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
Tuesday Aug 31, 2021
Tuesday Aug 31, 2021
For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Ester 4:14
September is National Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Awareness Month. In support of the FASD community which includes much of the adoptive and foster care community—we are dedicating all of our September podcast episodes to the topic.
To kick off our month-long FASD series, we talk with Aubrey Page. Aubrey is a foster and adoptive mom and CEO, collaborator, and trainer at The Change Starts Here Collaborative.
Listen in as host, Sandra Flach, talks with Aubrey about training and equipping families and organizations about brain-based disabilities—especially FASD.
Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media.
Links mentioned in this episode:
The Change Starts Here FaceBook page
Monday Aug 23, 2021
Monday Aug 23, 2021
"As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?' 'Neither this man nor his parents sinned,' said Jesus, 'but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.'" John 9:1-3
Many adoptive and foster families step into a new school year with fear and trepidation. Our children face daily challenges which are often compounded in the classroom. Whether we send them to public or private school, provide special education services, or homeschool— children with trauma and/or brain-based disabilities such as FASD, struggle to learn and to launch.
Adoptive moms, Natalie Vecchione and Cindy LaJoy, realized years ago that their teens with developmental disabilities needed an alternative homeschool-highschool path. Through entrepreneurship and apprenticeship, these veteran homeschool moms prepared their teens with FASD to move forward with confidence, hope, and a set of practical life and job skills.
Now, Natalie and Cindy have collaborated together to share their knowledge and lived experience with other families on the same journey. Their new book, Blazing New Homeschool Trails—Educating and Launching Teens with Developmental Disabilities is a resource every homeschooling foster and adoptive family needs.
This week, on our Orphans No More Podcast, both Natalie Vecchione and Cindy LaJoy join host Sandra Flach to discuss their experience and new book. Listen to their conversation and please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media.
Links mentioned in this episode:
Monday Aug 16, 2021
Monday Aug 16, 2021
“…but they who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31
Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) are highly overrepresented in the child welfare system. Eighty-five percent of children seen in diagnostic clinics are either adoptees or are in foster care. According to the CDC, FASD impacts as many as 1 in 20 individuals in the United States—that’s 2.5 times more than autism.
While FASD is so prevalent, many people, including foster and adoptive parents and professionals, are not informed. Rebecca Tillou, an adult adoptee living with FASD, is on a mission to change that. In collaboration with the National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (NOFAS), Rebecca has organized the first ever FASD Run—a virtual 5K to raise awareness about FASD.
On this week’s Orphans No More Podcast, host Sandra Flach talks with Rebecca Tillou about her FASD diagnosis, the 5K, and the FASD Respect Act. Listen to their conversation on episode 286 and please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media.
Links mentioned in this episode:
Adulting With FASD - Rebecca’s Blog
Monday Aug 09, 2021
Monday Aug 09, 2021
“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8
When a family steps into the messy world of foster care and adoption, they are stepping into an opportunity to change the world for a child. The change not only impacts the child but, along the way the family is transformed as they do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.
On this week’s Orphans No More Podcast, host Sandra Flach talks with California pastor and adoptive dad, Micah Foster. Micah is host of the podcast - From the Garoffice-Faith in the Digital Space.
Listen in as Micah shares his family’s story of adopting a three year-old boy from foster care. He also talks about how adoption changed him and offers advice for prospective foster and 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 Aug 02, 2021
Monday Aug 02, 2021
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8
Adoption is a heart purifying process. A fact Ginny Wells knows first hand. Ginny and her husband are parents to one adult biological child and two children adopted internationally.
The Wells family first adopted a son from Russia in the nineties after learning of the horrific conditions Russian orphans suffer under. In 2003, they adopted again, this time a daughter from China.
On this week’s Orphans No More Podcast, Ginny shares her family’s story and how adoption has made her more like Christ. 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 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: