The Riverside Project Podcast

When you first become a foster parent, you are likely to get a lot of advice. Some of it is extremely helpful, while some may not apply to your specific situation. When you combine the uncertainty of stepping into a new role with the fact that every child brings a completely different story to the table, it can be difficult to know exactly what to expect as a first-time foster parent. That's why I'm so thrilled that my guests today are here to offer valuable insight into what this experience can look like.

Christian & Morgan Nichols are an incredible couple who have been on their foster care journey for over three years. Morgan is an elementary school nurse and Christian serves as the Director of Nursing over two intensive care units.

In this episode, they share how they navigated the transition to becoming foster parents, some of the most helpful advice they have received along the way, the highs and lows of foster care, and much more.

Find the show notes and links to anything we discussed here: riversideproject.org/christian-morgan-nichols-34

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For many young adults, turning 18 is an exciting milestone—a step toward independence while still having the support of family. But for children in foster care, this birthday marks the date you age out of the system.

Sometimes, these individuals don’t feel fully prepared to navigate the adult world. Often, an 18-year-old aging out of foster care has to face life decisions most people wouldn’t expect to tackle until their mid-20s. It’s a daunting situation that can feel impossible to face alone, and our latest guest is here to shed light on this challenging issue.

Nicole Davis is the Executive Director of Operation: Achieve Independence (OAI). OAI focuses on supporting youth aging out of foster care by providing mentoring, life skills training, education, and career preparation.

In this episode, Nicole shares the important role education plays in breaking cycles of generational trauma, why the challenges of aging out will look different for every child, how we can best support young adults who are about to age out, and much more.

Find the show notes and links to anything we discussed here: riversideproject.org/nicole-davis-33

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During the holiday season, the concept of hospitality is at the front of our minds. However, hospitality can mean so much more than inviting family and friends to your dinner table to share a nice meal once a year. Biblical hospitality can be practiced every day of our lives—and it can be extended to our neighbors who we may not know personally.

Helping us lead a discussion about the Lord’s call for us to open our homes through hospitality is Fr. Drew Knowles. He is the Rector of Oak Forest Anglican Church in Houston, Texas, the co-author of Hospitality: The Convivial Mission of God, and the husband to our Founder & Executive Director, Amber.

In this episode, Drew shows us how hospitality is extended to us through Christ, the ways we might extend hospitality to others in our community, how foster care is one of the purest forms of hospitality, and much more.

Find the show notes and links to anything we discussed here: riversideproject.org/drew-knowles-32

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We are passionate about not only transforming the foster care system in and around Houston but about helping others find their place along The River. This means providing key trainings, rallying community members together, and bringing awareness to how we can all be better equipped to make Houston a place where families heal and children thrive.

For this episode, we have two of our staff members, Kathleen Cowie and Caitlin Simpson, joining us.

Kathleen is the Director of Agency Partnerships at The Riverside Project and previously served as a research assistant focusing on child welfare, a direct care provider at an emergency shelter for children and youth in foster care, and a Therapeutic Case Manager for the homeless population.

Caitlin is the Director of Community Resources at The Riverside Project and previously served with international nonprofits in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia addressing humanitarian aid, poverty, and human trafficking.

In this episode, they share more about what they do behind the scenes, lessons they have learned as social workers, the inner workings of the Response Network, who can benefit from Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI®) trainings, and more. 

Find the show notes and links to anything we discussed here: riversideproject.org/kathleen-caitlin-31

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Transracial adoption is not a new topic to The Riverside Project Podcast. We had the honor of speaking with Isaac Etter in a past episode on this topic and today we are talking with his adoptive mother, Julie.

Julie Etter is an adoptive mom along with her husband. They have five children—two through adoption and three biologically. Julie is a beloved speaker on this topic of transracial adoption and the ups and downs her family has experienced. As a history teacher by trade, Julie loves to read and finds anything about history riveting. Her favorite way to spend her time is with her family and although she isn’t supposed to have favorites, her grandchild holds a special place in her heart.

In this episode, we continue the conversation on transracial adoption, the importance of mentors who can support you, some of the struggles parents and children may go through, key resources you should be aware of, and much more.

Find the show notes and links to anything we discussed here: https://riversideproject.org/julie-etter-30

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You may have heard of the term Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI) or trauma-informed care before, but you may not know what it is or how it can help transform how we care for children in foster care.

