We begin our journey of adoption from foster care here. In this episode, we’ll hear the powerful, heartwarming, and often humorous story of Liz and Ashley’s experience navigating adoption together. Later, we’ll hear from experts Kamilah Bunn and Bob Herne, who will introduce the issue of adoption from foster care. We’ll also hear from Debbie Riley, who will introduce the concept of separation and loss and explain how it affects adoptive families. 

Experts:
Kamilah Bunn, Chief Executive Officer, National Adoption Association
Bob Herne, National Project Director, AdoptUSKids
Debbie Riley, CEO and co-founder of the Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E)

Host:
April Dinwoodie

Navigating Adoption: Presented by AdoptUSKids is brought to you by the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families and the Ad Council. The series is produced by Wordsworth & Booth. Episode transcripts are available at AdoptUSKids.org/podcast.

For more information about adopting a teen from foster care, please visit adoptuskids.org. 

The process of adoption from foster care is exciting, emotional, and full of expectations. In this episode, we’ll hear the story of how Samanthia and Christian found each other through adoption, from their own unique perspectives on the process. Then we’ll hear from experts Ruth McRoy and Denise Goodman about the children and youth waiting to be adopted and how the recruitment process works. 

Experts:
Ruth McRoy, PhD, research professor, University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work
Denise Goodman, child welfare consultant

Host: 
April Dinwoodie

Navigating Adoption: Presented by AdoptUSKids is brought to you by the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families and the Ad Council. The series is produced by Wordsworth & Booth. Episode transcripts are available at AdoptUSKids.org/podcast.

For more information about adopting a teen from foster care, please visit adoptuskids.org. 

The support episode! Today, we explore how adoptive families find assistance and encouragement throughout the process. We’ll hear the story of the Ahlgren family, Jeremey and Joslyn, and the community they created during their adoption experiences. Then we’ll talk to experts Mary Boo and Melinda Lis about how to support adopted teens and the importance of maintaining family connections. 

Experts:  
Mary Boo, Executive Director, North American Council on Adoptable Children
Melinda Lis, Vice President at Spaulding for Children

 Host: 
April Dinwoodie

Navigating Adoption: Presented by AdoptUSKids is brought to you by the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families and the Ad Council. The series is produced by Wordsworth & Booth. Episode transcripts are available at AdoptUSKids.org/podcast.

For more information about adopting a teen from foster care, please visit adoptuskids.org. 

For our final episode of season one, we hear the story of Maci, Chris, and Gigi and how they connected based on a casual interaction at a high school theater production. Then we’re joined by Kamilah Bunn and Bob Herne to discuss the rewards of adopting a youth from foster care and how to learn more. 

 Experts:  
Kamilah Bunn, Chief Executive Officer, National Adoption Association 

Bob Herne, National Project Director, AdoptUSKids 

 Host: 
April Dinwoodie

 Navigating Adoption: Presented by AdoptUSKids is brought to you by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families and the Ad Council. The series is produced by Wordsworth & Booth. Episode transcripts are available at AdoptUSKids.org/podcast.

For more information about adopting a teen from foster care, please visit AdoptUSKids.org. 

As teens in foster care grow older, they might face aging out of the adoption system without a permanent family. Today, we dive into the concept of aging out of the foster care system through two different stories, told by Catherine and La Tika. Then, we speak to experts Sixto Cancel and Sarah Phillips on the importance of the youth voice and working towards permanency.

 Experts: 
Sarah Phillips, LINKS Coordinator and CPS Social Worker, Orange County Department of Social Services, North Carolina

Sixto Cancel, Chief Executive Officer, Think of Us

 Host: 
April Dinwoodie

Navigating Adoption: Presented by AdoptUSKids is brought to you by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families and the Ad Council. The series is produced by Wordsworth & Booth. Episode transcripts are available at AdoptUSKids.org/podcast.

 For more information about adopting a teen from foster care, please visit AdoptUSKids.org. 

One of the most important things a family can share with an adopted teen is understanding and compassion. In short: grace. In this episode, we explore Amber and Kimberly’s story of adoption from foster care. Then we hear from Debbie Riley, an expert in adoption support, who’ll help us get a deeper understanding of how families can acknowledge loss, address trauma, and grow together.

 Expert:  
Debbie Riley, CEO, and co-founder of The Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E)

 Host: 
April Dinwoodie

Navigating Adoption: Presented by AdoptUSKids is brought to you by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families and the Ad Council. The series is produced by Wordsworth & Booth. Episode transcripts are available at AdoptUSKids.org/podcast.

For more information about adopting a teen from foster care, please visit AdoptUSKids.org.