week, Tuesday, September 3.  We have some amazing guests lined up, and are doing something new this season: on several episodes, we are bringing in special guests to Co-Host interviews with Rob Scheer.  You’ll recognize some of the names as previous guests, and there will also be some new names for you - who we know you will love as much as we do.

Now, for our final “Best of” we needed to do something special. When we booked Emily Cole on Fostering Change last December for our 200th episode, we knew that we would hear all about the amazing Savannah Bananas baseball team (maybe you’ve been lucky enough to see them in person this season, or at least on ESPN?) as well as their philanthropic effort Bananas Foster, dedicated to Bringing Families Together by focusing on celebrating those who are doing amazing things in the foster care world while educating and inspiring others to get involved. 

Because of all that Emily, her husband Jesse, and the team do for our foster youth, Comfort Cases will award them our special Barbara Harrison Award at our Farm-to-Feast Annual Fundraising event on September 28. This award is given annually to someone who truly is changing the lives of those in the foster care system.

If you would like to celebrate Emily, Jess and many other “Good Humans”, we would love for you to join us on September 28. Tickets are available at https://comfortcases.org/feast/. If you have an item you would like to donate for our live auction, you can also find information on the site.  Our annual fundraiser is held on a beautiful farm in the Maryland countryside.  There will be entertainment by our friends, the Como Brothers, fabulous food and wine, and other surprises.

Emily shares her story with Rob on today’s podcast. We hope you will find it inspiring and motivated to become involved in your community, be it foster care or some other form of charitable act.

To learn more about Bananas Foster, please visit: https://bananasfoster.org/ and visit https://thesavannahbananas.com/ to learn more about the Savannah Bananas Baseball team!

You can follow Emily and the Bananas on Social Media:

Instagram: @EmCole3 @thesavbananas @bananasfosterinc

TikTok: @SavBananas

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheSavBananas

To listen to previous episodes of Fostering Change, please visit: www.comfortcases.org/podcast or your favorite podcast outlets.

If you have any comments, questions, or guest suggestions, we’d love to hear from you!  Please write us at info@comfortcases.org.Thank you for listening and we’ll see you next Tuesday for the start of Season 6 of Fostering Change!!!

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

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Welcome back to the “Best of Fostering Change: Season 5.”  Today, we revisit what was our final episode of our season - our interview with our good friend, Sarah Fraser.  Sarah is not just a friend - she’s an extremely talented broadcaster as the host of one of the most popular podcasts out there, the eponymously titled, “The Sarah Fraser Show.” 

On her show, Sarah talks about reality TV, interviews unique guests and talks about her own fun life.  She has so much more going on, we highly recommend you follow her on social media (links below) to keep up-to-date!

Many first became aware of Sarah’s talents when she was the co-host of Hot 95.5’s “The Kane Show” in Washington, DC  and then on DC’s 107.3’s “Sarah, Ty, and Mel”.  She was also an entertainment contributor for FOX 5 in DC for 13 years!  

Sarah is also looking to become a foster parent.  She and Rob have a lively discussion about the hoops many need to go through to become a foster parent - and Rob also offers a possible solution to Sarah that she hadn’t considered before.  (You’ll have to listen to the end for this!)

Our final “Best of” episode will post August 27 - we then kick-off Season 6 in September.

If you have any guest suggestions, please let us know. Please each out to us at info@comfortcases.org. 

 You can always catch up on previous episodes of all 5 seasons of Fostering Change by visiting www.comfortcases.org/podcast or your favorite podcast outlets.

Thank you again for being such supportive listeners!

Follow Sarah here!

Facebook

@thesarahfrasershow

Instagram

@thesarahfrasershow

Twitter/X

@sarahfrasershow

TikTok

@thesarahfrasershow

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

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May 1 was the first day of National Foster Care Awareness Month. The team at Comfort Cases wants to take a moment to thank and recognize all of the foster parents, foster families, youth who are currently in foster care and those who have “aged out”. Thank you to the CASAs and the social service agencies and workers who are doing their best.

And thank you to YOU, our faithful (and new) listeners of Fostering Change. We produce this podcast for you and in support of all you are doing. Thank you for your comments and sharing episodes with friends, family and colleagues.

We couldn’t have asked for a better guest for this first episode airing during National Foster Care Awareness Month.  Award-winning journalist Rob Henderson vividly recounts growing up in foster care, enlisting in the Air Force, and surprisingly attending elite universities in his raw coming-of-age memoir, Troubled: A Memoir of Foster Care, Family and Social Class.

Rob’s book was an instant USA TODAY Best Seller.  In the book and in his interview with Rob Scheer (who is a Navy veteran), he discusses his pioneering concept of “luxury beliefs”: ideas and opinions that confer status on the Upper Class while inflicting costs on the less fortunate.

Rob Henderson was born to a drug-addicted mother and a father he never met, ultimately shuttling between ten different foster homes in California. When he was adopted into a loving family, he hoped that life would finally be stable and safe. Divorce, tragedy, poverty, and violence marked his adolescent and teen years, propelling Henderson to join the military upon completing high school.

An unflinching portrait of shattered families, desperation, and determination, Troubled recounts Henderson’s expectation-defying young life and juxtaposes his story with those of his friends who wound up incarcerated or killed. He retreads the steps and missteps he took to escape the drama and disorder of his youth. As he navigates the peaks and valleys of social class, Henderson finds that he remains on the outside looking in. 

Rob Henderson is a columnist at The Free Press and his weekly newsletter is sent to more than fifty thousand subscribers. Learn more at RobKHenderson.com.

To find out more about:

Visit Rob’s Website and Subscribe to his newsletter: https://www.robkhenderson.com/

Twitter: @robkhenderson 

To learn more about or purchase Troubled, please visit: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Troubled/Rob-Henderson/9781982168537

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

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In this week’s episode of Fostering Change Rob Scheer talks with York Bradshaw, Ph.D. President, Urban Hunger Project, Inc.York Bradshaw had a long career at several universities, where he served as Professor of Sociology and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. His academic work focused on improving education and health in cities in both the U.S. and Africa. More recently, he served as an educational consultant and professional grant writer. And he is now President of the Urban Hunger Project.

Urban Hunger Project is a nonprofit organization that serves food to 2,000 homeless and impoverished people each week in the most forgotten neighborhoods of Baltimore City.

Story Key Notes:

🖐️ What is the current state of homelessness in Baltimore? And how does it compare to other cities?

🖐️ What does the Urban Hunger Project (UHP) do in light of these concerns?

🖐️ What can citizens do to help feed hungry people and alleviate homelessness?

You can find out more about York by visiting:

Facebook: @urbanhungerproject

Instagram: @urbanhungerproject

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

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In this week’s episode of Fostering Change Rob Scheer talks with Susan Silverman, a rabbi, writer and activist. She is the author of Casting Lots: Creating a Family in a Beautiful, Broken World (Da Capo Press) a memoir that weaves the story of her family, formed through birth and adoption, with Jewish theology and ritual. Susan is the founding director of Second Nurture: Every Child Deserves a Family -- and a Community. Second Nurture partners with communities in LA County and Columbus, OH, to help them prioritize fostering  and adoption from foster care among their member families. While some step forward and foster/adopt, many other members support those families in a variety of meaningful ways leading to more permanent, loving families for the kids who need them.

On June 19, 2nd Nurture is co-hosting a large event in Los Angeles.  It’s titled: “Treasures Not Trash: We Ready to Nurture and Comfort”.

Story Key Notes:

🖐️ Second Nurture

🖐️ Treasures Not Trash: We Ready to Nurture and Comfort

🖐️ Second Nurture’s Mission and Growth

To register for the “Treasures Not Trash” event on June 19 in Los Angeles, please visit: https://www.2nurture.org/event-details/im-not-garbage

Thank you to our contributing organizations:

SheReady:  

Twitter: @shereadyfound 

 Instagram: @shereadyfoundation

Book Foundation: 

Twitter: @book_foundation 

Instagram: @makegoodinc

Second Nurture: 

Twitter: @2ndNurture   

Instagram: @2ndnurture

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

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In this week’s episode of Fostering Change Rob Scheer talks with Marcy Bursac, Adoptive Mom, Author, Podcast Host, and App Designer. Foster care adoption was Marcy's Plan A. She and her husband adopted a biological sibling pair. While remote schooling her children during the pandemic, Marcy began to see a gap between adults with a desire to adopt and the 115,000 adoptable children within the United States.

