Conversations About Foster Care

Episode 8 - Wrap Up for Season 1

Married couple, Marika & Kurt chat about the many perspectives in foster care and the ways we can all do better by our kids Wrapping up our thoughts for our first season, focusing on an oft overlooked part of the US Foster Care system - Transitions. It's been half a year since we sat down to record a new episode, but we have an excuse: COVID-19! Damn you COVID!!! We have two new kiddos in our care. Dragging them through home-schooling, trying to support their trauma and grief in the midst of a pandemic where we've stayed indoors has been a monstrous challenge, but we're still here (in fact, we went upstate to an Airbnb WITH A POOL!!!! whilst we record this episode). We also talk about some of the constructive feedback we've received and how we would really love to hear more from Former Foster Youth (FFY) in our next seasons. Riki mentions some of the Facebook pages and groups primarily run by FFY and that we'd make a note of them here: Child Centered Parenting in Foster Care and Adoption Former Foster Children United Adoption: Facing Realities And some other podcasts we really enjoyed: The Foster Parenting Podcast (Tim & Wendy were a HUGE inspiration for us!! They've taken much of their original podcast down now for privacy reasons, but some of their core message is still there, including the reasoning behind the importance of putting your hand up for kids at the beginning of their foster journey, not waiting until parents rights are terminated!) The Forgotten Podcast Honestly Adoption Who Am I Really? Foster Care Stories Adoptee Thoughts Keep listening to the end of today's episode for some fun outtakes!! ie. Marika (the actor) doing what is known in her industry as "corpsing". Enjoy and we look forward to inviting you to our table in Season Two. Our podcast features music by Chris Haugen "Tupelo Train" And graphic design by Kenney Ogilvie

Episode 7 - How Transition Affects Extended Family

Married couple, Marika & Kurt chat about the many perspectives in foster care and the ways we can all do better by our kids In our first season, we focus on an oft overlooked part of the US Foster Care system - Transitions. So far we have spoken to FFY, fellow foster parents and explored different examples of how a transition from one home to another can negatively or positively impact a child in foster care. Now we indulge a little, turning the focus back to us, and how our own extended family, friends and community coped with the "loss" of our foster daughter ("Kid") moving to live with an extended family member after 14 months in our home. We chat honestly about some of the fall out, how we handled other people's grief and processing, and what we could have done better. Our podcast features music by Chris Haugen "Tupelo Train" And graphic design by Kenney Ogilvie

Episode 6 - A Successful Transition

Married couple, Marika & Kurt chat about the many perspectives in foster care and the ways we can all do better by our kids In our first season, we focus on an oft overlooked part of the US Foster Care system - Transitions. This episode is the most important episode of our first season. Because this episode is what a successful transition can look like. Join Kurt as he sits down with friend and fellow former foster parent, Jennifer, so she can tell the story of how her foster daughter transitioned to extended family with dedicated time and love - and all the adults communicating in order to put the mental and emotional needs of the child first. This is what this podcast is all about. Thank you Jennifer. Our podcast features music by Chris Haugen "Tupelo Train" And graphic design by Kenney Ogilvie

Episode 5 - The Trauma of Transition

Married couple, Marika & Kurt chat about the many perspectives in foster care and the ways we can all do better by our kids In our first season, we focus on an oft overlooked part of the US Foster Care system - Transitions. John & Brian adopted their daughter through foster care, but not before she underwent several transitions - which resulted in ongoing trauma. Join us for an interview in which John and Brian detail the massive changes their daughter had to process, and speak frankly about how it has impacted their family, other kids, their marriage, and most importantly their daughter. We also mention towards the end of the episode, a great TV series we appreciated called "The Day I Picked My Parents". Check that out at https://www.aetv.com/shows/the-day-i-picked-my-parents Our podcast features music by Chris Haugen "Tupelo Train" And graphic design by Kenney Ogilvie

Episode 4 - How To Make Transition Easier For A Child

Married couple, Marika & Kurt chat about the many perspectives in foster care and the ways we can all do better by our kids In our first season, we focus on an oft overlooked part of the US Foster Care system - Transitions. This episode is one of the reasons we felt the need to make this podcast... How do you actually transition a child out of your home and into another? What do you pack? What do you say? How can you make this big change for a young person clear, loving and free of trauma? We don't know for sure... but here's what we did. Our podcast features music by Chris Haugen "Tupelo Train" And graphic design by Kenney Ogilvie