Fostering Voices Podcast

Episode 231: High Risk: What Weed is Doing to Young Brains

Summary: Fostering Voices returns with an important conversation about marijuana use among young adults and why the growing normalization of cannabis may carry deeper consequences than many realize. Brian and Kim explore the impact legalization has had on youth, especially those connected to foster care, housing instability, and mental health challenges. This episode examines emerging research linking cannabis use to increased risks for depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, psychosis, school disruption, impaired driving, and long-term instability. The discussion also highlights why vulnerable youth populations may face even greater risks and how substance use can affect motivation, relationships, education, employment, and housing outcomes. Most importantly, this conversation approaches addiction with compassion rather than judgment. Brian and Kim discuss what may be happening beneath the surface in a young person's life and share practical pathways toward help, including support groups, behavioral health services, outpatient care, and inpatient treatment options. Join us for a thoughtful and honest discussion about youth, mental health, and hope. Resource Links: Risk of Adolescent and Young Adult Cannabis Use https://ncsacw.acf.gov/files/cannabis-tipsheet4.pdf [https://ncsacw.acf.gov/files/cannabis-tipsheet4.pdf] Adolescent Cannabis Use and Risk of Psychotic, Bipolar, Depressive, and Anxiety Disorders | Health Policy | JAMA Health Forum | JAMA Network [https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama-health-forum/fullarticle/2845356] Driving under the influence of cannabis and alcohol: Evidence from a national sample of young drivers - PMC [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10529886/] Marijuana Use Tied to Worse School Outcomes for Teens | Just Think Twice [https://www.justthinktwice.gov/news-statistics/2024/10/17/marijuana-use-tied-worse-school-outcomes-teens] Not My Kid - Resource Arizona notMYkid [https://www.notmykid.org/] Substance Use Resources For Adolescents and Young Adults – SAHM [https://adolescenthealth.org/resources/resources-for-adolescents-and-parents/substance-use-resources-for-adolescents-and-young-adults/] National Helpline for Mental Health, Drug, Alcohol Issues | SAMHSA [https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/helplines/national-helpline] 1-800-662-4357 Connect with us! Email: info@fosteraz.org [info@fosteraz.org]Facebook: @FosteringVoicesPodcast Instagram: @FosteringVoices Web: www.fosterarizona.org [https://www.fosterarizona.org/]

Episode 230: A Grown Up Love Story: Adoption after Later Stages

Summary: Today, we're joined by Leah and Brian from the Gift of Adoption Fund to explore how families are supported as they welcome youth who have faced adversity into permanent, loving homes. With more than 6,500 children served and over $22 million in adoption funding provided, their work is creating tangible pathways to stability and belonging. While many people associate adoption with infants, this conversation broadens the lens to highlight critical needs within our communities. Leah and Brian share their personal journeys into adoption advocacy, what drew them to this work, and the moments that have shaped their impact. We also take a closer look at the realities inside the foster care system, including guardianship transitions, relative licensing, private adoptions from foster care, and the role of pre-adoption grants. Beyond the system, we discuss emerging needs like young adult adoptions, what families should expect in the process, and why stepping into this space matters now more than ever. This episode offers both insight and inspiration, grounded in real stories of lives changed through connection and commitment. Resource Links: Gift of Adoption Grants Apply for a Gift of Adoption Grant Now [https://giftofadoption.org/apply-for-a-grant/] Foster Arizona - Learn more about foster care and adoption Foster Arizona | Foster & Adobt [https://fosterarizona.org/foster-and-adopt]Connect with us! Email: info@fosteraz.org [info@fosteraz.org]Facebook: @FosteringVoicesPodcast Instagram: @FosteringVoices Web: www.fosterarizona.org [https://www.fosterarizona.org/]

