As Fostering Change continues our celebration of National Adoption Awareness Month, we’re highlighting the voices reshaping what adoption looks like in America—and making it more equitable, inclusive, and accessible for all families.

This week, host Rob Scheer sits down with Becky Fawcett, founder of Helpusadopt.org, a national nonprofit adoption grant program helping thousands of families overcome the financial barriers to adoption. What began in Becky’s New York City apartment in 2007 has grown into a multimillion-dollar organization that has transformed countless lives—and this month, Helpusadopt.org celebrates its 18th anniversary.

Becky’s own adoption journey—welcoming her daughters Jane and Brooke—inspired a lifelong commitment to changing a system that makes building a family so difficult for so many. Her mission is simple and powerful: every child deserves a loving, permanent home, and no parent should be prevented from adopting because of cost.

In this inspiring conversation, Rob and Becky discuss:

• The personal story behind Helpusadopt.org—and how one mother’s vision became a national movement for adoption equality.

• The staggering financial realities of adoption and how these costs prevent too many children from finding homes.

• What it means for Helpusadopt.org to reach its 18-year milestone—and how its impact continues to grow across all 50 states.

• The importance of inclusion and diversity in adoption: “Love makes a family—not money, not zip codes, not who you love or where you come from.”

• How you can help ensure that more families can adopt—and that every child waiting for a home has the chance to thrive.

Becky’s story reminds us that changing the world doesn’t always start in a boardroom. Sometimes, it begins at a kitchen table—fueled by love, determination, and the belief that every child deserves a family.

👉 Learn more about Becky Fawcett & Helpusadopt.org:

Website: www.helpusadopt.org

Facebook: facebook.com/helpusadopt.org

Instagram: @helpusadopt

TikTok: @helpusadopt

LinkedIn: Helpusadopt.org

🎧 Enjoying the episode?

Please like, comment, and share the podcast! Your support helps us reach more listeners who want to learn about these important topics.

New episodes of Fostering Change drop every Tuesday.

Questions, comments, or guest suggestions? Email us at: [email protected]

As we continue through National Adoption Awareness Month, visit comfortcases.org to learn more about our mission, our partnerships, and how you can make a difference—because when we invest in families, we invest in a brighter future for every child.

Thank you for listening—and thank you for being a GOOD HUMAN.

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This November, Fostering Change continues our special series for National Adoption Awareness Month, celebrating families formed through adoption and raising awareness about the unique needs of children in foster and kinship care.

Throughout the month, we’re spotlighting extraordinary advocates, educators, and parents who are helping every child feel safe, seen, and supported.

We also invite you to join Comfort Cases’ 2nd Annual “Coats for a Cause” Drive, hosted by CNN’s Laura Coates.

Our goal is to collect 500 brand-new coats for youth in need this winter.

Every coat donated provides warmth, dignity, and comfort to a child or teen who needs it most.

Learn more and get involved at: https://www.comfortcases.org/lauracoates

🎙️ This Episode: Featuring Laura Adams, Founder & President of iCARE4 Adoptive And Foster Families (iCARE4AAFF)

With more than 30 years in education and nonprofit leadership—and as the mother of four daughters, including two adopted internationally—Laura Adams is on a mission to ensure that every school is equipped to meet the emotional and learning needs of adoptive, foster, and kinship children.

Through iCARE’s professional development programs and her innovative Connection Kits™, Laura is helping educators build trauma-informed, healing-centered schools where connection leads to confidence—and where children not only learn but thrive.

💬 In This Conversation:

• The urgent need for trauma-informed professional development in schools

“Adopted, foster, and kinship children make up nearly 15% of our classrooms, yet most educators have never received any formal training on how to support them.”

• Why connection—not compliance—is the foundation for learning

“Children who feel safe and seen are children who can learn.”

• How Connection Kits™ are transforming classrooms nationwide

• The power of collaboration between schools, families, and child welfare professionals

“When we work together, we create communities of belonging—and connected, we thrive.”

Laura’s insights remind us that healing often begins in the classroom.

By equipping teachers with shared language and the right tools, we can build schools that don’t just educate—but nurture.

🌐 Connect with Laura Adams & iCARE4AAFF

Website: https://icare4aaff.org

Facebook: https://facebook.com/iCARE4AAFF

Instagram: https://instagram.com/icare4aaff

LinkedIn: Laura Adams – iCARE4AAFF

🎧 After you listen:

Like, comment, and share this episode! Your support helps us reach more listeners and continue spreading awareness about these vital topics.

📅 New episodes every Tuesday — subscribe so you never miss an inspiring story.

Questions, comments, or guest suggestions?

Email us at [email protected]

💙 Thank you for listening — and thank you for being a GOOD HUMAN.