With a heart for those children and a deep desire to take action, Marcy wrote a book, The Forgotten Adoption Option: A How-To and Self-Reflection Guide for Pursuing Foster Care Adoption, and launched a podcast, The Forgotten Adoption Option Podcast. After winning the People's Choice Award and placing in the Top 16 at the 2022 United States of America's Mrs. pageant, Marcy created an app (The Forgotten Adoption Option App) to teach 25,000 adoptive families how to get licensed to adopt through foster care.

Story Key Notes:

🖐️ Marcy learned pageant skills and became USOA Mrs. Ohio to expand the light shining on our country’s 115,000 waiting children.

🖐️ Marcy wrote “Are You a Forever Family?” – a children’s book that creates conversations about who can become a forever family.

🖐️ In teaching and mentoring people around the country, the most frequent question is how to get licensed. Insert The Forgotten Adoption Option App.

You can find out more about Marcy by visiting:

Facebook: Marcy Bursac , USOA Mrs. Ohio , The Forgotten Adoption Option by Marcy Bursac

Instagram: @marcybursac , @usoa.mrsohio , @forgottenadoptionoption

Linkedin: Marcy Bursac ,The Forgotten Adoption Option 

Learn more about Comfort Cases by visiting: https://www.comfortcases.org/

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

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In this week's episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer talks with Nancy Molenda, Executive Director, Mattel Children's Foundation and Mattel Corporate Philanthropy, and Brittany Cruickshank, Senior Specialist, Mattel Children's Foundation and Mattel Corporate Philanthropy.

Everyone at Comfort Cases is thrilled with our new partnership with Mattel. They have kindly donated many hundreds of stuffy's and UNO card games and other assorted items. We look forward to their continued support.

At the Mattel Children's Foundation, play is one of the most powerful ways we can affect meaningful change in kids' lives. So whether it's on the playground, at home, or at one of our many volunteer events, Mattel is committed to ensuring all children have the opportunity to play.

Story Key Notes:

🖐️ Mattel’s Mission

🖐️ Foster Child Awareness Month

🖐️ Play it Forward

You can find out more about Brittany and Nancy by visiting:

Facebook: @mattel

Instagram: @mattel

Twitter: @mattel

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

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In this week’s episode of Fostering Change Rob Scheer talks with Kate Trambitskaya, Chief Executive Officer, Spence-Chapin Services to Families and Children. As Chief Executive Officer, Kate oversees the administration, programs, and strategic plan of Spence-Chapin. Kate began working at Spence-Chapin in 2012, most recently serving as Executive Vice President, General Counsel for the organization. Before coming to Spence-Chapin, Kate was a Senior Team Leader/Attorney for the Family Court Legal Services, Administration for Children’s Services in Brooklyn for six years, representing the Commissioner of Social Services in court and various judicial proceedings. Kate is a Posse Foundation alumna, a fellow of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, a member of New York Attorneys for Adoption & Family Formation (NYAAFF), and board member of the National Council For Adoption (NCFA).

Kate received a bachelor’s degree from Brandeis University and a JD from St. John’s University School of Law.

Story Key Notes:

🖐️ Adoption and Adoption Services

🖐️ Assistance to Children without Families Living in Institutions Overseas (Our Granny Program)

🖐️ The State of Child Welfare System Locally

You can find out more about Kate by visiting:

Facebook: /spencechapin

Instagram: @spencechapinsvc

Twitter: @SpenceChapinSVC

Tik Tok: spencechapinsvc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/spence-chapin

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

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In this week’s episode of Fostering Change Rob Scheer talks with Rita Soronen, President & CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. Rita is a national non-profit public charity executive with extensive national experience in fundraising, grantmaking, strategic planning and organizational management and program growth. Children's social justice issues are always a focus while providing a business environment of accountability and excellence in finance management, marketing, communications, governance and planning on their behalf.

Story Key Notes:

🖐️ Who does DTFA Serve? 

🖐️ What does Scaled Mean? 

🖐️ More than 11,000+ children have been Adopted from the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program

🖐️ Why are Youth Lingering in Foster Care?

🖐️ DTFA is Celebrating 30 Years as a Foundation

You can find out more about Rita by visiting:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaveThomasFoundationforAdoption

Instagram: @dtfa

Twitter: @dtfa

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

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In this week’s episode of Fostering Change Rob Scheer talks with Leigh Anne Tuohy, Foster Care advocate, Motivational Speaker, NY Times Best Selling author and Interior Designer. Leigh Anne is an interior designer by trade, but her heartbeat is advocating for children at risk of slipping through the cracks of society.  Leigh Anne and her husband Sean live in Memphis, TN. They are the proud parents of daughter Collins, and sons Michael and Sean, Jr.

Story Key Notes:

🖐️ Forever Family Friday

🖐️ Build a Community that Inspires You. Surround Yourself with Others that Want to Make a Difference.

🖐️ Take Action! Purposefully! Get Out of your Comfort Zone. There’s no Overnight Success Story!

You can find out more about Leigh Anne by visiting:

Facebook: @LeighAnneTuohy

Instagram: @LeighAnneTuohy

Twitter: @LeighAnneTuohy

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s episode of Fostering Change Rob Scheer talks with Audra O’Neil.Audra is an author, widow, and mother of twin thirteen year-old boys. Her husband Chad died in November of 2105, five months after being diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. Being a reading and writing teacher and coach, Audra felt called to use the gift of writing to share her journey through the pitfalls and trials of young widowhood.

After meeting other young widows, and absorbing their stories, Audra has found a reservoir of strength from which to draw. She is hoping to support others like herself through her newly published book, At the Helm: The Young Widow’s Journey from Struggle to Strength. Audra would like her book to act as a beacon of hope for those who are reaching out for a hand to hold, a story to relate to, and a pathway back towards strength and happiness.

Story Key Notes:

🖐️ Building Rituals for Kids/Families who have Experienced Loss

🖐️ Giving Kids Choices After Loss

🖐️ Posttraumatic Growth and How Struggle can Lead to Growth, Resilience, and Strength

You can find out more about Audra by visiting:

Facebook : Facebook.com/oneilatthehelm

Instagram: Instagram.com/audraoneil/

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

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In this week’s episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer talks with Richard Valenza. Richard is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Raise A Child Inc., the nationwide leader in the recruitment, retention and support of LGBTQ+ and all prospective parents interested in building loving families for children in foster care™. In its eleven-year history, RaiseAChild has served more than 35,000 prospective and current foster and foster-to-adopt parents across the United States.

In establishing RaiseAChild, Rich has drawn on 30 years’ success in marketing and development for major television networks, international apparel brands, and nonprofit organizations. Today, Valenza continues to use his expertise in working with leading national corporations and regional businesses to form strategic partnerships with community service agencies and organizations to build upon RaiseAChild’s strength and influence.

Story Key Notes:

🖐️ A different approach to Helping Children and Youth in Foster Care

🖐️ Communicating the Needs of Children Through Strategic Marketing and Messaging.

🖐️ Compassion through Lived Experience.

You can find out more about Richard by visiting:

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/RaiseAChild

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RaiseAChild/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/raiseachild/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/raiseachild/

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

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In this week’s episode of Fostering Change Rob Scheer talks with Chris Simonsen , CEO at Orangewood Foundation. Chris spent many years of his career in various financial executive roles in the for-profit world.  Fifteen years ago, he made a significant “life decision” by accepting the CFO position at a small nonprofit in Orange County, CA called Orangewood Foundation.  This became one of the best decisions he has ever made.

Orangewood Foundation supports teens and young adults in Orange County, California.  Many of them have either spent time in the foster care system, are struggling with homelessness or are survivors of human trafficking or have experienced all these situations.  The foundation strives to support them so they can achieve the life that THEY envision for themselves.

Story Key Notes:

🖐️ Orangewood Foundation Supports Teens and Young Adults in Orange County

🖐️ You Cannot Solve the Youth Homelessness Crisis by Solely Building More Housing Units

🖐️ The Work Done with Teens and Young Adults must be done through a “Trauma-Informed Lens”

You can find out more about Chris by visiting:

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/orangewoodfoundation

Twitter: https://twitter.com/orangewoodfdn#

IG: https://www.instagram.com/orangewoodfoundation/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/orangewoodfoundation/mycompany/

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

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Today’s episode of Fostering Change is an in depth discussion with Susan Rich, founder and president of 7th Generation Foundation, about FAS: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.  

