The Riverside Project Podcast The Riverside Project

For young adults who faced significant challenges growing up, it can be very hard to successfully transition into the workforce. 
They may not have the resources or self-confidence to strive for a fulfilling career. As a result, they may end up unemployed or stuck in a cycle of jobs that don’t offer upward mobility. 
Today’s guest, Brian Meza, is tackling this problem with his Petra Cares program. We are so excited to spread the word about this inspiring resource, as we believe it’s truly an invaluable asset to our community. 
As the Executive Director of Petra Cares, Brian partners with Lone Star College to provide automotive industry training for vulnerable young adults, such as those who are aging out of foster care. Brian also helps program graduates find fulfilling job placements.
In this episode, Brian shares how his team goes the extra mile to remove any obstacles that could get in the way of their students’ educations, how they have adapted the Petra Cares program over the years to encourage more successful graduations, what putting himself in the shoes of people with challenging backgrounds has taught him about empathy, and so much more. 
Find the show notes and links to anything we discussed here: https://riversideproject.org/brian-meza-24
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Adopting children who are of a different race than your own can be a beautiful thing. But many parents who do so make one crucial mistake—they try to disregard the topic of race altogether. They may feel uncomfortable addressing this subject or think that it’s better just to ignore it.
But the truth is, in order to set children up for success, you need to understand the unique challenges they face and communicate with them about those challenges. Otherwise, they may feel alone, unsure of their identity, and unequipped to deal with the realities of racial discrimination.
Today’s guest, Isaac Etter, was transracially adopted at the age of two. His experiences inspired him to found Identity—a startup focused on helping adoptive and foster families thrive.
In this episode, Isaac shares insights on subjects like why it’s important to teach your children about racial issues before they go out into the world, how to show children that they’re loved for the entirety of who they are—not just the fact that they are your adopted child, how to give your child opportunities to connect with diverse communities and individuals who they feel represented by, and so much more.
Find the show notes and links to anything we discussed here: https://riversideproject.org/isaac-etter-23
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Website: https://riversideproject.org
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Life as a foster parent is a constant learning process.
You complete extensive training, but quickly realize that there's always more to learn. As you figure out the best ways to meet the needs of the children in your care, one thing continues to become clear—every child comes with their own unique needs.
The best way to grow in how you're supporting the children in your care is to gain experience, and that’s why I’m so grateful to have sat down with Chelsea Floro. Chelsea is an adoptive, foster, and biological mom to eight children. She’s also the founder of The Moses Closet of The Woodlands and the face behind the Real Life Foster Mom blog.
In this episode, Chelsea talks about her nine-year journey supporting children and families in foster care, her experiences in learning how to provide the best support for children with special needs, how she’s learned to let go of life’s “what ifs," and so much more.
Find the show notes and links to anything we discussed here: https://riversideproject.org/chelsea-floro-22
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Website: https://riversideproject.org
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The foster care system’s primary goal is to serve the best interests of the families within it. Whenever possible, that means reuniting biological parents with their children.
To help a family heal, birth parents need intentional support. But all too often, they aren’t given the resources they need to overcome their challenging life circumstances and set their family on a positive trajectory.
In this episode, I am joined by two incredible women from Decatur, Texas: Catherine Vannatta and Tiffany Maggret. Catherine currently serves as a CASA advocate, while Tiffany is the Founder and Executive Director of One Hope Village, an organization that helps deteriorating families recover by equipping them with robust community resources.
Catherine and Tiffany share with us what it’s like to advocate for a child’s rights when they are struggling in the foster care system, how God’s grace inspires them to create safe spaces where birth parents feel comfortable asking for help, how they give families the resources they need to heal and reconnect, and so much more.
Find the show notes and links to anything we discussed here: https://riversideproject.org/catherine-tiffany-21
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It’s a joy to have Travis Hand, a Licensed Master Social Worker who currently serves as a Behavioral Health Specialist at Texas Children’s Hospital, on our latest episode of the podcast. Once a teen struggling to navigate the challenges of growing up in the foster care system, Travis gained a strong passion for social work in college.
This conversation is full of perspective and encouragement for each of us as we find our place along the River!
Find the show notes and links to anything we discussed here: https://riversideproject.org/travis-hand-20
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Website: https://riversideproject.org
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.riverside.project
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We are delighted to have the Deputy Regional Director at the Texas Department of Family Protective Services, Shaundricka Easley, on the podcast. She has been with the department for over 15 years and had various roles during that time as well as served all 13 counties across the Houston area.
Shaundricka gives us unique insight from her vast experience, including some of the challenges she faces on a daily basis, how to support the children within the system, what can happen when we work together, and so much more!
Find the show notes and links to anything we discussed here: https://riversideproject.org/shaundricka-easley-19
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Website: https://riversideproject.org
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.riverside.project
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/riversideproject.htx