Fostering Futures℠

Foster Youth EP 10 - Understanding Trauma and Child Advocacy with Dr. Amy Young

In this closing episode of the Fostering Futures Foster Youth series, Athena Cordero sits down with Dr. Amy Young, Chief of Forensic Pediatrics at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital, to bring deeper understanding to the realities of childhood trauma, abuse, and healing. Dr. Young explains the role of forensic pediatrics and how medical professionals evaluate, diagnose, and support children who may have experienced abuse or significant adversity. She offers insight into how cases are handled with a focus on protecting children, supporting families, and working collaboratively with community systems to ensure safety and long-term well-being. The conversation highlights the importance of trauma-informed care and early intervention, while also shedding light on the emotional toll this work can have on professionals. Dr. Young shares how that experience led her to create the Resiliency Institute for Childhood Adversity, expanding support for youth beyond crisis response and into long-term healing, education, and opportunity. This episode brings our Foster Youth series full circle. Reinforcing that while trauma can have lasting impacts, consistent support, advocacy, and access to resources can change the trajectory of a child’s life. It is a powerful reminder of the role each individual plays in protecting and supporting children in their communities. Highlights * Dr. Young explains the role of forensic pediatrics in identifying and addressing child abuse. * Insight into how medical conditions can sometimes mimic signs of abuse. * Overview of multidisciplinary collaboration through Child Advocacy Centers. * Discussion of the emotional impact and burnout associated with this work. * Introduction to the Resiliency Institute and its long-term support model. * Emphasis on advocacy, early intervention, and community responsibility. Key Takeaways * Child abuse evaluation requires specialized training and careful investigation. * Not all concerning signs are abuse, accurate diagnosis is critical. * Collaboration across agencies improves outcomes for children. * Trauma impacts children long beyond the initial incident. * Long-term support systems are essential for healing and success. * Community awareness and reporting are critical to protecting children. Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/jpa.cahelp] and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/cahelp_jpa/] | www.cahelp.org [https://www.cahelp.org] | podcast@cahelp.org [podcast@cahelp.org]

Foster Youth EP 9 - Adaptation, Loss, and Strength: Aubrey Carballo’s Story

In this episode, Athena Cordero sits down with Aubrey Carballo, Service Specialist at Desert Mountain Children’s Center and a former foster youth, to share her powerful and deeply personal story. Aubrey reflects on entering the foster care system at a young age, navigating multiple placements, and adapting to constantly changing environments, beliefs, and family dynamics. She shares what it was like to experience separation from her siblings, reunification with her mother, and the realities that followed challenging the expectations she once held onto as a child in the system. Through her journey, Aubrey opens up about early motherhood, loss, resilience, and the strength it took to keep moving forward. She speaks candidly about identity, belonging, and what it means to rebuild yourself after years of instability and change. Now a mother, professional, and advocate for children and families, Aubrey highlights the importance of breaking generational cycles and creating a different path forward. This episode offers an authentic, hopeful perspective on growth, healing, and the lasting impact of every experience along the way. Highlights * Aubrey shares her lived experience growing up in the foster care system. * Insight into constant transitions between placements, beliefs, and environments. * Honest reflection on reunification and unmet expectations. * Discussion of early motherhood and generational patterns. * The impact of both positive and negative foster care experiences. * How her journey shaped her role working with children today. Key Takeaways * Foster youth often adapt to survive, which can impact identity and belonging. * Every placement, positive or negative, leaves a lasting impact. * Reunification can be complex and may not match expectations. * Generational cycles can be broken with awareness and intentional choices. * Resilience is built through experience, support, and perspective. * It is possible to rebuild, grow, and create a different future. Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/jpa.cahelp] and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/cahelp_jpa/] | www.cahelp.org [https://www.cahelp.org] | podcast@cahelp.org [podcast@cahelp.org]

