There are so many myths about the world of foster care. During this episode, we wanted to debunk some of those myths and prejudgements. No, not all foster youth are delinquents. No, foster parents don't always get attached to the children. Take a listen and share with those in your network to help inform others as we debunk these myths.

What is kinship care and why is it important within the world of foster care? There are many benefits to placing children with relatives or other kinship caregivers, such as increased stability and safety as well as the ability to maintain family connections and cultural traditions. We dove into this subject on this episode.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and we wanted to discuss how children are affected by abuse in the home. What does it mean for them long-term, and how does CASA provide that stability for foster youth who are in troubling atmospheres?

Brittney joined us on Episode 008 to discuss trauma within the foster care world, and she returns in this episode to discuss her experiences as she was aging out of the foster care system. Her stories truly tell a picture of why it is critical that foster youth need a CASA by their side.

This week, our CASA Ambassador, Brittney, joined us to talk about the removal from her home and parents back when she was 15-years-old. That removal, of course, caused her trauma. Listen to Brittney's story and also how CASA inevitably was a stable, foundational force for good in her life as she navigated the trauma waters.

This week, one of our amazing CASA volunteers, Donna Cardamone, a retired educator sat down with us to discuss educational advocacy within the foster care system. What are the biggest challenges to foster youth face, and how can we help?

There are challenging times throughout the year for foster youth. One of those times is heading back to school. There is much uncertainty. How can we help and support foster youth as they head back to the classroom? We have some good ideas!

Tracey and Jeff continue their discussion in this part 2 series on Adverse Childhood Experiences. They dive into practical applications, and also discuss child and family trauma. The episode concludes as Jeff talks to CASA SHaW Case Supervisor, Cynthia, about trauma she has seen within her cases.

Tracey and Jeff discussed Adverse Childhood Experiences - ACEs. How did ACEs come about? What do they mean? How can we learn from them? This part one podcast dives into the details.

In this episode, Tracey and Jeff discussed various issues surrounding mental health within foster care, and how some children and families struggle with this ongoing challenge. We also provide resources for those who may need just a little bit of help.