In Real Life: Foster Care Unfiltered

In Real Life: Foster Care Unfiltered

By Children's Home Society of North CarolinaParentingKids & Family
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In Real Life: Foster Care Unfiltered episodes

  • The Greatest Joys and Challenges of Fostering Teenagers

    In this episode of In Real Life: Foster Care Unfiltered, Shannon chats with Tara, a foster parent with 25 years’ experience. Tara shares her journey into fostering, her focus on supporting teenagers, and the importance of building a strong community and collaborating with birth families. She reflects on the challenges, joys, and personal growth that come with fostering, offering encouragement and practical advice for prospective foster parents. The episode highlights the lasting impact of providing stability, love, and support for youth in foster care, especially those often overlooked. 

    “If I have an empty room in my house and there’s a child sleeping on an air mattress at social services, that hits me hard.” —Tara

    What You Will Learn: 

    • Personal motivations for fostering and the influence of early life experiences. 
    • The importance of having a stable, caring adult in a child's life. 
    • Challenges and misconceptions surrounding fostering teenagers. 
    • The evolving nature of parenting and the need for adaptability. 
    • Maintaining relationships with foster children after they leave the home. 
    • The challenges faced by youth aging out of foster care. 
    • The significance of community support and shared parenting. 
    • The role of biological families in the fostering process. 
    • Celebrating small victories and individual growth in foster children. 
    • Encouragement for prospective foster parents to take the leap and the urgent need for foster homes. 

    Timestamps: 

    • Intro & Podcast Purpose (0:00) 
    • Meet Tara, Foster Parent (0:27) 
    • Why Tara Started Fostering (1:03) 
    • Fostering Teens: Joys & Lessons (2:13) 
    • Myths About Fostering Teenagers (5:16) 
    • Parenting with Grace & Flexibility (6:00) 
    • Staying Connected After Care (7:39) 
    • Supporting Youth Who Age Out (9:19) 
    • 25 Years of Fostering: Biggest Lessons (11:02) 
    • Youth Growth & Success Stories (14:16) 
    • Foster Care Needs in NC (15:39) 
    • Advice for Prospective Foster Parents (15:59) 
    • Building a Support System (18:55) 
    • Shared Parenting & Birth Families (22:27) 
    • What Keeps Tara Fostering (24:44) 
    • Celebrating Milestones (27:29) 
    • Final Advice & Encouragement (28:21) 
    • Closing & How to Get Involved (30:22) 

     

    Foster Care Resources & Connect With Us

    In Real Life: Foster Care Unfiltered is a podcast from Children's Home Society of North Carolina featuring conversations about foster care, adoption, parenting, and family support. Learn more about foster care, browse past episodes, or connect with our team using the resources below.

    More Episodes: In Real Life: Foster Care Unfiltered

    Learn About Foster Care: Get Started

    About Children's Home Society of North Carolina: chsnc.org

    Be a Guest: [email protected]

    Follow CHS:

    • Facebook: @chsnorthcarolina
    • Instagram: @chs_nc
    • LinkedIn: @chs-nc
    • YouTube: @chsnc
    31 min
  • Foster Care and Adoption Real Talk on Reunification: Love, Loss, and Choosing ‘Yes’ Again

    In this episode of In Real Life: Foster Care Unfiltered, foster and adoptive mom Tracey shares the real story behind foster care — love, loss, reunification, and the courage to say “yes” again. She talks about navigating reunification, the realities of transracial adoption, supporting children’s identity, and building relationships with birth families. Tracey’s honesty reveals both the heartbreak and the deep rewards of fostering, offering encouragement to anyone considering foster care or adoption. 

    "There’s no perfect answer for why we keep fostering. We just have this need to open our home and love in every way we can. It’s worth every tear, every late night, every heartbreak. I’d do it over and over again because we love being parents and showing a child that someone can love them unconditionally, just because." —Tracey

    What You Will Learn: 

    • Tracey’s foster care and adoption journey since 2016. 
    • Emotional challenges of fostering, including reunification. 
    • Effects of fostering on family dynamics across races and backgrounds. 
    • Importance of openness about birth origins and identity. 
    • Practical aspects of transracial adoption, like hair care and culture. 
    • Emotional difficulty of goodbyes and maintaining birth-family ties. 
    • Essential role of support systems and community. 
    • Strong protective instincts and focus on children’s well-being. 
    • Rewards of fostering, including children’s growth and transformation. 
    • Encouragement for future foster/adoptive parents, highlighting love and commitment. 

