The Forgotten Podcast The Forgotten Initiative
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- Kids & Family
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We want to see people everywhere supporting the foster care community and experiencing Jesus together. So, in this podcast, we are sharing the stories of the foster care community to bring awareness that leads to action!
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Episode 225: Becoming an Emotional Safety Net For Your Child (w/ Michelle Nietert)
No matter the season of parenting you’re in, there’s one thing every parent needs to prioritize—mental health. Not just your child’s, but your own, too.
It’s easy to look at the behavioral or emotional struggles our children are exhibiting and start thinking of ways to “fix” them. What’s harder is looking inward and asking ourselves what steps we can take to nurture our mental health so we can show up for our kids in the best way.
Joining me today is Michelle Nietert, an author, a speaker, and the Clinical Director/Founder of Community Counseling Associates. She’s also a follower of Christ, a wife, and a mother to two school-aged children who puts her mental health knowledge to use every day as she seeks to nurture a happy and healthy household.
In this episode, Michelle teaches us how to support our children through life’s challenges, how to help children who’ve experienced trauma find hope, joy, and light in life, how to work prayer into your children’s lives as they grow up, and so much more.
Show Notes: https://theforgotteninitiative.org/michelle-nietert-225/
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Episode 224: From Adoptee to Adoptive Mom (w/ Cami Haussler)
Cami Haussler’s childhood was marked by turbulence. By the time she was 10, both of her parents had passed away. Her formative years were filled with a long string of life changes, and it seemed like every time she got close to a caregiver, they would leave her.
Eventually, Cami was adopted by her grandparents, but despite the love they showed her, Cami often struggled to let them in, fearing that they too would pass away and leave her alone again.
Today, Cami’s experiences have come full circle—she’s now an adoptive parent who has fostered 12 children and taken on a core role at a private child placement agency.
In this episode, Cami openly shares how the emotional struggles of her childhood molded her into the woman she is today, how her mindset as a foster and adoptive parent had to expand into one of grace and selflessness, the biggest challenges from her experience as an adoptee, how to avoid developing a “savior complex” as a foster parent, and so much more.
Show Notes: https://theforgotteninitiative.org/cami-haussler-224/
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Episode 223: When Motherhood Involves Unexpected Challenges (w/ Katie Faris)
Katie Faris knew that motherhood wasn’t always going to be smooth sailing, but she was more than ready to deal with temper tantrums and dirty diapers. What she wasn’t prepared for was receiving the news that three of her children had been diagnosed with a serious medical condition.
Katie’s story is deeply touching to me. She’s a pastor’s wife and a writer who has shared her journey with others through books like God is Still Good: Gospel Hope and Comfort for the Unexpected Sorrows of Motherhood and He Will Be Enough: How God Takes You by the Hand Through Your Hardest Days.
Woven through both books is her own family’s story as well as stories of others who found God to be trustworthy in the midst of their perplexities.
In this episode, you’ll hear how Katie has walked hand in hand with God through all the ups and downs of her journey, her advice for relying on your community, the power of prayer when hope is hard to find, and so much more.
Show Notes: https://theforgotteninitiative.org/katie-faris-223/
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Episode 222: Learning How to Give and Receive Care (w/ Randall Nichols)
Has God ever led you somewhere that you were previously scared to go? Are you currently facing a situation where God is inviting you to entrust your fear and concerns to Him?
That’s what happened for Randall Nichols, co-founder of ECHO Family Care Partners and an adoptive parent. Through his work at ECHO, Randall is working to resource churches and businesses to meet the needs of orphaned and vulnerable children and families through foster care, adoption, and wrap-around support.
In this episode, Randall shares the powerful story of connection that introduced their family to special needs adoptions, how to involve your children in the decision to care for others, why community often is the biggest concern for those considering adoption or foster care, the importance of being able to give and receive care, and so much more!
Apply to Become a TFI Advocate: www.tfiadvocate.org
Show Notes: https://theforgotteninitiative.org/randall-nichols-222/ -
Episode 221: A Complicated Journey of Foster Care & Motherhood (w/ Lisa Qualls)
When Lisa Qualls found out she was pregnant as a teen, it led to an unexpected journey through foster care. After giving birth to her son, she felt conflicting pressure to give him up to be adopted, and it would be 16 years until she would reconnect with him again.
Lisa has a unique perspective as she has experienced the adoption and foster care community as a former foster youth, birth mom, foster mom, and adoptive mom. Lisa is a TBRI® Practitioner, co-founder of Adoption Wise, and co-author of The Connected Parent with Karyn Purvis. She lives in North Idaho with her husband, Russ, with whom she has parented twelve children by birth and adoption.
In this episode, you’ll hear Lisa’s deeply challenging experience in foster care and becoming a mother, her passion for staying connected to a child’s first family whenever possible, how she strives to encourage foster and adoptive families today, and so much more!
Apply to Become a TFI Advocate: www.tfiadvocate.org
Show Notes: https://theforgotteninitiative.org/lisa-qualls-221/ -
Episode 220: Finding Treasures in the Darkness (w/ Katherine Wolf)
We’re exploring some deep questions on the podcast this week and I would love to hear how you’re processing them.
How do we navigate painful circumstances in life?
How do we walk with others who are experiencing something deeply challenging?
How do we respond when life doesn’t turn out the way we expected it to?
I was so deeply touched during my conversation with my guest today, Katherine Wolf. She is my beautiful sister in Christ who is also a stroke survivor, disability advocate, and author. She and her husband, Jay, have authored two best-selling books Hope Heals and Suffer Strong.
In our conversation, you’ll hear Katherine reveal treasures found in dark times, share practical insights on how to encourage and support those who are struggling, and more!
Listen in!
Apply to Become a TFI Advocate: www.tfiadvocate.org
Show Notes: https://theforgotteninitiative.org/katherine-wolf-220/
Customer Reviews
Best Foster Care Podcast!
Such a great podcast for anyone involved in foster care. Highly recommend for parents, youth, social workers, and Christian leaders.
Such a Support
Starting listening to this as my interest grew in foster care. It was so eye opening and raw and helpful. Speaks truth and yet talks about hard things. Keep doing wonderful work!
Love
I love this podcast!!! As a big foster sister( we have two little guys in our home currently) I love listening to the podcasts, it is very helpful and encouraging! I’m so glad she stays true to scripture( I was nervous about the episode about loving LGBTQ+ kids) it was true to what the Bible says❤️ I especially loved the episode with the two teens who had, had foster siblings (: I recommend this podcast a million times over! Thank you for all your great episodes! Please make more about the birth parent perspective if possible, those are my favorite -❤️foster care P.S also more episodes from the perspective of kids who have foster siblings like me❤️ Thank you for this great podcast!