Let's Talk: A Foster Adopt Minnesota Podcast

For many, back-to-school means sitting in a classroom for a majority of the day.  Mya Zavaleta is checking in to see how the first few weeks of school are going!  We will dive into the importance of getting children moving and outside. In this episode, Mya will provide practical tips, expert advice about how to reset your mindset, and ways to refresh your routines as we transition from summer to indoor learning.  Mya combines her love for nature with 20-years clinical experience as an Occupational Therapist (OT) to create her own Nature OT practice that boosts kids’ physical and mental health.

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Daniela Coats, Licensed Masters Social Worker, joins us from Texas to talk about her personal experiences growing up in a home that fostered and adopted as well as her work as a therapist and trainer supporting the entire foster family. She will share about lessons offered in her new book, The Day Lily Turned (Un)Invisible, on ways we can support and value birth children in foster families.

If you are interested in Daniela’s new book, The Day Lily Turned (un)Invisible, the hardcover is available just about anywhere books are sold (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, etc.). The paperback and e-book versions will only be available on Amazon (https://a.co/d/19SHI4w).

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The post Let’s Talk – The Experiences of Biological Children in Foster Families appeared first on Foster Adopt Minnesota.

Greg Luce is back to share valuable information about intercountry adoption. Hear from Greg how Congress could fix a loophole that denies US citizenship to thousands of intercountry adopted people, what help is available for intercountry adoptees who have no records of entry into the US, and The Adoptee Citizenship Act of 2024. This is the latest bill introduced in the 118th Congress on June 4, 2024. Find out what Greg is doing to address the issues to make much needed and overdue changes!

Greg is a Minnesota-based attorney who was born and adopted in the District of Columbia. He is the founder of Adoptee Rights Law Center based out of Minneapolis, MN and the executive director of Adoptees United Inc.

Information about the Adoptees United legal clinic: https://adopteesunited.org/citizenship/

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The post Let’s Talk – Past, Present, Future: Understanding the Laws Surrounding Intercountry Adoption appeared first on Foster Adopt Minnesota.

In this episode, Meg Flynn joins us to talk about ways to incorporate joy into our family lives. As a therapist and trainer for over twenty-five years, Meg has a vast array of knowledge and experience in working with children and families. We’ll discuss ways parents and caregivers can create delight and find deeper connections in the family system.

FOSTER ADOPT MINNESOTA

The post Let’s Talk – Finding the Joy in Connecting with Children appeared first on Foster Adopt Minnesota.

Thank you to our listeners for getting us to our 100th episode! Hear from FAM staff about how Let’s Talk started and how we got to this point. Classic FAM presenters Deena McMahon, Rick Delaney, Charley Joyce, Krista Nelson and Brenda Benning will share how the Foster Care and Adoption world has changed throughout their professions.

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The post Let’s Talk – Celebrate our 100th Episode with Well Over 100-years of Foster Care and Adoption Wisdom! appeared first on Foster Adopt Minnesota.

Please join us as we talk about the frantic pace of today’s families and the decision fatigue that can result.  We’ll validate and normalize decision fatigue and identify ways we can keep ourselves and our families healthy and joyful. Our guest is Hillary Langfeld. Hillary is a licensed independent clinical social worker and a partner at Strong Self Mental Health located in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. Hillary has been providing clinical services to individuals and children for seven years with a clinical focus on DBT, CBT, EMDR as well as grief, loss, death and dying.

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In this episode, we are joined by Sue Tate, who, along with her husband Randy, provided foster care for 20 years and cared for over 30 children. Sue shares what interested them in becoming foster parents, things they didn’t expect and had to learn along the way, and advice to those who are considering or just starting out as foster parents.

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The post Let’s Talk – Lessons Learned Along the Way appeared first on Foster Adopt Minnesota.

Transitioning to adulthood is a challenging time for any person. For children who have experienced trauma, grief and loss, or neglect, moving into independence can be even more complex. They may have some delays in social skills, emotional regulation, or development. Meeting children where they are at, honoring their desires to be independent, and helping them build skills are just some of the ways their loved ones can support them. Megan Nelson adopted three siblings from foster care and has worked as a training coordinator at a foster care and adoption agency. She joins Let’s Talk to share her story, what she’s learned about supporting her children’s growth and learning as they move into adulthood, and how to have joy and connection along the way.

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The post Let’s Talk – Navigating Transitions to Adulthood in Adoption appeared first on Foster Adopt Minnesota.

Minnesota legislature made significant changes to laws governing access to original birth record information for adult adopted persons. On July 1, 2024, Minnesota will become the fifteenth state in the United States to affirm or restore the right of all adopted people to request and obtain their own original birth certificates (OBC).

Join us as we welcome Gregory Luce and Erin Merrigan to share the facts about these changes! Greg is the founder of Adoptee Rights Law Center based in MN and was instrumental in advocating for OBC access in Minnesota and nationwide. Erin is with Concerned United Birthparents (CUB), which is the first and only national organization founded and funded entirely by parents of adoption loss.

For more information visit: https://www.fosteradoptmn.org/minnesota-records-access-information/

Resources:  adopteerightslaw.com  concernedunitedbirthparents.org

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The post Let’s Talk – Minnesota Law Change: Adoptee Access to Original Birth Records appeared first on Foster Adopt Minnesota.

In Part 2 of Stories Connect, we are joined by Dan and Emily, who share about the importance of a network of support when becoming foster and adoptive parents. They also share valuable insights and answer commonly asked questions to help inform those considering becoming foster or adoptive parents.

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