FAS is close to home to our host, Rob Scheer, as one of Rob’s children has FAS.  And although the diagnosis for Rob’s son was that he may never walk, or even talk, his son has achieved amazing things in his life, including being the President of his Student Government in High School, and has been accepted into the college he’s loved for years.

Susan and Rob discuss the importance of animal therapy on those diagnosed with FAS (one reason Rob and his husband Reece moved his family to a farm!) 7th Generation Foundation operates an inclusive, sustainable green care farm animal sanctuary with programming for children and youth.

Author of The Silent Epidemic: A Child Psychiatrist’s Journey Beyond Death Row, Susan and Rob also discuss the thousands of inmates on Death Row who were in Foster Care and diagnosed with FAS at a young age. This is not a coincidence, and there is much that our society can do to curb this horrifying statistic.

To learn more about or to purchase Susan’s book, please visit: www.prenatalalcoholexposure.com 

To learn more about 7th Generation Foundation, please visit:

Website: www.7thGenerationFoundationInc.org or www.dreamcatchermeadows.org

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TheDreamCatcherFarm 

Blog: www.bettersafethansorryproject.com

Book: www.prenatalalcoholexposure.com 

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

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In this week’s episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer talks with Julie and David Bulitt. Julie and David have been married for more than 35 years and have four daughters, two of whom are biological, and two adopted, and three grandchildren. Together, Julie and David are the authors of the award-winning book, The 5 Core Conversations for Couples, relationship coaches and speakers. 

Story Key Notes:

🖐️ Overview of 5 core conversations - what are they, why couples need to communicate in these areas

🖐️ Focus on parenting (one of the core conversations is titled “Parents and partners”)

🖐️ Can share our own story – adoption, raising child with mental health/behavioral issues, addiction, etc.

You can find out more about Julie and David by visiting:

Facebook : @thebulitts

Twitter: @thebulitts

IG: @Thebulitts

YouTube Channel - The Bulitts

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

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In this week’s episode of Fostering Change Rob Scheer talks with Einat Nathan.Einat started a small, weekly magazine column in Israel based on the concept that the classic parenting method of being a “know-it-all expert” doesn’t resonate with children, and that while the parent-child relationship is not an equal relationship, it is a relationship where the value of equality should be present. Einat shared personal parenting struggles, from screen time arguments to how to suggest dieting to your kids (hint: don’t), along with how she solved these issues. The column eventually grew into a cultural phenomenon and a #1 bestselling book in Israel.

Now translated into English, MY EVERYTHING: The Parent I Want to Be, The Children I Hope to Raise provides a fresh, more millennial, relationship-based approach to parenting strategy. MY EVERYTHING is a rare mix of professional advice and intimate personal exposure that explores how to understand that your children are doing what they are doing in order to grow and develop, and how to release your expectations from them for the sake of their liberty to be who they are.

Story Key Notes:

🖐️ Often, in the name of good parenting, parents remove obstacles that are a necessary part of children’s growth and development.

🖐️ Quality time isn’t measured by time but by quality

🖐️ Gradually, food makes its way into the emotional realm—and the most painful thing about it is that it happens because that’s what we taught them.

🖐️ One of the greatest challenges that faces every parent is humility.

You can find out more about Einat by visiting:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/einat.nathan.parenting

Twitter - @EinatNathan

Instagram - https://instagram.com/einatnathan

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

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In this week’s episode of Fostering Change Rob Scheer talks with Anthony Trucks, Coach, Speaker, Author, Former NFL, CEO at Identity Shift. Anthony is an experienced president with a demonstrated history of working in the health wellness and fitness industry. Strong business development professional skilled in Athlete Development, Coaching, Sales, Football, and Event Management.

Key Story Notes: 

🖐️The Six Types of Failure: Learn how to stop placing importance on fear of failing and learn instead to reframe failures as you learn when you fail forward. 

🖐️The Difference Between Healthy Guilt and Unhealthy Guilt: It has the power to push you to become the version of yourself.

🖐️Identity Shift: How to make a life change to find your true identity

You can find out more about Anthony by visiting:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnthonyTrucks/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnthonyTrucks

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anthonytrucks/

Author Website: https://anthonytrucks.com/

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

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In this week’s episode of Fostering Change Rob Scheer talks with Brittany Burcham . Brittany has been an emergency and respite foster parent for teens in Birmingham, AL, since 2019. Last year, she started a TikTok called @fostertheteens and has since gained almost a MILLION FOLLOWERS on TikTok and Instagram. It was one of her teen fosters that pushed her to create her TikTok account, fostertheteens, last April in order to talk about what it's like to foster a teenager.

Key Story Notes: 

🖐️The Misconceptions of Fostering Teens,

🖐️The Need for Families Willing to Foster Teens 

🖐️The Difficulties Youth have Aging Out of Care.

You can find out more about Brittany by visiting:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fostertheteens/?hl=en

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

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In this week’s episode of Fostering Change Rob Scheer talks with Kate Somerville and Maggie Linn. Kate Somerville, a trailblazing brand in the world of prestige skincare, has been healing skin and transforming lives for over two decades. With these core values in mind, the brand announced a long-term partnership with Foster Nation, an organization empowering foster youth aging out of the system to become the nation’s future leaders through career mentorship.

 Key Story Notes:

🖐️The Kate Somerville x Foster Nation Partnership 

🖐️How Maggie and Kate came together, their stories

🖐️Why Foster Care is important to both of them and how people can support 

You can find out more about Kate and Maggie by visiting:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katesomervilleskincare/

Twitter: @thefosternation

Instagram: @katesomervilleskincare // @thefosternation

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

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Maggy Krell is a legal trailblazer who has taken on impactful cases as a criminal prosecutor and human rights lawyer. She was a prosecutor for 15 years, serving as Supervising Deputy Attorney General in California and cross-designated as a Special Assistant United States Attorney. Her most notable accomplishments stem from her tireless efforts to combat human trafficking and protect and empower survivors, including her ground-breaking prosecution of the sex-trafficking website, Backpage.com. Krell also served as Chief Legal Counsel for Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California where she fought to protect and expand reproductive rights and access to healthcare. Krell currently runs her own practice providing legal support and impact strategy for survivors and non-profit organizations.

In TAKING DOWN BACKPAGE, veteran prosecutor Maggy Krell tells the gripping behind-the-scenes story of leading the legal charge against Backpage.com, a website that claimed to be a marketplace for all manner of sales and connections, but truly had one money-making function: to accept advertisements for commercial sex, many of which featured sex trafficking victims who were forced or coerced into being on the site, including children. In doing so she describes a new and more just way of prosecuting human trafficking in the U.S. 

In the book Krell does a masterful job of explaining sex trafficking in the United States and how the legal framework around it has evolved over the last 20 years. Dispelling popular myths about who human trafficking impacts and how it occurs, Krell zeroes in on the most vulnerable targets: children from poor neighborhoods who have suffered abuse in their own homes and then been failed by the child welfare system. Too often treated as criminals instead of victims, sexually exploited teenagers would formerly languish in the criminal justice system while their traffickers flew under the radar. And many in law enforcement struggled to recognize this larger pattern and the ways in which vulnerable teenagers—who were disproportionately girls and women of color—were being exploited and then punished. 

STORY NOTES:

🖐️ About Taking Down Backpackage

🖐️ What Human Trafficking is, and Who is Affected by it

🖐️ Why it’s so Difficult for Men and Women Who are Trafficked to Get Out of “The Life”

🖐️ Why it’s Difficult for Law Enforcement to Find Traffickers and Bring Them to Justice

🖐️ How Maggy’s Work in the Case Against Backpage.com Illustrates How this Can be Done, and Why it Can and Should be a Model Moving Forward

You can find out more about Maggy by visiting:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maggy.krell

Instagram: https://twitter.com/maggykrell

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

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Kristina Lowenstein is the co-founder and executive director of The Honeycomb Project. She was 13- years-old when she landed her first job making dip cones at an ice cream shop. After many more years, and a few more jobs, she shifted her focus to the nonprofit sector where she worked for organizations such as The Field Museum and 2016 Chicago Olympic Bid. Kristina studied Political Science as an undergrad at NYU and attended Northwestern University’s Kellogg Executive Scholars program. She is a 2017 Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow.

