Summary:

In a time marked by division and uncertainty, today's conversation confronts a hard reality. Many of the youth we care about are struggling to find their footing. Fragmentation across culture, ideology, and community has not just created tension. It has created confusion for young people trying to navigate identity, belonging, and direction. Ignoring it is not an option.

This episode invites a direct and honest discussion about what we are seeing on the ground. As adults, whether leaders, parents, mentors, or caregivers, we carry a responsibility to move beyond observation and toward action. The goal is not to debate positions, but to better understand the pressures shaping today's youth and to develop practical ways to guide them forward. Regardless of political perspective, there is common ground in the desire to see young people thrive. That shared goal is where meaningful progress begins.

Joining the conversation is Estefana Johnson. Her work within the foster community is deeply informed by her experience as a first-generation child of immigrants. Her story brings both professional insight and personal depth. It offers a perspective that bridges cultural complexity with thoughtful, therapeutic care.

This episode challenges us to listen more carefully, respond more thoughtfully, and lead more intentionally. The aim is clear. The youth we serve should not be left to navigate these challenges alone. They should be equipped with clarity, resilience, and hope.

Resource Links:

Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking: Gladwell, Malcolm: 9780316010665: Amazon.com: Books

The True Story Behind 'The Best of Enemies'

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Email: [email protected]Facebook: @FosteringVoicesPodcast Instagram: @FosteringVoices Web: www.fosterarizona.org

Summary:

In this episode, we explore how parents and caregivers can find strength, encouragement, and resilience through shared experiences with others who understand their journey. Parenting—especially within the foster care community—can sometimes feel isolating, but connection with others who have walked a similar path can provide the support and perspective families need to keep moving forward.

Joining the conversation is Ricky Denwood, who has served the foster care community in many roles. As a foster parent, adoptive dad, parent trainer, and community advocate, Ricky brings both professional insight and personal experience. He shares his own journey in foster care and the lessons he has learned along the way.

We begin by getting to know Ricky—his professional path and the personal experiences that shaped his passion for supporting foster families. Then we dive into the importance of peer support within the foster community. Ricky discusses why meaningful connection matters, what healthy and supportive relationships can look like, and how parents can balance the responsibilities of daily life while still building a strong, supportive community around them.

Resource Links:

Arizona Association for Foster and Adoptive Parents

Foster Cooperative

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Email: [email protected]Facebook: @FosteringVoicesPodcast Instagram: @FosteringVoices Web: www.fosterarizona.org

Summary:

When a mental health crisis escalates to the point of police involvement, most families feel overwhelmed, unprepared, and unsure of what happens next. In this episode, we step into that difficult space with clarity and practical guidance.

Youth mental health concerns are rising at alarming rates. Data from the American Academy of Pediatrics shows that 40% of high school students report persistent sadness or hopelessness, and 18% have experienced major depression. At the same time, 53% of public schools report an increase in students seeking mental health support. For youth who have experienced foster care, the risk is even greater, with significantly higher rates of mental health challenges than their peers.

So what do families do when prevention is no longer enough?

We are joined by Al Moore, retired sergeant of the Mesa Police Department and former head of security for Mesa Public Schools. Drawing from decades of frontline experience, Al walks us through:

• Practical steps to prevent or de-escalate a crisis • How to build and practice a crisis plan • Warning signs that indicate additional support is needed • When a crisis team should be called—and when police intervention becomes necessary

We also discuss what to expect during police engagement, including why handcuffs may sometimes be used for safety, how families can cooperate effectively, and what not to do in high-stress moments.

Finally, we unpack what happens after officers leave: mandatory 72-hour mental health holds, court-ordered evaluations, and how the mental health court process operates outside the traditional justice system.

If you want to be prepared rather than panicked, this conversation offers grounded insight for navigating one of the most difficult moments a family can face. Tune in.

Resource Links:

How to Work Effectively with Police When Youth are in Mental Health Crisis: a guide for families of children and youth with mental, emotional, or behavioral health problems: https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/eeeef8_9e379a5b9d2c495aa560f16b1b16d6ee.pdf

Youth Mental Health Stats Youth Mental Health Statistics in 2024 - The Annie E. Casey Foundation

The Future of Behavioral Health Services for Youth with Foster Care Experiences Foster Youth Mental Health Policy Brief - NFYI

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Email: [email protected]Facebook: @FosteringVoicesPodcast Instagram: @FosteringVoices Web: www.fosterarizona.org

Summary:

When a child can't stay at home, families are often left asking one painful question: how do we stay connected without making things harder?

In this episode, we talk about how families can stay emotionally connected when a child is placed in out-of-home care. Whether a child is receiving temporary services or more intensive wrap-around support, separation from the home can be one of the most challenging experiences for families—especially those connected to foster care, residential treatment, or therapeutic services.

