Creating a Family: Talk about Adoption, Foster & Kinship Care
Are you thinking about adopting or fostering a child? Confused about all the options and wondering where to begin? Or are you an adoptive or foster parent or kinship caregiver trying to be the best parent possible to this precious child? This is the podcast for you! Every week, we interview leading experts for an hour, discussing the topics you care about in deciding whether to adopt/foster or how to be a better parent. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are the national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and...
Supporting a Child Who is a People Pleaser - Weekend Wisdom
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Question:Â How should I deal with an adoptive child with a people-pleasing personality? I want to prevent the anxiety that comes with that, but I'm not sure how.Â
Resources:
6 Tips for Creating AttachmentHow to Cultivate Resilience in Your Kids7 Character Traits Your Kids Need to ThriveSigns Your Child Might Be People Pleasing and How to HelpSupport the show
Please leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We...
Practical Financial Strategies for Foster & Kinship Families
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How do you manage daily expenses and budgeting when you are a foster or kinship caregiving family? We speak with Nicole Valenzuela, a foster parent and founder of Fostering Finances, to learn about simplified budgeting practices and healthy mindsets for managing money.
In this episode, we discuss:
What are the financial challenges that foster and kinship families commonly face?How do those challenges differ between kinship caregivers and licensed foster parents?Are there particular challenges for LGBTQ+ and BIPOC...Should We Expand Our Special Needs Checklist to Include HIV? - Weekend Wisdom
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Question: My husband and I are considering whether we will open our special needs consideration to include children who are HIV+. We have already been approved to adopt from India, and as our home study update approaches, we are taking a good, hard look at the Special Needs list again. I was listening to your podcast episode on this topic from 2013 and wondered if this was worth an updated episode? Has much changed for families living with HIV?
Resources:<...
Preventing Sexual Abuse
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What strategies can parents and caregivers implement in their homes to help reduce the risk that their children may be sexually abused? Learn practical parenting tools from this conversation with Dr. Eliana Gil, the founder of the Gil Institute for Trauma Recovery and Education. She specializes in the assessment and treatment of trauma in children, especially those who have been sexually abused.
In this episode, we discuss:
Why should adoptive and foster parents and relative caregivers learn about the...Navigating Time Off from Work to Bond with a Newly Adopted Child
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Question: My husband and I are in the process of adopting a waiting child internationally. This is our first adoption and we will soon be waiting to be matched with a child. I teach in higher education and my schedule is coordinated about nine months out. I am working with my supervisors to try and make sure my schedule for the next year is flexible to account for uncertain adoption timing. It has been so difficult to try and navigate this with...
Understanding Resilience and How to Build It
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Resilience is more than just bouncing back from a challenge. Join us for a conversation about building resilience in ourselves and our kids, understanding coping tools, and caring well for ourselves while raising kids who may have significant gaps in their resilience. We talk with Kathleen Harnish McKune and her sister, Karen Dickson from Remarkably Resilient, Inc., a non-profit organization committed to partnering to empower healing from trauma.Â
In this episode, we cover:
How do you define resilience? What d...Is It Too Soon to Look Through Foster Photo Listings? - Weekend Wisdom
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Question:Â We are currently going through our home study to adopt from foster care, and I'm wondering if it is too early to look at photo listings? I have been looking at photo listings for a long time, but now, when I read the bios, it feels real, and I get slightly attached. I'm curious if you think this is setting myself up for disappointment.
Resources:
Adoptions in the US â Our Annual UpdateAdoption Comparison ChartsFoster Care AdoptionDealing wit...Is My Child At Risk for Human Trafficking?
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What is human trafficking? Is your child at increased risk of being trafficked? Listen to this conversation with guests Dr. Yolanda Montgomery, a nurse, advocate, and the founder of Zoë Ministries, a nonprofit established in 2012 to combat human trafficking in Delaware and beyond, and Sara Poore, the Executive Director of the Delaware Anti-Trafficking Action Council (DATAC), leading statewide efforts to prevent human trafficking, support survivors, and strengthen community partnerships.
In this episode, we discuss:
What is human trafficking, and h...When You Don't Know Your Child's Racial or Cultural Heritage - Weekend Wisdom
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Question: We very recently brought home our second child through domestic infant adoption. We feel very fortunate, and our son is developing well; we are also settling into the new routine. We matched with our Son's birth mother through a local agency, and unfortunately, she decided that she did not want to meet us. She gave no information about the biological father. We know she was caucasian, but honestly, it is unclear whether our son is entirely caucasian or not. The pediatrician sai...
