Fostering Change

In this week's episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer has an enlightening conversation with Bhavini Solanki, Director of Foster Care for Amerigroup’s Georgia Families 360 Program. In her role, she is responsible for the healthcare of children and youth in state custody, those who have been adopted through Georgia’s foster care system and a few hundred Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) managed members. Bhavini works collaboratively with all the state agencies to maintain quality outcomes and coordination of care for the most vulnerable members in the state.

The conversation focuses on the increase of the number of youth who entered foster care due to the COVID Pandemic and what agencies are doing to help facilitate these increasing numbers.

Story Key Notes:

🖐️ The effects of COVID on the child welfare system

🖐️ Reduced number of foster homes; lack of necessary training for caregiver

🖐️ Effects of virtual school; cyber bullying

You can find out more about Bhavini by visiting:

Website: www.amerigroup.com

Learn more about how you can affect change to the lives of youth in foster care by visiting https://www.comfortcases.org/

Listen to previous episodes of Fostering Change at https://www.comfortcases.org/podcast

🎥 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.

David Ambroz, author of “A Place Called Home”  is a national poverty and child welfare expert and advocate. He was recognized by President Obama as an American Champion of Change. In writing about the book, Hillary Clinton stated: “It’s impossible to read… and not want to redouble your efforts to fight the systems of poverty that have plagued America for far too long.”

David currently serves as the Head of Community Engagement (West) for Amazon.  Previously he led Corporate Social Responsibility for Walt Disney Television, and served as the President of the Los Angeles City Planning Commission, and as a California Child Welfare Councilmember. After growing  up homeless and then in foster care, he graduated from Vassar and later from UCLA School of Law (J.D.). He is a foster dad and lives in Los Angeles, CA.

Rob and David have an enlightening conversation about the foster care system, grit, courage and integrity.

Story Key Notes:

🖐️What made you decide to revisit your childhood experience with poverty and in foster care in A PLACE CALLED HOME

🖐️  What qualities and/or circumstances allowed you to survive such deprivation and abuse?

🖐️ How did your sexuality change your foster care experience?

You can find out more about David by visiting:

Website: https://www.davidambroz.com/

More about the boo:  A PLACE CALLED HOME: A Memoir

Twitter: @DaveAmbroz

Instagram: @hjdambroz

Learn more about Comfort Cases at https://www.comfortcases.org/

To view previous episodes of Fostering Change, please visit:  https://comfortcases.org/podcasts/

🎥 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.

In this week's episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer talks with Marpheen Chan,  Author of “Moon in Full: A Modern Coming of Age Story”. Mapheen is an advocate for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.  As a gay, first-generation Asian American born in California to a Cambodian refugee family and later adopted by an evangelical, white working-class family in Maine, Marpheen uses a mix of humor and storytelling to help people view topics such as racism, xenophobia, and homophobia through an intersectional lens.

Story Key Notes:

🖐️ Why write a book and what was the process like?

🖐️ What would you like our audience to walk away with from your book? 

🖐️ What is some of your advice to foster and adoptive parents?

You can find out more about Marpheen by visiting:

Website: www.marpheenchann.com

Facebook: Facebook.com/marpheenchann

Instagram: Instagram.com/marpheenchann

Twitter: Twitter.com/marpheenchann

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

🎥 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.

Happy Mardi Gras!  Today Rob talks with New Orleans’ own Erik Adrian Alexander - otherwise known as the creator of the “Nola Papa” brand, website, podcast and a soon-to-come magazine! You’ll truly get a sense of his energy and motivation to make the world a better place for us all! 

Erik, married to his husband and has three children, also talks about his latest book, “The Adventures of Addie Underwater”, which was inspired by his daughters' love for mermaids.

Erik shares his experience of creating  Nola Papa, which he started in 2015 when he and his husband became fathers. He says that the blog was born out of fear as they did not know what they were doing. However, the blog turned out to be a great way to increase visibility for same-sex parents.

Rob and Erik also discuss how there is a lack of representation of same-sex parents in children's books. Erik's book fills this gap and provides children with a positive representation of same-sex parents.Rob and Erik shares how they don't need titles to define their family and how they want their children to be judged based on who they are as individuals rather than their parents' sexual orientation. 

