Fostering Futures℠

In this episode of Fostering Futures with CAHELP, Athena Cordero sits down with J.C. Hall, a hip-hop artist, therapist, school social worker, and creator of a hip-hop therapy studio program at a Second Chance High School in the South Bronx.

J.C. shares how hip-hop became a lifeline during his own struggles as a teenager and eventually inspired his approach to supporting young people facing trauma, mental health challenges, and difficult life circumstances. He breaks down what hip-hop therapy actually looks like, combining music, writing, storytelling, performance, mindfulness, and established therapeutic approaches to meet...

In this episode of Fostering Futures with CAHELP, guest hosts Amanda Gingerich and Maurica Manibusan sit down with CAHELP behavioral specialists Miya Narvaiz-Ward and Danielle Côté to explore the growing impact of technology, social media, and digital devices on children’s behavior, mental health, and development.

The conversation examines concerns surrounding what some researchers call the "Anxious Generation," including rising rates of anxiety, depression, cyberbullying, emotional dysregulation, and the effects of constant digital connectivity. Miya and Danielle share insights from behavioral science and education while discussing how smartphones, soci...

In this episode of Fostering Futures with CAHELP, Athena Cordero sits down with Jeff Youskievicz, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services for Silver Valley Unified School District, to discuss how one district is thoughtfully navigating the evolving world of artificial intelligence in education.

Jeff shares Silver Valley’s journey from early conversations about AI to building district-wide systems that support innovation, responsible implementation, and student success. The discussion explores how AI can be used as a tool to support educators, personalize learning, and help teachers regain valuable time while maintaining the critical human relationships that drive st...

In this episode of Fostering Futures with CAHELP, Athena Cordero sits down with Vianca Padilla, Outreach Specialist at CAHELP, to discuss mindfulness, mental wellness, and simple strategies that families can use to build stronger connections and healthier habits.

Vianca shares her personal journey with mental health and how mindfulness became an important tool for self-awareness, self-connection, and emotional well-being. Together, Athena and Vianca explore common misconceptions about mindfulness, breaking down the idea that it requires complicated routines or significant amounts of time. Instead, they highlight how mindfulness can be found in everyday moments and simple...

In this episode of Fostering Futures with CAHELP, Athena Cordero sits down with Molly Grisham, leadership development expert, author, and founder of a leadership and team development company focused on helping organizations build healthier, more connected cultures.

Drawing from her experience as a college soccer coach, educator, and facilitator, Molly shares how leadership is less about titles and authority and more about understanding people, navigating conflict, and creating environments where individuals can thrive together. The conversation explores communication, team culture, accountability, and the role leaders play in shaping healthy workplace dynamics.

Molly discusses...

In this closing episode of the Fostering Futures Foster Youth series, Athena Cordero sits down with Dr. Amy Young, Chief of Forensic Pediatrics at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital, to bring deeper understanding to the realities of childhood trauma, abuse, and healing.

Dr. Young explains the role of forensic pediatrics and how medical professionals evaluate, diagnose, and support children who may have experienced abuse or significant adversity. She offers insight into how cases are handled with a focus on protecting children, supporting families, and working collaboratively with community systems to ensure safety and long-term wel...

In this episode, Athena Cordero sits down with Aubrey Carballo, Service Specialist at Desert Mountain Children’s Center and a former foster youth, to share her powerful and deeply personal story.

Aubrey reflects on entering the foster care system at a young age, navigating multiple placements, and adapting to constantly changing environments, beliefs, and family dynamics. She shares what it was like to experience separation from her siblings, reunification with her mother, and the realities that followed challenging the expectations she once held onto as a child in the system.

Through her journey, Au...

In this episode of Fostering Futures with CAHELP, Athena Cordero sits down with Mark Todhunter, Behavioral Health Counselor Supervisor at Desert Mountain Children’s Center, to explore the mental health realities of foster youth.

Mark shares his decades of experience working with children in foster care, offering powerful insight into how removal, placement changes, and ongoing uncertainty deeply impact a child’s identity, sense of safety, and ability to form connections. He explains how foster youth often experience both trauma and ongoing grief and loss losing not only their families, but also their homes, schools, rout...