    Timestamps: 

    • Intro (0:00) 
    • Tracey’s Background (0:27) 
    • Choosing to Foster (1:06) 
    • First Placement & Reunification (3:17) 
    • Coping with Loss (4:40) 
    • Why Continue Fostering (7:27) 
    • Impact on Kids & Families (10:24) 
    • Family Growth (12:08) 
    • Community Support (15:40) 
    • CHS Call to Action (18:36) 
    • Most Rewarding Moments (18:56) 
    • Adoption Questions (21:17) 
    • Transracial Adoption (25:34) 
    • Fears & Challenges (28:13) 
    • Support Systems (33:36) 
    • Final Encouragement (36:41) 
    • Closing & Resources (38:59) 

    Foster Care Resources & Connect With Us

    In Real Life: Foster Care Unfiltered is a podcast from Children's Home Society of North Carolina featuring conversations about foster care, adoption, parenting, and family support. Learn more about foster care, browse past episodes, or connect with our team using the resources below.

    More Episodes: In Real Life: Foster Care Unfiltered

    Learn About Foster Care: Get Started

    About Children's Home Society of North Carolina: chsnc.org

    Be a Guest: [email protected]

    Follow CHS:

    • Facebook: @chsnorthcarolina
    • Instagram: @chs_nc
    • LinkedIn: @chs-nc
    • YouTube: @chsnc
    40 min
  • The Greatest Challenge Facing Foster Care in NC: The Need for More Homes

    In this episode of In Real Life: Foster Care Unfiltered, leaders from Children’s Home Society of North Carolina discuss the urgent need for foster families, the realities faced by children in foster care, and common misconceptions about fostering.  

    They highlight the shortage of foster homes, the importance of keeping siblings together and children in their communities, and the support offered to foster parents. The team shares success stories and encourages listeners to consider fostering or supporting children in care, emphasizing that anyone can make a meaningful difference in a child’s life. 

    “What really gets me is thinking about that child sitting there, listening to DSS call families and hearing families say ‘no, no, no.’ Just thinking of the trauma that continues to inflict on them is really sad.” —Jeremy Wagner 

    What You Will Learn: 

    • Current state of foster care in North Carolina 
    • Decrease in the number of licensed foster families post-COVID-19 
    • Urgent need for foster families to accommodate over 11,000 children in care 
    • Challenges faced by children entering foster care, including trauma and instability 
    • Importance of keeping sibling groups together in foster placements 
    • Need for children to remain in or near their home communities for stability 
    • Common misconceptions about foster care and birth families 
    • Qualities needed to be a successful foster parent 
    • Support and training provided to foster families by organizations 
    • Success stories and positive impacts of fostering on children’s lives 

    Timestamps: 

    00:27 – Introductions 
    02:29 – State of Foster Care in NC 
    04:41 – Children Sleeping in DSS Offices 
    07:12 – Who Are the Children? 
    08:47 – Sibling Groups & Placement 
    12:08 – Keeping Kids in Community 
    13:36 – Why Children Enter Care 
    15:31 – Misconceptions 
    18:09 – Youth Resilience 
    20:26 – Urgent & After-Hours Needs 
    23:00 – Recruitment & Support 
    24:56 – Training & Ongoing Support 
    29:01 – One-on-One Family Education 
    30:00 – Rewards & Success Stories 
    34:27 – How to Help 
    37:18 – Final Thoughts 
    38:45 – Closing

    Foster Care Resources & Connect With Us

    In Real Life: Foster Care Unfiltered is a podcast from Children's Home Society of North Carolina featuring conversations about foster care, adoption, parenting, and family support. Learn more about foster care, browse past episodes, or connect with our team using the resources below.

