Host Sandra Flach is a mom of 8 children, 5 through adoption—one kinship and 4 international. Her youngest 2 are teens diagnosed with a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). With over 30 years of parenting experience and 20 plus years as an adoptive and kinship parent, she’s made mountains of mistakes and learned loads of lessons. She understands the difficult road of parenting children with trauma histories—and she is still in the trenches! The Adoption & Foster Care Journey is a podcast to encourage, educate, and equip you to care for children in crisis through adoption, foster care, and kinship care. We aim to support adoptive and foster families by sharing encouraging real-life stories and equipping them with modern-day research and parenting techniques.
Episodes
8 hours ago
8 hours ago
"Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." -Isaiah 43:19
Welcome to The Adoption & Foster Care Journey—a podcast to encourage, educate and equip you as you care for children in crisis through adoption, foster care and kinship care.
On this episode, host Sandra Flach shares how to survive summer break by implementing a summer schedule. Tune in to learn why the lazy hazy days of summer might be stressful for our children and how a routine can provide the predictability they need.
Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media.
Links mentioned in this episode:
justicefororphansny.org/hope-community
Email: sandraflach@justicefororphansny.org
Orphans No More—A Journey Back to the Father book on amazon.com
Monday Jun 02, 2025
Monday Jun 02, 2025
"I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service…" -Timothy 1:12
Welcome to The Adoption & Foster Care Journey—a podcast to encourage, educate and equip you as you care for children in crisis through adoption, foster care and kinship care.
On this episode, host Sandra Flach features her conversation with Chris Johnson. Chris serves as Sr. Dir. of Church Partnerships & External Advocacy at Lifeline Children’s Services. With over 2 decades of pastoral experience and a background as the Exec. Dir. of the Kentucky Governor’s Office of Faith & Community Based Initiatives, he’s a seasoned leader and advocate for vulnerable children and families. Chris and his wife Alicia reside in Birmingham, AL. Together, they have 10 children, 7 of whom were adopted from foster care, and they are proud grandparents—including 2 grandchildren also adopted through foster care. Their commitment to serving children extends to fostering over 40 children throughout the years, embodying their dedication to family and community
Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media.
Links mentioned in this episode:
justicefororphansny.org/hope-community
Email: sandraflach@justicefororphansny.org
Orphans No More—A Journey Back to the Father book on amazon.com
Monday May 26, 2025
Monday May 26, 2025
“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you have me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” -Matthew 25:35
Welcome to The Adoption & Foster Care Journey—a podcast to encourage, educate and equip you as you care for children in crisis through adoption, foster care and kinship care.
On this episode, host Sandra Flach completes our National Foster Care Awareness Month episodes with leading international foster care expert, consultant, and TED Talk speaker, Dr John DeGarmo. He is the director of The Foster Care Institute. John is author of several foster care books, including his newest book The Little Book of Foster Care Wisdom: 365 Days of Inspiration & Encouragement for Foster Care Families and he’s appeared on all the major national TV networks.
John and his wife, Dr. Kelly DeGarmo, have 6 children both biological and adoptive. They’ve fostered more than 60 children over the years and are currently fostering 3— bringing their household to 9 children.
Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media.
Links mentioned in this episode:
justicefororphansny.org/hope-community
Email: sandraflach@justicefororphansny.org
Orphans No More—A Journey Back to the Father book on amazon.com
Monday May 19, 2025
Monday May 19, 2025
"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, Because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim freedom for the captives and Release from darkness for the prisoners,…" -Isaiah 61:1
Welcome to The Adoption & Foster Care Journey—a podcast to encourage, educate and equip you as you care for children in crisis through adoption, foster care and kinship care.
On this episode, host Sandra Flach continues her National Foster Care Awareness Month episodes with Bethany Hall. Bethany is a licensed Family Nurse Practitioner specializing in Complex Developmental Trauma. She has lived experience as a missionary and foster and adoptive mom as well as extensive experience training nonprofit organizations, foster and adoptive families, educators, social workers, and others.
Bethany is currently the Director of Training and Content at Chosen—an organization that exists to help children, youth & families prevent and heal trauma through healthy relational connection. She is passionate about providing trauma-responsive content and training that equips caregivers to be critical agents of change in their child’s healing. Bethany and her husband Kevin have 3 children, biological and adopted.
Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media.
Links mentioned in this episode:
justicefororphansny.org/hope-community
Email: sandraflach@justicefororphansny.org
Orphans No More—A Journey Back to the Father book on amazon.com
Monday May 12, 2025
Monday May 12, 2025
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” -Jeremiah 29:11
Welcome to The Adoption & Foster Care Journey—a podcast to encourage, educate and equip you as you care for children in crisis through adoption, foster care and kinship care.
On this episode, host Sandra Flach continues her National Foster Care Awareness Month episodes with Peter Mutabazi. Peter is an entrepreneur, an adoptive dad of 3, a foster dad to more than 40 kids, and the founder of Now I Am Known. A former street kid who has worked for World Vision, Compassion International, & the Red Cross, Peter is a passionate & popular speaker, as well as the author of Now I Am Known. He just released his 2nd book, Love Does NOT Conquer All—And Other Surprising Lessons I Learned as a Foster Dad.
Find Sandra’s conversation with Peter Mutabazi wherever you get your podcasts.
Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media.
Links mentioned in this episode:
justicefororphansny.org/hope-community
Email: sandraflach@justicefororphansny.org
Orphans No More—A Journey Back to the Father book on amazon.com
Monday May 05, 2025
Monday May 05, 2025
"For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen." -Romans 11:36
Welcome to The Adoption & Foster Care Journey—a podcast to encourage, educate and equip you as you care for children in crisis through adoption, foster care and kinship care.