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the first episode of Fostering Change for National Adoption Awareness Month—a month dedicated to celebrating families formed through adoption and raising awareness of the thousands of children still waiting for their forever homes. As we move toward National Adoption Day on November 22, we’ll be sharing special conversations all month long.

We also invite you to visit comfortcases.org to explore how Comfort Cases is celebrating this important month through meaningful partnerships and programs—including our 2nd Annual “Coats for Comfort” Coat Drive, ensuring every child in foster care has warmth, dignity, and hope this winter.

Today, our host Rob Scheer welcomes back one of our favorite guests, Peter Mutabazi—author, speaker, and founder of Now I Am Known. Many of you know Peter as the “Foster Dad Flipper,” a man who has opened his home and heart to more than 40 foster children and adopted three. He joins us again to talk about his brand-new book, Love Does Not Conquer All, a raw and beautiful reflection on the realities of foster care, parenting children with trauma, and learning that love—while powerful—is only the beginning.

In this deeply moving episode, Rob and Peter discuss:

How to love children for who they truly are, not who we hope they’ll become.

Why every child needs at least one adult they can call, depend on, and trust.

How to prepare kids for independence by teaching life skills—“Every foster parent should give their kids the tools to survive when they’re on their own: laundry, banking, cooking, confidence.”

The importance of empathy and connection—“Empathy isn’t in our DNA,” Rob shares. “It must be taught.”

Peter’s wish for the system: “I wish I could foster a family before a child is taken—mentor parents the way we mentor kids. Imagine the change if we did for parents what we do in foster care.”

How to handle the heartbreak of goodbyes when a child leaves your home: “Be the uncle. Stay in their life. Don’t disappear.”

This conversation reminds us that parenting, in all its forms, is an act of courage, consistency, and unconditional care. And don’t miss the end—there’s a heart-warming surprise you’ll want to experience for yourself.

👉 Learn more about Peter Mutabazi and his mission:

Website: petermutabazi.com

Book: Love Does Not Conquer All (available wherever books are sold)

Organization: Now I Am Known

Facebook: Peter Mutabaz

Instagram: @fosterdadflipper

🎧 After you listen to this episode, please remember to “like” and comment and also share our podcast. We look to you—our loyal listeners—to help us grow our audience so more people can listen and learn about these vital topics.

And remember: we’re back every Tuesday with a new episode of Fostering Change. If you have questions, comments, or guest suggestions, please email us at [email protected].

As we celebrate National Adoption Awareness Month, we invite you to honor the families who open their hearts and homes—and to remember the thousands of children still waiting for theirs. Together, we can make sure every child knows they are seen, valued, and loved.

Thank you for listening—and thank you for being a GOOD HUMAN.

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Advisory: This episode includes sensitive discussion about addiction, family estrangement, and emotional loss.

This week on Fostering Change, host Rob Scheer welcomes back two dear friends — Julie and David Bulitt — for one of the most personal and moving conversations of the season. Rob and his husband Reece have known the Bulitts for many years, and their honesty, humor, and heart have made them audience favorites.

Julie is a licensed clinical social worker with more than 30 years of experience in family therapy, and David is a leading family-law attorney in the D.C. metro area who has spent decades helping parents and children navigate painful transitions. Together, they’ve raised four daughters, built nearly 40 years of marriage, co-authored two acclaimed books (The Five Core Conversations for Couples and Secrets of Strong Couples), and co-host the podcast Conversations for Couples.

In this emotional and thought-provoking episode, Rob, Julie, and David explore what it means to lose a child while they’re still alive — to addiction, estrangement, or emotional distance — and how families can begin to heal.

Topics discussed include:

* Ambiguous loss: Grieving a child who is still living and learning to coexist with that pain.

* Addiction and family systems: How substance use can fracture relationships, redefine love, and challenge every parent’s hope.

* Parenting through heartbreak: “We can love our children fiercely and still have to let go,” Julie shares. “Healing doesn’t mean forgetting — it means finding peace with what is.”

* Balancing love and self-protection: “You reach a point where love also means protecting yourself and your family from chaos,” David reflects.

* Hope beyond the silence: Grace, therapy, and community as pathways to reconnection.

This episode is a testament to honesty, empathy, and the complicated beauty of parenthood. If you or someone you love is struggling with a similar loss, may this conversation offer comfort and understanding.

👉 Learn more about Julie & David Bulitt:Website: www.thebulitts.comPodcast: Conversations for CouplesFacebook: @TheBulittsInstagram: @thebulittsTikTok: @thebulitts

🎧 After you listen, please like, comment, and share this episode so more families can discover stories of resilience, hope, and healing.

We’re back every Tuesday with a new episode of Fostering Change.

Have a guest suggestion or feedback? Email us at [email protected].