Tweens and Teens: Managing Tech & Mental Health
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Do you worry about the impacts that screen time, social media, or gaming have on your tween and teens' mental health? We spoke to Brittany Anderson, an author, certified play and narrative intelligence practitioner, and the founder of Renala, which helps families become creative, vision-driven leadersâbeginning at home.
In this episode, we discuss:
What are the most common concerns that parents and caregivers have about their tween or teenâs tech use?Are those concerns more about the amou...My Child's Disrespect and Disobedience is Creating Resentment - Weekend Wisdom
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Question: I have resentment against my (soon-to-be adopted) childâs mom, who is an addict. I get frustrated with his disrespect & disobedience, and bitterness & resentment rise up. He also respects my husband way more than me. I am trying so hard not to let it show or to take it out on him. I need help!
Resources:
Parenting Children with Challenging Behaviors Prenatal Exposure, Part 1: Parenting Babies through Elementary AgesParenting a Challenging Child: A Collaborative ApproachSup...
Connecting with Teens
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Do you dread the teen years? Or, if you're in the midst of parenting teens, do you struggle to find ways to connect? This week, we interview Dr. Melody Aguayo, a parenting coach specializing in working with at-risk children and their families and the founder of Real Child Consulting, LLC. She is the mom of two adopted kids.
In this episode, we discuss:
Parents wonder why their easy and natural connection with their kids changed, and they now feel...9 Things I Wish I Knew Before Adopting - Weekend Wisdom
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I spent some time this week thinking about what Iâve learned from my experiences as an adoptive parent and the wisdom of others in our community. In reflection, I've created a list of the things I wish I knew before adopting.
Resources:
8 Things I Wish I Had Known Before I AdoptedFree courses to strengthen your familyTherapeutic Parenting: Strategies & SolutionsBeginnerâs Guide to TBRIÂ
Support the show
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How Can Kinship Caregivers Find the Resources They Need to Succeed?
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Kinship-led families have unique needs, and finding resources to meet those needs can be a challenge. Today, we're talking with Mike Heath, a Resource Specialist with the Coalition for Children, Youth & Families in Wisconsin. The Coalition is a Resource Center for birth parents, foster families, adoptive families, relative/kinship/and like-kin caregivers, and child welfare and Tribal agency professionals.
In this episode, we discuss:
What are the most frequently reported everyday needs or resource gaps caregivers are experiencing? What i...Tips for Managing Your Picky Eater - Weekend Wisdom
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Today, we are tackling a question that comes up a lot for parents and caregivers in our community â what do you do with a picky eater?
Resources:
Support the show
Please leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and...
The Only Way Forward is Back with Jackson TerKeurst
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Jackson TerKeurst was born in Liberia and by the age of 7 was a war orphan living in dire circumstances. So how did he end up as an entrepreneur, leader, and now author? Join us for an inspirational conversation about identity, overcoming, and redemption from Jackson's new book, The Only Way Forward is Back.
In this episode, we discuss:
Cultural differences How challenges like poverty and food insecurity impacted your first experiences in the StatesHow did your trauma manifest in y...Travel Restrictions When Fostering - Weekend Wisdom
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Question: Are there travel restrictions when you are fostering? For example, my family lives out of state, but can I bring the child with me when I travel to visit family?
Resources:
Working as Part of a Foster Care TeamWorking with the Birth Parents for the Child's Best InterestBecoming a Foster ParentSupport the show
Please leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national...
Adopting Older Kids
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Are you considering adopting a child over the age of 5? Listen to this interview with Sarah Hansen and Simi Riesner. Sarah is the Director of International Advocacy at the Gladney Center for Adoption, with over 20 years of experience supporting adoptive families and children. She is also an adoptive parent to an older child from Thailand. Simi is the Executive Director of Mazi Adoption and Family Services, as well as a licensed social worker and foster parent. Simi also has lived experience as an adult a...
Fostering or Adopting as a Single Man - Weekend Wisdom
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Questions: I am a 58 single man and I am considering fostering.Â
My first question is how much of a bias is there against men? What are the unique challenges that single foster dads face that discourage so many? What can we do to get more single foster dads to help families reunify, foster, and possibly adopt?Resources:
Creating a Support Network as a Single Adoptive, Foster, or Kinship Parent (Article)Adopting as a Single Parent (Onl...How Do We Handle Weed and Vaping While Raising Adopted, Foster, and Relative Kids?
