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
3 days ago
3 days ago
"As for your nativity, on the day you were born your navel cord was not cut, nor were you washed in water to cleanse you; you were not rubbed with salt nor wrapped in swaddling cloths. No eye pitied you, to do any of these things for you, to have compassion on you; but you were thrown out into the open field, when you yourself were loathed on the day you were born. And when I passed by you and saw you struggling in your own blood, I said to you in your blood, ‘Live!’ Yes, I said to you in your blood, ‘Live!’ I made you thrive like a plant in the field; and you grew, matured, and became very beautiful.” Ezekiel 16:4-7a
Welcome to The Adoption & Foster Care Journey—a podcast to encourage, educate and equip you to care for children in crisis through adoption, foster care and kinship care.
On this episode, host Sandra Flach, speaks with former foster youth, Sheree Galek. Sheree is a Certified Mental Health Coach working toward her degree in Crisis Counseling. She has spent time doing trauma ministry in the church and has worked in victim services as a Paralegal Advocate helping survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.
Sheree is also a former foster youth currently serving as an advocate for emancipated foster youth in partnership with Foster Hope NY. It is her desire to give insight to the internal journey of a foster child and how words, actions and assumptions can either build, empower and heal or defeat, deflate and destroy. She is passionate about raising awareness to the challenges of foster survival and how we can help improve the process. Listen to Sheree’s inspiring story of hope!
Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your socials.
Links mentioned in this episode:
Monday May 22, 2023
Monday May 22, 2023
"As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today." -Genesis 50:20
Welcome to The Adoption & Foster Care Journey—a podcast to encourage, educate and equip you to care for children in crisis through adoption, foster care and kinship care.
On this episode, host Sandra Flach, speaks with former foster youth, Khalila Riga. As a survivor leader since 2013, Khalila brings a unique perspective to the vulnerabilities of children in foster care being exploited and trafficked.
Listen in as Khalila shares her own harrowing journey from being trafficked and exploited to ultimately being redeemed by God. You won’t want to miss this beauty from ashes testimony!
Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your socials.
Links mentioned in this episode:
sandraflach@justicefororphansny.org
https://www.khalilariga.com/
Monday May 15, 2023
Monday May 15, 2023
“He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you. But to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8
Welcome to The Adoption & Foster Care Journey—a podcast to encourage, educate and equip you to care for children in crisis through adoption, foster care and kinship care.
On this episode, host Sandra Flach, speaks with Miriam Cobb, founder of the Empty Frames Initiative. Empty Frames seeks to empower orphaned and vulnerable youth as they transition out of foster care by providing training in life skills, counseling, community, and access to the Gospel.
Listen in as Miriam shares about how youth in foster care are vulnerable to being trafficked and the important role good foster families play in providing a hope and future for kids in care.
Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media.
Links mentioned in this episode:
Monday May 08, 2023
Monday May 08, 2023
“And thee God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” 1 Peter 5:10
Welcome to The Adoption & Foster Care Journey—a podcast to encourage, educate and equip you to care for children in crisis through adoption, foster care and kinship care.
On this episode, host Sandra Flach speaks with former foster youth, now foster and adoptive mom, Angela Paganelli. Angela is founder of Foster Blessings—a church based ministry serving foster and kinship families in Dutchess County, NY. She’s also the author of the newly released book of the same name, Foster Blessings.
Listen in as Angela shares her story along with her passion to serve the foster care community through Foster Blessings, her Fostering Conversations support group, and Fostering Our Faith podcast.
Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media.
Links mentioned in this episode:
sandraflach@justicefororphansny.org
@Foster Blessings on FB
Foster Blessings website
Monday May 01, 2023
Monday May 01, 2023
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
Welcome to The Adoption & Foster Care Journey—a podcast to encourage, educate and equip you to care for children in crisis through adoption, foster care and kinship care.
On this episode, host Sandra Flach speaks with author, speaker and foster parent, Kaitlyn Fiedler. Kaitlyn knows what it’s like to suddenly lose her parents and siblings, become orphaned, and have her life traumatically change in the blink of any eye—and how to experience healing along the way.
