Adoption Hacks: Adoption And Foster Care Support And Education

Steven Benedict is a Professional Track Athlete & Olympic Qualifier, Keynote Speaker, the founder of the Fostering Success Project, and Published Health Personality.  In this episode Steven tells his story of growing up in the foster system, how that led to his running career and how he is now using his platform to come alongside foster children.  His ongoing determination to his sport and companies runs parallel with his dedication to sharing a story that will inspire and highlight an oftentimes hidden reality. There are hundreds of thousands of adults and children like him who need to know that our experiences are not our finish line. More importantly, there are millions of people that need to hear his message. Resilience and the ability to overcome adversity is not just a story for kids in foster care or adopted homes, it is a story for everyone. Check out all that Steven is doing here:  https://www.stevieyb.com This episode is sponsored by GOEX - GOEX believes in the power of purchase. They use a sim

Welcome to Season 4 of Adoption Hacks! This season the show will be hosted by both Kandace Lecocq and Callie Troyer! We will be taking turns interviewing guests and coming together to discuss topics.  This season 4 debut episode features Callie's husband Brian who is a licensed marriage and family therapist and TBRI practitioner and an adoptive dad. He is with us today to discuss practical ways to incorporate TBRI in your home. Trust Based Relational Intervention is an incredible tool especially for parenting children from hard places. But sometimes it can be hard to see how the science and the methods of TBRI translate into everyday life.. in your home.. with your child.  In this episode you'll hear how TBRI comes into play in Brian and Callie's everyday parenting.  This episode is sponsored by Brave Gals! Brave Gals mission is to empower Mompreneurs through a collection of apparel items with encouraging messages and fostering a community of women to share their Brave stories. Check out BraveG

EXCITING NEWS! Callie Troyer is joining Kandace Lecocq as Co-Host for Season 4! We are coming together to highlight voices in our community and meet you where you are in your adoptive/foster journey! Season 4 Debuts September 22nd!  --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/adoptionhacks/support

Kandace and her husband Anthony answer listener questions this week! We discuss what we wish we would've known before adopting, can you begin the adoption journey still having a lot of questions or fears? How to talk with friends or family who are unsupportive, what cocooning was like for us, a message for adoptive dads and more!  That's a wrap on season 3! Thank you for your support/listens/messages/reviews! You make this podcast so fun to create! Follow Us on IG/FB @AdoptionHacks Email Us:  Adoptionhacksinfo@gmail.com Music: DrummerBoy by Misterwives --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/adoptionhacks/support

Sharday Dufresne is on the show this week to discuss racial issues inside of adoption. We discuss the history or racial injustices in adoption and agency practices, Saviorism, white privilege and adoptive parent privilege. We urge you to lean in and sit with these difficult topics... these conversations are crucial to our community. Sharday is a transracial adoptee who is inviting that voice within to rise up storyteller. She continues to champion and advocate for those in this triad community in hopes of gathering around the table to hear others stories rise up.  She, her husband and two little gents live in Long Beach, Calif. You are able to thank Sharday for her time via her Venmo @Sharday-Dufresne Race and Adoption Video: https://vimeo.com/kneetoknee/review/436426471/d8533345c3. Email us: adoptionhacksinfo@gmail.com FB/IG @adoptionhacks --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/adoptionhacks/support

Ashley Mitchell, owner of Big Tough Girl and Founder + Executive Director of Lifetime Healing Foundation, set out to seek increased care, understanding, and resources for birth mothers.  For over a decade, Ashley has been one of the most consistent and sought after birth mother voices in the nation.  Entering in to the adoptive community can be overwhelming to new adoptive parents so on this episode Ashley and Kandace discuss how AP's can find your footing and role in these conversations. Ashley shares how she has seen this community grow through tension and difficult conversations. We discuss Adoptive Parent Privilege and why it is so important for AP's to be listeners and life long learners. And we also discuss how AP's can use their voice and role to support adoptees and birth moms.  Find Ashley on Instagram @BigToughGirl  and also:  bigtoughgirl.com sitkneetoknee.com Find Us:  IG/FB @AdoptionHacks Email Us:  adoptionhacksinfo@gmail.com --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.