We're joined by returning guest Estefana Johnson, a licensed therapist and social worker with firsthand experience working in residential treatment centers and alongside families navigating out-of-home placement. Estefana helps us explain what out-of-home care can look like outside of formal child welfare systems, why children may need this level of support, and how families can remain involved throughout the treatment process.

Together, we explore the experience from multiple perspectives, including the child, the caregiver, and siblings who remain at home. We also share practical strategies for maintaining connection, strengthening family relationships, and creating stability during a difficult season.

If you're a parent, caregiver, foster family, or professional supporting children in out-of-home care, this episode offers clarity, encouragement, and hope. Listen in for a thoughtful conversation designed to help families stay connected—even when circumstances are hard.

Resource Links:

Residential Treatment by National Alliance on Mental Illness: Residential Treatment | NAMI

The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk: The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma: van der Kolk M.D., Bessel: 9780143127741

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Email: [email protected]Facebook: @FosteringVoicesPodcast Instagram: @FosteringVoices Web: www.fosterarizona.org

Summary:

In this episode of the Fostering Voices podcast, Brian and Kim explore what happens when we shift our focus inward—toward what we can control, what we need, and how we choose to respond—and how that shift shapes our relationships with others.

They kick things off with a few real-life moments we can all relate to, from navigating chaotic drivers to the unique stress of New Year's Eve, using these everyday experiences as a springboard for deeper reflection. From there, the conversation turns toward intentionality: how we want to show up in the world, the power of choosing our response, and what it looks like to release the weight of others' expectations. Along the way, Brian and Kim share practical language and mindset shifts that help create space for healthier boundaries.

The episode wraps with a focus on grace—both for ourselves and for others—and a simple, grounding takeaway you can carry into your week. Tune in for an honest, relatable conversation that invites you to lead with intention, extend grace freely, and show up more fully in your everyday relationships.

Resource Link:

The Choice: Embrace the Possible: Eger, Dr. Edith Eva: 9781501130793: Amazon.com: Books

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Email: [email protected]Facebook: @FosteringVoicesPodcast Instagram: @FosteringVoices Web: www.fosterarizona.org

Summary:

Happy 2026! In this reflective kickoff episode, Brian and Kim look back on 2025 through their shared perspective as the Vehons—an honest conversation about a year that taught them deeply, stretched them unexpectedly, and surprised them with moments of real joy.

Together, they unpack what 2025 revealed: the lessons that shaped them, the challenges that pushed them beyond their comfort zones, and the places where joy showed up in meaningful ways. From there, they turn the corner toward the new year, naming what they are intentionally carrying forward into 2026—and what they are choosing to leave behind.

You will hear Brian's and Kim's personal "keepers," the mindsets and practices worth holding onto, including a renewed commitment to focus in and freak out less. You will also hear their "tossers," the habits, pressures, and patterns that no longer deserve space in the year ahead.

This episode closes with clear, grounded takeaways—offering listeners encouragement, perspective, and a thoughtful framework for reflecting on their own year and stepping into what comes next with greater clarity and intention.

Resource Links:

The Wingfeather Saga

The Hope Institute of CUSD Gilbert, Arizona

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Email: [email protected]Facebook: @FosteringVoicesPodcast Instagram: @FosteringVoices Web: www.fosterarizona.org

Summary:

In this episode, you're invited into a personal, honest conversation about what really happens when you say yes to trauma parenting. Peter Mutabazi joins you for a heartfelt discussion about why fostering doesn't just change the lives of children—it changes the adults who step in for them. If you're fostering now or considering stepping into this world, this episode speaks directly to you.

Peter shares how his journey began as a ten-year-old homeless child in Uganda and how the kindness of others shaped the man he is today. He opens up about becoming a foster parent to more than forty-seven children, adopting three, and discovering that trauma parenting reveals parts of yourself you didn't know were there. You'll hear how expectations collide with reality, how hidden scars surface, and how triggers you thought you buried suddenly demand attention.

Together, you'll explore the uncomfortable but transformative truth: caring for kids with trauma often brings your own wounds into the light. Peter walks through how bias, fear, and old pain can unexpectedly show up—and how choosing unconditional love helps you grow through it rather than run from it.

This episode also offers practical reflections for anyone preparing to foster, helping you think through what it really means to bring a child's trauma into your daily life, and what it requires from your heart.

If you're ready for a real conversation about the cost and beauty of trauma parenting, this episode is for you.