The Honeycomb Project is one of few organizations in the county focused on family volunteering. Since 2011, more than 30,000 volunteers have participated in programs, making a difference in the lives of millions of residents in the Chicago area. And more recently, 2,000 kids and parents across the country participated in our Honeycomb at Home program, which provides educational resources and creative ideas to spark change from the kitchen table.

Volunteering as a family connects kids with complex issues through personal experience. We are opening their eyes to the realities of our society and helping them understand how to make a difference and why to take action.

Story Key Notes:

🖐️What is The Honeycomb Project and Why is it so Necessary?

🖐️What are the Benefits of Volunteering as a Family?

🖐️How Do You Appeal to Kids with Different Interests?

🖐️How Can People Participate in Honeycomb’s Volunteer Efforts Outside of Chicago?

🖐️How Does The Honeycomb Project Fund its Work?

You can find out more about Kristina by visiting:

Facebook: @HoneycombProject

Instagram: @Honeycombproject

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

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John Barlow

John is a success story, from a Foster Care perspective. He spent a short period of time in Foster Care as a baby and was adopted by parents that provided an excellent life. He grew up in various states around the country and had incredible experiences from every location. He started his career in a sales capacity at a few different companies and then started VIDA Tequila with his wife, Lisa Barlow, in the early 2000's. Along with VIDA, they have started additional companies including Fresh Wolf - which they created alongside their two sons, Jack (17) and Henry (10). John and Lisa wanted their boys to understand what it takes to create and run a business as well as give back to their community. Jack created the give-back program associated with Fresh Wolf which involves donating a 2-in-1 shampoo/body wash with every product purchase.

Outside of work, John loves being active including playing various sports, mountain biking and especially hiking in the mountains with Lisa. He also enjoys watching Jack and Henry play basketball and helps out where he can.  

Jack Barlow

Jack is a wonderful kid with a huge heart. Jack is the reason Fresh Wolf came to be - asking his parents if they could help create a men's grooming product line with him. He is currently in 11th grade focusing on going to college after graduation. He is taking college-level business classes, involved with FBLA and also DECA. His goals include either playing basketball for Duke University or going to college in Miami. He has always had an innate business savvy and a keen understanding on how businesses work. Jack is known by many to have created business plans on post-it notes and white boards at the early age of 4. He is continuously coming up with ways to promote Fresh Wolf on his many social media platforms. Jack is known throughout his school and community as someone who makes everyone feel welcome. You will likely find him introducing himself to new students and inviting them to participate in whatever activity he has going on.  

Story Key Notes:

🖐️The Inspiration for Fresh Wolf 

🖐️The Impact the Business has had on Foster Care in Utah 

🖐️What is Coming for the Business

You can find out more about John and Jack by visiting:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/freshwolfproducts

Twitter: https://twitter.com/freshwolfmen

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freshwolfproducts/

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

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Hearts of Gold, a nonprofit organization with a mission and purpose of supporting and

empowering homeless single mothers in the New York area and mostly from a domestic

violence background to reclaim their lives. Homeless mothers struggle every day to overcome

the key elements that define poverty - limited access to education, social discrimination, and

lack of participation in the decision-making processes that govern their lives.

Deborah started her career as a fashion model, then worked extensively as a stylist before

opening her upscale women's French boutique, Noir et Blanc in Manhattan in 1989. She

graduated from New York University with a Bachelor of Arts, and is a wife and the mother of two

sons.

Since its first day of operation the mission of Hearts of Gold has been to transform the lives of

marginalized single mothers—primarily women of color and immigrants. A large percentage of

the mothers are victims of domestic violence who have been neglected by family and society,

rendering them alone and frightened with shatteringly low self-esteem. With focused emotional

and physical support, education and occupational training, these mothers can and will become

economically self-sufficient and lead happy, healthy and productive lives.

So far, Hearts of Gold has positively impacted the lives of over 34,475 homeless and very

low-income single mothers and their children and counting.

Over the years Deborah has assembled a broad and a diverse, motivated group of supporters.

Friends, volunteers and business associates from the New York Metropolitan area and around

the globe have stepped up and joined forces with Deborah to make Hearts of Gold the vehicle

of change that it is today.

Story Notes:

🖐️ Deborah Koenigsberger’s Background

🖐️ About Hearts of Gold Organization

🖐️ Hearts of Gold’s Mission

🖐️ The Vehicle of Change

🖐️ What We've Accomplished

You can find out more about Deborah by visiting:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heartsofgoldnyc 

Instagram: @heartsofgoldnyc and @thriftyhognyc

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

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A native of Tacoma, Washington, Jamerika Haynes-Lewis has more than ten years of experience as a journalist and advocate for children in foster care. While growing up in foster care, Jamerika was determined to have a different life than the one she experienced. She put herself through college earning a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Washington State University.

As the owner of Clever Jam Communications, Jamerika offers strategic communications guidance, motivational speaking, and facilitation. Currently she is USA Ambassador Ms. 2021 through the USA Ambassador Pageant. Her platform is ‘A Chance to Succeed: Empowering Youth in Foster Care.’

Story Key Notes: 

🖐️November is National Adoption Month, let's discuss the children who need homes 

🖐️What we can do as community members to help families who are vulnerable to ending up in the system,

🖐️What I plan to do/have done with my reign as USA Ambassador Ms. 2021

You can find out more about Jamerika by visiting:

Facebook: Clever Jam Communications | Facebook

Twitter: (@CleverJamComms) / Twitter

Instagram: (@jamerika_b) • Instagram photos and videos

Author Website: www.cleverjam.com 

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

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After you listen to today’s episode of Fostering Change, take a moment. Take a breath. Reflect on what you heard, and ponder how you would handle the situations that our guest Jackie Polk faced.

Here is part of the note Jackie sent us when she inquired about sharing her story:

I'm a boy mom of 3. I have 8 year old twins, and an 11 month old baby. 6 years ago I completely rebuilt my life from rock bottom. My rock bottom was filled with drug addiction, domestic violence and having my children removed from my care. I changed everything about my life and regained custody of my children and have been sober for almost 7 years. I'm happily married to an incredible man who's also in addiction recovery.  

I share my story in order to inspire and encourage others to never give up on themselves no matter where they find themselves in life. There's so much of my story that I could feel guilty or embarrassed about which would make it easy to keep to myself but there's so many people struggling the same way that I was and I want them to know that there's hope for a better life. I'm no more special than anyone else, I just decided I wanted a different life and I worked really hard to have it.

In our interview, Jackie stated: “Foster care gave me the chance to be a better person… a better mom.”

Our host, and founder of Comfort Cases Rob Scheer shared that “We all have the ability to change and write your own life chapters. Don’t let anyone else write them for you.”

A reminder that Fostering Change now posts on alternative Tuesdays.  Our next episode will drop on April 23!  You can always catch up on previous episodes of Fostering Change by visiting www.comfortcases.org/podcast or your favorite podcast outlets.

If you have any comments, questions, or guest suggestions, we’d love to hear from you!  Please write to us at info@comfortcases.org.

As always, thank you for listening!

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

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Leslie Gang (maiden name Reis) was born and raised in Long Island New York, where she currently resides with her husband Jason and children Alexandra and Simon. She graduated from Boston University in 2007 with a double major in Communications (specialization in Public Relations) and Jewish Studies. Leslie has worked in the admissions and marketing field of the nonprofit sector for more than 14 years and is currently the Director of Admissions and Communications at the Brandeis School in Lawrence, NY. Leslie is also the co-founder of Hindi’s Libraries, an international literary nonprofit that donates new and gently used children’s books all over the world. “Everyone has the ability to do good, we just need the willpower to make it so.” Leslie can be reached at leslie@hindislibraries.com  

Story Key Notes:

🖐️ How/Why we became an org

🖐️ What we've accomplished

🖐️ What we'd love to see happen/goals (and the needs to get there) 

You can find out more about Leslie and the Hindi’s Libraries by visiting:

Facebook @hindislibraries

Twitter @hindislibraries

Instagram @hindislibraries

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

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Children’s Action Network (CAN) uses the power of the entertainment community to increase awareness about children’s issues and make them a top priority in everyday life.

CAN is currently dedicated to raising awareness about and finding homes for the more than 100,000 children in foster care in the United States who are waiting for an adoptive family and improving outcomes for the more than 400,000 children in foster care.

FosterMore is an unparalleled coalition of media and entertainment companies, foundations, non-profits, businesses and philanthropic organizations working to create greater understanding, empathy, and action to improve the future of youth in foster care.

