Thriver Stories

Summary

In this episode of the Thrivers Stories podcast, Isabel Stasa and Rimy Morris discuss the complexities of relationships within the foster care system.

They explore how unique family dynamics can flourish despite societal expectations, the importance of communication and grace, and the role of older siblings in navigating the child welfare system.

Rimy shares her experiences and insights from her own family background, emphasizing the need for forgiveness and understanding in building strong relationships.

The conversation also highlights the resources offered by Rimy's business, The Collective, aimed at supporting families in the foster care system.

In this conversation, Isabel Stasa and Carloe Moser explore the complexities of relationships, particularly in the context of trauma and foster care. They discuss how relationships shape our identities, the importance of empathy and forgiveness, and the role of vulnerability in building lasting connections.

Carloe shares his personal journey of navigating relationships after experiencing trauma, emphasizing the need for community and support. The conversation highlights the often overlooked aspects of relationships, such as grief and the impact of past experiences on current connections. In this conversation, Carloe Moser and Isabel Stasa explore the depth of relationships, contrasting transactional interactions with transformative connections.

They discuss the importance of compassion, vulnerability, and forgiveness in building meaningful relationships, both personally and professionally. Carloe shares his journey of healing from trauma and the internal work required to foster authentic connections. The episode emphasizes the significance of relationships in life and encourages listeners to reflect on their own relational dynamics.

In this episode, Isabel Stasa and Faith Sharp delve into the complex topic of grief, exploring its various forms and the challenges of navigating relationships while grieving. They discuss the societal perceptions of grief, the importance of community support, and the necessity of acknowledging and processing grief, even in the context of living relationships. The conversation highlights the role of humor as a coping mechanism and emphasizes the need for open discussions about grief to foster understanding and healing.

In this conversation, Isabel Stasa and Faith Sharp explore the complexities of grief, particularly in relation to physical spaces, relationships, and the emotional challenges that arise during significant life events. They discuss how grief can manifest in unexpected ways, such as during weddings or birthdays, and the importance of acknowledging these feelings.

The dialogue emphasizes the need for vulnerability in discussing grief and the healing that comes from acceptance and open communication about loss.

Summary

In this episode of Thrivers Stories, Isabel Stasa and Rhiannon Matulewich discuss the critical intersection of mental health and foster care. Rhiannon shares her personal journey through foster care, her experiences with bipolar disorder, and the importance of understanding and empathy in navigating mental health challenges. They explore the systemic issues within foster care, including the impact of placement disruptions, the role of medication, and the necessity of creating safe environments for youth. The conversation emphasizes the need for professionals and caregivers to listen actively and provide support to foster youth, highlighting that kindness and understanding can significantly influence their healing and development.

In this episode of Thriver Stories, Isabel Stasa and Ash Barcus discuss the critical intersection of mental health, disability, and the foster care system. Ash shares their personal experiences navigating care with disabilities, highlighting the systemic issues that lead to misdiagnosis, lack of healthcare access, and the internalization of harmful messages about disability.

The conversation emphasizes the need for better training for care workers, the importance of listening to disabled voices, and the urgent need for systemic change to support youth in care.

Takeaways

Disability in the context of child welfare is a significant gap that needs addressing.

The phrase 'nothing about us without us' is rooted in disability rights movements.

Healthcare access for disabled youth in foster care is often inadequate.

Misdiagnosis in the foster care system can lead to long-term health issues.

Internalizing disbelief from caregivers can impact self-advocacy.

The system often treats disabled youth as dangerous rather than providing support.

There is a need for trauma-informed care in healthcare settings.

Disabled individuals should be seen as experts in their own experiences.

The foster care system needs to track disability accurately for better support.

Advocacy for policy changes is essential to improve the lives of disabled youth in care.

In this episode, Isabel Stasa and Brandon Youngblood discuss the importance of education for individuals with lived experience in foster care. They highlight the barriers and challenges that these individuals face, such as placement disruptions, unstable housing, and lack of financial resources.

They emphasize the need for consistent support systems and mentors to help navigate the educational journey. They also discuss the importance of raising awareness about foster care and dispelling stereotypes. Overall, the conversation highlights the need for greater support and resources to ensure educational success for individuals in foster care.

Takeaways

Individuals with lived experience in foster care face unique barriers and challenges in pursuing education, such as placement disruptions and unstable housing.

Consistent support systems and mentors play a crucial role in helping individuals navigate the educational journey and overcome obstacles.

Raising awareness about foster care and dispelling stereotypes is important to create a more supportive and inclusive educational environment.

Greater support and resources are needed to ensure educational success for individuals in foster care.

In this episode of Thrivers Stories, Isabel Stasa interviews Eugenia Wallace, an NFYI delegate and advocate for foster youth.

They discuss the challenges and barriers that people wiht lived experience in foster care face in higher education and the importance of providing resources and support. Eugenia shares her personal journey through higher education and the difficulties she encountered as a young youth in foster care.

They also discuss the College Housing Affordability Act, a piece of legislation that aims to expand housing options for foster youth in college campuses. Eugenia emphasizes the need for awareness, support, and advocacy to address the barriers faced by youth in foster care in higher education.

Brina Williams shares their experience transitioning into higher education as a young person with lived experience in foster care. They discuss the importance of campus-based support programs and how they provide holistic support in various life domains.

Brina also highlights the challenges and barriers that young people in foster care face when pursuing higher education, such as financial assistance and lack of support networks. They emphasize the need for more accessible resources and networks to help young people navigate the college application process and succeed in their educational goals.

The conversation explores the barriers and challenges faced by young people with lived experience in foster care when it comes to accessing higher education. The lack of knowledge about available resources and support is identified as a major barrier for both young people and professionals in the child welfare system. The importance of organizations like Fostering Success Michigan (FSM) and Fostering Academic Achievement Nationwide (FAN) in providing support and resources is highlighted. The need for collaboration and interstate cooperation is emphasized to improve access to education for foster youth.

The conversation concludes with a call to create quick guide sheets and fact sheets to help professionals navigate the resources available and support young people in their educational journey.

Summary

In this episode of Thriver Stories, host Isabel Stasa interviews Stormy Lucas Savage, a foster care advocate, about the experience of being tokenized in the foster care advocacy space and the need for equitable opportunities. Stormy shares his journey into advocacy and the pros and cons he encountered along the way. He emphasizes the importance of breaking through the glass ceiling of advocacy and creating more equitable access to opportunities. The conversation also explores the competitive nature of the foster care advocacy space and the impact of trauma Olympics. Stormy and Isabel discuss the need for organizations to be intentional in bringing people with lived experience to the table and equipping them with the necessary skills and support.

Dr. Danisha Keating discusses the concept of story thieves, which refers to individuals who take other people's stories for their own benefit without giving credit. She shares her personal experience of encountering story thieves in the foster care advocacy space.

Dr. Keating highlights how fear and distrust impact advocates' ability to have collective power and take collective action. She emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries, valuing one's own story, and vetting individuals before collaborating with them. The conversation explores the pattern of story theft and competition within the foster care advocacy community. It highlights the harm caused by individuals stealing stories and voices, which not only affects individuals but also diminishes collective power.

The conversation emphasizes the need for unity and collaboration among advocates, rather than competition and gatekeeping. It discusses the fear of uplifting each other and the tendency to view fellow advocates as threats to one's own success. The conversation also addresses the issue of ageism in advocacy and the importance of intergenerational collaboration.

It concludes with a call to prevent story theft and competition by standing up against harmful practices and creating inclusive spaces for advocacy.