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
2 hours ago
2 hours ago
"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." -Proverbs 22:6
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.
In this week's episode of The Adoption & Foster Care Journey, Sandra Flach sits down with pediatric physical therapist and foster dad Trevor Carlson to explore how trauma, neglect, and prenatal substance exposure can impact a child's development—from tummy time to walking.
Trevor shares practical, hope-filled strategies to help caregivers support healthy development while reminding us of one essential truth: connection comes before correction.
In this episode, you'll discover:
- Why developmental milestones matter—but don't tell the whole story
- How trauma can affect a child's physical development
- Simple ways to encourage tummy time and movement
- Why safety and connection are the foundation for growth
- Encouragement for parents raising children with developmental delays
Whether you're parenting a newborn, toddler, or a child with a history of trauma, this conversation will equip you with practical tools and a fresh perspective.
Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media.
Links mentioned in this episode:
The Adoption & Foster Care Journey
justicefororphansny.org/hope-community
Email: sandraflach@justicefororphansny.org
Soul Care Saturday—52 Devotions for Foster and Adoptive Moms
Orphans No More—A Journey Back to the Father book on Amazon
Monday Jul 06, 2026
Monday Jul 06, 2026
“And He (Jesus) awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.” -Mark 4:39
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 returning guest favorite, Dr. Jerrod Brown. Dr. Brown has 6 PhD’s and specializes in topics related to autism spectrum disorder (ASD), fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), confabulation, suggestibility, trauma and other life adversities, alexithymia, executive dysfunction, criminal recidivism, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and youth firesetting. You can check out his full bio on our website along with dozens of our bonus episodes feating Dr. Brown.
Here Dr. Brown unpacks the prevalence of migraine headaches among children with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Listen in or watch on our YouTube channel to learn risk factors, symptoms, and lifestyle medicine choices to improve outcomes.
You can find episode 539 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:
The Adoption & Foster Care Journey
justicefororphansny.org/hope-community
Email: sandraflach@justicefororphansny.org
Soul Care Saturday—52 Devotions for Foster and Adoptive Moms
Orphans No More—A Journey Back to the Father book on Amazon
Monday Jun 29, 2026
Monday Jun 29, 2026
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” -Philippians 4:13
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 Michael Gaither. Michael is a Black adoptee raised by a white family in Lincoln, Nebraska. He spent 49 years living the transracial adoption experience before reuniting with his biological family and finally understanding what it meant to see himself in someone else. With 30 years in education as a teacher, principal, district administrator, and executive leadership coach, Michael founded Beyond the Moment Adoption Studio, a digital resource for white parents raising Black children.
Listen as Michael shares his story and recommends 7 Conversations Every White Parent Must Have With Their Black Children on Episode 538 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:
https://beyondthemomentadoptionstudio.com/
The Adoption & Foster Care Journey
justicefororphansny.org/hope-community
Email: sandraflach@justicefororphansny.org
Soul Care Saturday—52 Devotions for Foster and Adoptive Moms
Orphans No More—A Journey Back to the Father book on Amazon
Monday Jun 22, 2026
Monday Jun 22, 2026
“I will restore to you the years the swarming locust has eaten…” -Joel 2:25
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 Lainie Hartley. Lainie is an author, speaker, foster and adoptive mom, and former foster youth whose voice carries the weight of lived experience and the hope of redemption. Through raw and deeply personal storytelling, she speaks about childhood neglect, trauma, grief, survival, and the God who still restores what was never supposed to be broken.
Listen to Lainie’s powerful story of healing and redemption on Episode 537 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:
https://www.instagram.com/authorlainiehartley/
The Adoption & Foster Care Journey
justicefororphansny.org/hope-community
Email: sandraflach@justicefororphansny.org
Soul Care Saturday—52 Devotions for Foster and Adoptive Moms
Orphans No More—A Journey Back to the Father book on Amazon
Monday Jun 15, 2026
Monday Jun 15, 2026
“Call on Me and I will answer you, and I will show you great and mighty things which you do not know!” -Jeremiah 33:3
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 celebrates foster and adoptive dads with Jerry Tucker. Jerry is the father of eight children, five of whom were adopted. He is also grandfather of nine with a tenth on the way. A real estate professional, Jerry is husband of Jodi Jackson Tucker, founder of Second Mothers, an organization that supports foster and adoptive mothers. Together, Jerry and Jodi created the Renew Retreat, an annual respite for foster and adoptive parents. Jerry is also part of a team that is seeking to launch a Second Fathers initiative in the coming months.
Listen in as Jerry highlights the critical role fathers play in foster and adoptive families and why encouraging and equipping men is so important.
Find Episode 536 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:
The Adoption & Foster Care Journey
justicefororphansny.org/hope-community
Email: sandraflach@justicefororphansny.org
Soul Care Saturday—52 Devotions for Foster and Adoptive Moms
Orphans No More—A Journey Back to the Father book on Amazon
Monday Jun 08, 2026
Monday Jun 08, 2026
“Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.” -Psalm 143:8
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 FASD Q & A by answering three questions she is frequently asked:
- Is getting an FASD diagnosis important?
