Changing the way we care for orphaned children, getting kids back into families, and lifting up community….it all sounds great on paper, but is it actually possible? This is an important question because theory doesn’t necessarily mean it works. 
This is why we are talking with our friend, Phil Aspergren, who has been helping children’s homes from all over the world change their model of care…and it’s working!

In most of our minds, orphanages are viewed as a protector of vulnerable children. This can be true, but often an orphanage can be a deceptive place that is using it’s position and power to serve selfish interests and even harm the children it claims to protect. This is why is so important to understand the warning signs.
Our guest, Rebecca Nhep, is an expert in this field and has even been a part of closing down multiple nefarious orphanages. She is here to share her invaluable knowledge and wisdom and help us all understand the urgency behind reimagining the way we care for vulnerable children. 

All over the world there are people who felt clearly called by God to either fund a children's home, serve at one, or leave everything to start an orphanage. But now that we know that orphanages and children's homes are not the way we should be aiming to care for vulnerable children, how are we supposed to view that very real and clear calling? 

Travel with us to Maesot, Thailand to hear from the Thai Director of Global Child Advocates on what it looks like to run 4 children’s homes to closing them all down and finding safe family for each child. 

Are orphanages the best way to care for orphaned children? Is there actually a better way?

The answers to these questions could define the next generation of vulnerable children. Join us as we dig deeper into these complicated issues and the origins and motivations behind our recently released video series called Reimagine Orphan Care.

We spoke with Oleg and Andrey, two Ukrainian men working to help bring children to safety. They share about the realities of what is actually happening on the ground and how children living in orphanages are being impacted the most.

Visit Orphan Outreach to learn how you can support Together for Children in Ukraine.

If you're like most people, the war in Ukraine weighs heavy on your mind but you don't know what to do about it. Fortunately, Ronne Rock and Mike Douris have been working with vulnerable children in both Russia and Ukraine for years. Their wisdom, insight, and humility will help guide us toward ways that can make a difference during this unprecedented time.

Keri spent the first 20 years of her life surviving. She went into foster care at 3 days old and was adopted by age 5. This was supposed to be her happy ending but instead she endured abuse and more broken relationships. This pain and trauma could have defined Keri's life, but instead she chose to find healing.

Late one night in a Los Angeles hotel room, Brenna had her kids unexpectedly removed from her care and taken back to Michigan. Now, with COVID lockdown just starting, she found herself stuck, homeless, and hopeless. This could have crushed most people, but Brenna loved her children more than anything and would do whatever it took to get them back.

After an unplanned pregnancy her senior year of high school, Emma placed her baby for adoption. Today, 5 years later, Emma and adoptive mama Rachel are here today to tell us about the ways they have been able to heal and grow together through open adoption for the sake of their daughter.

Prince Hayward had every reason to become another statistic of the foster care system, but instead he is using his experience to advocate for the next generation.

People can help vulnerable children and families at any stage of their life and our guest today, Bob Rogers is here to prove just that. Bob is near and dear to the Archibald family as he is Whitney's dad and is here to talk with us about how he is using his retirement time to care for vulnerable children and families in his local community.

Cindy was born in South Korea but she was raised by a black family in Jackson, Mississippi. Like many transracial adoptees, this collision of race, ethnicity, and culture sent Cindy on a complicated journey to find her identity and sense of belonging.

As a child, very few adults took the chance to help Gaelin in his situation. This resulted in over 20 foster homes, homelessness, and abuse. But despite all that was against him Gaelin did not become another statistic of the system, and his story is further proof that kids in foster care are more than what their case file says. They are strong, resilient, and healing is possible.

Cathleen Bearse is a licensed therapist who decided to become a foster parent, yet before she even received her first placement she started therapy herself. Cathleen shares with us the power of having a safe place for your feelings and emotions during foster care.

Ashlee and her husband had what so many people work toward; a mostly controlled and comfortable life. But when they were confronted with the reality of children and families in need, they knew they were being called out of their comfort and into something greater.

Jason Johnson and his wife had talked about foster care for a while, but she was ready and he wasn't. What he didn't know was that his decision would change the direction and trajectory of his entire life in ways he never expected.

Travel with us from the busy streets of Bangkok to a border town dump to hear the work of a man and his team who are empowering families and protecting vulnerable children from trafficking.

At the time this episode was recorded, the organization was called Compasio. They are now called Global Child Advocates.

Sri Lanka is strikingly beautiful, but it has a complicated history. This has had the greatest effect on the vulnerable children who call this place home. We travel from the oceans to the mountains to hear the compelling stories of children and the people working to help them thrive.

Get immersed in the busyness of Beijing as we document something extremely rare; the adoption of a 13 year old boy who is visually impaired.

Travel with us to a country that marks the southern edge of the Sahara Desert to witness the adoption of a 13 year old boy with hearing loss.

Travel with us inside the borders of Western Romania to hear the story of a woman who has been rescuing vulnerable children since the fall of communism.

Become immersed in the sounds of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia as we hear the stories of vulnerable children and the people working to provide them with family. 

Finding a foster home for a teenager is almost twice as unlikely as finding a home for children 12 and under. Yet, despite this trend, Maranda Karenbauer and her husband have welcomed four children (ages 17, 16, 13, and 11) into their home. Despite the stereotypes and fears around fostering teens, Maranda and her husband have instead found deep love and even their first son.