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!

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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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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/

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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.

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Today we are excited to present this episode we recorded with our fantastic friends and generous donors, Joey and Brittany Logano from the Joey Logano Foundation! You are able to hear their heart behind their partnership and support of organizations that are serving children in foster care. If you have heard us talk about Bridge Camp on here, you can thank the Logano's for their partnership in making that happen each year.

These two help us see where a big platform can be used for so much good. To make everyday operations happen around here, it takes funds and resources, and this couple help provide those funds and resources. Is this the area you can also step into to help those affected by foster care? I know you will be inspired by listening in.

The Joey Logano Foundation is hosting a charity concert on Thursday, May 25 in Charlotte, NC! You can visit this link to find out more details on how to join them in this endeavor for good: https://joeyloganofoundation.com/joey-logano-concert-for-charity-at-coyote-joes/

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Listen in today to hear our host, Susanna Kavanaugh, talk to Pastor Ray Hardee from The Pointe Church about how and why he is so passionate and involved in the foster care crisis. This friendship between these two and the partnership between LOTC and The Pointe go way back. It is helpful and beneficial to know there are churches out there that see a need and make strides in helping fulfill that need.

Pastor Ray helps us see there are very basic, noncommital steps we can take at first that leads to understanding and then a desire to get involved in this world in some capacity. The "big C" Church has the answer to the foster care crisis, and we enjoyed talking strategy and heart today on this topic.

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Join us for the first episode in our new series, "Who is Helping?" Rebekah and Abbey are Least of These Carolinas' own and they take you through the core questions that will be asked throughout the series to all of our guests. In this episode, they answer the questions for themselves and relive some of the fun, challenging, and heart-warming stories they have experienced through their years working/volunteering in the world of foster care.

As we continue this series, we want you to see all of the avenues that are available in serving and advocating for children experiencing foster care. There is no one route to making a difference in the foster care system. Join us through this series and see the possible ways you can support and get involved!

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This week we brought questions to Susanna that are from friends who do not have background in the world of foster care. We took questions straight from those who want to know more, but have not had experience with foster care up close. We have had a great time in this series of laying a foundation of "basic" knowledge so we can all move forward with a basis of understanding.

We hope you reflect back on what has been talked about over the last 2 months and have that basis of understanding on things like acronyms, licensing agencies, and why children are in foster care. This week's episode will help in that and we look forward to moving into the next series entitled, "Who is Helping?" You'll learn the different areas in which people are improving the lives of children who are experiencing foster care and what they do on a daily basis and how they started out.

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Happy Friday, listeners! You are in for a treat today! Katie Kiker, a licensing supervisor at 7 Homes, a private licensing agency here in NC, is on the podcast today. I know you will benefit from her wealth of knowledge because I know I sure did! 

On this episode, you will hear the basics on what a private foster care licensing agency is and what they can offer their families, what the best mindset is to reach success when becoming a foster parent, and an extremely uplifting story that will surely put a smile on your face and possibly bring a tear to your eye. Throughout the episode, you will hear Katie's heart for these children and the families she serves every day. She is a dedicated member of the foster care system, and we appreciate all she is doing in love and service to these super cool kids!

If you are interested in connecting with Katie or learning more about 7 Homes, visit their website at: www.7homes4kids.com

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You have 2 old, familiar voices, if you have been around for a while, on today's episode. Abbey and Selina sit down to educate on some of the very basics of foster care. Why are children in care? How do you get licensed? Who is licensed? What is kinship care? Why are kids living in different counties than where they are from? Dive into these answers with us!

Selina has welcomed several children into her home and Abbey is young, but very eager to welcome children into her home ASAP. We hope that you hear both of their hearts behind the conversation they have today. Especially close to the end, hear that fear around welcoming children into your home is scary, but not a reason to not welcome children into your home. These children are worth it and we would LOVE to be a resource to you.

Call the office of Least of These Carolinas at 704-215-4344 and ask for Abbey or Selina and they would both love to help you walk this journey of foster care and becoming a foster parent!

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