27 episodes

Congratulations to A Fostered Life Podcast on being named among FEEDSPOT'S TOP 10 FOSTER CARE PODCASTS YOU MUST FOLLOW in 2020!

Host Christy Tennant Krispin explores the various facets of foster care through the voices of people who participate in the system.

A Fostered Life Podcast afosteredlife

    • Kids & Family
    • 4.9 • 29 Ratings

Congratulations to A Fostered Life Podcast on being named among FEEDSPOT'S TOP 10 FOSTER CARE PODCASTS YOU MUST FOLLOW in 2020!

Host Christy Tennant Krispin explores the various facets of foster care through the voices of people who participate in the system.

    Ep 25: Natalie Vecchione on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)

    Ep 25: Natalie Vecchione on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)

    Christy Tennant Krispin interviews Natalie Vecchione, co-founder of FASD Hope, about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders.

    • 1 hr 1 min
    Ep 24: Dr. Samantha Coleman and Sandria Washington Take Us "Black to the Beginning"

    Ep 24: Dr. Samantha Coleman and Sandria Washington Take Us "Black to the Beginning"

    Special Thanks to my Patrons for supporting A Fostered Life!
    Episode 24
    In the non-adoptive world, where people only know of adoption but have not actually lived as part of an adoption story, there is often a romanticization of adoption. Adoption is often sentimentalized and treated as a “happily ever after” story. But anyone living inside of an adoption story knows that adoption is a really complex topic with multiple lifelong ramifications, and there is no single “Adoption Narrative.” And while there is a growing body of work that focuses on transracial adoption and amplifying adoptees’ voices, the unique perspective of Black adoptees and Black adoptive parents and Black birth parents is one that we don’t hear much about. 
    Dr. Samantha Coleman and Sandria Washington aim to change that. After years of friendship, Dr. Sam and Sandria both discovered as adults they were adopted. Each quickly learned that Black adoption is an inaccurate conversation that often occurs through the voice of everybody except Black adoptees. They kept asking the question, "If every birth has a story, why is no one telling ours?" In 2019, Dr. Sam and Sandria partnered to create Black to the Beginning, an initiative to amplify the Black adoption conversation. Through videos, interviews, and social media connections using #BLACKANDADOPTED, Black to the Beginning aims to support, connect with, and amplify adoptees in the Black community.
    (One thing I’ll clarify before you get into the interview is that I was sitting in a room that got increasingly dark as we were talking and I realized that in my new office, I did not have a lamp or light. I usually work during the day, but we did our interview by Skype at night and by the end of the call, they could barely see me. We had a good laugh about that at the end of the interview, so I wanted to explain so it would make sense when we get to that part of our conversation.)
    I loved talking with Dr. Sam and Sandria and I’m so excited about what they’re doing with Black to the Beginning and the community they are serving with this resource, and I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I did.
    Black to the Beginning on Instagram
    Black to the Beginning on Twitter
    # # #
    Be sure to subscribe to A Fostered Life podcast so you don’t miss a single episode. For more information and resources for foster parents, please visit afosteredlife.com, where you’ll find blog posts, recommended reading, youtube videos, and social media links all designed to help foster parents feel more equipped for their foster care journey.

    It’s my prayer that no foster parent ever feels like they’re going at it alone.  If you’re a foster parent who is feeling like you’re out there on your own, consider joining The Flourishig Foster Parent, a community designed to encourage, equip and connect foster parents.

    If you’re enjoying this podcast, please take a moment to rate A Fostered Life on iTunes. It would help me out so much.
    Thanks for listening and thanks for caring about foster care.
    *Let's Socialize*
    PATREON: http://www.patreon.com/afosteredlife
    FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/afosteredlife
    INSTAGRAM: http://www.instagram.com/afosteredlife
    WEBSITE: http://www.afosteredlife.com
    YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/afosteredlife 

    • 49 min
    Ep 23: Whitney King - Supporting Families in Crisis Before They Become Families in Crisis

    Ep 23: Whitney King - Supporting Families in Crisis Before They Become Families in Crisis

