Communication is the key in any relationship, and one of the most important parts of that is understanding the other person. How can you know you understand their message? By showing them; by using active listening skills you are demonstrating that your relationship with them matters, that you care about what they are saying and how they are feeling. You are naming emotions and working out the issues together. We hope you learn and practice a few tips and tricks!

For more information give us a call at (916)368-5114 or visit our website at ssyaf.org

The child welfare system has changed more since 2017 than it has in its prior history. A large part of that is the expansion of Kinship Care. Kinship means anyone with a connection to a child in the foster care system. It is important to build this into our systems of care because according to research, youth in kinship care experience shorter times in foster care, fewer placement moves, and a higher likelihood of permanency. This month's guests are a couple who have experienced general foster care, adoption, and now kinship care.

For more information please contact us at 916-368-5114 or visit our website at SSYAF.org

The past year it has been so much fun as we have been able to develop our podcast with your support. We have talked to more people than I can adequately represent in a review episode, but here are some of the most powerful moments we had. All of it comes back to "Why:" why foster care, why adoption, why mentorship; and why you are ready now. Thank you for being a part of this journey with us. We look forward to bringing you more content about the things you want to learn.

For more info visit ssyaf.org, or call us at (916)368-5114.

Holidays throughout the year are typically focused on celebrations with family. Be it the 4th of July, Labor Day, or Christmas we spend those times celebrating with loved ones. So how do we support those kids who are currently living with someone other than their first family? How do we honor their traditions, maintain the important connections they have in their lives, and celebrate who they are? Amnoni and Daniel talk about all these points and more.

For more information about our organization and programs, visit ssyaf.org or give us a call at 916-344-0199.

As a parent recruiter, I often say "we're not looking for homes for kids. A home is walls, roof, and 3 meals a day. We're looking for FAMILIES for kids." For the second episode of National Adoption Month we're talking to two such families- people who have put in the time, energy, and patience to help a child to thrive. What they have provided to their children are relationships that last a lifetime, first experiences they will never forget, and the opportunity to flourish. Join us and hear about these parents who went from being "for now families" to "forever families."

For more information, please visit our website at ssyaf.org or call (916)368-5114.

Welcome to Part 1 of our 2-part celebration of National Adoption Month. We start with a foundational understanding of what adoption really means; for this episode we are joined by two members of our organization who are experts in the area of adoption competence. It is my hope that you will be able to take some of this understanding with you as your start your foster-to-adopt journey. Stay tuned for Part 2 when you will have the opportunity to listen to the stories of a couple of families who have completed the journey of adoption.

For more information please visit our website at ssyaf.org, or call us at 916-368-5114.

October is Juvenile Justice Awareness month. Teens served by probation are often thought of as lost, tough, and resistant to help. The reality is they need what any other child in a system of care needs- stability and a safe place to land so they can grow and develop. This month we have the amazing opportunity to spotlight one of our programs that works directly with youth served by probation. We were also able to speak with one of our families whose focus has been not only teens, but teens with probation cases. For more information contact our office at (916)368-5114, or you can visit our website at ssyaf.org

Permanency: one of our most often-used words in everything we do. Our program is pathways to Permanency. For some kids that means they have a safe person to talk to, have fun with, or just spend time with. Wonder Mentors are there to support one child in finding new experiences and building new connections, and are an important part of the Permanency team in that child's life.

People wear multiple hats in life – we all have intersecting identities that contribute to our many layers of experiences, layers and layers of self. For members of marginalized or underprivileged groups, those layers can make it difficult to traverse systems. Imagine having to navigate through life identifying as a black person, a youth in foster care, a member of the queer community, a person with a disability, and an individual struggling with mental health – experiencing all of this at once. Now include this identity in a world where the following events are taking place: protests, riots, police brutality, and the murders of trans people of color. All those ongoing traumas are compounded.

These are our true stories and our true lives. Thank you for getting to know us along this journey and letting us share ourselves with you.

Please visit our website at ssyaf.org, or call Daniel Sederquist [916-870-6675] for any additional information!

Our program is carefully guided by two directors- Yuri and Jen- who have supported us through program growth and changes over the past several years; from state reforms to a fantastic merger which strengthened our combined agencies they have been a guiding force. We are lucky to hear more from Jen, to tell you more about what she does to support us, you, and the kids in your care.

Please visit our website at ssyaf.org, or call Daniel Sederquist [916-870-6675] for any additional information!