Fostering Futures℠

CAHELP JPA

The California Association of Health and Education Linked Professions is excited to introduce you to Fostering Futures℠ a podcast that brings you high-quality, research-based content designed to inspire and educate. Each episode is crafted with care, drawing on the knowledge of credible experts, parents, and community members to ensure both trustworthiness and depth. Our mission is to engage and expand our audience by delivering thought-provoking material that focuses on key areas crucial to the development and well-being of all youth. Through our discussions, we aim to provide insights that are not only relevant but also transformative. Join us as we explore innovative approaches in special education, Social Emotional Well-Being, and Community. Be ready to be apart of a community committed to making a positive impact. Visit us at www.cahelp.org

  1. 2D AGO · BONUS

    Foster Youth EP 2 - Three to Nine Overnight: One Foster Parent’s Journey

    In this episode, Amanda Gingerich and Maurica Manibusan welcome Maria Guzman, a foster parent whose journey began overnight when she was asked to take in six young girls ranging in age from newborn to eleven years old. What started as a call to help family quickly became a life‑changing experience for Maria, her husband, and their teenage son, transforming a household of three into a household of nine. Maria shares what it truly looks like to become a foster parent without warning: preparing her home, navigating licensing, enrolling children in school, managing finances, attending medical appointments, coordinating long‑distance family visits, and building trust with children who arrived with trauma, fear, and little sense of stability. She speaks candidly about the emotional weight of fostering loving children, knowing they may not stay forever, and the difficult balance of preparing to let go while still showing up fully every day. Through her story, Maria highlights the rewards that make it all worthwhile: watching children grow in confidence, try new activities like sports and cheer, feel safe enough to trust again, and begin to believe in themselves. This episode offers listeners an honest, compassionate look at foster parenting not as an abstract system, but as a lived, daily commitment to love, structure, and hope. Highlights Maria explains how she became a foster parent overnight after being asked to take in six sisters.Transitioning from a family of three to a household of nine, including a newborn.Preparing a small home to meet placement and licensing requirements.Navigating the foster care licensing process and home inspections.Enrolling five children in school and working with educators during major transitions.Managing finances, food costs, clothing, and extracurricular activities without extra support.Supporting children through trauma, boundaries, and adjustment to structure.Coordinating long‑distance family visitation twice a month.The emotional challenge of attachment and the possibility of reunification or removal.Building trust through routine, family meals, prayer, consistency, and presence.The joy of seeing children grow in confidence, self‑esteem, and happiness.Maria’s heartfelt advice to others considering foster parenting.Takeaways Foster parenting often begins unexpectedly and requires immediate flexibility.Love, routine, and consistency help children feel safe after instability.Financial and emotional challenges are real, but community support matters.Children thrive when treated as full members of the family.Attachment is both the hardest and most meaningful part of fostering.Reunification is the ultimate goal, even when it’s emotionally difficult.Foster parenting isn’t about recognition or compensation, it’s about impact.Small wins—confidence, joy, and belonging are the greatest rewards.Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram | www.cahelp.org | podcast@cahelp.org

