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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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

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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

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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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