All Things Foster: A place for Coffee, Connection, and Community

Matt Darrah: Executive Director Panhandle Orphan Care Network
  • 3.7 (3)
  • Kids & Family
  • Updated Weekly

All Things Foster is a place for foster families to learn about resources that are available to them, as well as a place to have community and connection through this difficult calling.

  1. 3d ago

    Single, Not Alone: Saying Yes to Foster Care | Part 1

    Single, Not Alone: Saying Yes to Foster Care | Part 1What does it really look like to say yes to foster care as a single mom? In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Matt sits down with Abby and Ashlynn, two single foster moms who share the very real highs, heartbreaks, challenges, and unexpected blessings that come with opening their homes to children in foster care. They talk about where their desire to foster began, receiving those first placement calls, suddenly becoming parents overnight, and learning that being a single foster parent doesn't mean doing foster care alone. Abby shares what it was like to say yes to a sibling group of three for her very first placement, while Ashlynn talks about becoming a foster mom at just 21 years old and eventually saying yes to caring for a teenager. They also get candid about the parts of foster care people don't always see—the sleepless nights, navigating trauma and behaviors, advocating for children at school, saying goodbye, supporting biological families, and building a community of people who truly understand. One message comes through loud and clear: There's a difference between doing foster care single and doing foster care alone. In this episode: Why Abby and Ashlynn chose to foster as single womenTheir first placement experiencesThe importance of keeping siblings together when possibleWhy foster parenting requires a strong support systemHow trauma can affect children of every age—even babiesBuilding a community of single foster momsWays people can support foster families without becoming foster parentsThe heartbreak of loving a child and having to say goodbyeWhy reunification support mattersWhat they would tell someone who says, “I could never foster because I'd love them too much”Their advice for other single adults considering foster careEpisode SponsorA special thank you to Dr. Robin Ure with Power Within Chiropractic for sponsoring this episode and for supporting Panhandle Orphan Care Network and the families we serve. Power Within Chiropractic offers a gentle, precise approach to chiropractic care using the Activator Method, without aggressive twisting or cracking. Learn more about Power Within Chiropractic: https://powerwithinamarillo.com/ Connect with Panhandle Orphan Care NetworkLearn more about our work supporting children and families throughout the 26 counties of the Texas Panhandle: https://www.panhandleorphan.org/ ☕ All Things Foster — a place for coffee, connection, and community. Don't miss Part 2 of Abby and Ashlynn's story!

  2. Sep 8

    WIC: The Foster Care Resource You Might Be Missing

    WIC: The Foster Care Resource You Might Be MissingWhat exactly is WIC—and did you know children in foster care may qualify regardless of their foster family's income? In this episode of All Things Foster, host Matt Darrah sits down with Shantel Elser, who has worked with WIC for 35 years, to unpack a resource that many foster and kinship families may not realize is available to them. WIC stands for Women, Infants and Children, but the program goes far beyond helping families purchase food and formula. Shantel explains how WIC provides nutrition education, breastfeeding support, referrals, resources, and age-specific nutritional benefits for children up to age five. For foster families, one of the biggest takeaways is simple: bring your placement papers! When DFPS is the managing conservator, a foster child can qualify financially for WIC without the foster family's household income being considered. Shantel walks Matt through what families need to bring, how to make an appointment, and why contacting WIC as soon as a child is placed can make the process much easier—especially when an infant requires formula. In this episode:• What WIC is and what the program provides • How WIC differs from other food assistance programs • Why foster children may qualify regardless of foster-family income • What foster parents should bring to their first WIC appointment • How WIC can help with infant formula, including specialty formulas • Why families should mention specialty formula needs when scheduling • Nutrition education and breastfeeding support available through WIC • How the MyWIC app can make shopping easier • What happens to WIC benefits when a child changes placements • Why foster parents should contact WIC as soon as possible after receiving a placement • Resources and referrals available beyond food assistance Whether you're a foster parent, kinship caregiver, caseworker, or someone supporting families involved in foster care, this episode is packed with practical information worth sharing. WIC ResourcesLearn more about the City of Amarillo WIC program and available services: https://www.amarillo.gov/wic/ As Shantel emphasizes in the episode, if you're unsure whether you or a child in your care qualifies, reach out and ask. Don't assume you aren't eligible. Thank You to Our Episode SponsorA huge thank you to Pullman Diesel Truck Service & Repair for sponsoring this episode and for supporting Panhandle Orphan Care Network and children and families across the Texas Panhandle. 📍 2600 Pullman Rd, Amarillo, TX 79118 📞 (806) 335-1311 When you depend on your diesel truck to get the job done, you need people you can depend on to keep it running. We're grateful for local businesses like Pullman Diesel that not only serve our community but invest back into it. About Panhandle Orphan Care NetworkPanhandle Orphan Care Network works to support children and families impacted by foster care throughout the Texas Panhandle through placement packages, resources, community partnerships, and more. Learn more, get involved, volunteer, or support our mission: https://www.panhandleorphan.org/ ☕ All Things Foster — a place for coffee, connection, and community. Be sure to like, subscribe, comment, and share this episode with a foster or kinship family who may not know these resources are available.