Story Key Notes:

🖐️What are the missions of Children’s Action Network and FosterMore?

🖐️Why changing perceptions of foster youth is so important

🖐️How and why you can become involved in the lives of foster youth

You can find out more about jennifer by visiting:

IG 

@childrensactionnetwork

@foster_more

Twitter

@childrensaction

@fostermore

Facebook

Children's Action Network

FosterMore

Children's Action Network/FosterMore Website

www.childrensactionnetwork.org

https://fostermore.org

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

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Jess is the Director of Crisis Services at the National Runaway Safeline. In this role, she oversees the day-to-day operations of the Crisis Services Center and its associated data collection and reporting systems. She supervises all members of the crisis services team to ensure consistent and effective delivery of services offered to youth who have run away, are experiencing homelessness, and/or are in crisis, and their families. Each year, the National Runaway Safeline makes more than 125,000 connections to help and hope through hotline, online and offline services. Prior to joining the National Runaway Safeline, Jess served as the District Homeless Liaison for the Anoka-Hennepin School District.

November was National Runaway Prevention Month, a public awareness campaign designed to shine a light on the experiences of runaway and homeless youth that too often remain invisible. It is also an opportunity to spotlight the resources available to support youth in crisis throughout the nation. As part of the campaign, individuals, organizations and the National Runaway Safeline host educational and awareness-building events, such as the NRPM Lunch & Learn Series, throughout the month. For more information and to join the effort, visit 1800RUNAWAY.org.

Key Notes:

🖐️How extensive is the runaway and homeless youth crisis in our country?

🖐️What are some factors that put a young person at risk of experiencing homelessness?

🖐️Do you feel there may be specific reasons youth in the foster care system would reach out to the National Runaway Safeline for support?

🖐️What are some of the top issues driving youth to contact your Crisis Services Center?

🖐️How can we help prevent youth from running away from home or becoming homeless (living on the streets, staying in shelters, couch surfing, sleeping in cars, etc.)?

You can find out more about Jessica by visiting:

Facebook: @1800RUNAWAY

Twitter: 1800RUNAWAY

Instagram: @1800RUNAWAY

Website: 1800RUNAWAY.org

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

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Johnny Agar, born with cerebral palsy and told he would never walk, overcame the odds to participate in long-distance endurance races with his dad pushing him, until the final mile when he walks across the finish line. Previously featured on ESPN and The Today Show, Johnny is making his highly-anticipated book debut this fall that is a testament to the power of extraordinary courage titled The Impossible Mile: The Power In Living Life One Step at a Time (Dexterity, September 21, 2021).

Johnny’s story shows the impact of a life lived to its fullest, from the first difficult steps in training, to becoming a brand ambassador for global apparel company Under Armour. He now serves as an inspiration for not only other professional athletes, but for anyone facing their own impossible mile. This brilliant book debut encourages readers to walk a mile in Johnny’s shoes, and realize, as Johnny did, you never walk alone, and anything is possible, if you’ll just take on life one step at a time.

Written with his mom, Becki, The Impossible Mile shares valuable life lessons, sometimes with a bit of humor, that are sure to inspire with the wisdom, maturity, and determination of Johnny, who candidly shares stories of his family’s strength in weakness, hope in the midst of heartache, and joy in spite of seemingly impossible obstacles.

Key Takeaways:

🖐️How a young man with cerebral Palsy became an internationally recognized athlete.

🖐️How the Agar family banded together to help Johnny walk his first “Impossible Mile.”

🖐️What Johnny hopes readers take away from his new book The Impossible Mile.

You can find out more about Johnny & Becki by visiting:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JohnnyAgarOfficial

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialjohnny_agar/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/_TeamAgar / https://twitter.com/agar_john

Websites: https://www.teamagar.com/ / http://johnnyagar.org/

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

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On this special episode of Fostering Change, we welcome Dr. Gail Saltz., M.D.  Rob Scheer, host of Fostering Change and founder of Comfort Cases, interviews Dr. Saltz about a very personal topic: R.A.D.  Reactive Attachment Disorder. Why is this personal?  One of Rob’s sons has been diagnosed with R.A.D. and he and his husband Reece have to deal with all of the issues regarding RAD on a daily basis.

Rob and Dr. Saltz further delve into other mental health issues and treatments for them, as well as other fascinating issues about the brain.

Dr. Saltz is a Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry with The New York Presbyterian Hospital and psychoanalyst at The New York Psychoanalytic Institute, best known for her work as a relationship, family, emotional wellbeing, and mental health/wellness contributor in the media where she frequently shares her expertise and commentary on the mental health aspects of current issues and news. Dr. Saltz is the author of numerous books and makes regular appearances on national media, including The Today Show, Oprah, Good Morning America, CNN, 20/20 and more.

Key Takeaways:

🖐️What is R.A.D.  Reactive Attachment Disorder

🖐️Fascinating issues about the brain

🖐️Mental health issues and treatments for them

You can find out more about Dr. Gail by visiting:

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/GailSaltz

Twitter https://twitter.com/DrGailSaltz

Author Website https://drgailsaltz.com

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/GailSaltzMD

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

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Fostering Change Episode 107 |  Misty Parks

After Misty completed her Bachelor Degree from Manchester University, she found her calling working in Child Welfare. This prompted her to complete her Masters in Social work from Indiana University. In the past 20 years, she has fed her passion to assist those in need and her desire for knowledge in a variety of settings, primarily focusing upon the social constructs and needs of those connected to the child welfare system. In her roles working with families and children, she witnessed the terrible effects of untreated trauma on the children she served, and the lasting effects it has when working with their parents. Her drive to find better information and skills to assist these families led her to complete a specialized Certification in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral therapy. 

Misty is a native Hoosier, growing up in Muncie with her parents, and siblings. Her close knit family is committed to helping others, as her husband Mike is also a social worker, doing strong community work throughout the Indianapolis area. Their commitment to caring for the community and for those who needed an opportunity to grow and thrive was rewarded in 2015, as they adopted their daughter Reagan, who just celebrated her 7th birthday.

When Misty is not using her voice and experiences advocating for youth and families, she is spending her time with her family and friends, traveling, baking, and reading. She is also an avid collector of yard gnomes, and each member of her family is an ardent board game player, so watch out if they ask you to play Monopoly.

Key Topics:

🖐️The need within our communities

🖐️How Anthem, as an organization, is addressing this in our communities (including hiring Misty) 

🖐️The importance of Anthem

You can find out more about Misty by visiting:

Facebook: @AnthemMedicaid

Twitter: @AnthemBCBS_News

LinkedIn:  @Anthem

#AnthemCares

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

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A Regional Manager at a Social Mobility Charity, Ambassador for Comfort Cases UK, Panel Advisor, Coach & Mentor with lived experience of going through the foster care system. Rosie has experience in both the private and non-profit sectors, and she is an advocate for positive change in society. She has a bachelor's degree in Law, a Postgraduate Certificate in International Business Law. She has recently completed a Level 5 Coaching Qualification to help individuals and businesses to achieve their goals.

🖐️My journey into & through foster care/ overcoming perceived barriers/ importance of

🖐️Education Why I’m involved/ an ambassador for comfort cases/ our mission/ what we’ve achieved so far

🖐️How other people can get involved and support our mission

You can find out more about Laura by visiting:

Facebook Rosie Wainwright

Instagram @queenrozza

Other Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosiewainwright1/

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

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Although a product of the New Jersey foster care system, Laura Singer is a proud graduate from Syracuse University, Johns Hopkins University and most recently, Georgetown University Law Center. With a passion for advocating for children and foster care reform, Laura plans to dedicate her legal career to making substantial changes to the foster care system. Before law school, she served as a teacher in Washington, DC, as a Teach for America Corps Member. She now works as a law clerk in a family law court in Morris County, New Jersey. She hopes to one day open her own school for children in the foster care system. She is a pageant competitor and uses her platform "Get Out, Go Serve" to mentor at-risk youth. In her spare time, she enjoys running half marathons, travelling and watching all sports (especially fantasy football)! 

Story Key Notes:

🖐️My experience in foster care led me to law school 

🖐️The foster care to prison pipeline

🖐️The role community service/volunteering plays in empowering foster youth.