    More Episodes: In Real Life: Foster Care Unfiltered

    Learn About Foster Care: Get Started

    About Children's Home Society of North Carolina: chsnc.org

    Be a Guest: [email protected]

    Follow CHS:

    • Facebook: @chsnorthcarolina
    • Instagram: @chs_nc
    • LinkedIn: @chs-nc
    • YouTube: @chsnc
    40 min
  • The Heart of One: A Single Foster Parent’s Story of Love, Resilience, and Community

    In this episode of In Real Life: Foster Care Unfiltered, Theresa shares her personal journey into foster care, inspired by her father’s experience. As a single mom, she discusses the challenges and rewards of fostering, the importance of preparation and support, and how she involves her teenage son in the process. Theresa also highlights the emotional complexities of reunification and the value of community and advocacy, offering encouragement and practical advice for current and prospective foster families. 

    “In the beginning, it was hard, really hard, and I almost gave up. But I'm glad I took the risk. I jumped in with both feet, and this was the right thing for me. You're never going to be 100% ready, so stop with that; if this is your calling, do it, and be okay with the unexpected. I learned that it was okay to ask for help and to lean on others as a network.” —Theresa  

    What You Will Learn: 

    • Personal journey of becoming a licensed foster parent 
    • Connection to foster care through family history 
    • Initial experiences and challenges of first placements 
    • Importance of preparation and adaptability in fostering 
    • Misconceptions about love being sufficient in foster care 
    • Role of support, education, and advocacy in fostering 
    • Involvement of existing family members in the fostering process 
    • Transition from traditional to therapeutic foster parenting 
    • Emotional complexities of the reunification process 
    • Value of support networks and community in foster care 

    Timestamps: 

    00:00 – Introduction

    00:00:28 – Meet Teresa

    00:05:02 – Early Influences 

    00:06:45 – First Placement

    00:10:12 – Training & Preparation

    00:11:59 – Facing the Unknowns

    00:13:51 – Family & Support Systems

    00:16:56 – CHS Message

    00:17:16 – Preparing Biological Children

    00:20:01 – Transition to Therapeutic Care

    00:22:44 – Coping Through Creativity

    00:24:02 – Reunification & Shared Parenting

    00:28:02 – Emotional Growth

    00:29:10 – Hopes for Her Foster Child

    00:32:04 – Teamwork & Resources

    00:33:16 – Asking for Help

    00:36:13 – Advice for Prospective Foster Parents

    00:37:09 – Wrap-Up

    Foster Care Resources & Connect With Us

    In Real Life: Foster Care Unfiltered is a podcast from Children's Home Society of North Carolina featuring conversations about foster care, adoption, parenting, and family support. Learn more about foster care, browse past episodes, or connect with our team using the resources below.

    More Episodes: In Real Life: Foster Care Unfiltered

    Learn About Foster Care: Get Started

    About Children's Home Society of North Carolina: chsnc.org

    Be a Guest: [email protected]

    Follow CHS:

    • Facebook: @chsnorthcarolina
    • Instagram: @chs_nc
    • LinkedIn: @chs-nc
    • YouTube: @chsnc
    38 min
  • Love Makes a Family: Navigating Transracial Adoption in Foster Care

    In this episode of In Real Life: Foster Care Unfiltered, Tori, a foster and adoptive parent, shares her powerful story of building a family through foster care and transracial adoption. 

    A former educator, Tori opens up about her journey to fostering and adopting three children, the emotional ups and downs of parenting through trauma, and her experience as an African American mother raising Caucasian children. She reflects on identity, belonging, and how love and community can bridge cultural differences. 

    This heartfelt conversation highlights the realities of transracial adoption, the importance of diversity and representation, and the need for more families to open their hearts to fostering in North Carolina. 