  3. Sep 1

    Family Is Determined by Who Stays

    Family is Determined by Who Stays | Chrissa BowlesWhat makes a family? Sometimes it’s biology. Sometimes it’s kinship, foster care, or adoption. And sometimes, as Chrissa Bowles says, “Family isn’t always determined by how a child comes into your life. Sometimes it’s determined by who stays.” In this episode of All Things Foster, Matt Darrah sits down with Chrissa Bowles for an honest conversation about motherhood, kinship care, adoption, and what it really means to say “yes” to a child who needs someone. Chrissa became a mom at 17, but she never imagined where motherhood would eventually take her. Years later, an unexpectedly quiet house led her toward foster parenting. Before she could even finish the process, she was asked to take in a two-and-a-half-month-old baby boy who would eventually become her son through adoption. Years later, another unexpected message changed her family again when she brought home a three-day-old baby girl through a CPS kinship placement. This time, Chrissa experienced the difference a supportive community can make, including receiving a Placement Package from Panhandle Orphan Care Network. Chrissa also shares an important perspective for anyone considering foster or kinship care: the decision affects the entire family. From biological and adult children to spouses, everyone needs a voice and an understanding of the realities that can come with opening your home. This conversation goes beyond the beautiful adoption-day pictures. It’s about paperwork, appointments, uncertainty, sacrifice, changing family dynamics, accepting help, and continuing to show up. In This EpisodeChrissa’s journey from teenage motherhood to adoptionKinship care and unexpected placementsBringing home a baby with little preparationThe difference community support can makeReceiving a POCN Placement PackageHow foster care and adoption affect the entire familyWhy communication with your children mattersThe realities behind adoption-day picturesLearning to accept helpWhy family can be determined by who staysConnect with ChrissaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/chrissa.bowles Panhandle Orphan Care NetworkLearn more, get involved, or donate: https://www.panhandleorphan.org/ Episode Sponsor: Classic CleaningA special thank you to Classic Cleaning and Shauna and her team for supporting All Things Foster and Panhandle Orphan Care Network. Learn more: https://classiccleaning101.com/ Classic Cleaning — You can’t beat a classic. ☕ All Things Foster — a place for coffee, connection, and community. Hosted by Matt Darrah, Executive Director of Panhandle Orphan Care Network and Host of All Things Foster. Like, subscribe, and share this episode!

  4. Aug 25

    Proving You're Going to Stay

    Miranda’s Foster Care Story: Proving You're Going to StayWhat does it really look like to open your home to teenagers in foster care? In this episode of All Things Foster, we sit down with Miranda to hear her family’s journey from considering foster care to welcoming three siblings into their home and ultimately becoming a forever family. Miranda and her husband didn’t enter foster care looking for babies or young children. From the beginning, they felt drawn to teenagers—kids who needed someone in the stands at their games, someone to encourage them, and most importantly, someone who would keep showing up. Miranda shares what it was like welcoming their oldest son home after he had spent nearly two years separated from his sisters, including time in a residential treatment center. She remembers how uncertain those first days were—and how something as simple as picking him up from school became an opportunity to build trust. On his first day, he called repeatedly just to make sure she would actually be there. As Miranda puts it, “They’re not proving anything to you. You’re proving to them that you’re gonna stay.” We also talk honestly about the realities of foster parenting: navigating licensing and paperwork, learning how trauma can present itself, balancing four kids at four different schools, supporting extracurricular activities, protecting a marriage through difficult seasons, and learning that sometimes what adults label as a “behavior” may actually be fear. Throughout their journey, Miranda and her husband made it a priority to let their kids simply be teenagers. Their pictures went on the walls. Friends came over. They participated in sports, took family trips, celebrated birthdays, ate dinner together, and built traditions. Foster care wasn't meant to become their identity—family was. In this episode:Why Miranda and her husband chose to foster teenagersWelcoming a teen home from an RTCReuniting siblings who had been separatedHelping teens experience a sense of normalcyWhy consistency matters when building trustThe difference between trauma responses and typical teenage behaviorNavigating foster care paperwork, appointments, and regulationsSupporting teens through sports, friendships, school, and milestonesHow foster care challenged and strengthened Miranda’s marriage and faithTheir two-year journey toward adoptionMiranda’s encouragement for families who are considering fosteringIf foster care has been on your heart, Miranda has one simple encouragement: stop waiting for everything to be perfect. Your home, finances, and life don't have to be perfect to make a difference. Episode SponsorThis episode of All Things Foster is sponsored by HVAC MD, providing residential and commercial heating and air conditioning services throughout the Texas Panhandle. HVAC MD has also been a generous supporter of Panhandle Orphan Care Network and the foster families we serve. Learn more or schedule service: https://hvacmdtx.com/ Connect with Panhandle Orphan Care NetworkLearn more about foster care, supporting foster families, and getting involved with POCN at https://panhandleorphan.org/. All Things Foster is a place for coffee, connection, and community as we share real stories from the foster care community. :::