Episode 229: ENOLA: You're Not Alone

Summary: Isolation is one of the most consistent challenges we hear from the young adults we serve. Many feel like they are navigating life on their own, and that sense of disconnection doesn't just affect them—it impacts their families as well. In this episode, we explore what it looks like to break that isolation and how we can step in with meaningful support. We're joined by Wendi Cross, author of Not Forgotten and CEO of xHope. Wendi shares how her personal journey—including adoption, ministry, and building community—shaped her passion for helping others experience connection. Her story highlights how access to relationships and resources can shift not just circumstances, but mindset. We talk about the real need behind the issue: connection. What happens when it's present, and what happens when it's missing. Through stories and practical insight, this conversation brings clarity to the role we can all play. Finally, we ask a simple but challenging question: what does it look like to be a safe connection for someone else? From recognizing healthy relationships to showing up with encouragement, honesty, and awareness, this episode offers a grounded and hopeful path forward. Resource Links: Not Forgotten by Wendi Cross: Book | X Hope Inc [https://www.wendicross.com/services-6] xHOPE Missions [https://www.xhopemissions.org/] Connect with us! Email: info@fosteraz.org [info@fosteraz.org]Facebook: @FosteringVoicesPodcast Instagram: @FosteringVoices Web: www.fosterarizona.org [https://www.fosterarizona.org/]

Episode 228: Empowering Vulnerable Youth in Uncertain Times - Estefana Johnson

Summary: In a time marked by division and uncertainty, today's conversation confronts a hard reality. Many of the youth we care about are struggling to find their footing. Fragmentation across culture, ideology, and community has not just created tension. It has created confusion for young people trying to navigate identity, belonging, and direction. Ignoring it is not an option. This episode invites a direct and honest discussion about what we are seeing on the ground. As adults, whether leaders, parents, mentors, or caregivers, we carry a responsibility to move beyond observation and toward action. The goal is not to debate positions, but to better understand the pressures shaping today's youth and to develop practical ways to guide them forward. Regardless of political perspective, there is common ground in the desire to see young people thrive. That shared goal is where meaningful progress begins. Joining the conversation is Estefana Johnson. Her work within the foster community is deeply informed by her experience as a first-generation child of immigrants. Her story brings both professional insight and personal depth. It offers a perspective that bridges cultural complexity with thoughtful, therapeutic care. This episode challenges us to listen more carefully, respond more thoughtfully, and lead more intentionally. The aim is clear. The youth we serve should not be left to navigate these challenges alone. They should be equipped with clarity, resilience, and hope. Resource Links: Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking: Gladwell, Malcolm: 9780316010665: Amazon.com: Books [https://www.amazon.com/Blink-Power-Thinking-Without/dp/0316010669] The True Story Behind 'The Best of Enemies' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KzSaK1sUIA] Connect with us! Email: info@fosteraz.org [info@fosteraz.org]Facebook: @FosteringVoicesPodcast Instagram: @FosteringVoices Web: www.fosterarizona.org [https://www.fosterarizona.org/]

Episode 227: Finding Strength in Our Shared Stories

Summary: In this episode, we explore how parents and caregivers can find strength, encouragement, and resilience through shared experiences with others who understand their journey. Parenting—especially within the foster care community—can sometimes feel isolating, but connection with others who have walked a similar path can provide the support and perspective families need to keep moving forward. Joining the conversation is Ricky Denwood, who has served the foster care community in many roles. As a foster parent, adoptive dad, parent trainer, and community advocate, Ricky brings both professional insight and personal experience. He shares his own journey in foster care and the lessons he has learned along the way. We begin by getting to know Ricky—his professional path and the personal experiences that shaped his passion for supporting foster families. Then we dive into the importance of peer support within the foster community. Ricky discusses why meaningful connection matters, what healthy and supportive relationships can look like, and how parents can balance the responsibilities of daily life while still building a strong, supportive community around them. Resource Links: Arizona Association for Foster and Adoptive Parents [https://www.azafap.org/] Foster Cooperative [https://www.fostercooperative.org/] Connect with us! Email: info@fosteraz.org [info@fosteraz.org]Facebook: @FosteringVoicesPodcast Instagram: @FosteringVoices Web: www.fosterarizona.org [https://www.fosterarizona.org/]