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
Monday Jul 24, 2023
Monday Jul 24, 2023
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” Isaiah 43:2
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, Zachary Lopienski. Zach was in and out of foster and group homes throughout his childhood and teen years. Today he is a successful security consultant, a husband and new home owner.
Listen in as Zachary shares his trials to triumphs story.
Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media.
Links mentioned in this episode:
Monday Jul 17, 2023
Monday Jul 17, 2023
Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this (thorn in my side), that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:8
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 talks with adoptive dad, Rob More. Rob and his wife Shelley are parents of 3 adult kids—all with FASD.
Listen to Rob’s inspirational story and be encouraged and better equipped for your parenting journey.
Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media.
Links mentioned in this episode:
Monday Jul 10, 2023
Monday Jul 10, 2023
“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but the same God who empowers them all in everyone.” 1 Corinthians 12:4-6
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 (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) with the topic of strengths.
God created each individual with strengths, gifts, and talents—including our kids with trauma histories and prenatal exposure to alcohol or other drugs. All of His children are created special and wired with special abilities.
Listen in and learn how to mine for treasures in your kiddo and why it’s important to focus on their strengths.
Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media.
Links mentioned in this episode:
Monday Jul 03, 2023
Monday Jul 03, 2023
“Learn to to good. Seek justice. Correct oppression. Bring justice to the fatherless. Plead the widow’s cause.” Isaiah 1:17
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, speaks with Herbie Newell, president and executive director of Lifeline Children’s Services, the largest Evangelical Christian adoption agency in America. He’s also the host of The Defender Podcast and author of Image Bearers: Shifting from Pro-Birth to Pro-Life.
Listen to the episode as Herbie shares his heart for the unborn, life, and adoption.
Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media.
Links mentioned in this episode:
Monday Jun 26, 2023
Monday Jun 26, 2023
“Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must care for orphans and widows in their troubles, and refuse to let the world corrupt us.” James 1:27
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 Dad Series where every episode in June features a conversation with an adoptive or foster dad.
Listen in this week as Sandra speaks with Jonathan Grimaldi. Jon and his wife Kristen are foster and adoptive parents living in Buffalo, NY. Jon is a former pastor who recently took the role of Executive Director for Every Child, a kinship, foster and adoption support ministry based in western NY.
Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media.
Links mentioned in this episode:
Monday Jun 19, 2023
Monday Jun 19, 2023
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path.” Proverbs 3:5-6
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 annual Dad Series where every episode in June features a conversation with an adoptive or foster dad.
Listen in as Sandra speaks with Derek Carter. Derek and his wife Holly have adopted four children through foster care. He is also the manager of Focus on the Family’s foster and adoption program.
Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your socials!
Links mentioned in this episode:
Monday Jun 12, 2023
Monday Jun 12, 2023
“If you know people who have wandered off from God’s truth, don’t write them off. Go after them. Get them back and you will have rescued precious lives from destruction.” James 5:20
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, continues her annual Dad Series where every episode in June features a conversation with an adoptive or foster dad.
Listen in as Sandra speaks with Steve Poissant. Steve and his wife Laura are parents of five teenagers adopted through foster care—including some with FASD. Steve is also thee Area Director for CarePortal NY.
Listen to Steve’s inspiring story on episode 382 and please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your socials!
Links mentioned in this episode:
Monday Jun 05, 2023
Monday Jun 05, 2023
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:1-2
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, launches her annual Dad Series where every episode in June features a conversation with an adoptive or foster dad.
Listen in as Sandra speaks with Jonathan Reid, a dad of six kiddos adopted through foster care. He is also the founder and director of Fostering Hope New England—a ministry empowering churches and individuals to care for children and families impacted by foster care. Jonathan is also a trained practitioner in Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI).
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
Monday May 29, 2023
Monday May 29, 2023
"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/