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Are you educated and informed on the issues around weed and vaping, including THC, nicotine, and the signs of addiction? Listen to this interview with Dr. Krishna White. She is an attending physician at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, with board certifications in Pediatrics, Adolescent Medicine, and Addiction Medicine.Â
In this episode, we discuss:
Can you explain why kids whoâve experienced trauma, prenatal substance exposure, or who are neurodivergent may be at greater risk for turning to substances lik...How to Connect with an Expectant Parent During Pregnancy - Weekend Wisdom
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Question: I have listened to hundreds of adoption-related podcast episodes, but very few of them have talked about talking directly with a potential birth mother. We were matched with an expectant mother who wanted to be able to communicate with us directly. We agreed, believing that it would help us form a better relationship. However, we were mentally unprepared for the wavering she expressed to us. Despite being so certain when we first met with her, as the pregnancy went on, she...
Understanding the Hague Treaty on Intercountry Adoption
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Are you considering adopting internationally? You need to listen to this interview about the laws and processes that you will be required to follow. We'll be talking with Kelly Dempsey, a partner with Fox Rothschild, who specializes in adoption and assisted reproduction. She is a fellow in the Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys and an adoptive parent through both international and domestic adoptions.
In this episode, we discuss:
Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in...When Your Extended Family Isn't Into Your Adoption Education Journey - Weekend Wisdom
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Question: Hi, my husband, biological daughter and I are in the process of infant adoption. We have passed our home study and have made our profile book. We are at the point where we are viewing expectant moms' profiles. My husbandâs family is very excited and ready for this new chapter in our lives, but my family, however, seems unsure. Itâs been hard to communicate with my parents about adoption, and it seems like when they are ready to talk abou...
Helping Our Kids Cope with Bullies at School
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Most children will experience bullying at some point. What can parents do to help protect their children and to help their children cope if they are bullied? Host Dawn Davenport, Executive Director of Creating a Family, the national infertility & adoption education and support nonprofit, interviews Brooke Randolph, LMHC, a child and family therapist and author of The Bully Book: A Workbook for Kids Coping with Bullies; and Debora Gish, LCSW, with Adoption Connection with 20 experience working with kids and families.
In...
Tips for Welcoming Home Your Newborn - Weekend Wisdom
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We frequently hear from waiting parents that they are unsure when to prepare the nursery, what formula is best, or how often they should expect to feed their new baby. It's a huge life transition, and we thought today we could talk about some basic baby care tips to help you think about what's next for you and your family when you get the baby home.
Resources:
I'm Adopting a Baby. When Do I Set Up the Nursery?Essential...Smart But Scattered
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Does your child struggle to get or stay organized? Is homework a battle you dread every day? Prepare yourself to support your children for the Back to School season with this interview with Dr. Richard Guare. He's a neuropsychologist and board-certified behavior analyst focused on autism, learning, attention, and behavior disorders, and acquired brain injuries. He is the co-author of Smart But Scattered: The Revolutionary Approach to Helping Kids Reach Their Potential.
In this episode, we discuss:
Define executive...Potty Training a Child With Prenatal Exposure - Weekend Wisdom
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How do you know your child with prenatal substance exposure is ready to potty train? How do you start potty training a child with impacts from prenatal substance exposure, like developmental delays? This Weekend Wisdom offers practical strategies and encouragement to help you stay motivated and keep up the good work.
Resources:
<...
A Glimpse Into the History of Creating a Family
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Join us for a look at where CreatingaFamily.org - and this podcast - began and where we are heading from here. We talk today with Dawn Davenport, the founding Executive Director of the organization, as she prepares to retire from Creating a Family.
In this episode, we discuss:
Tell us how and why you started Creating a Family. Why start a non-profit?The Complete Guide to International Adoption: The Step by Step Guide to Finding Your ChildDo any...Failed Adoptions in Foster Care - Weekend Wisdom
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Question: I have a question that may be well suited for a weekend wisdom episode. I'm aware of the reasons that a domestic infant adoption may fail, but I've also read about foster children having failed adoption(s) and then aging out of the system. What are some of the main reasons that a foster child experiences a failed adoption? How does that look different than (or the same as) a failed domestic infant adoption?Â
Resources:
Failed Adoptions:Help, I...Trauma-Informed Therapy: Finding the Right Fit for Your Family
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What should you look for when you are considering therapy for your child or your family? How do you find the right fit for your child's needs? We talk today with Kelly Raudenbush, Executive Director of The Sparrow Fund, a non-profit that provides therapeutic services for foster and adoptive children and their grown-ups. She is a child and family therapist with an MA degree in counseling and a certificate in clinical infant and early childhood mental health. She's also an adoptive mom.