Resource Links:

Peter Mutabazi

Now I Am Known - YouTube

Foster Arizona - foster and adopt page to learn how to get involved Foster Arizona | Foster & Adobt

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Email: [email protected]Facebook: @FosteringVoicesPodcast Instagram: @FosteringVoices Web: www.fosterarizona.org

Summary:

In this week's episode of Fostering Voices, Kim and Brian dig into the recent presidential executive order released on November 13th: Fostering the Future for American Children and Families. After receiving many questions about what the order means for the foster care community, Kim and Brian break down the key components, highlight potential benefits, and raise important concerns.

They begin with an overview of the order's call to modernize the child welfare system, including improved data collection, better information sharing, and enhanced collaboration with non-government partners. They also discuss the ethical risks of increased technology and data use, and the ongoing gaps that the order does not address—such as declining foster parent numbers and the limited support for caregivers navigating safety plans.

The conversation then shifts to the proposal to create a national platform for youth, which could expand access to funding for education, workforce development, and financial literacy. While these additions may offer meaningful support, Kim and Brian also explore the challenges, including the lack of focus on root causes, the risks of poorly applied funding, and the reality that educational barriers remain steep for youth in care.

Finally, the hosts examine the section aimed at maximizing partnerships with Americans of faith. They discuss how increased awareness and reduced discrimination could help more families step forward, while acknowledging the complexities for children and caregivers whose beliefs may differ.

Join the conversation as Kim and Brian unpack what this executive order could mean for youth, families, and the future of foster care.

Resource Links:

Executive Order: Fostering the Future for American Children and Families

Fostering the Future for American Children and Families – The White House

The future of AI in government services and global risks: insights from design fictions

Brief Family First Prevention Services Act

Arizona's Invisible Achievement Gap: education outcomes of students in foster care in the State's public schools

Arizona's Invisible Achievement Gap | FosterEd

ARS 8-921 Arizona State Legislature

https://www.azleg.gov/viewdocument/?docName=https://www.azleg.gov/ars/8/00921.htm

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Email: [email protected]Facebook: @FosteringVoicesPodcast Instagram: @FosteringVoices Web: www.fosterarizona.org

Summary:

This week, we're diving into a topic that many of us would rather avoid—how stress and trauma affect our bodies. If you're like Kim, it's not a conversation you're eager to have, but it's one that matters deeply if we want to live as our healthiest, most authentic selves.

Joining the discussion is our friend and regular guest, Estefana Johnson, who helps unpack what happens "when the body says no." Together, we explore the hidden ways internal stress and unresolved trauma can shape our health, behaviors, and overall wellbeing.

From understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and their lifelong impact, to recognizing the subtle signs that our nervous system is struggling, this episode sheds light on the deep connection between emotional wounds and physical health.

We'll also talk about what it means to take ownership of your future—how to reduce stress-related risks, support those you love, and make small, intentional choices that lead to lasting healing.

Tune in for an honest, compassionate conversation about breaking free from the toll of stress and building resilience for the life you were made to live.

Resource Links:

Book: When the Body Says No: Exploring the Stress Disease Connection by Gabor Mate, M.D.

When the Body Says No: Exploring the Stress-Disease Connection

TEDMED Talk: How Childhood Trauma Affects Health Across a Lifetime by Nadine Burke Harris

Nadine Burke Harris: How childhood trauma affects health across a lifetime | TED Talk

ACEs Quiz

Take The ACES Quiz - American SPCC

Book: The Gift - 14 Lessons to Save Your Life by Edith Eger

The Gift: 14 Lessons to Save Your Life: Eger, Dr. Edith Eva: 9781982143091

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Email: [email protected]Facebook: @FosteringVoicesPodcast Instagram: @FosteringVoices Web: www.fosterarizona.org

Summary:

This week, we're diving into an important and often overlooked topic — when grandparents step into the role of parent. In 2024, Duet reported that more than 64,000 grandparents in Arizona are raising their grandchildren, and census data shows the state ranks above the national average for grandparents providing care. For every one child raised by kin within the foster care system, there are eight being raised by kin outside of it.

In this episode, we're honored to talk with Oralia, a grandmother navigating the challenges and joys of raising her grandchildren, and Lisa from Duet, a local nonprofit dedicated to supporting grandparents and kinship caregivers. Together, we explore what drives grandparents to step up, the unique struggles they face, and the community resources making a difference.

Tune in for a heartfelt conversation about resilience, love, and the power of family across generations.

Resource Links:

Duet: Partners in Health and Aging Help For Grandparents Raising Grandchildren | Duet

Grandfacts - State Fact Sheets for Grandfamilies https://www.grandfamilies.org/Portals/0/State%20Fact%20Sheets/Arizona%20GrandFacts%20State%20Fact%20Sheet%202021%20Update.pdf

NCRC - Resources for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Resources for grandparents raising grandchildren » NCRC

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Email: [email protected]Facebook: @FosteringVoicesPodcast Instagram: @FosteringVoices Web: www.fosterarizona.org