You can find out more about Laura by visiting:

@getoutnserve

https://www.instagram.com/getoutnserve/ 

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

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Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

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Pam and her husband have been married 33 years, raised 5 biological children (the youngest is 20). 8 years ago they became foster parents and began caring for children in their home. Pam led down a road of foster care and as a surprise to their life plan, 2 years ago, adoption of a set of seven siblings from the foster care system. They have a second chance at parenting, and they have a second chance at a family after their first parents passed away in a car accident.

Story Key Notes:

🖐️Adopting 7 Sets of Children Siblings 

🖐️History of the 7 Children

🖐️Adjusting into a New Home

🖐️5 Biological Children's Reaction to Adopt New Siblings

🖐️Process to Adopt 7 Set of Children Siblings

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

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Amanda is a mother of four with two biological and two adopted children (from India). She advocates for adoptees as their voice is often unheard. She wrote and illustrated Finding Family in a Far-Away Land with her daughters' permission to share their story and memories in hopes of empowering other children and educating families.

Story Notes:

🖐️Finding Family "Far Away Land" Book

🖐️Adopting Internationally

🖐️The Struggle to Adopt Children Through India

🖐️Empathy is Not Something we are Born with

🖐️Reason For Writing the Book

You can find out more about Amanda by visiting:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amanda.vandenbarkwall

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandawalldenver/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-wall-0280062/

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

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Jerold Hawkins was introduced to Rob Scheer and Comfort Cases in 2023 when the company he works for, Aptiv, held a “Packing Party,” packing up backpacks filled with new essential items to be delivered to local social service agencies for distribution to youth entering foster care in Michigan.

Following the event, Jerold reached out to us because he wanted to share his story: his experience in foster care, moving to a variety of homes over a 5 year period - recalling “all my life’s belongings dumped into a black trash bag.”

Jerold shares his journey with Rob and also his now mission to help make positive change to the foster care system. 

We know you’ll enjoy today’s episode.

A reminder that Fostering Change now posts on alternative Tuesdays.  Our next episode will drop on April 9!  You can always catch up on previous episodes of Fostering Change by visiting www.comfortcases.org/podcast or your favorite podcast outlets.

If you have any comments, questions, or guest suggestions, we’d love to hear from you!  Please write to us at info@comfortcases.org.

As always, thank you for listening!

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

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Rob Scheer interviews multi-award-winning author Jodi Meltzer who has written extensively about grief, parenting and divorce for various publications, including HuffPost, The Mighty, Scary Mommy, and Thrive Global.  She has just published the book, Goodnight Star, Whoever You Are. 

A Boston native, she recently relocated to Tampa in search of more sunshine, literally and figuratively. To learn more about Jodi and her books, including the previously published, When You Lived in My Belly, please visit jodimeltzer.com.

Today’s episode of Fostering Change is timely, as November 18th, 2021 is Children’s Grief Awareness Day.  Rob and Jodi discuss this difficult topic and how to best share feelings of grief with and from your children.

Story Key Notes:

🖐️Children’s Grief Awareness Day- How Jodi and her Kids have Dealt with Grief

🖐️Why do we Struggle to Talk about Grief as a Society?

🖐️How Covid 19 has Amplified the Need for this

🖐️Death is Part of Living

🖐️Goodnight Star Book

You can find out more about Jodi by visiting:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jodimeltzerauthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jodimeltzer

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jodimeltzer/

Author Website: http://jodimeltzer.com/

Learn more about Comfort Cases at: https: //www.comfortcases.org/.

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Charell Star is a Media Manager in the FinTech field, Online journalist, and Foster Care Advocate. Charell was recently featured on @HumansofNY where she shared her inspirational story to millions.

As a storyteller, Charell Star has a passion for creating experiences that connect brands to people in a way that celebrates, inspires, entertains and empowers. She loves working across all mediums to tell a story and reach audiences, and believes the most powerful messages are delivered through authenticity, personal connection, and conversation. Charell is also a former foster care youth and now advocates as an appointed Board Member of CASA NYC and City Living NY.

You can find out more about Charell by visiting:

 www.charellstar.com

Instagram: @charellstar

https://www.casa-nyc.org/

Show Notes:

🖐️Tell Your Story

🖐️Kinship

🖐️Parents Trying to be Adult

🖐️Moving Home to Home

🖐️To Forgive

🖐️COVID in New York

🖐️Advice to Kids in Foster Care

Learn more at : https://www.comfortcases.org/

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Joanna Johnson the co-creator, executive producer and showrunner of Freeform’s critically acclaimed series “Good Trouble.” She is also the creator, executive producer and director of Freeform’s limited series “Love in the Time of Corona,” the first scripted series shot entirely during the quarantine. Previously Johnson was an executive producer and showrunner on Freeform’s groundbreaking series “The Fosters,” which ran for five seasons.

Joanna Johnson was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. She attended USC Film School and, after graduating, pursued an acting career. Most notably, she played twins Caroline and Karen Spencer on the CBS soap opera “The Bold & the Beautiful.”

Johnson’s primary focus is on writing, producing and directing. She wrote the independent feature “The Shrink Is In,” starring Courtney Cox and David Arquette, and went on to create and show run the sitcom “Hope & Faith” for ABC, which ran for three seasons. She was co-executive producer on ABC Family’s “Make It or Break It,” “Fairly Legal” for USA Cable, and the CW’s “Emily Owens, M.D.”

Johnson currently resides in Los Angeles with her wife and children.

Show notes:

🖐️ The Fosters

🖐️ Family Show

🖐️ As a Family

🖐️ Tell Your Story

🖐️ Foster Care Process

🖐️ Childhood Challenges

🖐️ COVID19 Effects

Learn more at: http://www.comfortcases.org

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

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On this episode we revisit our chat with Robert Selby and Glen Henry! This is our last episode before season 3 and EPISODE 100!!! You have to tune in next week!

Robert Selby is a full time father of a CHD warrior named Chace Elijah. Together they shine light on the medical needs community to help bring awareness with a positive spin to the CHD and Gtube community via social media in hopes to let people around the world know that they’re Never in a Fight Alone.

Glen Henry is a father, husband, creator, musician, author, emcee, CEO, and mentor. He began on YouTube in 2015, documenting his journey as a stay at home father. Six years later, he has appeared in films alongside Will Smith, written children’s books, launched a multi-venture company, co-hosted a podcast with his wife of ten years, Yvette Henry, and added two more children for a total of four tiny humans who inspire him in all his endeavors. His company, Beleaf in Fatherhood, is centered around creating content to equip fathers, bring hope to mothers, and inspire children.

We get into all the aspects of being a dad and catch up on their stories! Amazing Episode!

To continue the story, follow Glen Henry on Social Media:

Website : https://www.beleafinfatherhood.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeleafMel/

Twitter:Glen (@BeleafMel) | Twitterhttps://twitter.com › beleafmel

Instagram: @beleafmel https://www.instagram.com/beleafmel/?hl=en

YouTube: Beleaf In Fatherhood - YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com › channel

TikTok: Beleaf N' Family (@beleafinfatherhood)

HashTags:

#FosteringChange

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On this episode in preparation for season 3 launch, we recap a chat we had with Caroline Boudreaux!

Caroline Boudreaux is a social entrepreneur and founder of the Miracle Foundation, an INGO that supports orphans to have a better quality of life while bringing about sustainable change that reduces the need for orphanages.

For the past 20 years, Miracle Foundation has improved the lives of more than 15,000 children and impacted almost 300 orphanages. Their proven Thrive Scale™ methodology is based on the UN Rights of the Child and leverages data and technology to ensure that orphaned and vulnerable children reach their full potential.

Miracle Foundation is part of a global network of non-profit organizations leading the worldwide movement to end the need for orphanages by 2040. For her achievements Caroline was presented with the Hope Award in 2005, the Impact Award in 2008 and the United Nations Humanitarian Award in 2017. Caroline is a Young Global Leader with the World Economic Forum and has completed executive programs at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, Yale's Jackson Institute for Diplomacy, Oxford University and the India School of Business.

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On this season 2 recap we chat with Dr. Bruce Perry!

Dr. Perry is the Principal of the Neurosequential Network, Senior Fellow of The ChildTrauma Academy and a Professor (Adjunct) in the Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago and the School of Allied Health, College of Science, Health and Engineering, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria Australia. 