  5. Aug 18

    I Could Never Foster... Until I Did with Heather Cook

    What if the biggest difference between someone who fosters and someone who doesn't is simply saying "yes"? In this episode of All Things Foster, Matt sits down with Heather Cook to share her honest and encouraging foster care journey. Heather opens up about how a conversation nearly ten years ago planted a seed that eventually led her family to become licensed foster parents. She talks candidly about the licensing process, receiving their very first placement, the joys and heartbreaks of fostering, and why community makes all the difference. Whether you've considered fostering, know someone who has, or simply want to learn more about supporting children and families, this episode offers a realistic, hope-filled look at what foster care can be. In This EpisodeHow one conversation planted the seed to fosterWaiting for the "right time" to become foster parentsWhat the licensing process is really likeReceiving their first foster placementWhy no one is ever fully prepared for their first placementThe emotional reality of loving children who may leaveCommon misconceptions about foster careThe importance of community and support for foster familiesPractical ways anyone can make a difference—even if fostering isn't for themMemorable Quote"I could never do that... that's what I said too, until I did." — Heather Cook Resources Mentioned❤️ Support Panhandle Orphan Care Network Every child entering foster care deserves dignity, comfort, and hope. Your generosity helps provide placement packages filled with essentials like clothing, diapers, blankets, Bibles, teddy bears, books, toys, and more for children entering foster care across the Texas Panhandle. Donate here: 👉 https://www.panhandleorphan.org/donation Episode Sponsor🎨 Two Sisters' Studio Looking for a unique way to bring people together? Two Sisters' Studio brings the paint party to you! They offer guided painting experiences for: BusinessesCorporate eventsTeam buildingChurch groupsPrivate partiesCommunity eventsNo artistic experience required—they provide all the supplies and instruction. Learn more or book a class: 👉 https://www.2sistersstudio.com/ Connect with Panhandle Orphan Care Network🌐 Website: https://www.panhandleorphan.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PanhandleOrphanCareNetwork Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/panhandleorphancarenetwork Enjoying the Podcast?If this episode encouraged you, please: Subscribe to All Things FosterLeave a 5-star reviewShare this episode with someone who has considered fostering or wants to support foster familiesTogether, we can build a stronger community for children and families across the Texas Panhandle.

  6. Aug 11

    When The Interview Ends, The Healing Begins (Part 3 of 3)