    27 min

  2. FEB 18 · BONUS

    Foster Youth Series EP 1 - Breaking Cycles: Lived Experience, Hope, and Healing

    In this episode, Athena sits down with Daysi Silvas Ramirez and Zach Perez, two peer support associates with San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools (SBCSS) who use their lived experience in foster care and homelessness to inspire and guide youth across the county. At only 21 and 24 years old, they already serve as powerful advocates, mentors, and truth-tellers. Bringing authenticity, vulnerability, and empathy to every space they enter. Daysi and Zach open up about their early years: surviving homes marked by addiction, domestic violence, instability, and emotional neglect. They describe being separated from siblings, bouncing through multiple foster placements, and enduring both supportive and harmful foster homes. Their stories reveal the often-overlooked emotional reality of foster care: isolation, distrust, a desire for connection, and the small acts of kindness that become lifelines. Together, they reflect on what makes a good foster parent, why intention and empathy matter, and how their work today allows them to offer youth what they wished someone had offered them. They share the moments when they recognized themselves in the students they support, the conversations that shifted a young person’s outlook, and the resilience required to break cycles and rewrite their futures. This episode is a heartfelt reminder that trauma shapes, but does not define a child. Daysi and Zach embody hope, and their message to adults and youth alike is simple: Your circumstances do not decide your destination. With compassion, consistency, and belief, lives can change. Highlights Lived experience leadership: Daysi and Zach explain how their foster care journeys now shape their roles speaking to students and educators.Raw childhood realities: Violence, addiction, instability, unsafe homes, and multiple removals from biological parents.The good and the harmful: Examples of both supportive foster parents and emotionally damaging placements.The weight of trauma: How kids laugh and play at school but often carry emotional burdens no one sees.Isolation in a crowded room: Why foster youth can feel alone despite being surrounded by adults.What kids remember: Simple acts. Being fed, being included, being treated like family—often become the most powerful moments.Advice for prospective foster parents: A child with trauma requires patience, intention, emotional skill, and the willingness to stay.Moments of impact: Zach reconnecting a youth with her foster sister; Daysi seeing students open up after hearing her story.Their futures: Daysi’s plans for a master’s degree and mentorship; Zach’s ambition to become a business owner and build a large, loving family.Parting messages: Give youth grace. Offer hope. Be intentional. And never let your past decide your future.Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram | www.cahelp.org | podcast@cahelp.org

    51 min

  3. TRAILER

    New Foster Youth Series Teaser

    In this powerful new series, we take an honest, unfiltered look into the foster care system and its challenges, its heart, and the people who make a difference every day. Through real conversations with foster youth, foster parents, and the dedicated professionals who support them, this series reveals what life in the system truly looks like. From stories of resilience and healing to the unseen struggles many face, each episode highlights the human side of foster care that often goes untold. You’ll hear firsthand experiences about navigating trauma, finding stability, building trust, and redefining family. The series aims to educate, inspire, and spark meaningful dialogue about the realities of foster care, while uplifting the voices of those who have lived it. This is more than a series. It’s a chance to learn, connect, and understand the ins and outs of a system that impacts thousands of lives every day. Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram | www.cahelp.org | podcast@cahelp.org

    2 min

  4. FEB 4

    Episode 14 - Quiet Isn’t Always Calm: Misconceptions About Infant Behavior

    In this episode, Athena Cordero sits down with Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Behavioral Health Counselor Supervisor, Lina Myrvold, to unpack what infant mental health really means and why it matters far earlier than most people realize. Lina breaks down core misconceptions about babies (“they won’t remember,” “quiet means fine”), explains how attachment forms from birth, and describes how caregivers’ own histories and emotions shape infant development. She then walks listeners through early behavioral cues, co-regulation, and how infants communicate long before words. The episode also spotlights Strong Start, a multidisciplinary early-intervention protocol developed through CAHELP to identify and support infants ages 0–4 months, particularly those who have experienced early adversity. Lina shares how Strong Start was created, how it works, and how early support can change a child’s lifelong developmental trajectory. The conversation closes with practical guidance for caregivers, powerful reflections on early attachment, and a reminder that nurturing mental health truly begins at the very beginning of life. Highlights Lina explains what infant mental health is: supporting healthy development through early relationships, attachment, and caregiver responsiveness.Common misconceptions debunked, including the beliefs that babies “don’t know,” “won’t remember,” or “are fine if they’re quiet.”How early attachment forms through cry-response patterns, caregiver consistency, and co-regulation.The role of caregiver mental health, trauma history, anxiety, and previous loss, and how these shape infant responses.Early cues to watch for: gaze seeking, gaze aversion, flailing or dysregulated movements, ability to bring hands to midline, types of crying, and engagement signals.How adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) impact long-term outcomes and how positive experiences can counteract them.The creation of the Strong Start program and how rapid, multidisciplinary intervention supports infants in foster or kinship care.The importance of clinicians modeling attachment-based interaction for caregivers in real time.Success stories showing improved attachment, regulation, and long-term stability for Strong Start participants.Takeaways Babies communicate from birth — through body language, cry patterns, gaze, and movement — and caregivers must learn to read these cues.A “quiet baby” may be securely attached or may have learned that crying doesn’t lead to their needs being met.Co-regulation matters: calm caregivers calm babies; dysregulated caregivers unintentionally pass along distress.Early intervention (0–4 months) can dramatically shift developmental trajectories, especially for infants with early adversity.Caregivers’ own histories, mental health, and stress influence bonding  awareness and support can break generational patterns.One secure attachment relationship in early childhood can reshape a child’s lifelong capacity to connect and thrive.Strong Start shows how coordinated supports across mental health, OT, speech, and developmental specialists make a measurable difference.Early connections build the foundation for emotional regulation, learning, relationships, and long-term well-being.Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram | www.cahelp.org | podcast@cahelp.org