Next week, we kick off our National Adoption Awareness Month series — celebrating families built through love and the thousands of children still waiting for theirs.

Thank you for listening — and for being a GOOD HUMAN. 💙

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

⚠️ Advisory: This episode includes discussion of child abuse and family trauma.

Welcome to this week’s episode of Fostering Change, where host Rob Scheer speaks with Susan Chesnutt — a family law attorney, child welfare advocate, and former foster youth based in Vero Beach, Florida.

Susan’s journey is one of resilience and purpose. After growing up in the foster care system, she became a child abuse investigator for Florida’s Department of Children and Families (DCF), then earned her law degree and founded The Chesnutt Law Firm, focusing exclusively on child welfare and family law. She also hosts the podcast From Foster Care to Family Law: A Child Welfare Focus, where she and her guests unpack the toughest issues facing families today.

In this powerful conversation, Rob and Susan explore:

✅ Lived experience as a foundation for advocacy.

“I know what it’s like to feel powerless in a system that’s supposed to protect you. That’s why I fight so hard to make sure every child—and every parent—has a voice.”

✅ What really happens inside a DCF investigation.

Susan breaks down the process from the inside, reminding families that “you have rights, even when it feels like you don’t.”

✅ Why empathy matters in family law.

Her trauma-informed approach prioritizes safety, healing, and understanding over blame.

✅ A call for systemic change.

“We can’t fix the child welfare system until we start valuing families instead of labeling them. Real reform begins with compassion.”

Susan’s unique perspective—combining lived experience, government service, and legal advocacy—shows how justice and empathy must go hand in hand.

👉 Learn more about Susan Chesnutt:

🌐 thechesnuttlawfirm.com

🎧 After you listen: Please like, comment, and share this episode! Your support helps us reach more people and amplify these vital conversations.

🗓 New episodes drop every Tuesday.

Questions, comments, or guest suggestions? Please email us at [email protected].

💙 Thank you for listening—and for being a GOOD HUMAN.

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CONTENT WARNING: ADULT/DISTURBING THEMES — ABUSE & VIOLENCE

Welcome to this week’s episode of Fostering Change. Our host, Rob Scheer, sits down with an extraordinary guest — Baron Li, co-owner of Four Tiers Contracting and founder of the CKMD Army.

Baron’s journey is one of unimaginable pain, resilience, and redemption. A former foster youth who endured 17 placements and severe childhood abuse — including being burned with a clothing iron and cigarettes at just three years old — Baron later survived an attempted murder-for-hire plot that left him shot nine times. Yet, through it all, he transformed trauma into purpose.

Today, Baron is building homes and hope through Four Tiers Contracting, employing and mentoring aged-out foster youth, and expanding CKMD Army — a nationwide movement uniting the foster care community with a 50-state resource network.

In this powerful and emotional conversation, Rob and Baron discuss:

How a childhood marked by violence and instability shaped Baron’s mission to help others rebuild their lives

His incredible survival story: “I was shot nine times, left for dead — but I chose not to be a victim. I chose to live, to forgive, and to give back.”

How Four Tiers Contracting provides aged-out foster youth with steady employment, mentorship, and a pathway to independence

The vision behind CKMD Army (Can’t Keep Me Down) — a 50-state foster care resource network empowering youth, families, and advocates nationwide

Why Baron believes resilience is forged through service — and that “purpose is the only thing stronger than pain.”

Baron Li’s story is a testament to the human spirit — proof that even after the darkest moments, there is light. Trauma can shape us, but it never has to define who we become.

👉 Learn more about Baron Li and his work:

All Links: linktr.ee/baronbli

LinkedIn: CKMD Army

🎧 After you listen, please “like,” comment, and share the episode. Your support helps us reach more listeners and shine a light on vital conversations like this.

Fostering Change releases new episodes every Tuesday.

Questions, comments, or guest suggestions? Please email us at [email protected].

Thank you for listening — and thank you for being a GOOD HUMAN.

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Fostering Change, host Rob Scheer welcomes Tracey Heisler, Executive Director of CASA of Somerset, Hunterdon, and Warren Counties (CASA SHaW) in New Jersey.

CASA—Court Appointed Special Advocates—ensures that children in the child welfare system have a voice in the courtroom and access to the support they need to thrive.

With nearly two decades of leadership at CASA SHaW, Tracey shares:

💬 How CASA changes lives: “Kids with a CASA do better in school, get services faster, and have someone in their corner when everyone else changes.”

⚖️ The danger of funding cuts that could silence advocacy for vulnerable children.

🤝 The critical role of volunteers and how you can step up to be that one stable, consistent advocate.

💙 Tracey’s personal journey from foster parent to nonprofit leader—and what it’s taught her about resilience and compassion.