    “Whether you birth them in your womb or birth them from your heart, love makes a family.” —Tori

    What You Will Learn: 

    • Journey into foster care and adoption 
    • Decision-making process for fostering and adopting 
    • Background and motivations of the guest as an educator and advocate 
    • Experiences of fostering and adopting multiple children 
    • Challenges of transracial adoption in a southern context 
    • Navigating societal perceptions and assumptions about family dynamics 
    • Importance of preparing children for societal interactions and questions 
    • Representation in literature for diverse family structures 
    • Emphasis on love as the foundation of family and community 
    • Call to action for supporting vulnerable children and becoming foster parents 

     For more of Tori's story, watch here.

    Timestamps: 

    00:00 – Introduction
    00:27 – Meet Tori
    01:28 – Journey to Fostering
    03:12 – First Days
    06:13 – Expanding the Family
    08:01 – Early Reflections
    08:46 – Navigating Transracial Adoption
    10:30 – Transracial Parenting
    11:26 – Talking About Race
    12:35 – Facing Public Perceptions
    14:40 – Addressing Trauma
    17:23 – Open Communication
    18:51 – Confidence & Representation
    25:29 – Family Traditions
    26:42 – Parenting Joys
    32:59 – Birth Family Connections
    35:29 – Belonging & Heritage
    37:09 – Hopes for the Future
    39:25 – Message to Future Foster Parents
    41:51 – Closing

    Foster Care Resources & Connect With Us

    In Real Life: Foster Care Unfiltered is a podcast from Children's Home Society of North Carolina featuring conversations about foster care, adoption, parenting, and family support. Learn more about foster care, browse past episodes, or connect with our team using the resources below.

    More Episodes: In Real Life: Foster Care Unfiltered

    Learn About Foster Care: Get Started

    About Children's Home Society of North Carolina: chsnc.org

    Be a Guest: [email protected]

    Follow CHS:

    • Facebook: @chsnorthcarolina
    • Instagram: @chs_nc
    • LinkedIn: @chs-nc
    • YouTube: @chsnc
    43 min
  • From Foster Care to Family Advocate: Mikaila’s Story of Resilience and Service

    In this episode of In Real Life: Foster Care Unfiltered, Mikaila shares her powerful journey of entering foster care at age 12, the trauma of removal, and the life-changing impact of her first foster mom. 

    Now a Family Recruitment Specialist with Children’s Home Society of North Carolina, Mikaila uses her lived experience to inspire and support foster families across the state. Her story highlights the urgent need for foster parents, the importance of community support, and the lasting difference one safe, loving home can make.

    “When you’ve aged out of foster care, you don’t have the privilege to ignore the crisis. It stays with you every day.” —Mikaila. 

    Whether you’re considering fostering, supporting a foster family, or simply want to understand the child welfare crisis in North Carolina, Mikaila’s story will leave you inspired to act. 

    What You’ll Learn 

    • Mikaila’s journey from foster youth to family advocate and kinship care provider. 
    • The realities children face when entering foster care and the trauma of removal. 
    • Why North Carolina urgently needs more foster parents and safe, stable homes. 
    • How supportive foster parents and mentors can change a child’s future. 
    • The unique role of kinship care in keeping families connected. 
    • Why fostering is a community effort and how you can help even if you don’t foster. 
    • The resources and support available for foster families through CHS. 

    Timestamps: 

    00:00 Intro – Real foster care stories with CHS
    00:28 – Meet Mikaila – Recruiter & lived experience
    01:05 – Journey – From foster youth to advocate
    03:29 – Kinship Care – Raising her niece
    04:37 – Crisis – Need for foster parents in NC
    06:38 – Placement – Waiting at DSS as a child
    07:41 – Trauma – Removal and losing her pet
    10:19 – Empathy – Seeing through a child’s eyes
    13:58 – Community – Ways to help beyond fostering
    15:12 – Support – Getting involved in awareness
    16:42 – CHS – Call to action for foster parents
    17:10 – Calling – Giving back through experience
    18:52 – Teens – Addressing fears and myths
    19:35 – Mama B – The impact of her foster mom
    26:40 – Belonging – Helping kids feel valued
    27:25 – Lessons – Influences from many homes
    28:22 – Parenting – Biological vs. foster care
    31:19 – Support – Resources for foster families
    34:44 – Getting Started – Steps to begin fostering
    36:10 – Service – Foster care as lasting impact
    39:21 – Closing – How to get involved

    Foster Care Resources & Connect With Us

    In Real Life: Foster Care Unfiltered is a podcast from Children's Home Society of North Carolina featuring conversations about foster care, adoption, parenting, and family support. Learn more about foster care, browse past episodes, or connect with our team using the resources below.