In this episode of Fostering Futures with CAHELP, Athena Cordero sits down with Renee Castillo, Director of Child Welfare and Attendance at Apple Valley Unified School District, to explore how attendance, stability, and student well‑being are deeply connected.

Renee shares her experience across nearly three decades in education, including lessons learned from her time in Vermont and how those insights shaped her work supporting students today. The conversation breaks down the true role of child welfare and attendance moving beyond compliance to focus on connection, trust, and removing barriers that prevent students from accessing sc...

In this episode, Pam Bender fills in as host and is joined by Iván Campos, Program Specialist at CAHELP, for an in‑depth conversation about speech and language services from an educational lens.

Iván brings his experience as a bilingual speech‑language pathologist and early intervention specialist to break down how families can navigate speech and language supports across systems. The conversation explores the differences between medical and school‑based eligibility, how early intervention services transition at age three, and what parents need to know when requesting school assessments and participating in IEP m...

In this episode of Fostering Futures with CAHELP, Athena Cordero speaks with Tawnie Rice, Administrator at On the Rise Foster Agency in Barstow, California. Tawnie shares her unique perspective as both a former foster youth and a social work professional who has worked her way up through nearly every role within the agency.

Tawnie walks listeners through what foster family agencies do, how they differ from county placements, and why additional layers of support, such as trained visitation monitoring, advocacy, and trauma‑informed services can make a critical difference for foster children and fa...

In this episode, Athena Cordero sits down with Paul Durham, Program Coordinator for the Children Deserve Success Team at San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools (SBCSS), to explore what it truly takes to support foster youth through education, stability, and connection.

Paul shares his dual perspective as both a system leader and someone who personally experienced foster care, offering powerful insight into the realities that foster youth face, including frequent school changes, housing instability, and the emotional toll of starting over again and again. He explains how San Bernardino County has built a coordinated, prevention‑fo...

In this episode, Athena Cordero sits down with Jennifer Cork, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Doctor of Social Work, author, and keynote speaker who is also as autistic. Jennifer brings both professional expertise and lived experience to a powerful conversation about neurodiversity, mental health, and what autistic individuals truly need to thrive, especially during life transitions.

Jennifer shares her journey from elementary education into social work, disability services, and eventually private practice, where she now works almost exclusively with neurodivergent children, teens, and adults. She explains why many of the challenges her clients face, such...

In this episode of Fostering Futures, host Athena Cordero welcomes Jennifer Rountree, a Program Specialist, and Melissa de Silva, an Intervention Specialist, both from the California Association of Health and Education Linked and Professions (CAHELP). With over two decades of combined experience in Special Education (SPED), Jennifer and Melissa dive into the complexities of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in honor of Autism Awareness Month. The conversation centers on understanding autism not just as a medical diagnosis, but as a neuro-developmental disability that uniquely impacts social communication and behavior across a broad spectrum of needs.

They...

In this episode, Athena Cordero sits down with Derrik Delton, former Superintendent of the Oro Grande School District, to discuss the unique intersection of educational leadership and foster parenting. With 30 years of experience in education, ranging from a Special Education (SPED) teacher to an administrator across all grade levels, Derrik shares how his professional background informed his personal decision to become a foster and, eventually, an adoptive parent. The conversation highlights the innovative programs within the Oro Grande district, such as Riverside Prep, and the critical importance of creating supportive environments where foster youth can thrive both...

In this episode, Athena Cordero sits down with Maria Bamba, a foster parent whose journey began through a family crisis and evolved into a lifelong calling. What started as stepping in to care for her nieces during an emergency became a five‑year journey of fostering teen girls, navigating trauma, building structure, and creating a home rooted in faith, love, and accountability.

Maria shares the deeply personal story that led her to fostering from her sister’s medical emergency, to becoming a single foster parent, to later walking through profound grief after the loss of her...

In this episode, Athena Cordero welcomes mediator, law professor, and conflict‑resolution expert David Dowling for a thoughtful conversation about Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and how families and schools can navigate conflict in special education more constructively. Drawing on his professional expertise and his personal experience as a parent of a child on a 504 plan, David breaks down what ADR really means, why the word “alternative” can be misleading, and how communication, negotiation, facilitated IEPs (Individual Education Program), and mediation fit along a spectrum of dispute resolution.

David explains how parents can retain voic...