Foster Carolinas

Walking in Her Shoes

In this conversation, Aaliyah Drake shares her experiences growing up in foster care and the impact it has had on her life. She reflects on her childhood, the importance of family dynamics, and the role of faith in her journey.

Walking in Her Shoes

This week on PERSPECTIVES, Aaliyah Drake opens her heart and shares her powerful journey through the foster care system – from the moment she was taken into care to how those experiences shaped who she is today.

Raw. Honest. Unforgettable.

Aaliyah's story reminds us why these conversations matter. Her perspective as a former foster youth offers invaluable insights that every foster parent, social worker, and advocate needs to hear.

"These aren't just stories – they're lived experiences that can help shape a better future for foster youth."

🕒 New episodes drop every Monday

Join us for this moving conversation that bridges understanding and inspires change.

New Series Alert! PERSPECTIVE

Happy Monday! This week, we're diving into a powerful conversation with District Attorney Travis Page as he pulls back the curtain on how the foster care system intersects with our justice system.

As a DA, Travis brings a unique lens to the foster care conversation – one that many of us rarely get to see. His insights shed light on the complexities and challenges that shape the lives of foster youth and families when they interact with the legal system.

From courtroom experiences to community impact, this episode offers a perspective that will challenge what you think you know about foster care.

THANKS FOR LISTENING!

Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel @leastofthesecarolinas2574 and follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you tune in for your Foster Carolinas fix! Stay connected with us on Instagram and Facebook @lotcarolinas AND visit our website: www.lotcarolinas.com

We're backkkkkk! This was a long time coming, and I know it was worth it. Listen in today to Mikaila as she speaks such wisdom and insight to our audience.

Who knew becoming educated on a deeper level would make a true, positive impact on a child who is experiencing the foster care system?? YOU CAN DO THAT! You can learn more, listen more, and ultimately, HELP MORE!!! We want to help you accomplish this by leaving links to become more educated:

Trauma Informed Care Conference in Dallas, NC: https://lotcarolinas.networkforgood.com/events/63775-trauma-informed-care-conference

Advocate for kids in court - Guardian Ad Litem website for NC: https://volunteerforgal.org/

Resources to educate and advocate well - Foster Family Alliance of NC - https://www.ffa-nc.org/

If you are not in NC, type in similar descriptions in your search bar, and it should bring you to a place to get started for your area.

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Follow along with us on:

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www.lotcarolinas.com

We had a STACKED lineup for this past series of Foster Carolinas. We heard from so many powerhouses in the world of foster care. If you can believe it, this next series is going to be EVEN BETTER! Tune in today to see who and how we are about to finish out this year here on Foster Carolinas.

We are SO GLAD you are listening! This upcoming season is also going to be exciting because we are now video recording the podcast and will have that uploaded to YouTube! You can find us and this episode on YouTube at Least of These Carolinas - @leastofthesecarolinas257424

THANKS FOR LISTENING!

Follow along with us on:

YOUTUBE: @leastofthesecarolinas257424

Instagram: @lotcarolinas

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AND visit our website:

www.lotcarolinas.com

Thank you for listening this week as Abbey is back on the podcast interviewing Emily Wood, the Founder and Director of Mosaic Hope. Mosaic Hope is a nonprofit that desires to see "every child and family surrounded by a community of support." If you cannot tell, Abbey and Emily are friends in real life, and really enjoyed their conversation today full of practical advice on entering into the world of serving those experiencing the foster care system.

We hope you leave this episode knowing there are people that were in your shoes when beginning their process of serving in the world of foster care. Education and experience, little by little, will help quiet those fears you may be experiencing of the unknowns. This is a big topic and "issue," but you have a place to fill and serve here, we all do. This episode helps you see where and how you may be needing to plug in!

If you would like to check out what is going on at Mosaic Hope, go to their website at: www.mosaichope.org

THANKS FOR LISTENING!

Follow along with us on:

Instagram: @lotcarolinas

Facebook: Least of These Carolinas

AND visit our website:

www.lotcarolinas.com

We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming to talk with you from BRIDGE CAMP 2023!!! Our absolute favorite place!

Susanna sits down in the middle of our last full day at camp to talk with our speaker, Shaq Hardy. Shaq was formerly in foster care as a child and has a perspective on camp that is so refreshing and helpful to those helping out and especially to the campers.

A few of my favorite points Shaq makes in this episode is: consistently showing up for those experiencing foster care, even in the capacity of events as a volunteer and organization, is making a difference; the LOVE that is being shown and felt from everyone at camp is so special and not experienced often; and lastly, no one person is going to be able to fix foster care on their own, but if you have a heart for these kids and this mission, join others who are already in the fight and it will get better.

This was such an encouraging talk and I hope you enjoy it!

THANKS FOR LISTENING!

Follow along with us on:

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AND visit our website:

www.lotcarolinas.com

Thanks for listening in today! In this episode you will hear Susanna, our host, interview Lacey Beam. Lacey is a treasured friend here at LOTC, a foster mom, and the best head counselor we've got at Bridge Camp (sorry, Lee)! Her heart for the foster care system is huge and she puts that heart into everything she does in this realm. You get to hear that today!

You might be shocked by her answer on how you can join her in this mission by becoming a Guardian ad Litem (GAL), but this is SUCH a needed position! When foster mamas are putting their heart and soul into the day to day care of the kids in their home, it is so nice to know that someone is doing the same thing on the courts side of this child's life. That is where a faithful GAL will step in and make sure that child is taken care of and represented well in court. Find the NC link to fill out a GAL Application below:

https://volunteerforgal.org/volunteer-as-a-gal/

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Follow along with us on:

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AND visit our website:

www.lotcarolinas.com

We're glad you're here and listening today! Join us as Foster Carolina's host, Susanna Kavanaugh interviews Jason Weber, a giant in the foster care ministry world. More Than Enough is the ministry Jason leads under the Christian Alliance for Orphans banner. More Than Enough believes "that local networks of passionate churches, organizations, and advocates like you can work together to fill the biggest gaps in caring for children and families in every one of the 3,142 counties in the US."

The two leaders discuss what brought Jason into understanding the need within the foster care system, how he kept getting a bit further each time he would say yes, and how you can plug in with the More Than Enough mission. He also gives a powerful call to action. He reiterates that we have a direct and clear call from God, as a Christian, to care for the orphaned in some way and we need to say yes when we figure out our way.

You can find the More Than Enough website at: https://morethanenough.cafo.org/about/

THANKS FOR LISTENING!

Follow along with us on:

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www.lotcarolinas.com

Thanks for joining us today on the podcast, we're glad you're here! Levacy Smith is the State Director at Lifeline Children's Services, a global nonprofit, making a difference in both domestic and international adoptions. Through working with the nonprofit, she has much experience in getting community partners involved and mobilizing churches to care for the orphaned children around the world.

Listen in today to her conversation with our host Susanna as they talk about the importance of family, Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI), and more that pertains to the social work side of foster care. If you are a foster parent, or anyone who has interactions with children with trauma in their background, please visit: https://lifelinechild.org/online-learning-experience/#! to learn more.

THANKS FOR LISTENING!

Follow along with us on:

Instagram: @lotcarolinas

Facebook: Least of These Carolinas

AND visit our website:

www.lotcarolinas.com