Dr. Murali helps us understand genetics by providing a brief overview of basic genetics, talking about various genetics tests and how they differ, briefly touching on possible pitfalls in direct to consumer genetic tests, and outlining reasons why a child may benefit from genetic testing. Ultimately, understanding genetics helps us understand how children may adopt traits from their biological parents, how they may not, and how we can use genetics to help children thrive.

Speaker

Dr. Chaya Murali is a pediatric geneticist working at Texas Children's Hospital, where she sees patients with a wide array of suspected or diagnosed genetic disorders. Her interest in genetics blossomed when she was a teenager, and her work is characterized by a deep interest in family dynamics and inheritance, both biological and otherwise. Dr. Murali's research focuses on quality of life, patient-reported outcomes, and other psychosocial aspects of living with a genetic disorder, for both affected children and their families. She is passionate about educating healthcare professionals, students, and laypeople on genetics topics. In addition to her clinical, research, and education work, Dr. Murali is a published personal essayist. Her written work focuses largely on the immigrant experience, family, inheritance, and identity.

Have you ever wondered why someone would choose to make an adoption plan for their infant or child? Do you feel confident is discussing adoption with someone who may be facing an unplanned pregnancy or difficult circumstances? This presentation will focus on the how and why someone would make and adoption plan and how you can help someone who may want more information about adoption. Below is some of the important information you will learn more about during this comprehensive program.

Why women or families may choose to place their baby or child for adoption

• Details about the adoption process
• Legal aspects of adoption
• Services for clients
• Adoption best practices
• How to make an adoption referral in a non-directive and ethical manner
• Adoption resources

Speaker

Jennifer Lanter is the Vice President of Communications for the Gladney Center for Adoption. Jennifer provides a unique and engaging perspective on the subject of adoption and has worked in the adoption field for over 16 years. In addition to her professional experience with adoption, Jennifer and her family adopted a precious little boy 15 years ago.

As a Fort Worth native, Jennifer Lanter received a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Texas in Arlington. She began her career at the Gladney Center and has since dedicated her career to creating bright futures through the miracle of adoption.

Jennifer has extensive media experience and has worked with People magazine, Oprah Winfrey Network, Lifetime, MTV, Washington Post, New York Times and several other media outlets. Jennifer is passionate about public speaking and loves the message of hope and adoption across the world!

In this episode of Gladney University Podcast, we bring you "Practical Self Care Planning" with speaker Lindsay C. M. Garrett, LMSW. Garrett is a licensed clinical social worker who has worked in child welfare and adoption for almost ten years. With extensive training in trauma, child development, and connected parenting, Lindsay guides families through pre-adoption training and supports them after their adoptions. Lindsay’s first book Parent Goals: The Millennial’s Guide to New Parent Preparedness, will be released in November 2021. In addition to books, Lindsay currently writes for Houston Mom’s Blog, a part of the national City Mom’s Blog network.

Lindsay will give a brief background on the deeper impact of self care, then guide listeners through identifying what strategies will be effective for you personally, and developing an actionable self care plan that you can apply that same day.

Resources:

Parent Goals: The Millennial's Guide to New Parent Preparedness

For more Gladney University trainings, please visit our website.

In this episode of Gladney University Podcast, we bring you "The Hidden Ingredients Factors in Healthy and Problematic Eating Patterns" with speaker Carol A Darwin. Ms. Darwin is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist who holds a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist Certificate (CEDRD) with the International Association for Eating Disorder Professionals.

Carol shares how to:

• Acquire fundamental knowledge of the biopsychosocial etiology of eating disorders
• Identify the behavioral and physical warning signs of eating disorders
• Discover the “Hidden Ingredients” of eating disorders and how to approach your teen
• Audience will be able to recognize the difference in dieting and healthy eating
• Develop an understanding of different types of treatment

For more Gladney University trainings, please visit our website.

Struggling with talking about race? Should you do it, when should you do it, and then how? This podcast episode will provide psychological science and support to help you figure out these questions for YOUR family.

Speaker:

Dr. Briscoe-Smith earned her undergraduate degree from Harvard University.  She then received her clinical psychology Ph.D. from University of California Berkeley. She then went on to continue her specialization in trauma and ethnic minority mental health through internship and postdoctoral work at  University of California San Francisco/San Francisco General Hospital.  She has combined her love of teaching and advocacy by serving as a professor and by directing mental health programs for children experiencing trauma, homelessness or foster care.  Much of her work has been with schools, as a clinician, consultant and trainer.  Currently she is the Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the Wright Institute where she is a professor. She provides consultation and training to bay area non profits and schools on how to support trauma informed practices and cultural accountability.  

Check out Gladney University for upcoming trainings.

On today's episode of Gladney University Podcast, speaker Julie Compton talks about "How to Help Those Impacted by Suicide". Julie brings to us what she has learned firsthand after the suicide of her 21-year-old son, Chantz. She has worked through her own grief, that of her family, and then the families of other survivors across the past 10 years. Ms. Compton is a trained volunteer for LOSS Team of Tarrant County, Texas. She understand that people want to help but are unsure how.