    More Episodes: In Real Life: Foster Care Unfiltered

    Learn About Foster Care: Get Started

    About Children's Home Society of North Carolina: chsnc.org

    Be a Guest: [email protected]

    Follow CHS:

    • Facebook: @chsnorthcarolina
    • Instagram: @chs_nc
    • LinkedIn: @chs-nc
    • YouTube: @chsnc
    40 min
  • Twelve, Tenacious & Triumphant: How Autumn Scored a Hole in One through Foster Care

    In this episode of In Real Life: Foster Care Unfiltered, 12-year-old junior golfer Autumn and her adoptive father, Donnie, share their journey from foster care to adoption. Golf became a life-changing outlet for Autumn, helping her build confidence, mental resilience, and a positive outlook. With resilience, hope, and the transformative power of family and sports, they reflect on the challenges and joys of fostering, while offering encouragement to others considering adoption or foster care.

    “When I was in foster care, I knew there would be better days; getting adopted was by far the best day in the world. There are kids waiting for a foster home or waiting to get adopted, and people should want to help.” —Autumn

    “Don’t let your fear stop you from asking questions about foster care; that’s what led us to having the most amazing daughter in the world. There are kids like Autumn who are amazing and just need love to thrive; they were born to soar. Maybe they’re waiting for you.” —Donnie

    What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

    • The emotional journey of transitioning from foster care to adoption
    • Autumn’s inspiring perspective on adoption and resilience
    • How discovering golf transformed her life and confidence
    • Life lessons learned from sports, competition, and perseverance
    • Practical advice for prospective foster and adoptive parents
    • Encouragement for youth currently in foster care
    • The importance of advocacy, storytelling, and breaking stigmas in foster care

    Timestamps:
    00:00 – Introduction and purpose of the podcast
    00:27 – Meet Donnie and Autumn
    00:46 – Autumn’s first day with her adoptive family
    03:12 – Transition from foster care to adoption
    05:04 – Autumn’s perspective on adoption
    06:34 – Autumn’s joyful outlook and early life
    09:24 – Choosing joy despite challenges
    10:27 – Discovering golf & sports
    12:34 – Becoming a top junior golfer
    13:46 – Lessons learned from adoption
    15:05 – Fears and hopes in fostering/adoption
    17:12 – PSA: Foster care in NC
    17:32 – Autumn’s charity golf tournament
    19:33 – Life lessons from golf
    25:11 – Staying positive through adversity
    26:52 – Advice for children in foster care
    28:21 – Advice for prospective foster/adoptive parents
    31:56 – Raising awareness for adoption
    33:02 – Sharing her story publicly
    36:33 – Breaking stigmas and final thoughts
    37:47 – Closing remarks

    Foster Care Resources & Connect With Us

    In Real Life: Foster Care Unfiltered is a podcast from Children's Home Society of North Carolina featuring conversations about foster care, adoption, parenting, and family support. Learn more about foster care, browse past episodes, or connect with our team using the resources below.

    More Episodes: In Real Life: Foster Care Unfiltered

    Learn About Foster Care: Get Started

    About Children's Home Society of North Carolina: chsnc.org

    Be a Guest: [email protected]

    Follow CHS:

    • Facebook: @chsnorthcarolina
    • Instagram: @chs_nc
    • LinkedIn: @chs-nc
    • YouTube: @chsnc
    39 min
  • Proof That One Is Enough: A Single Parent’s Foster Care Story

    In this episode of In Real Life: Foster Care Unfiltered, guest Tim shares his inspiring journey as a professional in child welfare, which leads to being a single foster parent and then adoptive parent, as well as a kinship provider. Tim recounts becoming a guardian to twins, fostering to adopt an 8-year-old boy, and later fostering and adopting his niece through kinship care. He discusses the challenges, rewards, and milestones of building a family through fostering, the importance of trauma-informed parenting, and the value of community support. Tim encourages listeners to consider fostering, emphasizing the life-changing impact it can have on both children and families.

