41 episodes

This is Susan Chesnutt of The Chesnutt Law Firm. This is my podcast From Foster Care to Family Law: A Child Welfare Focus. I was raised in the foster care system, I was a child abuse investigator for the Department of Children and Families, and now I am an attorney practicing family law where my passion is to focus on the best interests of the children involved. In my podcast, I will be meeting industry experts exploring the seemingly impossible scenarios that families often struggle to manage. Each episode will include insights and concepts from professionals that deal with these issues.

From Foster Care to Family Law - A Child Welfare Focus Susan Chesnutt

    • Kids & Family
    • 4.0 • 4 Ratings

This is Susan Chesnutt of The Chesnutt Law Firm. This is my podcast From Foster Care to Family Law: A Child Welfare Focus. I was raised in the foster care system, I was a child abuse investigator for the Department of Children and Families, and now I am an attorney practicing family law where my passion is to focus on the best interests of the children involved. In my podcast, I will be meeting industry experts exploring the seemingly impossible scenarios that families often struggle to manage. Each episode will include insights and concepts from professionals that deal with these issues.

    Joan Ulsher- From Trauma to Triumph: One Woman's Journey to Advocate for Foster Kids

    Joan Ulsher- From Trauma to Triumph: One Woman's Journey to Advocate for Foster Kids

    In a world filled with uncertainty and challenges, one woman's journey into child advocacy and foster care took an unexpected turn that changed her life forever. Her personal revelation ignited a passion that led to a remarkable 13-year relationship with a young man in foster care, setting her on a path of unwavering commitment and compassion. As her story unfolds, the impact she has made on the lives of children in foster care is both inspiring and deeply moving. But what was the unexpected twist that propelled her into this transformative journey?



    In this episode, Susan and Joan discuss: 


    Empowering children in foster care through advocacy and support.


    Personal experiences to help understand the foster care journey.


    The impactful role of supportive adults in foster care.


    The importance of legislative advocacy for foster children.



    “Every person has the ability to make a difference in somebody's life. It's all acts of kindness and acts of service.” 

    - Joan Ulsher

      

    About Joan Ulsher:

    Joan Ulsher, a dedicated court-appointed special advocate in Texas, brings a wealth of personal and professional experience to the table. Her journey from a challenging childhood in foster care to a fulfilling career in the military has fueled her passion for ensuring the well-being of children in similar circumstances. In her book, "Misplaced Childhood: A True Story of Resiliency and Child Advocacy," Joan not only shares her own story but also provides insights and guidance on how every individual can make a positive impact in a child's life. Joan's commitment and empathy make her an invaluable voice in advocating for children in foster care, offering a fresh and impactful perspective on the critical issues surrounding child welfare.



    Purchase Joan’s book “Misplaced Childhood, a True Story of Resiliency and Child Advocacy” here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CHL9Q5P4



    Connect with Joan:

    Website: https://www.joanulsher.com/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joan_ulsher

    Pintrest: https://www.pinterest.ca/joanakitas/



    Connect with Susan: 

    Website: https://www.thechesnuttlawfirm.com/

    Podcast: https://www.thechesnuttlawfirm.com/podcasts/

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-chesnutt-27077bb9/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thechesnuttlawfirm/

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuBwfp_IVpeX-YHKpxZ5L0g

    Avvo: https://www.avvo.com/attorneys/32960-fl-susan-chesnutt-3330241.html

    • 1 hr 1 min
    #40 - Foster Care and Adoption Experiences from Author Janell Jones

    #40 - Foster Care and Adoption Experiences from Author Janell Jones

    SUMMARY: Susan Chesnutt interviews author Janell Jones about her memoir "Shattered."  Her memoir talks about her experience with adopting a foster child with undisclosed conditions and the foster system's difficulty in supporting her efforts to raise the child. 

    • 36 min
    #39 - The Journey from Divorce to Mediation

    #39 - The Journey from Divorce to Mediation

    Susan Chesnutt interviews Matthew Brickman from ITAP Mediation. Matthew and Susan discuss the path to becoming a Mediator and the importance of using the mediation process to achieve the best resolutions. 