Erik’s overall mission to broaden the one sided view of the stereotypical American family.

Story Key Notes:

🖐️ The importance of minority visibility

🖐️ More than pride month in June

🖐️ Podcast - showcasing inspiration in all forms!

You can find out more about Erik by visiting:

Website: https://nolapapa.com/

Facebook: @ NolaPapa

Instagram: @ NolaPapa

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

🎥 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.

It was January 2009, and the doorbell rang at Rob and Reece Scheer’s townhouse in Washington, DC. Standing there was Sheri, a *“... social worker, holding the hand of a little boy with long cornrows and big, black eyes. He was two but he looked really little, less than a year old. Holding Sheri’s other hand was a young girl. ‘This is Amaya,’ Sheri said. ‘Amaya say hi to Mr. Rob. And this is Makai’. Makai didn’t react.” This was to be their third home since September.

And that was Rob’s introduction to who would soon be his son, Makai (and daughter Amaya).

Today, on a VERY special episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer, founder of Comfort Cases interviews one of his own children, Makai.

Born with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), Makai was not given much of a chance. But then Rob and Reece came into his life and Makai has surpassed all expectations - maybe except his own.

Some of what you’ll hear from Makai on this episode of Fostering Change:

“Your voice counts. One person can make a change.”

“Once you try it, it’s possible.”

“Don’t listen to what other people say - there’s nothing good about listening to the negative.”

“Always do good for other people.”

“Don’t always take the easy path in life.”

How he started the first Student Government Association (SGA) at his school following conversations with his teacher about what he would do to make the school better. He wrote a speech about how students would have more of a voice at their school.

Story Key Notes:

🖐️ What it’s like to be the middle child of 5 kids.

🖐️ What it was like to have a new OLDER brother come home in 2019

🖐️ What’s it like to “be a Scheer”?

🖐️ What’s it like growing up with white parents

Makai also talks about his future with goals of either joining the military, or taking over Comfort Cases from Rob!

Whatever he does, his goal is to help kids around the world: “I’ll buy plane tickets for kids around the world to help them find a home here.”

We know you’ll enjoy this special Valentine’s Day episode of Fostering Change.

* Quotes in the first paragraph are from Rob Scheer’s memoir, “A Forever Family: Fostering Change One Child at a Time”, available for purchase:

Amazon

Comfort Cases Website

To learn more about Comfort Cases, please visit: https://comfortcases.org/

To listen to previous episodes of Fostering Change, please visit: https://comfortcases.org/podcasts/

🎥 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.

A first-generation college graduate, award-winning advocate for youth, and author. Known for being resilient and bold, Kenisha Anthony is an outspoken activist utilizing her experiences to empower others. As a foster care visionary, she starred in the documentary, Foster Shock and has been featured on NPR and in Essence Magazine. Join our host Rob Scheer as he talks with Kenisha about her eye-opening memoir, LABELED,

Story Key Notes:

🖐️ Purpose of writing memoir

🖐️ Lived experiences as a child in care, advocate and social worker

🖐️ Life after foster care, college, career focus, healing, family, moving forward

You can find out more about Kenisha by visiting:

Website: www.kenishaanthony.com

Facebook: Kenisha E. Anthony

Twitter: aboutkenisha

Instagram: aboutkenisha & aboutlabeledbook

TikTok: aboutkenisha

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

🎥 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 happens when your adoption fails? And it’s your own grandmother who says it’s not working out? In this week’s episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer talks with a true survivor: Angelina Blare, National Miss Curvy 2022. Angelina is a member of QPI Nevada, member of the Child Justice Task Force for the State of Nevada and panel Speaking Guest for DCFS Nevada. She is using her platform to bring awareness to the many issues children in foster care face. Angelina is a young superstar - she is taking on issues regarding the failing foster care system as well as acting as a role model for young people across the country as National Miss Curvy.

Story Key Notes:

🖐️ How We Can Help Foster Kids And Generate Necessary Reform

🖐️ What Are the Biggest Ways We Can Generate Real, Lasting Change in The System and Healing for Foster Kids?