    58 min

  5. JAN 22

    Episode 13 - Inside the IEP Process: Through the Eyes of Parents Part 2

    In this episode, Iván Campos and Monica Rodriguez return to Fostering Futures but this time, they lead the conversation. Both longtime parents of children with unique learning needs, they open up about the day‑to‑day realities behind IEPs: watching their kids struggle, discover strengths, hit milestones, and learn coping strategies that ultimately shaped who they are today. Through their personal stories, Iván and Monica highlight the importance of flexibility, focusing on strengths, and embracing the “whole child” instead of just the goals on an IEP. They explore what dyslexia, dyscalculia, auditory processing challenges, and autism looked like in their homes; how teachers and IEP teams supported (and sometimes challenged) their expectations; and how small victories from reading a sight word to cooking a meal can build lifelong confidence. The episode closes with reflections for parents who are just beginning the IEP journey, emphasizing self‑advocacy, balanced expectations, and seeing every child as more than their disability. Highlights Monica and Iván revisit their children’s diagnoses of autism, auditory processing disorder, dyslexia, dyscalculia, and attention challenges, and how signs first appeared at home.They describe early struggles: delayed reading, difficulty with math mastery, writing challenges, sensory sensitivities, and social pressures.Why some goals don’t need to be repeated for years, and when to shift toward assistive technology or alternative skills.How strengths like art, cooking, theater, sports, and memory became powerful confidence builders for their kids.The emotional rollercoaster of watching a child push through frustration, bullying, transitions, and self‑advocacy barriers.How flexible thinking from both parents and IEP teams opened doors to meaningful growth.What accommodations actually look like beyond the IEP: noise‑canceling headphones, visual notes, transition supports, and study skills classes.The importance of helping teens understand their disabilities so they can self‑advocate in high school and beyond.Why parents must take care of themselves, ask questions, request help, and focus on strengths rather than deficits.Takeaways Small wins matter reading one new word, learning a recipe, or handling a transition can change a child’s confidence.Don’t get stuck on rigid goals; shift toward strengths that inspire motivation, pride, and future independence.Accommodations only work if the student understands and uses them teach self‑advocacy early.Inclusion looks different for every child; growth often comes through trying, adjusting, and trying again.Parents should celebrate strengths during IEP meetings it sets the tone and centers the whole child.Asking for support is not a failure. SELPAs, case carriers, and administrators exist to help families navigate the process.Every child’s journey is unique. Progress may be slow, nonlinear, or surprising, and that’s okay.Key Timestamps: 00:03:02 – Iván describes early signs of dyslexia through sight‑word struggles. 00:04:19 – Writing and motor‑skill challenges become more visible. 00:06:07 – Discussion of math goals, dyscalculia, and shifting to assistive technology. 00:10:23 – Monica explains her daughters’ structured routines and sensory needs. 00:13:37 – Success story: Monica’s son advocating for himself through note‑taking. Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram | www.cahelp.org | podcast@cahelp.org