    Show NotesWhen the Interview Ends, Healing Begins | Part 3 of Our Bridge Series What happens after a child tells their story? In the final episode of our three-part series with The Bridge Children's Advocacy Center, we explore the critical next step: healing. Host Matt Darrah sits down with Bobbi Britto, LPC-S, Clinical Director of The Bridge, and Heather, an LPC Associate, to discuss how trauma-informed counseling helps children and families move from crisis to hope. They also share how The Bridge is addressing the shortage of trauma counselors by training the next generation of mental health professionals to serve the Texas Panhandle. In this episode, you'll learn:Why specialized trauma counseling mattersWhat happens after a forensic interviewHow abuse impacts the entire family—not just the childThe importance of supporting non-offending caregivers and siblingsHow The Bridge is training future trauma counselorsWhy healing requires relationships, safety, and communityThe vision for expanding counseling services across the Texas PanhandleHow healing today can change generations tomorrowEpisode SponsorA special thank you to Sundy Sharp with AMC Mortgage for sponsoring this episode! Whether you're purchasing your first home or looking to refinance, Sundy specializes in helping families throughout Texas navigate the mortgage process with confidence. 📞 Call or Text: 806-683-0313 🌐 https://www.buywithsundy.com 🏠 https://amcmtg.com Learn More🌉 The Bridge Children's Advocacy Center https://bridgecac.org ❤️ Panhandle Orphan Care Network https://www.panhandleorphan.org Support children entering foster care by becoming a Placement Package Partner: $100/month provides clothing for a child entering foster care$50 provides a case of diapers$10 provides a new outfit for a child in needIf you found this series helpful, please: 👍 Like the video 💬 Leave a comment 📤 Share it with someone who works with children or families 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations that strengthen families and protect children #TheBridgeCAC #ChildAdvocacy #TraumaHealing #FosterCare #ChildAbusePrevention #TexasPanhandle #AllThingsFoster #PanhandleOrphanCareNetwork #HopeAfterTrauma #HealingBegins

  7. Aug 4

    Community Education & Protecting Children The Bridge Series (Part 2 of 3)

    Community Education & Protecting Children | The Bridge Series (Part 2 of 3)What can every adult do to help protect children from abuse? In Part 2 of our special series with The Bridge Children's Advocacy Center, Matt sits down with forensic interviewer Emily and outreach specialist Valeria to discuss the power of prevention through education. They explain how recognizing warning signs, understanding grooming behaviors, responding appropriately to disclosures, and reporting suspected abuse can make all the difference in a child's life. In This EpisodeWhy community education is critical to child abuse preventionCommon warning signs adults should never ignoreUnderstanding grooming and online safetyWhat to do when a child discloses abuseHow forensic interviews help reduce traumaThe importance of Play It Safe educationWhy every Texan is a mandatory reporterHow one trusted adult can change a child's futureResourcesPanhandle Orphan Care Network https://www.panhandleorphan.org/ The Bridge Children's Advocacy Center https://bridgecac.org/ Report Suspected Child Abuse or Neglect (Texas) https://www.dfps.texas.gov/contact_us/report_abuse.asp Episode SponsorThis episode is proudly sponsored by ETC Bookkeeping. Whether you're a small business owner or nonprofit, Janie Thomas provides professional bookkeeping services with integrity and excellence. https://www.etcjaniethomas.com/ If this episode encouraged or educated you, please like, subscribe, and share. The more people who know how to recognize, respond to, and report abuse, the safer our communities become for children. Join us next week for Part 3 as we explore the role of trauma-informed counseling and the future of healing at The Bridge.

  8. Jul 28

    The Heart Behind The Bridge | Part 1 of 3 |

    The Heart Behind The Bridge | Part 1 of 3What happens after a child discloses abuse? In Part 1 of this special three-part series, Matt Darrah sits down with Courtney and Leslie from The Bridge Children's Advocacy Center to explore how children and families are supported during one of the most difficult moments of their lives. Together, they discuss forensic interviews, family advocacy, trauma-informed care, and why collaboration is essential to protecting children and helping families begin the journey toward healing. In This EpisodeWhat a Children's Advocacy Center doesHow forensic interviews reduce trauma for childrenThe role of family advocates during investigationsCommon myths about child abuse casesWarning signs every adult should knowWhy every Texan is a mandatory reporterThe Bridge's vision for expanded mental health servicesHow our community can help protect childrenHelpful ResourcesPanhandle Orphan Care Network https://www.panhandleorphan.org/ The Bridge Children's Advocacy Center https://bridgecac.org/ Report Suspected Child Abuse or Neglect (Texas) https://www.dfps.texas.gov/child_protection/child_safety/report_abuse.asp Episode SponsorA special thank you to Kindred Construction for sponsoring this episode. If you have a stone-coated steel roof, schedule your free inspection and protect your investment. https://kindredconstruct.com/ If this conversation encouraged you, please like, subscribe, and share. Raising awareness is one of the most powerful ways we can protect children and support families across the Texas Panhandle. Join us next week for Part 2 of this special series on The Bridge.

See All (70)

Ratings & Reviews

3.7
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

All Things Foster is a place for foster families to learn about resources that are available to them, as well as a place to have community and connection through this difficult calling.

Information