🖐️ Why the adoption system does not always succeed as planned

🖐️ What does the National Miss Curvy title represent?

You can find out more about Angelina by visiting:

Facebook: @Angelina Blare & @National Miss Curvy 2022

Instagram: @hhottsaucee

TikTok: @angelinammxxii

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

🎥 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.

“Once I put down the drink, I just celebrated 7 years of sobriety... is when I really started healing from all of the pain from my trauma." Today, host Rob Scheer discuss addiction, abuse and amazing recovery with Marci Hopkins, author of “Chaos to Clarity: Seeing the Signs and Breaking the Cycles”. Marci is also host of the daily TV show, “Wake Up with Marci”, a show of “empowerment, celebrity inspiration, and learning to live our happiest lives!”. This week's episode of Fostering Change will enlighten and inspire you.

Story Key Notes:

🖐️ Chaos To Clarity; Seeing The Signs and Breaking The Cycles

🖐️ Marci’s story of addiction and sexual abuse; her recovery

🖐️ How long have you been in recovery and how has it changed your life?

You can find out more about Marci by visiting:

Website: www.wakeupwithmarci.com

Facebook: @wakeupwithmarci

Instagram: @hostmarcihopkins & @wake_up_with_marci

YouTube: Wake Up with Marci

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/talkshowhost

Join the “Chaos to Clarity Community”: https://wakeupwithmarci.com/chaos-to-clarity-community/

Learn more about Rob Scheer, Comfort Cases and find previous episodes of Fostering Change at https://www.comfortcases.org/

🎥 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.

In this week's episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer talks with Dave Silbert, Co-Founder & Executive Director of So What Else. For as long as he can remember, Dave has always wanted to help people and serve his community in whatever way he could. As a young adult, Dave gained extensive experience working with people as the Assistant Director of an in-patient rehabilitation facility in California. After returning to the East Coast, he started his own personal training and sports coaching business, learning the in's and out's of running one's own business and the joy in working with kids.

In 2009, a life-changing service trip to the lower 9th Ward in New Orleans changed the course of his life, and the emotional impact of taking part in this kind of philanthropic activism inspired him and Bob to organize their own community’s efforts in a local nonprofit to stimulate volunteerism in their own community; from this simple trip, So What Else was born. Dave has four kids and lives in Montgomery County, Maryland.

Story Key Notes:

🖐️ How SWE Started in 2009 With a Focus on Serving Youth

🖐️ Pandemic Pivot to Food and Hunger Relief

🖐️ Exponential Growth for the Organization in the Past 3 Years

You can find out more about Dave by visiting:

Website: sowhatelse.org

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sowhatelsehelps/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sowhatelsehelps

Volunteer at http://sowhatelse.volunteerhub.com

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

🎥 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.

In this week's episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer talks with Emily Chang, author of The Spare Room. Emily has 23yrs corporate experience and executive leadership at P&G, Apple, InterContinental Hotels Group, and Starbucks. Now the CEO of McCann Worldgroup, China. Prior to joining McCann Worldgroup in 2020, Emily held executive marketing and commercial roles at P&G, Starbucks, Apple, and InterContinental Hotels Group. Known for designing innovative O+O branded experiences, she has led marketing innovations like opening the first Starbucks Roastery outside of Seattle, introducing Apple Podcasts in China, and creating one of China’s first reality television series.

In 2022, Emily was awarded “Women To Watch Greater China” by Campaign Asia, recognized for her brand of purpose-driven leadership and focus on workplace inclusion. She sits on the board of SOS Children’s Villages and is the author of a best-selling book called “The Spare Room,” also the topic of her first TEDx Talk.

Story Key Notes:

🖐️ Identify Your Social Legacy

🖐️ Stories From the Book

🖐️ Living With More Intention Has Helped Redefine My Leadership Approach in the Workplace.

You can find out more about Emily by visiting:

Website: www.social-legacy.com

Facebook: @Thespareroom.emilychang

Instagram: @Thespareroom.emilychang

Linkedin: Emilychang8621

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

🎥 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.