    44 min

  6. JAN 7

    Episode 12 - Inside the IEP Process: Through the Eyes of Parents

    In this episode, Athena Cordero sits down with Monica Rodriguez and Iván Campos to unpack the realities of navigating the IEP (Individualized Education Program) process as parents and professionals. They share candid stories about early signs, assessments, and the emotional journey from suspicion to diagnosis. The conversation explores what an IEP really is, why collaboration matters, and how families can advocate effectively without feeling overwhelmed. From practical strategies to emotional resilience, this episode offers guidance for parents, educators, and anyone supporting a child with unique learning needs. Highlights Monica shares her 20-year journey raising three children with IEPs, including two daughters on the autism spectrum.Iván reflects on his dual perspective as a speech pathologist and parent of a child with dyslexia and dyscalculia.The emotional stages parents experience from denial to acceptance, and how they impact advocacy.Practical tips for handling IEP meetings: asking for breaks, requesting second sessions, and understanding your rights.Why intimidation is common and how to reframe the meeting as a team effort.The role of SELPAs in California and resources available for families.Strategies for helping children understand their diagnosis and advocate for themselves.The importance of planning for the future, not just the present, when setting goals.How respect, communication, and cultural awareness shape successful IEP experiences.Takeaways Pause when needed: Parents can request multiple sessions for an IEP meeting, don’t feel pressured to sign immediately.You are your child’s best advocate: No one knows your child better than you.Plan long-term: Think beyond today’s goals. Consider skills for independence and future success.Normalize emotions: Fear, anger, and overwhelm are part of the process; seek support systems.Empower your child: Involve them when appropriate so they learn to self-advocate.Use available resources: SELPAs, educators, and community networks can provide guidance and technical support.Key Timestamps 00:00:45 – Athena introduces the topic: IEP process and creating a safe space for real conversations. 00:01:35 – Meet the guests: Monica Rodriguez (parent) and Iván Campos (program specialist and parent). 00:03:45 – What is an IEP? Definition, purpose, and IDEA explained. 00:05:27 – Monica shares her children’s learning challenges and strengths. 00:10:12 – Iván describes his son’s struggles with dyslexia, dyscalculia, and attention regulation. 00:14:46 – How parents first realized something was wrong: early signs and teacher observations. 00:23:22 – Emotional impact of diagnosis: grief cycle, denial, and fear for the future. 00:34:11 – Breaking down the IEP meeting: who attends and what happens. 00:41:32 – Strategies for parents feeling overwhelmed during meetings: pause, ask questions, request part two. 00:46:14 – SELPA explained: what it is, what services it offers, and how families can access support. Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram | www.cahelp.org | podcast@cahelp.org

    1h 2m

  7. 12/10/2025

    Episode 11 - Helping Every Child Read: Early Signs, Support, and the Science Behind Dyslexia

    In this episode, Iván sits down with Dr. Karina Quezada to unpack what dyslexia is and what it isn’t. They walk through how the brain learns to read, the early signs families and educators can watch for, and why early, explicit instruction matters so much. Dr. Quezada explains California’s new dyslexia-related laws, the difference between screening and full evaluation, and how the “science of reading” is reshaping classroom practice. The conversation closes with concrete guidance for parents, educators, and a powerful reminder that literacy is a civil right, not just a school task. Highlights Dr. Quezada shares her journey from bilingual paraprofessional and interpreter to licensed educational psychologist, sparked by early exposure to school psychology work.Dyslexia is defined as a neurological reading disorder present from birth, characterized by difficulties in decoding, fluency, and phonological processing—not laziness or lack of effort.The episode explains how reading recruits multiple interconnected brain regions and why humans are not naturally hard-wired for reading the way we are for oral language.Listeners learn about the three main profiles of dyslexia: dysphonetic (phonics/decoding), orthographic (rate & automaticity), and mixed dyslexia.Dr. Quezada addresses common co-occurring conditions and “look-alikes,” including inattentive ADHD, trauma, health issues, interrupted schooling, and second-language acquisition.California policy shifts are highlighted, including teacher-prep and in-service training on the science of reading, and new K–2 dyslexia risk screeners required in elementary schools.The role of technology (text-to-speech, speech-to-text) is framed as supportive access tools, not replacements for teaching children to read.Takeaways Early matters. When children receive ~80 hours of targeted, evidence-based reading instruction, brain imaging shows that reading pathways can be rewired and strengthened.Not every struggling reader has dyslexia. Systematic screening and diagnostic teaching help identify whether the issue is phonics, fluency, comprehension, language, attention, or something else.Core instruction is key. We can’t “intervention our way out” of weak Tier 1. Instruction must be explicit, systematic, and cumulative, covering phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.Dyslexia belongs in schools. It is explicitly named under “Specific Learning Disability” in IDEA; school psychologists and teams can assess and talk about dyslexia.Families have power. Reading, talking, and singing with children in any language, limiting screen time, and building strong communication with teachers all significantly support reading development.Multilingual homes are an asset. Parents should feel encouraged to read and converse in their home language—those vocabulary and concept foundations transfer to English.Literacy is a civil right. Being able to read opens access to civic participation, employment, and community life, making effective reading instruction a justice issue, not just an academic one.Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram | www.cahelp.org | podcast@cahelp.org

