Fostering Change

Rob is a fantastic host and Fostering Change is a really special show. I found the episode about Private adoption particularly interesting and I really appreciate them having a conversation on this often not- spoken about topic!

Fostering Change with Rob is an important podcast as it dives deep into the world of foster care and foster children, a topic not often talked about. The episode about new backpacks for children was really profound, and I really appreciated the honesty of everyone in the conversation.

I just found your podcast and I am loving it. I am an advocate for youth and young adults whose lives have been touched by the foster care system; helping them transition into productive supported members of the “adulting” world. Life is not meant to be done alone and when these kids “age out “ of the system they feel it’s all on them to figure out. Listening to your podcast has given me insight and confirmed some things I see on a daily basis! Thank you for sharing the resources and stories that you do!

This podcast has made me feel less alone. I was an unconventional “aged-out” foster youth who was placed “permanently” with my bio dad at age 17.5 (ending all foster child support services I’d had) Reunification wasn’t the right choice and at age 18 I wasn’t eligible for any service related to assisting aged out FFY because I didn’t formally age out. I had no safety net like so many others from the system, and I ended up chronically homeless and couch-surfing for several years after turning 18. I could never understand why FFY resources were so fragmented and hard to find, and why red tape excluded me from FFY services. I feel the system did a disservice to me by “placing” me with my bio dad right before 18 and I had no legal help or representation to help with the choice, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who has experienced this rushed improper reunification. When I asked people for help/direction in my late teens and early 20s people didn’t know what to do with me since I didn’t formally age out, or they would suggest things I didn’t have access to. I thought the problem must have been me because I didn’t fit anywhere. So for a long time I slipped through the cracks time and time again. Although I’ll always personally feel that being a FFY is ingrained in my identity, FFY statistics don’t have to define us even if we check off many of the boxes. Yes, I was a high school drop out, yes I was homeless, yes I have been arrested, and fit more of the disheartening statistics. BUT I got my GED, and after a mentor took interest in me I became the 3% of FFY who have graduated college, and I am now a successful scientist with a stable career and desire to make the world a better place. That said, the college experience was terribly lonely as a FFY, and the 3% graduation statistic makes my stomach turn; It’s unacceptable and I can’t believe that colleges aren’t doing more to help kids from the system (I plan to address this with my alma mater now that they might listen to my voice this time around). Now, 15 years after “not formally aging out, but aging out” I have some ground to stand on and I have every intention to change the system and share with other kids in care and FFY what I can, and tell them that they can achieve their goals too. I can’t wait to make a difference within this community (beyond zip codes!) Lastly, I am SO grateful you are bringing these amazing people together and connecting people and organizations!!! Until now I have looked around and thought, “Where are all the other people from the system like me, I know there’s stigma but I when I share my story I don’t find others like me” and now I am finding them through your podcast and seeing that people actually do CARE, we are just finally finding one another. From the bottom of my heart I am so grateful you’re out here making changes. Please KNOW you are making a difference, on the hard days remember that!!! Thank you <3