    Special Thanks to my Patrons for supporting A Fostered Life!
    Episode 23
    When people think about foster care, we usually imagine children removed from situations where they are being severely abused or neglected by their natural parents. We hear stories in the news about examples of horrific abuse or neglect, and we celebrate that these children have been rescued and placed in a loving and safe foster home. 
    But this narrative, while certainly sometimes true, is an oversimplification of the circumstances that lead to children being removed from their parents. It might surprise you to know that about half of the children in foster care have an intellectual disability that can make caring for them difficult. If we’re willing to go upstream of the foster care system, we would likely find families that could actually remain intact with some outside help. In the foster care world, this is known as “family preservation.” An important questions we should be asking is, “How could this child have avoided being in foster care in the first place?” What can be done for a family in crisis before they become a family in crisis?
    In today’s episode, I’m speaking with Whitney King, a Behavioral Specialist and CEO of LEAF Behavior Support, LLC, whose life and work is devoted to supporting nontraditional families impacted by intellectual, developmental, learning, and/or mental health challenges. In this conversation, we took a deep dive into the challenges of parenting children with special needs and how being part of someone’s village of support could make all the difference in helping keep families together. 
    I really appreciated Whitney’s perspective, and I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I did! 
    # # #
    Be sure to subscribe to A Fostered Life podcast so you don’t miss a single episode. For more information and resources for foster parents, please visit afosteredlife.com, where you’ll find blog posts, recommended reading, youtube videos, and social media links all designed to help foster parents feel more equipped for their foster care journey.

    It’s my prayer that no foster parent ever feels like they’re going at it alone.  If you’re a foster parent who is feeling like you’re out there on your own, consider joining The Flourishig Foster Parent, a community designed to encourage, equip and connect foster parents.

    If you’re enjoying this podcast, please take a moment to rate A Fostered Life on iTunes. It would help me out so much.
    Thanks for listening and thanks for caring about foster care.
    *Let's Socialize*
    PATREON: http://www.patreon.com/afosteredlife
    FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/afosteredlife
    INSTAGRAM: http://www.instagram.com/afosteredlife
    WEBSITE: http://www.afosteredlife.com
    YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/afosteredlife 

    • 43 min
    Ep 22: Jason Johnson on the Unique Role of the Foster Father

    Ep 22: Jason Johnson on the Unique Role of the Foster Father

    Special Thanks to my Patrons for supporting A Fostered Life!
    Episode 22
    It’s June, the month when many families celebrate Father’s Day, and in today’s episode, we’re focusing specifically on the role of foster fathers. My guest Jason Johnson is a writer and speaker who encourages families and equips churches in their foster care and adoption journeys.
    Jason currently serves as the Director of Church Ministry Initiatives with Christian Alliance for Orphans, where he speaks and teaches at churches, conferences, forums and workshops, as well as encouraging families that are in the trenches and those who are considering getting involved.
    Jason and his wife, Emily live in Texas with their daughters. He has authored 3 books: Reframing Foster Care, Everyone Can do Something, and ALL IN Orphan Care and he blogs regularly at www.jasonjohnsonblog.com.
    I really appreciated Jason’s perspective as a foster father and I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I did!  
    # # #
    Be sure to subscribe to A Fostered Life podcast so you don’t miss a single episode. For more information and resources for foster parents, please visit afosteredlife.com, where you’ll find blog posts, recommended reading, youtube videos, and social media links all designed to help foster parents feel more equipped for their foster care journey.

    It’s my prayer that no foster parent ever feels like they’re going at it alone.  If you’re a foster parent who is feeling like you’re out there on your own, consider joining The Flourishig Foster Parent, a community designed to encourage, equip and connect foster parents.

    If you’re enjoying this podcast, please take a moment to rate A Fostered Life on iTunes. It would help me out so much.
    Thanks for listening and thanks for caring about foster care.
    *Let's Socialize*
    PATREON: http://www.patreon.com/afosteredlife
    FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/afosteredlife
    INSTAGRAM: http://www.instagram.com/afosteredlife
    WEBSITE: http://www.afosteredlife.com
    YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/afosteredlife 

    • 55 min
    Ep 21: Marvin Charles on Reuniting Fathers With Their Children

    Ep 21: Marvin Charles on Reuniting Fathers With Their Children

     Special Thanks to my Patrons for supporting A Fostered Life!
    Episode 21
    It’s June, which means that Father’s Day is upon us. For many children in foster care, Father’s Day is a loaded holiday. Some have never met their fathers, if their fathers have even been identified. Others have fathers who are completely “out of the picture,” meaning they are no longer involved or engaged with their children’s lives. But why is that so common? Do the dads just not care? 
    My guest today is going to challenge every preconceived notion you have of the men whose children are in foster care. Marvin Charles has emerged as a community and national leader in  creating stronger fathers and healthier families. Because of his own powerful story of separation from and then reunification with his own family, parents and children, and his 15+ years of helping others reclaim the positive role of fathers to their families, he is an experienced and trusted mentor and advisor. He has traveled all over the U.S. to speak about empowering fathers, to learn from other national leaders and to share our successes with other organizations hoping to implement fatherhood programs.
    Marvin Charles is an ordained minister and his extraordinary effectiveness comes from his ability to see through the pain and threats of those he counsels to the powerful change made possible by embracing a living God and larger purpose. 
    Today’s podcast features a man who stands as living proof of what’s possible for the men whose children are in foster care. As a foster parent, I am humbled and challenged by his story, and I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I did! 
    To read more about Marvin Charles's remarkable story, check out these stories from The Seattle Times:
    'Baby, I'm So Sorry' -- Woman Finds Child She Lost 43 Years Ago; He Grew Up Blocks Away (Seattle Times, August 12, 1999)
    South Seattle's DADS Unites Men in Fatherhood and Brotherhood (Seattle Times, March 20, 2017)
     