Over the last thirty years, Dr. Perry has been an active teacher, clinician and researcher in children’s mental health and the neurosciences holding a variety of academic positions. His work on the impact of abuse, neglect and trauma on the developing brain has impacted clinical practice, programs and policy across the world. Dr. Perry is the author, with Maia Szalavitz, of The Boy Who Was Raised As A Dog, a bestselling book based on his work with maltreated children and Born For Love: Why Empathy is Essential and Endangered. Dr. Perry's most recent book, What Happened to You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing (2021), co-authored with Oprah Winfrey, is a #1 New York Times Bestseller. 

Dr. Perry was on the faculty of the Departments of Pharmacology and Psychiatry at the University of Chicago School of Medicine from 1988 to 1991. From 1992 to 2001, Dr. Perry served as the Trammell Research Professor of Child Psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. During this time, Dr. Perry also was Chief of Psychiatry for Texas Children's Hospital and Vice-Chairman for Research within the Department of Psychiatry. From 2001 to 2003, Dr. Perry served as the Medical Director for Provincial Programs in Children's Mental Health for the Alberta Mental Health Board. He continues to consult with the government of Alberta on children’s issues and serves as a founding member of the Premier’s Council of Alberta’s Promise. 

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We're recapping 4 episodes in preparation for both a launch of season 3 AND dour 100th episode! Here's one of our favorites from season 2 with Rita Soronen

For more than 30 years, Rita Soronen has worked on behalf of abused, neglected and vulnerable children, providing leadership for local, state and national efforts working to improve the juvenile justice and child welfare systems, while striving to assure safe and permanent homes for North America’s children.

Leading the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, a national nonprofit public charity, since 2001 and the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption-Canada since 2004, Ms. Soronen works to find adoptive families for the more than 150,000 children waiting in North America’s foster care systems. Under her leadership, the Foundation has significantly increased its grant-making while developing strategic initiatives that act on the urgency of the issue. In 2020, the Foundation dedicated more than $32.6 million to grants and award-winning programs, such as Wendy’s Wonderful Kids, Adoption-Friendly Workplace and National Adoption Day. Additionally, through public service announcements, social media campaigns, articles, events, sponsorships and more, the Foundation is building awareness around the growing need for foster care adoption.

In October 2011, independent research results were released from a five-year rigorous evaluation of the Foundation’s signature and groundbreaking program, Wendy’s Wonderful Kids. The research proved that children referred to the program are up to three times more likely to be adopted. Since 2005, the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program has grown from seven pilot site grants to more than 475 sites across the U.S. and Canada. This program’s evidence-based model is dedicated to moving those children most at risk of aging out of foster care into permanent families. More than 10,000 children have been adopted as a direct result of Wendy’s Wonderful Kids. In 2017, with the support of the Blue Meridian Partners, the Foundation launched an aggressive, multi-year business plan to take Wendy’s Wonderful Kids to scale in all 50 states.

Immediately prior to joining the Foundation, Ms. Soronen served as the executive director of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Franklin County. During that time, she also served as the president of the Board of Trustees of the Ohio CASA/GAL Association and led the passage of specialty license plate legislation benefiting CASA programs throughout Ohio, as well as the design and implementation of model program standards assuring consistent application of effective advocacy for children involved in court proceedings at the local and state levels.

Ms. Soronen is a nationally recognized child welfare advocate. She has testified before the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee on the importance of foster care adoption. A requested national speaker on the topics of children, the child welfare system and social innovation, Ms. Soronen has been a featured presenter at events for the Adoption Exchange Association, Center for Adoption Support and Education, Children’s Home Society of America, National Association of County Commissioners, National CASA Association and National Council for Adoption, among others.

Ms. Soronen is a founding board member and past vice president of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute and is a current member of the advisory board. She also serves as a member of Barco’s Nightingales Foundation’s advisory board and the National Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad Litem (CASA/GAL) Association for Children’s board of trustees. Ms. Soronen is a recipient of the Angels in Adoption Award from the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, the National CASA Association Kappa Alpha Theta Program Director of the Year Award, the Ohio CASA/GAL Association Statewide Leadership Award and was a 2013 recipient of WSNY’s 20 Outstanding Women You Should Know. She is a fellow of the Jefferson Fellowship for Executive Leadership; was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Community Leadership from Franklin University in 2016; was named a YWCA Woman of Achievement in 2017; was named a National Number One by the Columbus Foundation in 2018; and was honored with Smart Business Network’s 2019 Smart 50 Program Award for Impact, Giving Back to the Community.

A graduate of the University of Louisville, Ms. Soronen resides in Columbus, Ohio.

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On this episode of Fostering Change we sit down with Sharane Calister!

Sharane Calister is an American singer with soulful sounds and a songwriter. A 28 year old native of Des Moines, Iowa. Sharane used music as an outlet and began playing the violin in third grade. Her passion to sing continued throughout high school while singing in multiple choirs including Bridges to Harmony Gospel Choir who performed for President Barack Obama. 

Although her biological parents are in her life now, Calister was adopted at the age of 10 by a cousin, Robin Calister who spent many years as a childcare provider.

Sharane also has a twin sister with whom she has reunited. 

Sharane is best known for her appearance and performance on The Voice Season 14 working with Alicia Keys and Adam Levine. She landed in the Top 11 with powerful performances singing songs like “Make it Rain,” “All I Can Do is Cry,” “In My Blood,” and “Never Enough.” As a rising star, her journey does not stop although her stint with The Voice ended prior to the finale. She continues to sing with The Feel Right Band and Pie in the Sky band while making additional solo appearances throughout the country. 

As a foster care alumni and adoptee, Sharane gives back to communities. She recently was invited to perform for CASA of Los Angles at the Beverly Hills Hotel and the Selfless Love Foundation in West Palm Beach, Florida to advocate for foster care and adopted youth. She is honored to be invited to The Purple Project Youth Conference for the third year in 2020. Calister inspires youth by sharing that life continues and their light will shine despite their current circumstances; life can go their way too. 

Summer of 2019, Sharane hosted her first mini summer camp for female foster care youth or in placement between the ages of 13-18. The camp is titled “Sharane Calister Summer Sessions.” One of Sharane’s future goals is to establish a foundation which will offer guidance, inspiration and education to foster care youth & young adults. 

Sharane Calister’s journey is showcased through her powerful voice, she is currently writing and recording new music. Sharane released her single “Love You” on her birthday, February 25, 2020. Her latest single “Party Like There’s No Tomorrow” is up temple and released New Year’s 2021. More music is in the making from Sharane. 

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

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On this episode of Fostering Change we sit down with Dr. Suzie Friedman!

Suzie is a licensed psychologist in private practice in Washington DC. She works with adult and older teen clients on a variety of concerns from anxiety to eating disorders to trauma. She is especially passionate about the work of helping clients heal from complex trauma and attachment injury, and to support them as they forge a path of personal growth.

In her work with clients Suzie uses a relational approach that includes talk therapy, psychoeducation, and body based approaches including EMDR. In addition to her private practice, Suzie is an Adjunct Professor in the University of Maryland’s Counseling Psychology program where she provides clinical supervision to doctoral students and sometimes teaches at the undergraduate level.

Dr. Suzie Friedman's Website:

suzannefriedmanphd.com

Social Media:

instagram @drsuzie_

facebook @SuzanneMillerFriedmanPhd

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Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

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On this episode of Fostering Change we sit down with Ángela Quijada-Banks!

Ángela Quijada-Banks is a NAACP Image Award Nominated, American author of the best-selling book, The Black Foster Youth Handbook , Founder and C.E.O of Soulful Liberation ( a Book publishing company and podcast; where she aims to empower foster youth by day and break generational curses by night). She is the Founder and program director at Consciously Melanated Queens ( a community to support the holistic wellbeing of young women of color and providing guidance to uncover their divine purpose.) As a transformational speaker and artist, she has impacted thousands with her message to transmute your pain to purpose and power. As of 2021, Ángela is a scholar at Legacy Holistic Health Institute studying Holistic Health and plant medicine coaching. Through her everyday work with helping young people uncover their divine purpose, performing spoken word events, workshops, Board member at the FCN foundation and political advisory to legislators across the nation, she aims to aid in revolutionary change in holistic health, economic injustices, child-welfare disparities, cultural competency and identity within low-wealth communities of color both on a micro and macro level.

In her most recent best-selling book, The Black Foster Youth Handbook she sheds light on a taboo topic through her own personal experience highlighting 50+ lessons she learned in order to support young people's journey and equip them with necessary tools to successfully age-out of foster care and holistically heal.

