Irene Clements, Executive Director of the National Foster Parent Association, has seen many changes in how resource parents are viewed in her 27 years as a foster and adoptive parent and public policy advocate. During this 16-minute podcast, Clements tells podcast host Heather Biggar, LCSW, of the Maine Children’s Trauma Response Initiative, that resource parents are now seen as key players in the team effort to help children achieve permanency. She also points out that while resource parents are now “a voice at the table,” much remains to be done. Meaningful change will include acknowledging that entire resource families, and not just parents, are impacted by case planning decisions . Clements urges parents to not only advocate one-on-one for their child, but to join with associations