    “I didn’t know what I was getting into at first; it was scary and overwhelming, but I had a supportive community. I’ve seen incredible growth in the children I cared for. You don’t have to be perfect; you just have to be willing. If you’ve ever wondered about fostering, take the next step. You could be the change a child is waiting for.” —Tim

    What You Will Learn: 

    • Personal journey of becoming a foster and adoptive parent.
    • Experiences and challenges faced in the child welfare system.
    • The importance of stable and loving home environments for children in foster care.
    • Transition from personal fostering to professional involvement in child welfare.
    • Insights on kinship care and the process of fostering a family member.
    • The significance of trauma-informed parenting and understanding children's behaviors.
    • The role of support systems and community resources in fostering.
    • Emotional milestones in the parent-child relationship during adoption.
    • Strategies for managing expectations and power struggles with children.
    • Encouragement for others to consider fostering or adopting, and the impact it can have.

    Timestamps:
    00:00 – Introduction
    00:51 – Meet Tim
    01:09 – Becoming a Guardian & Caseworker
    02:13 – First Adoption & Kinship Care
    04:01 – Common Threads in Care
    06:13 – Advice for New Families
    08:53 – Support Systems
    11:09 – Family Dynamics
    18:06 – Single Parenting
    20:16 – Foster Care in NC
    20:37 – Rewarding Moments
    25:21 – Parenting Lessons
    31:10 – Therapeutic Progress
    35:37 – Myths & Relationships
    40:29 – Family Is Forever
    42:37 – Encouragement
    43:20 – Closing

    Foster Care Resources & Connect With Us

    In Real Life: Foster Care Unfiltered is a podcast from Children's Home Society of North Carolina featuring conversations about foster care, adoption, parenting, and family support. Learn more about foster care, browse past episodes, or connect with our team using the resources below.

    More Episodes: In Real Life: Foster Care Unfiltered

    Learn About Foster Care: Get Started

    About Children's Home Society of North Carolina: chsnc.org

    Be a Guest: [email protected]

    Follow CHS:

    • Facebook: @chsnorthcarolina
    • Instagram: @chs_nc
    • LinkedIn: @chs-nc
    • YouTube: @chsnc
    44 min
  • How Fostering Helped One Family “Live the Dream”

    In this episode of In Real Life: Foster Care Unfiltered, Bennie shares her family’s powerful foster care journey—how she and her husband felt called to foster, the impact on their biological son, and the joys and challenges of opening their home. She emphasizes the importance of keeping siblings together, the ongoing need for foster parents (especially for older children and sibling groups), and the role of strong support systems in making fostering sustainable.

    Bennie’s story highlights the resilience of children in care, the gradual growth of love, and the profound rewards of providing a safe, nurturing home. Her story shows how love can overcome previously held notions of what you think you can handle; she also offers practical, compassionate advice for families considering fostering.

    “It has been the most rewarding and fulfilling experience I’ve ever had the pleasure of doing. I would 110%, without a doubt, do it again. I call it The Dream. For me, it’s sitting outside with a cold glass of iced tea in hand, watching my three kids laugh, play, and live out their beautiful little lives.  I would highly recommend it to anyone who's thinking about fostering.” —Bennie

    What you will hear in this episode: 

    • Why Bennie and her husband chose to become foster parents
    • How fostering affected their biological son’s life and perspective
    • The most rewarding moments of fostering—watching children heal and thrive
    • Challenges of supporting children who have experienced trauma
    • The value of agency support, caseworkers, and foster parent community connections
    • Advice for new foster parents: research, prepare, and set realistic expectations
    • The urgent need for foster parents for sibling groups and older children
    • Insights on bonding with children in care vs. biological children
    • What surprised Bennie most about the licensing process
    • Her hopes and dreams for her children and reflections on the rewards of fostering