    1h 9m

  8. 11/05/2025

    Episode 10 - From Red to Green: How Emotional Intelligence Shapes How We Show Up

    In this insightful and practical episode, host Athena Cordero welcomes Tarron Riley, longtime supervisor and clinician at Desert Mountain Children’s Center (DMCC), for a deep dive into emotional intelligence (EI). What it is, why it matters, and how to use it in real life. Drawing on two decades of clinical work with adolescents, anger management, and family systems, Tarron demystifies EI as a set of learnable abilities: recognizing emotions (in ourselves and others), understanding their causes and consequences, using emotions to meet the moment, and regulating them effectively. Together, Athena and Tarron unpack accessible tools like the Mood Meter (red/blue/yellow/green quadrants) and Tarron’s Anger Meter (1–10 scale) to help listeners identify their current state and intentionally “shift zones” for the task at hand. Whether that’s delivering tough news as a leader, preparing for a presentation, or coming home to family after a hard day. Through real examples from on-the-job calls to a father–son round of golf, Tarron shows how self-awareness, social awareness, and co-regulation transform conflict into connection, and reaction into choice. The result is a compelling invitation to practice EI daily so teams communicate better, classrooms run calmer, and relationships grow stronger. Mood Meter Zones Chart Mood Meter Chart 🔑 Highlights & TakeawaysEI, defined (the ability model): Identify emotions, understand their drivers, use emotions to support goals, and regulate/co-regulate effectively. These are skills, not fixed traits—meaning they can be taught and improved over time.The Mood Meter (quick map):Red: High energy, unpleasant (e.g., anger, panic). Useful for urgency/advocacy—when channeled.Blue: Low energy, unpleasant (e.g., sad, discouraged). Surprisingly great for detail work (auditing, proofreading).Yellow: High energy, pleasant (e.g., excited, inspired). Broadens focus—great for brainstorming and engagement.Green: Low energy, pleasant (e.g., calm, content). Best for reflection, consensus-building, and presenting with poise.Name it to tame it: Self-awareness comes first. Label what you’re feeling before choosing strategies. The Anger Meter (1–10) and an emotion vocabulary list make this easier.Leader playbook (before the meeting): Read the room → anticipate how news may shift emotions → decide the target zone you want the group in → tailor your delivery and pace to guide them there. Follow with support and clarity.Create space between trigger and tongue: When you feel the red zone rising, pause, breathe, step back if needed. Respond deliberately instead of reacting impulsively.Co-regulation in action: Use tone, pacing, and empathy to help others shift—without invalidating their feelings. Check assumptions with gentle questions.Everyday practice beats one-time insight: Consistent, small reps (micro-check-ins, mood labeling, reframing self-talk) lead to long-term change in teams, classrooms, and families.Practical starter tools:How We Feel app (EI check-ins, prompts, strategies)Mood Meter (print or keep handy)Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram | www.cahelp.org | podcast@cahelp.org

    50 min
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5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

The California Association of Health and Education Linked Professions is excited to introduce you to Fostering Futures℠ a podcast that brings you high-quality, research-based content designed to inspire and educate. Each episode is crafted with care, drawing on the knowledge of credible experts, parents, and community members to ensure both trustworthiness and depth. Our mission is to engage and expand our audience by delivering thought-provoking material that focuses on key areas crucial to the development and well-being of all youth. Through our discussions, we aim to provide insights that are not only relevant but also transformative. Join us as we explore innovative approaches in special education, Social Emotional Well-Being, and Community. Be ready to be apart of a community committed to making a positive impact. Visit us at www.cahelp.org

Information

  • Creator
    CAHELP JPA
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Fostering Futures℠
  • Show Website
    Fostering Futures℠