Callie Troyer is on the show this week to talk to us about navigating unknowns and possible developmental delays when reviewing a referral and bringing a child home. She shares her adoption story and the importance of surrounding yourself with adoption minded health professionals especially during the attachment season. Callie is an incredibly thoughtful and conscientious adoptive parent and advocate and it is refreshing to hear her perspective on many adoptive issues. You'll want to listen to this one!  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/adoptionhacks/support

Adoptive Mom Breaunna Stone is on the show this week to walk us through her experience with Post Adoption Depression. While it is becoming more common to hear about or have trainings regarding Post Adoption Depression, there is a huge need for more education and support. Breaunna had never heard of Post Adoption Depression before she adopted her baby, but a lapse in mental health led her to research and counseling to understand more about it. Breaunna tells her experience and offers incredibly practical exercises and tips. Listen to this episode if you are about to adopt, think you might be experiencing Post Adoption Depression, or want to know how to help a friend or loved one through it.  Depression and Anxiety Among PostPartum and Adoptive Mothers:  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3433270/ Find Breaunna on Instagram:  @BreaunnaStone Find Us on Facebook & Instagram: @AdoptionHacks Email Us:  AdoptionHacksInfo@gmail.com Music:  DrummerBoy by MisterWives --- S

When Alison Storm and her husband decided to adopt, remaining debt free was incredible important to them. But how can a family remain debt free with the overwhelming fees of adoption?! Alison is on the show this week to share many of her creative ideas for fundraising and funding an adoption. She also walks us through their Burundi Adoption, what that was like, how they managed being in a pilot program and the unpredictable wait, and what being home together is like now.  Check out Alison's Podcast: "My Pleasure: The Unofficial Chick-Fil-A Podcast" Find Us on Facebook & Instagram:  AdoptionHacks Email Us:  AdoptionHacksInfo@gmail.com Music:  DrummerBoy by MisterWives --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/adoptionhacks/support

As adopted and Foster parents we need to be constantly educating ourselves about trauma. Not just in the training or pre-adoption stage. Once we are parenting a child who has had trauma, we are constantly trauma parenting so we need ongoing training and education. Steve Luther is the Executive Director and Founder of Grace Wellness Center, a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Therapeutic Parent Coach, a Certified Splankna Trauma Therapist and Trainer AND a foster and adoptive dad. He lives this through and through! In this episode he is going to walk us through the helpful trauma parenting model he created called DANCE. That takes you from battling from with your child to dancing with your child. He is also offering his 8 module trauma parenting program for a limited time as "Pay What you Want" to Adoption Hacks Listeners! This is an incredible opportunity. See below link to sign up or get more info! https://go.traumabasedchristianparenting.com/pandemic-parenting-master-class Find about more about Stev

Heartbreaking and upsetting. Kandace discusses the complex issue of the Stauffers adoption dissolution. There are clear devastating decisions the family made that they need to be held accountable for. But it seems they were also undereducated, underprepared and unsupported. How can we in the adoption community keep this from happening to families? --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/adoptionhacks/support

International Adoption Spotlight: Thailand! This weeks guest, Lindsey Thompson and her husband adopted their son from Thailand a couple years ago, and now they are adopting siblings, also from Thailand. So with 3 children from Thai adoption, Lindsey has incredible amount of information and stories to share about the process.  Adoption Hacks Host, Kandace and her husband have recently shifted their 2nd adoption from India to Thailand. During that process Lindsey was an incredible resource when finding more out about Thailand adoption. So of course Lindsey needed to come on the show and share with you all as well! Email Us: adoptionhacksinfo@gmail.com Instagram and Facebook AdoptionHacks Music: DrummerBoy by MisterWives --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/adoptionhacks/support

All parents run out of empathy and compassion at some points... especially parents with kids who come from trauma backgrounds... and especially during a global pandemic! Melissa Corkum breaks down why and how parents run out of compassion and experience blocked care and how this relates to our kids blocked trust. She also shares encouraging words about why we should not feel guilt when we have hit moments where we want to give up. She gives us practical ways to care for ourselves and parent compassionately again and supportive advice for families during a time of unpredictability and quarantine. Her and her team at The Adoption Connection have created wonderful resources and practical steps to parent compassionately, which they are sharing with Adoption Hacks listeners! Compassion Quiz and Resources: http://www.theadoptionconnection.com/adoptionhacks Find more of Melissa's resources at https://www.thecorkboardonline.com/ Instagram:  TheAdoptionConnection Facebook:  The Adoption Connection

Host of The Adoptive Mom Podcast Alex Fittin is with us today! Alex shares her own personal journey of adoption and how it led her to resourcing and supporting others through her podcast.  Typically Alex is interviewing guests for The Adoptive Mom but today she gets to share her story!  We dive into topics like older child adoption, RAD and family dynamics. And we also look talk about the importance of counseling and finding support.  Podcast: The Adoptive Mom Instagram: TheAdoptiveMom Facebook: The Adoptive Mom Podcast Email Us: adoptionhacksinfo@gmail.com Facebook/Instagram @AdoptionHacks Music: DrummerBoy by MisterWives --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/adoptionhacks/support