<...
How to Prepare Sibling for an Infant Adoption - Weekend Wisdom
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Question: My husband and I adopted our daughter in 2019, and she is now 5. As of a week ago, we were matched with a birth mother who is due in six weeks. We have explained the process to our daughter (we made a book about our life, and one day someone will pick us), but now that weâve been chosen, what is the best way to approach this with my daughter? We have several of the books from your (wonderful) book list, bu...
Attachment-Informed Tools for Working with Kids
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Are you looking for practical strategies to build attachment with your child? Jeanette Yoffe, MA, MFT, is a psychotherapist specializing in adoption and foster care with over 20 years of experience treating children with complex trauma. Her new book, The Traumatized and At-Risk Youth Toolbox: Over 160 Attachment-Informed Interventions for Working with Kids and Families in Foster Care and Beyond offers specific strategies and tools parents and caregivers can build into their family rhythms to promote regulation and healing in their homes.Â
In t...
How to Normalize Adoption for the Child? - Weekend Wisdom
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Question: My wife and I adopted a newborn baby almost 3 years ago, and we could not be happier. Now that he is getting a little older, he is talking and starting to understand things. My question is, how can we best normalize his adoption with him? I know it is better for kids to grow up with everyone being open with him and his adoption so it feels like now is a good time to start. But I am not sure how t...
Raising Terrific Kids in Terrifying Times
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Are you looking for practical strategies to help your kids face the challenges of a scary world? Join us for a conversation with Melinda Wenner Moyer. She is an author, contributing editor at Scientific American, a regular contributor to The New York Times, and a former faculty member at New York Universityâs Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute. Her new book is titled Hello, Cruel World: Science-Based Strategies for Raising Terrific Kids in Terrifying Times.
In this episode we discuss:
...Reunification of Foster Child Logistics - Weekend Wisdom
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Question: My 15-year-old foster daughter, âAnnaâ, is scheduled to move back in with her mom at the end of the school year. She is currently on my phone plan. I also pay for her access to Spotify, Netflix, and Hulu. Should I ask her mother now how she wants to transition Anna onto her phone plan? Do you recommend continuing to pay for a 3-6 month period until the mother figures it out? Should I just keep her on my account for Spot...
Common Special Needs in International Adoption
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Are you considering international adoption? If so, this interview will help you decide which special needs are a good fit for your family. We'll talk with Dr. Dana Johnson, MD, PhD. He is a Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Neonatology at the University of Minnesota Medical School. Dr. Johnson founded the International Adoption Clinic at the University of Minnesota. He is a dad and granddad by birth and adoption.
In this episode, we discuss:
International adoption has...Tips to Manage Bedwetting and Stooling Accidents - Weekend Wisdom
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Question: A listener wrote in asking about encopresis and enuresis. These tips are for handling bedwetting or soiling accidents once your child is successfully potty trained.
Resources:
Bedwetting and Related Toileting Issues (Article)Helping Children Heal from TraumaSleep IssuesSupport the show
Please leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and...
Building Rhythms of Self-Care Into Our Parenting with Nicole Barlow
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How do you define self-care? Are you establishing a routine of self-care that supports you to meet your kid's needs? Nicole Barlow joins the podcast to discuss how we think about self-care, why it's crucial, and how to create rhythms of self-care in our homes. She is a certified wellness coach, TBRIÂź Practitioner, and parent trainer for foster and adoptive parents.
In this episode, we discuss:
Re-define self-careWhy is self-care crucial for parents and caregivers?Why do so many o...Black Parents Adopting a White Child - Weekend Wisdom
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Question: Today's question is about black parents adopting a white child. This was a question we received from a survey we sent out to issues that our audience wished that we would address.
Resources:
Raising a Child Through a Transracial AdoptionTransracial Adoption Twist: Black Parents Adopting White KidsBlack Families Adopting White ChildrenSupport the show
Please leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national...
How People of Faith Can Support Vulnerable Kids and Families
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How can we get people of faith more involved in helping vulnerable kids and families and supporting foster and kinship families? Join our discussion with Jason Johnson and Shmuly Yanklowitz. Pastor Johnson is with The Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO) and is both a foster and adoptive dad. Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz is the Founder & President of YATOM: The Jewish Foster & Adoption Network. Rabbi Yanklowitz has twice been named one of Americaâs Top Rabbis by Newsweek and is a foster dad.
In...
