Just As Special
Hope felt like she had way more help than she could use as one foster parent which led her to start thinking about how she could help other families who could benefit from even just one more friend. The Neighbor Program has since grown to serve families across the Colorado and even the nation. Learn more about how you can become a .
info_outline Get Angry & Change ItJust As Special
A youth who was labeled “a danger to others” by the foster care system shares what that meant for her and what that means for the system as a whole. Learn more at .
info_outline The Power of a Country Club LunchJust As Special
Former pro basketball player, Nick Thompson, became a child welfare revolutionary when he opened up a non-traditional group home for boys aged 10-15 years old with his wife. Unlike other residential care facilities, Brad's House never utilizes restraining or seclusion tactics to handle big behaviors, relies on strong community involvement, and is a normal house in a suburban neighborhood. The result is that boys who are used to being stuck in the system are finally empowered to heal themselves by discovering their unique passions and identities. Learn more at .
info_outline Room to BreatheJust As Special
A 12-year-old LGBTQ+ tween shares what it's like to be in foster care and go through the adoption process from their perspective — and dispenses much sage advice for foster and adoptive parents along the way.
info_outline The Fanciest Person On StageJust As Special
Charell Star is a former youth in care and current foster care advocate, NYC television personality, and so much more. She draws on her personal experiences in the system to give us practical ways we can support youth in building a successful future for themselves — and how to cultivate a deep sense of joy no matter the struggles we are facing.
info_outline What Horses Teach Us about Kids in Foster Care: Part 2Just As Special
This episode delves into how to set healthy boundaries — with the foster care system, with the kids in our care, and with ourselves. Just like in , Dave and Lottie use examples of their work with horses to bring their lessons to life. See photos and more at .
info_outline What Horses Teach Us About Kids in Foster Care: Part 1Just As Special
It turns out horses and kids in foster care have a lot in common. Lottie Grimes and Dave Wyner are both longtime trauma counselors and co-founders of which provides free equine-assisted . Just As Special host Natasha attended this training before sitting down with Dave and Lottie to delve deep into how horses can teach us to better care for kids in foster care. This episode is made possible with support from .
info_outline This Foster Care Life: How to Show Up in a Broken SystemJust As Special
This is the third episode of our This Foster Care Life miniseries where we bring you multiple perspectives around the same topic. In this episode, you will hear from: Ashley Schuster Downend: a foster parent and public policy professional who grapples with tough questions we should all be asking ourselves. Aubree: a white foster mom raising black foster kids in the New York City area. Nikki Brown: a foster mom who shares the challenges of moving states while fostering. This episode was made possible by generous support from . Learn more at .
info_outline Fostering Creatively: A 100 lb Bike Ride & YouTube StarJust As Special
Nichole shares what she enjoys about being a single foster mom and how she creatively tackles foster care challenges. See photos and an update about Nichole and the kids in her care at .
info_outline Year in Review: Good intentions don't guarantee good impactJust As Special
Join foster mom, Natasha and foster care volunteer, Rachel as they reflect on lessons learned in 2021 to carry into the new year.
info_outlineCultural Ties is the first episode of our This Foster Care Life miniseries where we bring you multiple perspectives around the same topic.
Our fellow Emmy Tither personally relates to the idea of cultural ties as they are half-Peruvian and half-British, making them the perfect host for this episode.
In this episode, you will also hear from:
- Bruce LeClaire: A member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe who has been a youth advocate for more than 30 years and spent most of those years working within the foster care system and with native families. (Full Podcast Interview Coming August 17th)
- Brittany: A foster mom in a multi-racial Muslim family raising three kids in care who are of different ethnicities than her and her husband. Brittany has faced many challenges when it comes to foster care including culture clashes and getting extended family to accept her and her husband's kids in care.
- Kenisha E. Anthony: A former kid in care who kept falling through the cracks of the foster care system to the point that she felt like a burden to everyone and experienced suicidal thoughts. She later returned to the foster care system as a caseworker which opened her eyes up even more.