Her message is clear: Advocacy isn’t optional—it’s essential. And CASA’s fight today is every child’s fight.

👉 Learn more about CASA SHaW and how to get involved:

Website: www.casashaw.org

Facebook: facebook.com/CASASHaW

Instagram: instagram.com/casa_shaw

Email: [email protected]

🎧 Like, comment, and share this episode to help us spread awareness and inspire change.

📅 New episodes of Fostering Change drop every Tuesday!

For questions or guest suggestions, email: [email protected]

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to a special Best of Edition of Fostering Change! Originally aired during National Foster Care Awareness Month, this powerful conversation is worth revisiting.

In this episode, host Rob Scheer sits down with the incredible Charell Star—author, speaker, and foster care advocate. Many first discovered Charell through her moving feature in Humans of New York. Now she returns to share wisdom from her brilliant new book, Trash Bag Tales and Other Stories from an Accidentally Happy Life.

Her story is raw, funny, and deeply empowering—proving that resilience, joy, and self-discovery can grow from even the hardest beginnings.

👉 In this conversation, Rob and Charell explore:

How humor and honesty can reshape the way the world sees foster care stories

The journey behind Trash Bag Tales and turning pain into empowerment

Why the award-winning documentary Feeling Wanted is used in child welfare training worldwide

What it means to move beyond survival and claim the life you deserve

✨ Learn more about Charell Star:

📖 Book: Trash Bag Tales and Other Stories from an Accidentally Happy Life → https://www.amazon.com/Trash-Bag-Tales-Other-Accidentally/dp/1646639741

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charellstar

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charellstar

📖 Humans of New York Feature: https://www.humansofnewyork.com/post/618907346047008768

🎧 If you’re new to Fostering Change or a long-time listener, don’t miss this inspiring episode!

Please like, comment, and share to help spread these stories of hope and dignity.

New episodes release every Tuesday—stay tuned and thank you for being a GOOD HUMAN. 💙

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to this week’s episode of Fostering Change, hosted by Rob Scheer. 💙

Today’s guest is Dr. Danisha Keating—author, speaker, and former foster youth whose journey from heartbreak to healing is nothing short of extraordinary. At just 16, CPS workers separated her from her eight siblings and handed her a trash bag with five minutes to pack her life. By 24, she became the guardian of her five younger siblings, choosing resilience and purpose over despair.

Dr. Keating is the bestselling author of Taking My Voice Back: Healing What Broke Me and From Foster to PhD. In this powerful conversation, she and Rob dive into:

✨ How to heal from trauma, shame, and blame

✨ The importance of protecting your story while still speaking your truth

✨ The systemic barriers youth in foster care face—including files that hold pieces of their own lives

✨ Why education became her lifeline and how she stepped boldly into her future

Her story is proof that no matter what you’ve lived through, you have the power to write the next chapter. As Dr. Keating reminds us: “When you’re in foster care, the courts and the files decide your story — not you. That’s why I had to learn how to take my voice back.”

👉 Learn more about Dr. Danisha Keating:

🌐 Website: danishakeating.com

📱 Instagram: @drdanishakeating

📘 Facebook: Danisha Keating

▶️ YouTube: The Dr. Danisha Keating Show

🎵 TikTok: @drdanishakeating

🎧 Don’t forget to like, comment, and share this episode to help us reach more listeners.

We’re back every Tuesday with new conversations on Fostering Change. For guest suggestions or feedback, please email us at [email protected].

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What started with one simple question—“What can I do with my old bras?”—turned into a global movement. 🌍

In this inspiring episode of Fostering Change, host Rob Scheer is joined by Dana Marlowe, founder of I Support the Girls and Accessibility Partners. Dana’s work provides dignity to marginalized women and youth through access to bras, new underwear, and menstrual hygiene products.

Together, Dana and Rob discuss:

✨ How to start a nonprofit and build strong partnerships with other grassroots organizations

✨ The importance of supporting youth and building confidence through dignity

✨ The powerful partnership between Comfort Cases and I Support the Girls

✨ ISTG’s upcoming 10-year anniversary in July 🎉

As a human rights advocate, Dana has dedicated her life to amplifying the voices of invisible populations while also making technology more inclusive for people with disabilities.

When she isn’t sorting hygiene products or striving for equity, you’ll find her cheering at her sons’ sports games, walking her Silver Lab, or even at early morning dance raves.

💙 Follow I Support the Girls:

Website: http://www.isupportthegirls.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SupportTheGirlsandWomen

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isupportthegirls/?hl=en

Twitter/X: https://x.com/i_support_girls?lang=en

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@isupportthegirls

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@isupportthegirls?lang=en

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/29214127/admin/dashboard/

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.