On this episode, host Sandra Flach kicks off Foster Care Awareness Month with Jamie Finn. Jamie is the author of the bestselling book, Foster the Family, and Filled: 60 Devotions for the Foster Parent’s Heart. She is the founder & president of Foster the Family and founder of The Filled Gathering. Her popular social media accounts offer a glimpse into the real life of a foster parent & provide encouragement to tens of thousands of foster & adoptive parents. Jamie is the mother of 7 children through foster care, adoption & birth. She lives in Sicklerville, NJ, with her husband, Alan.
Find Sandra’s conversation with Jamie Finn on Episode 478 on all platforms.
Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media.
Links mentioned in this episode:
justicefororphansny.org/hope-community
Email: sandraflach@justicefororphansny.org
Orphans No More—A Journey Back to the Father book on amazon.com
Monday Apr 28, 2025
Monday Apr 28, 2025
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." -Romans 15:13
Welcome to The Adoption & Foster Care Journey—a podcast to encourage, educate and equip you as you care for children in crisis through adoption, foster care and kinship care.
On this episode, host Sandra Flach talks with adult adoptee and adoptive mom, CJ Lutke. CJ who is 41, was diagnosed with full Fetal Alcohol Syndrome at birth & adopted by her foster family at age 5. Today, CJ is a founder & member of the Adult Leadership Collaborative of FASD Changemakers. She was the co-lead on their 1st ground-breaking Lay of the Land Survey on the health and physical issues of adults with FASD and the 2nd Survey on the Quality of Life of Adults with FASD. CJ believes that those with FASD must challenge perceptions about possibilities and outcomes, find their purpose, and change the future.
Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media.
Links mentioned in this episode:
justicefororphansny.org/hope-community
Email: sandraflach@justicefororphansny.org
Orphans No More—A Journey Back to the Father book on amazon.com
Monday Apr 21, 2025
Monday Apr 21, 2025
"Trust in the Lord and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart. -Psalm 37:3-4
Welcome to The Adoption & Foster Care Journey—a podcast to encourage, educate and equip you as you care for children in crisis through adoption, foster care and kinship care.
On this episode, host Sandra Flach talks with foster and adoptive mom, Madison Tyler. Madison a pediatric dietitian has worked for the world’s leading pediatric cancer research hospital where she supported patients and families optimizing nutrition during cancer treatment. Madison started her journey as a foster parent in 2017. That’s when she started to recognize many children entering care experienced challenges which affected their relationship with food, sometimes in small ways and other times in big ways. In 2024 Madison stepped away from her full-time job in order to spend more time with her family and help foster and adoptive families through Nourish with Connection. She has a deep passion for helping families navigate feeding-related challenges, build trust, and foster connection around the table.
Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media.
Links mentioned in this episode:
justicefororphansny.org/hope-community
Email: sandraflach@justicefororphansny.org
Orphans No More—A Journey Back to the Father book on amazon.com
Monday Apr 14, 2025
Monday Apr 14, 2025
“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” -Psalm 147:3
Welcome to The Adoption & Foster Care Journey—a podcast to encourage, educate and equip you as you care for children in crisis through adoption, foster care and kinship care.
On this episode, host Sandra Flach talks with Angela Proctor, PhD. Angie currently serves as the Director of Trauma Competency & Implementation at Boys & Girls Country of Houston in Hockley, TX. She has spent over 25 years teaching, training, coaching, and counseling families & professionals through her skills as a developmental psychologist, chemical dependency clinician, TBRI Mentor, and Research analyst. Dr. Proctor is also the founder of Trust-Based Counseling & Consulting LLC, and recently published her 1st book, “When Self-Care is a Dirty Word: Understanding & Taming the Stress Response of a Caregiver”. She is passionate about working with individuals who find themselves struggling in the midst of the stress & overwhelm of trauma & adversity. Angie’s desire is to serve anyone who has experienced deep trauma, attachment, and developmental issues. This includes not only parents & children, but educators, social workers, therapists, health care professionals, law enforcement, and anyone who must navigate challenges through relationships in their career. Dr. Proctor has dedicated her life & career bringing her expertise & knowledge to small audiences, as well as organizational consulting & professional conferences around the world.
Find Sandra’s conversation with Dr. Angela Proctor and more wherever you get your podcasts!
Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media.
Links mentioned in this episode:
justicefororphansny.org/hope-community
Email: sandraflach@justicefororphansny.org
Orphans No More—A Journey Back to the Father book on amazon.com
Trust Based Counseling Services
When Self-Care is a Dirty Word, by Angela Proctor on Amazon
Monday Apr 07, 2025
Monday Apr 07, 2025
"But they delight in doing everything the LORD wants; Day and night they think about (meditate on) his law (His Word). They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season without fail. Their leaves never wither, and in all they do, they prosper." -Psalm 1:2-3
Welcome to The Adoption & Foster Care Journey—a podcast to encourage, educate and equip you as you care for children in crisis through adoption, foster care and kinship care.
On this episode, host Sandra Flach shares her third and final message from Psalm 1:1-3. This week she focuses on extending our roots deep into the Living Water so we can bear fruit of the Spirit.
This message will encourage you as you navigate parenting kids from hard places.
Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media.
Links mentioned in this episode:
justicefororphansny.org/hope-community
Email: sandraflach@justicefororphansny.org
Orphans No More—A Journey Back to the Father book on amazon.com