After suffering a tragic spinal cord injury that left him in a wheelchair, Chris Norton and his wife Emily had every reason to just focus on themselves; navigating life and marriage. Instead they chose to do foster care and adoption. The Norton's have fostered 18 kids and adopted 5. Chris's story of perseverance and selflessness will inspire you to do the same.
In many countries orphaned girls are some of the most vulnerable members of society. Then, once they age out of care they are opened up to a whole new world of dangers with no family or knowledge of how to navigate life and stay safe. Our friend John Marshall saw this problem and decided to tackle it by providing a quality, free college education for these girls. You have to listen to this podcast and learn more about how Teach Her is changing lives.
Sally's journey began when she was 6 months old as she entered the foster care system. Although adopted by loving parents, her journey of abuse continued when she was sexually abused and treated terribly by family and her peers. Her own healing came when Sally adopted her daughter out of foster care and has since had to learn how to help her daughter overcome her own trauma. This beautifully tragic story of healing is a must listen.
Something you may not realize is that a large number of adoptive parents enter into adoption with trauma of their own. Jordan Tate was no exception as she experienced incredible loss before quickly entering into a domestic adoption. She is here to help us understand how we can better navigate our own pain and trauma which will allow us to more healthily help our children heal from their trauma.
This episode contains sensitive content as we discuss infant loss, miscarriage and infertility.
Our guest today, Julie Kouri, is an adoptive mom and founder of an adoption and foster care organization called Fostering Hope. In this podcast Julie shares wisdom that only comes after years of being in this field and we learn how Fostering Hope is restoring broken families.
When looking for a preschool when a child has experienced trauma you will want to consider the environment, type of care, whether state subsidies will be accepted, and many other factors, which can all be overwhelming. Enter Petra Preschool! Our guest today, Mindy Jones shares how she and her team at Petra have created a community for families in the foster system so that everyone can find the support they need to thrive.
Sometimes it can feel like the only way to help vulnerable children is by fostering or adopting, but nothing could be further from the truth. One of the most practical ways you can start getting involved is by becoming a Court Appointed Special Advocate or CASA volunteer. Our guest Maddy Wellum is here to tell us about her experience with CASA and the impact it’s had on the lives of children and even more so her own.
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Jacari Harris endured an unstable home, two years in foster care, an adoption, and the death of his father. His anger, depression, and pain caused him to call the police on his adoptive parents and get kicked out of class. But through the consistency of his adoptive mother and a new found determination, Jacari has become an inspiration to foster parents and foster youth.
Visit Jacari's Website here.
What happens at the U.S. and Mexico border is complex and highly debated. But no matter your opinion it doesn't change the fact that there are vulnerable women and children living there that need help. Our guest today, Alma Ruth has fully embraced that call and is using her time and resources to support the people living in these desperate circumstances. Alma’s story and experiences will open your eyes and challenge your heart.
Susan Harness faced many complexities and challenges growing up as an American Indian transracial adoptee in the 1960’s and 70’s. From years of experiencing racism, poor U.S. policies, an abusive father, and a journey to meet her mother, Susan has become gracious and an important voice for the adoptee community.