Foster Youth EP 8 - Supporting Foster Youth Through Trauma and Transition

In this episode of Fostering Futures with CAHELP, Athena Cordero sits down with Mark Todhunter, Behavioral Health Counselor Supervisor at Desert Mountain Children’s Center, to explore the mental health realities of foster youth. Mark shares his decades of experience working with children in foster care, offering powerful insight into how removal, placement changes, and ongoing uncertainty deeply impact a child’s identity, sense of safety, and ability to form connections. He explains how foster youth often experience both trauma and ongoing grief and loss losing not only their families, but also their homes, schools, routines, and sense of belonging. The conversation dives into how these experiences show up as behavioral and emotional challenges, and why those behaviors are often forms of communication rather than defiance. Mark also emphasizes the critical role of consistent, caring adults in helping foster youth begin to rebuild trust, develop coping skills, and form healthy attachments over time. This episode highlights the importance of patience, consistency, and understanding for foster parents and caregivers, while offering a new perspective on what it truly takes to support the mental health and long-term success of children in foster care. Highlights * Mark explains how removal from home impacts identity, stability, and belonging. * Insight into grief and loss as ongoing experiences for foster youth. * How trauma shows up as behavioral and emotional responses. * Overview of mental health supports, including counseling and behavioral services. * The importance of consistent, caring adults in a child’s life. * Real perspective on what foster parenting requires beyond good intentions. Key Takeaways * Foster youth experience trauma, grief, and loss simultaneously and continuously. * Behaviors are often communication, not defiance. * Identity and belonging are major challenges for children in foster care. * Consistency from adults is critical to developing trust and attachment. * Foster parenting requires new skills, patience, and emotional regulation. * Even short-term placements can create lasting, positive impact. Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/jpa.cahelp] and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/cahelp_jpa/] | www.cahelp.org [https://www.cahelp.org] | podcast@cahelp.org [podcast@cahelp.org]

Foster Youth EP 7 - Helping Students Show Up: Child Welfare and Attendance in Action

In this episode of Fostering Futures with CAHELP, Athena Cordero sits down with Renee Castillo, Director of Child Welfare and Attendance at Apple Valley Unified School District, to explore how attendance, stability, and student well‑being are deeply connected. Renee shares her experience across nearly three decades in education, including lessons learned from her time in Vermont and how those insights shaped her work supporting students today. The conversation breaks down the true role of child welfare and attendance moving beyond compliance to focus on connection, trust, and removing barriers that prevent students from accessing school. Athena and Renee discuss the unique challenges foster youth face, including placement changes, mandated appointments, and trauma that impacts both physical and emotional attendance. They also explore how schools and districts support families through interventions, home visits, and collaborative efforts with community partners before ever reaching formal processes like School Attendance Review Boards (SARB). This episode highlights the importance of relationships, communication, and empathy in supporting students and families, while offering real examples of how schools can create stability, build trust, and ensure every child has access to learning. Highlights * Renee explains the full scope of Child Welfare and Attendance (CWA) beyond compliance. * Insight into how trauma impacts both physical and emotional attendance. * Real examples of supporting families through homelessness and crisis. * Breakdown of interventions used before formal processes like SARB. * Emphasis on building trust with families through communication and relationships. * Discussion of challenges schools face in supporting attendance today. Key Takeaways * Attendance challenges are often driven by barriers, not neglect. * Emotional disengagement can impact learning just as much as physical absence. * Building trust with families is essential for long-term success. * Early intervention and communication prevent escalation to punitive actions. * Foster youth need consistency, stability, and strong relationships to succeed. * Schools, families, and agencies must work together to support student outcomes. Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/jpa.cahelp] and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/cahelp_jpa/] | www.cahelp.org [https://www.cahelp.org] | podcast@cahelp.org [podcast@cahelp.org]

Episode 18 - What Happens to Speech Services at Age Three?

In this episode, Pam Bender fills in as host and is joined by Iván Campos, Program Specialist at CAHELP, for an in‑depth conversation about speech and language services from an educational lens. Iván brings his experience as a bilingual speech‑language pathologist and early intervention specialist to break down how families can navigate speech and language supports across systems. The conversation explores the differences between medical and school‑based eligibility, how early intervention services transition at age three, and what parents need to know when requesting school assessments and participating in IEP meetings. Pam and Iván also discuss multilingual language development, how to distinguish language difference versus language disorder, and why families should continue speaking their home language. Listeners gain practical strategies for supporting language development at home, advocating during IEP meetings, and understanding parent rights throughout the special education process. This episode offers parents, educators, and service providers clear guidance, reassurance, and tools for supporting children through speech and language services, while keeping the focus on empowerment, connection, and doing what works best for each child. Highlights * Iván explains the differences between medical and school‑based speech services. * Clear guidance on early intervention and the transition process at age three. * Insight into multilingual language development and evaluation. * Practical tips for parents entering IEP meetings. * Strategies families can use at home to support language growth. * Emphasis on cultural identity, access, and parent empowerment. Key Takeaways * Medical and educational speech services serve different purposes and use different eligibility criteria. * Parents must initiate school assessments; services do not transfer automatically. * Multilingualism does not cause language delays. * Parents have the right to interpreters and to ask questions during IEPs. * Consistent interaction matters more than technology for language development. * Understanding the process empowers families to advocate effectively. Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/jpa.cahelp] and Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/cahelp_jpa/] | www.cahelp.org [https://www.cahelp.org] | podcast@cahelp.org [podcast@cahelp.org]