Listen in as Sandra and Kaitlyn discuss her memoir Finding Renewed Life in Christ After Loss and how she discovered hope and healing.
Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media.
Links mentioned in this episode:
Tuesday Apr 25, 2023
Tuesday Apr 25, 2023
"Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisors they succeed." Proverbs 15:22
Welcome to The Adoption & Foster Care Journey—a podcast to encourage, educate and equip you to care for children in crisis through adoption, foster care and kinship care.
On this episode, host Sandra Flach shares travel tips for families traveling with children with trauma, FASD or other neurobehavioral condition.
Listen in as Sandra, adoptive mom of 5, 2 diagnosed with FAS, shares her best tips and lived experience from her family’s recent cross-country trip.
Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media.
Links mentioned in this episode:
Monday Apr 17, 2023
Monday Apr 17, 2023
Again, Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
Welcome to The Adoption & Foster Care Journey—a podcast to encourage, educate and equip you to care for children in crisis through adoption, foster care and kinship care.
On this episode, host Sandra Flach completes her series on the Primary Characteristics of FASD by discussing language and communication difficulties. Whether or not you know if the child you’re caring for was prenatally exposed to alcohol—you won’t want to miss this episode.
Listen in as Sandra, adoptive mom of 5, 2 diagnosed with FAS, shares how prenatal alcohol exposure effects an individual’s ability to understand language and communication.
Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media.
Links mentioned in this episode:
Monday Apr 10, 2023
Monday Apr 10, 2023
But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, as he said.” Matthew 28:5
Welcome to The Adoption & Foster Care Journey—a podcast to encourage, educate and equip you to care for children in crisis through adoption, foster care and kinship care.
On this episode, host Sandra Flach continues her series on the Primary Characteristics of FASD with he topic of Executive Function. Whether or not you know for sure that the child you’re caring for was prenatally exposed to alcohol—you won’t want to miss this episode.
Listen in as Sandra, adoptive mom of 5, 2 diagnosed with FAS, shares about the impact prenatal alcohol exposure has on an individual’s ability to organize, plan, transition from task to task, focus, and control impulses.
Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media.
Links mentioned in this episode:
Monday Apr 03, 2023
Monday Apr 03, 2023
"A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." -Proverbs 17:17
Welcome to The Adoption & Foster Care Journey—a podcast to encourage, educate and equip you to care for children in crisis through adoption, foster care and kinship care.
On this episode, host Sandra Flach talks with former foster youth, Justin and Alexis Black. The Black’s are authors of the award-winning book, "Redefining Normal: How 2 Foster Kids Beat the Odds and Discovered Healing, Happiness and Love".
Listen in as Justin and Alexis both share their story of growing up in foster care, found faith (and each other), and experienced healing. They also share about their newest book, "I Love You More Than Cereal: Maeva & Dad Redefine Love" which releases this week.
Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media.
Links mentioned in this episode:
Monday Mar 27, 2023
Monday Mar 27, 2023
"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise Him." Psalm 28:7
Welcome to The Adoption & Foster Care Journey—a podcast to encourage, educate and equip you to care for children in crisis through adoption, foster care and kinship care.
On this episode, host Sandra Flach talks with adoptive moms—Lisa Qualls and Melissa Corkum. Lisa is the author of The Connected Parent, a TBRI practitioner, and a Christian spiritual director. She writes and speaks with wisdom about the challenges and beauty of adoption.
Melissa is an adoptee and adoptive mom. She provides insight and resources to adoptees and their parents through her writing, coaching, and speaking. She is a Safe & Sound Protocol Practitioner and a Certified Enneagram Coach.
Listen in as host Sandra Flach talks with Lisa Qualls and Melissa Corkum about their new book Reclaim Compassion: The Adoptive Parent’s Guide to Overcoming Blocked Care with Neuroscience and Faith.
Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media.
Links mentioned in this episode:
https://theadoptionconnection.pages.ontraport.net/assessment
IG: @postadoptionresources