Born in Anaheim, CA her reach has spanned across the nation and in several countries. Since the age of three years old, when she was first introduced to swing dancing she has always come back to it even in the most unstable of circumstances.To this day, Ángela is still open to learning new things that excites her including Kung Fu and drumming. Between her day to day adventures, Ángela enjoys traveling the world and adrenaline rushes at amusement parks with her husband, Michael. She is lovingly called a “graceful powerhouse” by all who know her, as she lives by the quote, “ If not me, then who? If not now, then when?”

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OriginalSoulFlower

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/originalsoulflower/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Mrs_AngelaBanks

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelaquijada-banks/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTa_p8Ez0Z1xbZ2wpd4sUCg

Portfolio: www.originalsoulflower.com

Divine Purpose coaching: www.consciouslymelanatedqueens.com

Book: The Black Foster Youth Handbook , 50+ Lessons I learned to successfully age-out of foster care and holistically heal www.blackfostercareyouthhandbook.com

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Today, we welcome back a wonderful guest, Charell Star. We first discovered Charell in 2021 from the “Humans of New York” column and video she was featured. We wanted Charell to come back on our podcast to give us an update on her work in the foster care system since then.

Charell shares her common experiences with CASA and talks with Rob about the needs of youth in foster care, especially to promote reunification.

“If we were looking to help people, and not penalize people for the unfair luck of being born poor in a system that doesn’t want to support those born without privilege. If we would spend even a fraction of what we spend to take their children away from them… we could actually solve this.”

Later this Spring, Charell will be an Honoree at the 2024 CASA-NYC Gala.

Charell has finished her autobiography. Once it’s published, you know she’ll be back on our podcast!

You can learn more about Charell by visiting her here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charellstar/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charellstar/

You can read Charell’s “Human’s of New York” story here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CUK7yfSrFT3/?hl=en

A reminder that Fostering Change now posts on alternative Tuesdays. Our next episode will drop on March 26! You can always catch up on previous episodes of Fostering Change by visiting www.comfortcases.org/podcast or your favorite podcast outlets.

If you have any comments, questions, or guest suggestions, we’d love to hear from you! Please write to us at info@comfortcases.org.

As always, thank you for listening!

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On this week's episode of Fostering Change we have a great conversation with Kimberly Raff!

Kimberly Raff experienced the foster care system after falling through the cracks and experiencing a very difficult childhood. At the age of 17, she emancipated from the system after graduating high school. Alone, scared, and not knowing what to do, she went back to live with her biological mother and step-father, even though drugs and alcohol were still a part of their lives. Shortly after moving to Colorado with them, they left her and moved out of state. Again, she was alone, without family and without a support system.

It was while she was working one of her three jobs that one of her employers approached her about attending college. This changed the path that Kimberly could have gone down. The employer helped her apply, take the ACT, and enroll into Colorado Mesa University where Kimberly studied Computer Science, Accounting, and ultimately ended up getting her degree in Psychology Counseling after 12 years. 

During those 12 years Kimberly failed out of school, enlisted in the military, was medically discharged, and was again, left without any support. 

Through her struggles and triumphs she found who she was meant to become. Her career in child welfare brought memories back of her childhood, especially seeing older youth aging out of care with little to no supports of family or friends. 

In 2017, Kimberly founded Foster Alumni Mentors, a non-profit organization that provides support and guidance to those who experienced foster care, to build a community of support around them. 

http://www.kimberlyraff.com/

https://fosteralumnimentors.org

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On this episode of Fostering Change we talk with Dr. John DeGarmo.

Born in 1969, leading international foster care expert, consultant, and TED Talk speaker Dr. John DeGarmo has worn many hats throughout his life. Singing and dancing while touring around the world in the international super group, Up With People, serving as a D.J. at four different radio stations on two different continents, working in the professional wrestling industry, teaching English and Drama at the high school and college level, director of The Foster Care Institute, and founder and national development director of Never Too Late, a residential group home for boys in foster care. Dr. DeGarmo has had a variety of experiences.

He is the author of several foster care books, including the new book The Little Book of Foster Care Wisdom: 365 Days of Inspiration and Encouragement for Foster Care Families, the best selling book Faith and Foster Care, as well as the foster care children's book A Different Home: A New Foster Child's Story. He is the director of The Foster Care Institute, and acts as a consultant to foster care agencies as well as an expert witness to legal agencies across the USA and globe. Dr. John is a High Content Speaker and informative trainer on the foster care system, and travels extensively across the globe, meeting with foster parents, child welfare workers, churches, schools, and organizations. Dr. John has appeared on several TV programs, including CNN, Good Morning America, and ABC, NBC, FOX, CBS, PBS stations. Dr.John and his family have even appeared on the popular show Wife Swap. He writes regularly for many magazines, and is a regular contributor to several publications, both in the United States and over seas.

Dr. DeGarmo is married to Dr. Kelly DeGarmo, who hails from Australia, and the two of them have six children, both biological and adoptive. Dr. DeGarmo and his wife are also currently foster parents to three siblings, bringing their household to nine children. Dr. DeGarmo has been a foster parent to over 60 children over the years.

Dr. DeGarmo and his wife are the recipients of the Good Morning America Ultimate Hero Award, and the Up With People Every Day Hero Award. The two also were honored with their city's Citizens of the Year Award. Dr. DeGarmo has also been honored with a Hero of the Homeless award, the Olivet College Distinguished Alumni Award, as well as an Exceptional People recipient.

Dr. John DeGarmo

The Foster Care Institute

Watch my TEDx Talk on Foster Care : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JQYUp6sEbY

TEDx Talk and Transformative Speaker. International Expert in Foster Care and Parenting.

Visit The Foster Care Institute : http://drjohndegarmofostercare.weebly.com/index.html

Like Dr. DeGarmo on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DrJohnDeGarmo

Find Dr. John on Twitter @drjohndegarmo

Phone: 706 318 9225

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On this episode of Fostering Change we sit down with Sensei Dave Armstrong Motivational Speaker Life Coach Mentor Unlimited Potential Network Academy Sensei Dave Armstrong, Motivational Speaker, Life Coach and at-risk youth expert! He grew up as a product of a broken family, foster care, youth correction facilities all while dealing with his only parent (his mother) dying when he was 13 years old..

After overcoming all of these obstacles in life and defying his destiny, he decided served humanity by dedicating 20+ years towards helping people better their lives and their relationships with their children or the children they work with. After Sensei Dave retired from 24- years of Active Duty Military Service he decided to open Unlimited Potential Network Academy Life Coaching and to publish his amazing motivational autobiography, Why Me, My Fight For Life available on amazon and on www.whyme.world.

Sensei Dave Armstrong was a product of a broken family, foster care, youth correction facilities and a deceased, only parent at the age of 13. As an “at-risk” youth and a “product” of the inner-city educational system, young Sensei Dave was predestined to run with gangs, NOT graduate high school and be dead or in jail by the age of 18.

After his mother passed away Sensei Dave lost all contact with his family and was in and out of boys homes, juvenile detention, and foster homes in California until he turned 18 and “transitioned” out of state custody. BUT…along the way he was influenced by many AMAZING people, two of which were; his CASA, Ron Barnick, an Air Force pilot and Sensei Otto Johnson, his first martial arts instructor.

Without their mentoring Sensei Dave Armstrong would not have been able to mentor, guide, help and motivate the 1000’s of youth, mentors, foster parents and humanity as he has done for years now. Sensei Dave is now retired after 24-years of service to our country in the U.S. Air Force, he has also sat on the Board of Directors as Vice President for non-profit organizations, created his own Martial Arts Mentoring program and owned three martial arts schools in the United States.

As a U.S. Air Force Veteran Sensei Dave has been able to travel and see the world, spreading his positive and motivational personality from country to country. Currently Sensei Dave is a Professional Life Coach and Motivational Speaker, and tours around the United States and Europe helping individuals and companies achieve their personal and professional goals. From The Author “I truly hope that this book finds its place in your heart and is able to help you in some sort of way. I truly believe that I had to go through so much in order to better help humanity and bring people closer to true happiness within their lives.

This is not a “feel good book”, it is a PERSPECTIVE book, it is a GUIDANCE book and it is a REAL LIFE book. I will take you through a journey of my life and events within but, I also hope to give you, the reader some enlightenment and tools to help you personally or to help you better work with at-risk youth or adults.”

Website: www.upna.net

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SenseiDaveArm

Twitter: @UP_N_A

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/upnadotnet/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/UnlimitedPotentialNetworkAcd

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