    Be sure to subscribe to A Fostered Life podcast so you don’t miss a single episode. For more information and resources for foster parents, please visit afosteredlife.com, where you’ll find blog posts, recommended reading, youtube videos, and social media links all designed to help foster parents feel more equipped for their foster care journey.

    It’s my prayer that no foster parent ever feels like they’re going at it alone.  If you’re a foster parent who is feeling like you’re out there on your own, consider joining The Flourishig Foster Parent, a community designed to encourage, equip and connect foster parents.

    If you’re enjoying this podcast, please take a moment to rate A Fostered Life on iTunes. It would help me out so much.
    Thanks for listening and thanks for caring about foster care.
    *Let's Socialize*
    PATREON: http://www.patreon.com/afosteredlife
    FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/afosteredlife
    INSTAGRAM: http://www.instagram.com/afosteredlife
    WEBSITE: http://www.afosteredlife.com
    YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/afosteredlife 

    • 1 hr 12 min
    Ep 20: Rena Konomis of Project Search and Reunion

    Ep 20: Rena Konomis of Project Search and Reunion

     Special Thanks to my Patrons for supporting A Fostered Life!
    Episode 20
    Anyone who is involved with the world of adoption knows that adoption has lifelong implications for everyone involved: birth parents, adoptive parents, and, of course, the people who are adopted from one family into another. Until very recently, adoption was almost always shrouded in secrecy. The link between the birth parent and the adopted person was held in file boxes on the shelves of adoption agencies, paperwork that connected the adopted child to the parent or parents they came from. In order to access that information, adoptees and birth parents had to pay money. Had to know where to start. And had to rely on the cooperation of whomever received their request for information. 
    Nowadays, we recognize the importance of transparency in adoption and the benefits of a child knowing about their birth family and even having relationships with them. Most adoptions today are open, with contact between birth and adoptive families, but that leaves thousands of adopted adults with gaping holes in their life stories. In response to this, in 2018, Amara, a foster care and adoption agency in Seattle,  launched Project Search and Reunion, a ground-breaking initiative that aims to audit 3,100 of their own adoption files between the years of 1950 and 2000 to ensure that adoptees and birth families receive the information and support they requested, especially in regard to searching.  
    In March, just before the world shut down and we all went into quarantine, I had a chance to hear a presentation about this important work, and in today’s episode of the podcast, I’m speaking with Rena Konomis, a Washington state court appointed Confidential Intermediary and Project Director of Project and Search and Reunion. In this episode, Rena explains the goal of the project and why it matters for everyone involved with the world of adoption.
    I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I did! 
    Be sure to subscribe to A Fostered Life podcast so you don’t miss a single episode. For more information and resources for foster parents, please visit afosteredlife.com, where you’ll find blog posts, recommended reading, youtube videos, and social media links all designed to help foster parents feel more equipped for their foster care journey.

    It’s my prayer that no foster parent ever feels like they’re going at it alone.  If you’re a foster parent who is feeling like you’re out there on your own, consider joining The Flourishig Foster Parent, a community designed to encourage, equip and connect foster parents.

    If you’re enjoying this podcast, please take a moment to rate A Fostered Life on iTunes. It would help me out so much.
    Thanks for listening and thanks for caring about foster care.
    *Let's Socialize*
    PATREON: http://www.patreon.com/afosteredlife
    FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/afosteredlife
    INSTAGRAM: http://www.instagram.com/afosteredlife
    WEBSITE: http://www.afosteredlife.com
    YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/afosteredlife 

    • 50 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
29 Ratings

29 Ratings

Misty VB ,

All new info to me!

This was such a helpful podcast! All new information for me as a fost-adopt mom of 3.

Peculiar Darius ,

Love it!

I’ve enjoyed listening to this show and how informative it is. There are several unique topics from multiple perspectives and I enjoy it. Thank you so much 😊!

BillPandDukie ,

THANK YOU!

I’m starting my journey as a single foster-adopt soon to be Dad and Christy has shared so much real and heart felt information. The more I listen to this podcast the more I want this in my life. Thankful to all foster parents out there sharing their homes for these kids that just need a chance!

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