Embo Tshimanga grew up in and out of foster care, going in at age 7 and leaving upon graduation at 17. Her life was riddled with inconsistencies and she lived in fear of what would happen next. She attended over 25 schools and lived in over 25 homes including homeless shelters, group homes and in cars.  But thankfully the circle of people around her told her the truth of who she was and not just the truth her circumstances told her. That she is worth everything, not worthless. That she has a place in this world, not disposable. That she is deeply loved and worthy of love, not unlovable.  Today she is in college, and has the opportunity to speak life into children in foster care in the DFW area through DFW Angels. Email Us: adoptionhacksinfo@gmail.com Facebook/Instagram @AdoptionHacks Music: DrummerBoy by MisterWives --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/adoptionhacks/support

CASA supports and promotes court appointed volunteer advocacy so every child who has experienced abuse or neglect can be safe, have a permanent home and the opportunity to thrive in a safe and loving home.  If you are curious what CASA is, how it works, how it impacts foster kids and how to get involved - this is a great episode to listen to! Get all the info here! Find More from Arthur here: Web www.arthurcwoods.com Social Media: @ArthurCWoods www.trustingthegodofthegospel.com/shop www.facebook.com/trustingthegodofthegospel Podcast: Trusting The God of the Gospel Email Us:  AdoptionHacksInfo@gmail.com   Instagram Us: @AdoptionHacks   Music:  DrummerBoy by MisterWives --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/adoptionhacks/support

Birth Mom, Bio Mom and Adoptive Mom Adrian Collins shares her story along with insights and wisdom about making difficult decisions and finding inner peace along the way.  **GIVEAWAY**  Rate and Review Adoption Hacks on ITunes for a chance to win an adoption trial keychain! Email Us:  AdoptionHacksInfo@gmail.com Instagram Us: @AdoptionHacks Music: DrummerBoy by MisterWives Solo by Oh Wonder --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/adoptionhacks/support

Christa Jordan is back on the pod to talk about Sensory Processing Disorder, her education, work as a social worker and mom of a child with SPD she is the perfect person to hear from about this topic. In this 2 part episode, you'll learn about what exactly SPD is, what the signs are in children of all ages, the difference between the types and why this seems to be more common in adoptive/foster children. *NEW CONTEST* Rate and Review Adoption Hacks on iTunes for a chance to win an adoption triad keychain! Books Mentioned: The Out of Sync Child https://www.amazon.com/Out-Sync-Child-Recognizing-Processing/dp/0399531653/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=out+of+sync&qid=1573158322&sr=8-1 The Out of Sync Child Has Fun https://www.amazon.com/Out-Sync-Child-Has-Revised/dp/0399532714/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=out+of+sync+child+has+fun&qid=1573158384&sr=8-3 The Out of Sync Child Grows Up https://www.amazon.com/Out-Sync-Child-Grows-Processing/dp/0399176314/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2MSR9JTGWPDT4&keywords=out+of+sync+child

Christa Jordan is back on the pod to talk about Sensory Processing Disorder, her education, work as a social worker and mom of a child with SPD she is the perfect person to hear from about this topic. In this 2 part episode, you'll learn about what exactly SPD is, what the signs are in children of all ages, the difference between the types and why this seems to be more common in adoptive/foster children.  Find Christa @SpoonfulOfJordan *NEW CONTEST* Rate and Review Adoption Hacks on iTunes for a chance to win an adoption triad keychain! Books Mentioned: The Out of Sync Child https://www.amazon.com/Out-Sync-Child-Recognizing-Processing/dp/0399531653/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=out+of+sync&qid=1573158322&sr=8-1 The Out of Sync Child Has Fun https://www.amazon.com/Out-Sync-Child-Has-Revised/dp/0399532714/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=out+of+sync+child+has+fun&qid=1573158384&sr=8-3 The Out of Sync Child Grows Up https://www.amazon.com/Out-Sync-Child-Grows-Processing/dp/0399176314/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2MSR9JTG

Kelly Strong was adopted as an infant from China. In this episode she shares her decision to visit China and what that was like emotionally and mentally. She discusses what her expectations were for the trip and what surprised her along the way. She helps adoptees know how to discuss birth families and birth country visits with adoptive parents and how to process those emotions after your journey.  Music:  DrummerBoy by MisterWives Email:  adoptionhacksinfo@gmail.com Facebook/Instagram:  @AdoptionHacks --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/adoptionhacks/support