    Timestamps
    00:00 – Introduction
    00:27 – Bennie’s Family and Starting the Foster Journey
    02:05 – Deciding to Foster: Influences and Hesitations
    04:04 – Parenting Biological Children vs. Children in Care
    06:43 – Helping Children Adjust to Placement Changes
    08:32 – Most Rewarding Aspects of Fostering
    09:41 – Biggest Challenges in Fostering
    11:45 – Support Systems for Foster Families
    12:58 – Advice for Prospective Foster Parents
    14:11 – Current Needs in the Foster Care System
    15:18 – Importance of Keeping Siblings Together
    17:21 – Reflections on Sibling Separation
    19:58 – Foster Care Statistics and Call to Action
    20:19 – Adjusting to New Family Routines
    24:02 – Encouraging Emotional Expression
    24:50 – Loving Children in Care vs. Biological Children
    27:49 – Building Bonds and Overcoming Misconceptions
    32:07 – Support from Other Foster Parents
    33:00 – Most Surprising Aspects of Fostering
    35:10 – Would You Do It Again?
    36:24 – Openness and Flexibility in Fostering
    38:10 – Hopes and Dreams for Her Children
    39:21 – Final Reflections and Words of Wisdom
    41:38 – Podcast Closing and Farewell

    Foster Care Resources & Connect With Us

    In Real Life: Foster Care Unfiltered is a podcast from Children's Home Society of North Carolina featuring conversations about foster care, adoption, parenting, and family support. Learn more about foster care, browse past episodes, or connect with our team using the resources below.

    More Episodes: In Real Life: Foster Care Unfiltered

    Learn About Foster Care: Get Started

    About Children's Home Society of North Carolina: chsnc.org

    Be a Guest: [email protected]

    Follow CHS:

    • Facebook: @chsnorthcarolina
    • Instagram: @chs_nc
    • LinkedIn: @chs-nc
    • YouTube: @chsnc
    42 min
  • The Unexpected Joys of Becoming a Foster Granny in Your Golden Years

    What happens when life takes an unexpected turn, and you still feel called to give back? In this inspiring episode, we meet a “Foster Granny” who began fostering after losing her husband.

    In this first full episode of In Real Life: Foster Care Unfiltered, she shares the challenges and joys of opening her home later in life—from providing routine and structure to building trust with children in care. She discovered that fostering not only transforms children’s lives but also brings purpose, growth, and healing for caregivers themselves.

    “I used to be a Sunday school teacher, and my husband was a pastor. When he passed away in 2020, I kept myself busy—I did all the waterfalls, the hiking, the kayaking, all the activities. But something was still missing: the kids. After seeing commercials on TV about how desperate the area was for foster parents, I thought, ‘Well, maybe I should look into this and see if they will take an old, widowed lady like me.’” —Victoria

    If you have ever wondered whether it is too late to foster, this story proves the opposite: it is never too late to make a difference.

    What you will learn in this episode:

    • How one widow found new purpose by becoming a foster parent
    • The transition from respite care to full-time fostering
    • Practical ways to build trust and maintain healthy routines
    • The role foster parents play in reunification and supporting families
    • Why flexibility and genuine care are essential in fostering
    • Encouragement for anyone considering fostering later in life

    Foster Care Resources & Connect With Us

    In Real Life: Foster Care Unfiltered is a podcast from Children's Home Society of North Carolina featuring conversations about foster care, adoption, parenting, and family support. Learn more about foster care, browse past episodes, or connect with our team using the resources below.

    More Episodes: In Real Life: Foster Care Unfiltered

    Learn About Foster Care: Get Started

    About Children's Home Society of North Carolina: chsnc.org

    Be a Guest: [email protected]

    Follow CHS:

    • Facebook: @chsnorthcarolina
    • Instagram: @chs_nc
    • LinkedIn: @chs-nc
    • YouTube: @chsnc
    53 min

About In Real Life: Foster Care Unfiltered

From the publisher's feed

In Real Life: Foster Care Unfiltered is a candid, compassionate look at the world of foster care and the people living it. Hosted by Shannon Enoch, Executive Director of Foster Care-to-Permanency…