In this episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, host Travis Vangsnes and co-host Courtney Williams welcome Jeanette Yoffee, a clinical psychologist and advocate for foster care and adoption. Jeanette shares her personal journey through foster care and adoption, emphasizing the importance of understanding grief and loss in children. She discusses the significance of open adoption, the need for connection, and the various interventions she has developed to help children cope with their experiences.

Jeanette also introduces her book, 'The Traumatized and At-Risk Youth Toolbox,' which provides practical tools for parents and caregivers. The conversation highlights the importance of mattering and connection for children in foster care, encouraging foster parents to create a safe and supportive environment for their children.

Checkout her website and all her tools and resources:
https://www.jeanetteyoffe.com/

Takeaways

• Jeanette Yoffe shares her personal journey through foster care and adoption.
• Understanding grief and loss is crucial for children in foster care.
• Open adoption allows children to maintain connections with their birth families.
• Children need to know they matter and are valued.
• Interventions like the 'sad bag' help children cope with grief.
• Foster parents should lean into the discomfort of children's feelings.
• Jeanette's book provides practical tools for parents and caregivers.
• Children often recycle questions about their past as they develop.
• It's important to separate a child's behavior from their identity.
• Creating a safe environment helps children thrive.

In this episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, host Brian Mavis and co-host Courtney Williams interview Jamie Finn, a prominent figure in the foster care community. Jamie shares her personal journey into foster care, the impact on her biological children, and the importance of self-care for foster parents. They discuss her book 'God Loves Kids', the need for supportive communities, and the challenges foster parents face, including burnout and the reasons many quit. Jamie emphasizes the importance of saying yes to children in need and the eternal impact of foster care.

Pickup Jamie's new book--God Loves Kids: A Gospel Centered Book About Foster Care
https://a.co/d/052zNuJ9

Checkout her org: Foster the Family
https://www.fosterthefamily.org/

Instagram:
@fosterthefamilyblog

Takeaways

• Jamie Finn is a well-known advocate in the foster care community.
• Foster care can significantly impact biological children in positive ways.
• Self-care is crucial for foster parents to avoid burnout.
• Foster parents need to feel supported and seen in their roles.
• The goal of foster care is often reunification, which can be challenging for foster parents.
• Children in foster care need families, not just temporary homes.
• Every moment spent with foster children can have lasting effects.
• Foster parents should be trauma-informed to better support the children in their care.
• Community support is essential for the sustainability of foster care.
• The journey of foster care is filled with both challenges and rewards.

In this episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, Tyler Hunter shares his profound journey through foster care and adoption. He reflects on the challenges he faced, the coping mechanisms he developed, and the importance of community and support in his life. Tyler emphasizes the transformative power of foster care, the significance of forgiveness, and the need for advocacy in the child welfare system. His story is a testament to resilience, personal growth, and the impact of unconditional love and support.

Takeaways

• Foster care can be a life-saving experience.
• Masking feelings is a common coping mechanism for children in care.
• School can provide a safe haven for foster children.
• Finding a sense of normalcy is crucial for foster youth.
• Forgiveness is essential for personal healing.
• Community support is vital for children in foster care.
• Foster parents play a critical role in a child's life.
• Vulnerability is a challenge for many who have experienced trauma.
• Positive affirmations can significantly impact a child's self-worth.
• Advocacy is necessary to improve the foster care system.