    • 45 min
    #38 – High School Opportunities, Mock Trials and Influential Educators

    #38 – High School Opportunities, Mock Trials and Influential Educators

    Summary: Susan Chesnutt interviews her high school teacher, Daniel Nixon Taylor, about the positive influences of educators and the lifelong impact she had in her experience participating in a mock trial in high school. 

    • 52 min
    #37 - Divorce as a Healing Process with Jennifer Stoler

    #37 - Divorce as a Healing Process with Jennifer Stoler

    Susan Chesnutt and former divorce attorney, Jennifer Stoler, the CEO and Founder of The Divorce Chick™ Tribe discuss the process of divorce. They review approaches that can help you evolve your divorce into a therapeutic effort to help your family move forward.

    • 57 min
    #36 - Mediation and the importance of compromise

    #36 - Mediation and the importance of compromise

    SUMMARY:

    Susan Chesnutt interviews a long time colleague Dawn Kirk who has been practicing family law for 30 years and mediation for 15 years. As a mediator Dawn’s primary focus is on the children, understanding the family dynamic to find an outcome in the child’s best interest.

    HIGHLIGHTS:

    [00:02:00] Dawn explains what it takes to become a mediator and the certification process. You do not need to be an attorney to earn your certification

    [00:03:15] Susan and Dawn discuss the benefits of having legal experience and the importance of life experience to provide quality mediation

    [00:05:00] How does writing a script pertain to mediation?

    [00:06:00] Dawn and Susan explain the process of finding a mediator and what those steps look like.

    [00:07:15] How long does mediation take? And guess what, it's not an event, it's a product.

    [00:09:15] When in the mediation process, Susan and Dawn talk about the benefits of having the two parties separate versus together. Emotions and faces can be triggers for parties involved so what is the best strategy.

    [00:11:15] Susan asks Dawn about mediation prep and the importance of the client coming with a wishlist of their priorities. The moral of the story is to come prepared.

    [00:15:15] What are some of the barriers when it comes to mediation? What is appropriate and what is not appropriate.

    [00:18:00] Dawn talks about the importance of coming to the table being open to the different possibilities available to both parties. She is a big advocate of encouraging the clients to think about other ideas.

    [00:20:15] What does a restaurant menu have to do with mediation? Dawn uses the food analogy a lot today to help us understand the process. Get ready to hear her discuss what a temporary agreement can look like

    [00:24:00] Dawn discusses getting to a partial agreement between the two parties.

    [00:25:15] Susan asks Dawn to discuss the cost of mediation vs the cost of litigating. They discuss the ins and outs to help make an informed decision.

    [00:29:00] Dawn and Susan cover what are the trends she is encountering right now. Times change and so does the approach to splitting assets, especially in this current market.

    [00:31:00] He said, she said conversations about divorce terms, do they mean anything?

    [00:34:15] Before they wrap up, Susan asks Dawn to talk about figuring out alimony and child support, they are 2 very separate things in a divorce agreement.

    [00:40:30] Parenting plans. So much information to digest before they finish the podcast. This topic has a lot of details to unpack to create a parenting plan. This section will keep you on the edge of your seat for the next 10 minutes.

    [00:52:45] Family traditions and coming to terms with honoring each parent’s perspective on special days and holidays.

    QUOTES:

    Susan Chesnutt: “It's an opportunity to have a neutral person come in and help you discuss the issues and figure out ways to solve them.”

    Dawn Kirk: “And I, I don't think that people realize that your friends, your relatives, your lawn guy, I mean, everybody's affected one way or the other by this.”

    Dawn Kirk: “So my role really is to help them write their own script.”

    Dawn Kirk: “Forget about money for a minute, what's best for the child.”

    RESOURCES:

    Susan Chesnutt

    https://www.thechesnuttlawfirm.com

    https://www.thechesnuttlawfirm.com/child-custody

    Dawn Kirk

    http://www.dawnkirklaw.com/services.html

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/dawn-kirk-5a6b056a/

    • 57 min

Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5
4 Ratings

4 Ratings

Bsmith081888 ,

Great Information

Great information on navigating family issues.

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