Foster Carolinas

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.

THANKS FOR LISTENING!

Follow along with us at:

Facebook: Least of These Carolinas

Instagram: @lotcarolinas

AND visit our website:

www.lotcarolinas.com

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

THANKS FOR LISTENING!

Follow along with us at:

Facebook: Least of These Carolinas

Instagram: @lotcarolinas

AND visit our website:

www.lotcarolinas.com

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!

THANKS FOR LISTENING!

Follow along with us at:

Facebook: Least of These Carolinas

Instagram: @lotcarolinas

AND visit our website:

www.lotcarolinas.com

We here at Foster Carolinas are so happy to have hosted Fearless Fostering's Cathleen Bearse on todays podcast! She is a foster care informed therapist and she has a heart for those who are entering into the world of foster care, as she wants them to be informed and have more knowledge than she did before she entered into this world. Cathleen is so knowledgeable and you will definitely walk away knowing more after this episode.

You will get a glimpse inside of how the body experiences trauma, whether that be the child entering your home or the foster mama/dad/siblings. She talks about the biggest thing that she and her husband had to navigate was the system as there really is nothing to compare it to and nothing about it is "normal." Though there are some trauma incurred by stepping into the foster care arena, there is so much worth and love and enjoyment that comes out of fostering. One of my very favorite quotes from Cathleen is, "until you know you want to say no, SAY YES." SO GOOD!

THANKS FOR LISTENING!

Make sure you are following along with us AND Cathleen:

Facebook: Least of These Carolinas AND Fearless Fostering

Instagram: @lotcarolinas AND @fearless_fostering

AND visit our websites:

www.lotcarolinas.com AND www.fearlessfostering.com

The world of foster care is intimidating. It is unfamiliar for most and disconnected from many of the realms most people find themselves in regularly. We here on Foster Carolinas do not want that to be a reason for you to shy away from getting involved in foster care in some capacity. Todays episode will help us all get on the same page when it comes to terms and acronyms that are used in and around foster care. 

With a shared basis of understanding, we can do more for the children and families experiencing foster care. We hope that is where this episode and the episodes to come takes us... a shared basis of understanding. All for the goal of serving children in foster care well.

Please go to the Foster Family Alliance of NC website to learn more about them: www.ffa-nc.org

You can go to this link to find the 'Alphabet Soup' PDF for these and more acronyms at your fingertips: https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:3eadf390-3f1c-3690-9c17-2bca6b00cbd1

THANKS FOR LISTENING!

Make sure you are following along with us on social media:

Facebook: Least of These Carolinas

Instagram: @lotcarolinas

AND visit our website:

www.lotcarolinas.com

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! We are so excited to be back behind the mic to give you guys glimpses into the world of foster care.

This year, it is our goal to lay ground work to make sure you know what we are talking about when we bring you the stories of foster care. The information and language we use is basic to us, but we realize it is not to others, and we want to address that by breaking it down. Knowledge leads to advocacy. Susanna and Abbey chat about the wrap up of 2022 and look forward to 2023 and the themes that will be covered on the podcast this year.

Journey along with us this year as you gain more knowledge of the inside workings of foster care so you can plug in to make a difference. If you have a suggestion on what you would like to hear, email [email protected] to give your input.

THANKS FOR LISTENING!

Make sure you are following along with us on social media for ways to get involved:

Facebook: Least of These Carolinas

Instagram: @lotcarolinas

AND visit our website at:

www.lotcarolinas.com

Does foster care seem far too complicated for you to be part of? Are you overwhelmed by all that will entail welcoming a kiddo from a hard place into your home? Do you believe foster care is for you, but you really don't even know where to start? THIS EPISODE IS FOR YOU!

Katie has been welcoming kids into her home for almost 6 years now, and she has learned a lot over the years. She has so much wisdom to offer. Listen in as she gives some of the most practical advice I have heard on the topic of foster care and becoming "ready." There are no one-size-fits-all tips and tricks, but this insight and wisdom is helpful to anyone on the edge of wanting to step into fostering or have started fostering recently.

Katie is a friend to all and in this episode I hope she feels like a friend to you, helping you move one step closer to this holy calling. Remember, starting small is OK and is a start.

Make sure you are following along with us on social media for ways to get involved:

Facebook: Least of These Carolinas

Instagram: @lotcarolinas

AND visit our website at:

www.lotcarolinas.com 

12 Hours of Christmas is ALMOST here!!! Listen in this week to see how our weekend will be going and how much FUN we have! Katie "That's My Jam" Reed is a long time friend of LOTC and her favorite event is 12 Hours of Christmas! Least of These Carolinas takes service seriously, and we always have to have fun while doing it. I hope you see that listening to today's episode.

Make sure you are following along with us on social media for ways to get involved:

Facebook: Least of These Carolinas

Instagram: @lotcarolinas

AND visit our website at:

www.lotcarolinas.com

Welcome back to our final installment of our series on Adoption Awareness Month. Susanna and Gaile are back to talk about their own personal adoptions and what that has meant for their family.

Adoption is hard, beautiful, and complex. Today, listen to these two mamas talk about shared parenting and what that relationship might look like when TPR and adoption take place. As well as what they do not prepare you for in foster parent training class. When foster care moves to adoption, it looks a lot different than you might think it would, and you can hear some insights on that today.

Use our social media sites to message us and let us know if there is something you would like to hear Gaile and Susanna tackle next time:

Facebook: Least of These Carolinas

Instagram: @lotcarolinas

AND visit our website at:

www.lotcarolinas.com

THANKS FOR LISTENING!

We love it when Susanna is able to sit down and chat with her "soul-sister," Gaile Osborne from Foster Family Alliance of NC. Their chats never really stay as chats, they always result in action plans. 

Today, tune into their action plan and advice for post-adoptive services. Gaile is a wealth of knowledge for resources and she is so good at getting people connected to these resources. If you are an adoptive parent local to Gaston Co. or Buncombe Co., NC, please listen in and see who is there for you and your county and what they can provide to you and your family. 

Make sure you are following along with us on social media for ways to get involved:

Facebook: Least of These Carolinas

Instagram: @lotcarolinas

AND visit our website at:

www.lotcarolinas.com