- What about medication?
- What therapies help with FASD?
Listen in as Sandra unpacks these questions from her personal experience raising two young adult sons with diagnosed Fetal Alcohol Syndrome as well as from her professional experience as a national FASD trainer.
Find Episode 535 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:
The Adoption & Foster Care Journey
justicefororphansny.org/hope-community
Email: sandraflach@justicefororphansny.org
Soul Care Saturday—52 Devotions for Foster and Adoptive Moms
Orphans No More—A Journey Back to the Father book on Amazon
Monday Jun 01, 2026
Monday Jun 01, 2026
“The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take delight in you; in His love He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” -Zephaniah 3:17
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 Brandy McCombs. Brandy is a follower of Christ, a wife, an adoptive mother, and mom to three biological sons. She serves as a college professor with a PhD focused on the intersection of the brain and high-level stress.
Listen to Sandra’s conversation with Brandy as they discuss:
- The impact of trauma and prenatal stress on brain development
- Why traditional behavior management often falls short
- The overlap between ADHD, trauma, and FASD
- The importance of accommodations and connection
- How faith and community sustain foster and adoptive families
- Brandy’s personal adoption story and parenting journey
Find Episode 534 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:
The Adoption & Foster Care Journey
justicefororphansny.org/hope-community
Email: sandraflach@justicefororphansny.org
Soul Care Saturday—52 Devotions for Foster and Adoptive Moms
Orphans No More—A Journey Back to the Father book on Amazon
Monday May 25, 2026
Monday May 25, 2026
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” -Corinthians 12:9
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 wraps up National Foster Care Month with former foster youth and adult adoptee, Reuben Watson.
Reuben serves as the Director of Unity in Action at the Lexington Leadership Foundation, where he works to support families and address the child welfare crisis across Kentucky. A graduate of Eastern Kentucky University with a degree in Communication Studies, he is passionate about community engagement, mentorship, and empowering others through collaboration and hope.
Drawing from his own experiences overcoming adversity, Reuben uses his story to inspire resilience, healing, and renewal in the lives of children, families, and communities. He believes in creating pathways for people of faith and goodwill to take steps toward the renewal of the city of Lexington.
Listen to Sandra’s conversation with Reuben Watson as he shares his redemption story and offers hope to foster and adoptive parents and youth.
Find Episode 533 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:
Lexington Leadership Foundation
The Adoption & Foster Care Journey
justicefororphansny.org/hope-community
Email: sandraflach@justicefororphansny.org
Soul Care Saturday—52 Devotions for Foster and Adoptive Moms
Orphans No More—A Journey Back to the Father book on Amazon
Monday May 18, 2026
Monday May 18, 2026
“Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” -Proverbs 19:21
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 the foster care conversation with foster and adoptive mom Kirsten Smith.
Kirsten is a Daughter of the King, follower of Jesus, sinner saved by grace, wife of Josh, mama to nine kiddos and one pup. She shares her journey of marriage and parenting through challenges, including infertility and fostering multiple children.
Listen to Sandra’s conversation with Kirsten Smith where she encourages parents to look at the big picture and trust that God is working through our experiences for a greater purpose, potentially impacting future generations.
Find Episode 532 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:
The Adoption & Foster Care Journey
justicefororphansny.org/hope-community
Email: sandraflach@justicefororphansny.org
Soul Care Saturday—52 Devotions for Foster and Adoptive Moms
Orphans No More—A Journey Back to the Father book on Amazon
Monday May 11, 2026
Monday May 11, 2026
“Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper, and the waves of the sea were hushed.” -Psalm 107:28-29
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 the foster care conversation with foster and adoptive mom and FASD expert, Dr. Ryan Jolly.
Dr. Jolly is a Kansas-based psychiatric nurse practitioner and nationally recognized advocate focused on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. As the founder of Brain First Family Center, she leads a specialized clinic dedicated to the identification, diagnosis, and treatment of FASD and related neurodevelopment conditions, with a strong commitment to Medicaid access and eliminating long waitlists for vulnerable families.
Ryan’s advocacy is grounded in both clinical expertise and lived experience as a single foster and adoptive parent to children with FASD and complex brain-based disabilities. Utilizing her role as a Doctor of Nursing Practice she engages in research to advance understanding of brain-based differences, trauma-informed systems of care, and increase recognition of FASD within child welfare and education systems. Dr. Jolly strives to reimagine systems of care to ensure all individuals are supported to thrive within families and communities rather than being misunderstood, misdiagnosed, or institutionalized.
Listen in to Sandra’s conversation with Dr. Ryan Jolly on Episode 531 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:
The Adoption & Foster Care Journey
justicefororphansny.org/hope-community
Email: sandraflach@justicefororphansny.org
Soul Care Saturday—52 Devotions for Foster and Adoptive Moms
Orphans No More—A Journey Back to the Father book on Amazon