We hope that you listen to learn things each of us can do to help those dealing with the complicated grief caused by suicide.

From nursery rhymes to lullabies, music is among the first sounds our babies hear. Parents interested in using music during pregnancy and childbirth often find more questions than answers in their search for information: “Does Mozart really make my baby smarter? Does my baby recognize my voice while in the womb? How can music help me during labor?”

Board-certified music therapists specializing in childbirth and pregnancy answer all of these questions and more. You will learn how music therapists can assist the pregnancy and childbirth process, how music affects the brains of parents and childbirth during birth, and how you can use music in your own pregnancy.

Guest Speakers:

Samantha Graham, MT-BC , Sound Birthing Music Therapy Assisted Childbirth Specialist, completed her music therapy coursework and minor in psychology at Sam Houston State University. Sammi's primary instrument is voice and she was able to cultivate her talents with SHSU's Chorale and Opera Theatre.

Sammi's clinical experience includes working with: children and adolescents with learning disabilities, adolescents and adults in psychiatric care, adults with substance use disorder, adults in neurorehabilitation centers, and individuals of all ages with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Sammi became a Sound Birthing Music Therapy Assisted Childbirth Specialist in July of 2019 and is eager to use her knowledge to support families throughout the birth process.

Sammi is passionate about continuing education and aspires to become a certified doula, counselor, and Neurologic Music Therapist in order to enhance her practice. Sammi also aspires to continue performing in some capacity.

Annie Roberson, MT-BC, Neonatal ICU Music Therapist, Sound Birthing Music Therapy Assisted Childbirth Specialist, completed her music therapy coursework at the University of Alabama with a primary instrument of trumpet. Annie completed her internship with Heart and Harmony in the fall of 2018. She is a professional member of Autistic Self-Advocacy Network (ASAN).

Annie's clinical experience includes NICU infants, birthing families, children, teens, and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, children and teens with emotional and behavioral disorders, adults in oncology units, and adults with dementia in memory care units.

In her free time, Annie enjoys watching the Nashville Predators play hockey, the Alabama Crimson Tide win national championships, crocheting, and being in the great outdoors.

Resource:

Heart & Harmony Music Therapy

In today's episode, we are excited to welcome Ms. Cox and her guests to the microphone. The discussion is around healthy childhoods depending on healthy decisions by parents and the adults surrounding the child.  A parent can only make an informed decision if they are provided with information, options, and support for their decision.

Imagine being a parent who is facing daily struggles, including emotional, financial, and societal challenges.  What if you were a child who could not safely stay in their biological family. What are the fears, hopes, and dreams of that birth parent or that child, as they move through a system that was created to protect them? 

What if the child truly had a voice in choosing opportunities for their future? What if we heard more children saying, “I was part of the choice that led me down this path to adulthood?”  What if more birth mothers could say they helped choose the best path or family for their child, feeling empowered to make a parenting decision (whether they chose to parent or chose adoptive parents)? 

There are no easy answers. From hospital staff to social service organizations to teachers, judges, attorneys and court volunteers, there are multiple people and organizations involved with families from the moment of the birth of a child through the child’s adulthood.  Every system is tasked with promoting the child’s best interest.  However, the people working within these systems too often fail to meet that mark.  Healthy childhoods depend on healthy decisions by parents the adults surrounding the child.  A parent can only make an informed decision if she is provided with information, options, and support for her decision. Children are very savvy.  Children know adults are talking about them; it’s time the adults talk TO them, and talk to the them in a way that meets the needs of the child.  This discussion will offer ideas around giving voice to children, even very young children.  Each person who touches that child’s life bears some responsibility for both the suffering and joy that child may experience.  Although they are not easy or one-size-fits-all, there are answers, and we will examine how to find them.  

For additional Gladney University trainings, visit http://gladneyuniversity.com.

Discussing the adoption option with someone facing an unplanned pregnancy may seem intimidating or uncomfortable. This episode will help prepare you for providing adoption information to anyone who may be unprepared or unable to parent.

This podcast episode will equip you with important information about the adoption process, how to provide information in a non-directive and compassionate manner and how to normalize adoption as an empowering choice. Below are just a few of the topics we will dive into:

• Understanding how adoption can be the prevention to unhealthy outcomes

• How adoption works today

• How to create a positive adoption culture

• Resources and tools

• Pre, during, and post adoption services

• How to choose ethical and skilled referral partners

• Hear directly from options counselors at Gladney

• The opportunity to provide honest feedback about the barriers you face everyday in your field

• The opportunity to practice your new skills

To attend a live training, please visit gladneyuniversity.com.

This episode seeks to better equip practitioners to provide empowering services and interventions to LGBTQ+ youth in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. Specific attention is given to the dynamics that contribute to the overrepresentation of LGBTQ+ youth and their experiences in care. Additionally, we examine the critical role of family and foster family acceptance. Dr. McCormick will also explore the added vulnerabilities of LGBTQ+ youth to homelessness and trafficking. Specific attention will be given to using an intersectional approach to look at the experiences of LGBTQ+ youth of color.

To attend a live training, please visit gladneyuniversity.com.