To help us dive deeper into this topic is Mitzi McBride. Mitzi is not only well-versed in TBRI® but is also a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years of experience guiding children and families through their journey to emotional healing. She has an extensive background in foster care, community mental health, school-based counseling, and years of international orphan care in Zambia, Africa.

Mitzi currently runs her own practice called Soul Care Magnolia in the north part of Houston. She is also a dedicated wife and mother to seven children, both biological and adoptive.

In this episode, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of TBRI®, why it’s important to shift from traditional parenting methods, the impact of being attuned to a child’s needs, and much more.

Find the show notes and links to anything we discussed here: riversideproject.org/mitzi-mcbride-29

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“Despite all the bad circumstances that I dealt with and navigated, there were people who were meeting my belonging needs in a way that allowed me to continue to grow, learn, and thrive in spite of the things I was experiencing.”

Children in foster care are often deeply longing for connection, intimacy, and relationships. How can we offer children the support necessary to help them flourish and shift from surviving to actively living? How does their need for belonging affect the decisions we make in showing up for them?

Our guest today has experienced this personally. Gaelin Elmore is a dynamic and nationally sought-after keynote speaker, trainer, and thought leader. Motivated by his own traumatic childhood and lack of belonging after over 10 years in the foster care system, he now works with organizations and people to become “belonging-informed” in order to help children overcome trauma and unleash their potential.

In this episode, you’ll hear the difference belonging made in Gaelin’s life, his personal story of finding hope in impossible circumstances, walking away from a professional career in the NFL, and why belonging is a crucial consideration for every decision when supporting children in foster care.

Find the show notes and links to anything we discussed here: https://riversideproject.org/gaelin-elmore-28

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This episode of The Riverside Project Podcast is hosted by Chandler James, our Director of Church Mobilization. We are so excited to have him in this seat today!

Collaboration is a big part of what we do at The Riverside Project. It’s how we connect, share resources, communicate about the needs of families and children in foster care, and more. For this episode, we are taking an inside look at how one person’s passion has led to a vibrant foster care and adoptive ministry at their church, all through collaboration.

Chandler is joined by Mireya Scholes. She is a former foster youth, a mom, and leads a ministry to help support adoptive families, foster and kinship families, and families that are at-risk in and around Houston. Mireya is a native Houstonian and has attended her home church, Atascocita Community Church, for over 20 years, which is where she leads the foster care and adoptive support ministry.

In this episode, Mireya shares her own story of being in foster care from the age of thirteen, the power of your personal passion, how to connect those with resources with those who have a need, and much more.

Find the show notes and links to anything we discussed here: https://riversideproject.org/mireya-scholes-27

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Do you know what the single most important factor in overcoming childhood adversity is? Research found that it is a long-term, nurturing relationship with a consistent and caring adult.

Today, we are talking with Brandon Denton who has an impressive resume full of experiences and passion. Brandon was the Founding Executive Director of Friends of the Children Houston, an organization that is seeking to create generational change by pairing youth facing some of life’s greatest obstacles with a professional mentor for twelve years. Prior to this role, he spent seven years as a public administrator in various roles and departments in the city of Houston.

In this episode, Brandon shares with us why relationships are the key to future success, the role building trust has over time, some stories of hope, and much more!

Find the show notes and links to anything we discussed here: https://riversideproject.org/brandon-denton-26

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May is National Foster Care Awareness Month! During this month, we’re not only raising awareness about foster care, but we are also celebrating the beautiful work of collaboration in this space. (Watch our new “As One” documentary series here for some incredible stories about the work happening in our city.) With this focus, we are revisiting the very first episode we shared on The Riverside Project Podcast.

In this conversation, Jason Johnson joined us to break down the parable of the River and how it relates to issues facing Houston’s child and family welfare system. Foster care isn’t an isolated problem but is connected to many other social issues affecting our city. How does this reality change the way we work together to transform foster care in our communities? We also discussed the power (and the challenge) of collaboration, the role of the Church in caring for vulnerable families, and how you can find your place along the River.

Jason is a speaker, writer, former pastor, church planter, and foster parent. He is also the Director of Church Mobilization and Engagement with Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO).

Find the show notes and links to anything we discussed here: https://riversideproject.org/jason-johnson-25

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