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 26, 2021
Monday Jul 26, 2021
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
When she was eight years old, Kaitlyn Fiedler lost almost her entire family in a tragic accident. In a moment she became orphaned. Kaitlyn’s world was shattered and her faith and future hung in the balance.
Today, Kaitlyn is married and a mom to her one-year old son. She’s pursuing her MA in Christian Ministries at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary and writes about finding hope in Christ through suffering on her blog—A Beautiful Belonging.
Listen to the episode as Kaitlyn shares her tragedy to triumph story. Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media.
Links mentioned in this episode:
On Facebook @A Beautiful Belonging
On Instagram @Kaitlyn_Fiedler
Monday Jul 19, 2021
Monday Jul 19, 2021
“Take delight in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4
After many years of struggling with infertility and longing to be a mom, Natasha Lynn Daniels and her husband Slick adopted their first son. Then came a heartbreaking season of loss due to miscarriage and a failed adoption.
In 2015 the Daniels opened their home to a pair of siblings through an orphan hosting program. Those little boys joined the family in 2017 along with their two biological sisters.
Listen in to episode 282 as Natasha shares her family’s story and a how you too can live by faith and find hope. 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 12, 2021
Monday Jul 12, 2021
“I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten…” Joel 2:25
What happens when a seven year old prays for her parents to adopt? They adopt—not once, but twice!
On this week’s Orphans No More Podcast, host Sandra Flach talks with adoptive mom, Tyra Grauer. Tyra shares her family’s adoption journey which includes three failed adoptions and the adoption of two daughters from China.
Listen in to episode 281 as Tyra describes why adoption requires radical faith. 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 05, 2021
Monday Jul 05, 2021
“No weapon formed against you shall prosper…” Isaiah 54:17
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) affects 75% of the children in the child welfare system. For this reason, it is imperative for adoptive and foster parents to be FASD informed.
This week on episode 280, host Sandra Flach presents information she recently learned while attending a FASCETS (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Consultation Education Training Services) training for parents and professionals.
FASD is an invisible brain-based physical disability which occurs when a baby is prenatally exposed to alcohol. Alcohol, drugs and trauma impact cell growth and cause physical changes to the brain—changes that affect the structure and function of the brain. Many adoptive and foster children exhibit challenging behaviors. These behaviors are actually symptoms of an FASD.
Listen in as Sandra shares her lived experience and parenting strategies as a mom of 2 teens diagnosed with FASD. 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 28, 2021
Monday Jun 28, 2021
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
Proverbs 31:8-9
Throughout the month of June, we’re featuring adoptive and foster dads on our Orphans No More podcast.
This week on episode 279, host Sandra Flach talks with South Carolina adoptive dad, Holland Webb. Holland adopted two young sons who are now twenty and twenty one years old. He’s also coauthor of the book Adventures in Fatherhood—A Devotional.
Listen in as Holland shares why he became a single adoptive dad and what he’s learned over the past 17 years raising a bi-racial family.
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 21, 2021
Monday Jun 21, 2021
“But when the set time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.” Galatians 4:5
Throughout the month of June, we’re featuring adoptive and foster dads on our Orphans No More podcast.
This week on episode 278, host Sandra Flach talks with an Assemblies of God missionary who currently serves as the missionary in residence and chair of the intercultural studies department at Trinity Bible College and Graduate School in Ellendale, ND—David Jacob. David has been married to Angie for 26 years and they have five children, two of whom are adopted from China.
Listen in as David shares his family’s journey to adoption and what he’s learned about the theology of adoption from the Word of God. Sandra and David discuss the many parallels between physical and spiritual adoption and the contemporary Christian Church’s view on the adoption of children.
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 14, 2021
Monday Jun 14, 2021
“The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40
In honor of Father’s Day, we are featuring adoptive and foster dads on our Orphans No More podcast throughout the month of June.
This week on episode 277, host Sandra Flach talks with her favorite adoptive dad—her husband of 34 years, Wayne Flach.
Sandra and Wayne unknowingly began their adoption journey in 1999 when they opened their home to an eight year old relative. A few years later, that placement turned into a kinship adoption. In 2007 the Flach’s welcomed home a sibling set of three from Ukraine followed by a forth sibling in 2010.
Sandra’s book “Orphans No More: A Journey Back to the Father” releases everywhere 6/15, but you can order your very own signed copy now HERE. 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 07, 2021
Monday Jun 07, 2021
“A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy habitation. God sets the solitary in families…” Psalm 68:5-6
In honor of Father’s Day, we are featuring adoptive and foster dads on our Orphans No More podcast throughout the month of June.
This week on episode 276, host Sandra Flach talks with Brett Monk. Brett is a movie director and homeschool dad of a daughter he ands wife adopted from foster care. Listen in as Brett shares how they went from having no kids and 2 careers to being homeschooling adoptive parents.
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 31, 2021
Monday May 31, 2021
“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me.” Matthew 1:5
Jenn Uren, host of This Mom Knows Podcast, is a connector of people. In the midst of connecting a potential adoptive family with a child in need, God surprised her by placing the child in her family. Then, He surprised her again when the child came with a sibling!
This week on episode 275 of our Orphans No More podcast, host Sandra Flach talks with Jenn Uren. Listen in as Jenn shares her story of obedience, becoming a trauma-informed parent, and how she learned to survive surprise 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 May 24, 2021
Monday May 24, 2021
“Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.” Psalm 25:5
In honor of National Foster Care Month we are dedicating our May Orphans No More podcast episodes to foster parents.
According to Proof Alliance, 80% of children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome are in foster or adoptive care and as many as 75% of children in foster care have a family history of alcohol abuse. According to these statistics, foster parents will most likely welcome a child who was prenatally exposed to alcohol. Children in FASD-informed foster, adoptive or kinship families are more likely to have successful outcomes.
This week on episode 274 of our Orphans No More podcast, host Sandra Flach talks with Christie Petrenko, PhD—a clinical psychologist conducting research with individuals with FASD since 2003. Dr. Petrenko is currently a faculty member at Mt. Hope Family Center at the University of Rochester where her research focuses on developing and evaluating interventions for people with FASD. She also runs a multidisciplinary FASD clinic in Rochester, NY.
Listen in as Dr. Petrenko shares about FASD symptoms, diagnosis, interventions, and support services. Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media.
Links mentioned in this episode: