In this episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, hosts Courtney Williams and Travis Vangsnes welcome Kayla Moffitt, a dedicated mother of five and a TBRI practitioner. The conversation begins with Kayla sharing her journey from being a youth pastor to becoming a foster parent, highlighting the challenges and joys of welcoming five siblings into her home overnight. Kayla discusses the emotional complexities of parenting children from traumatic backgrounds, particularly the grief she experienced when her father passed away just as her new children were moving in. The hosts and Kayla delve into the importance of understanding trauma-informed care and the necessity of regulating one's own emotions as a parent to create a safe environment for children who have faced significant hardships.

As the discussion progresses, Kayla emphasizes the need for community support for foster families, sharing her experiences with both helpful and unhelpful forms of assistance. She stresses that love alone is not enough; foster parents must also be equipped with knowledge and resources to effectively support their children. The episode concludes with Kayla offering practical advice for future foster parents, urging them to meet children where they are emotionally and to be patient as they navigate the complexities of building trust and relationships. This heartfelt conversation is a testament to the resilience of foster families and the importance of community in the foster care journey.

Follow Kayla on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/makingthemoffitts/

Checkout our free trauma training workshop:
https://americaskidsbelong.org/lp/trauma-sensitivity-workshop-training/

Takeaways:

• Love is not enough; understanding is crucial.
• Meet children where they are emotionally.
• Community support is vital for foster families.
• Regulate yourself before attempting to regulate a child.
• Foster parents need tangible help, not just good intentions.

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.