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 Sep 23, 2024
Monday Sep 23, 2024
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him." -James 1:2-5
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 FASD Awareness Month episode, host Sandra Flach speaks with Barrett Brackett. Barrett is an adoptive mom of three brilliant kiddos with neurobehavioral conditions, including FASD. She lives out her passion and calling–forged by experience–by offering care to those who have experienced trauma in a variety of contexts. She holds a Competence and Character Growth Model Certificate from the Townsend Institute at Concordia University, a Formation Certificate from the CCEF School of Biblical Counseling, and a Narrative Focused Trauma Care Certificate from The Allender Center at The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology. When she’s not devouring a book or geeking out on neuroscience, Barrett enjoys leading worship with her husband and welcoming their community into their home
Listen in as they discuss parenting kids 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:
justicefororphansny.org/hope-community
Email: sandraflach@justicefororphansny.org
Hope For the FASD Journey Support Group
Monday Sep 16, 2024
Monday Sep 16, 2024
"Are not 5 sparrows sold for 2 pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows." -Luke 12:6-7
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 FASD Awareness Month episode host Sandra Flach speaks with Dr. Jacqueline Pei, Ph.D. Dr. Pei is Professor and Director of Training for the School and Clinical Child Psychology Program at the University of Alberta College of Social Sciences and Humanities and the Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Pediatrics Member, Women and Children’s Health Research Institute
Intervention Research Lead, for the Canada FASD Research Network.
Listen in as they discuss the challenges in diagnosing FASD.
Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media.
Links mentioned in this episode:
justicefororphansny.org/hope-community
Email: sandraflach@justicefororphansny.org
Email: jpei@ualberta.ca
Monday Sep 09, 2024
Monday Sep 09, 2024
"There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." -Romans 3:22-24
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.
September is FASD Awareness Month and our special guest today is JJ Dunham Reed. JJ is a strong coffee-drinking, homeschooling, Jesus-seeking mama. A happily married wife to a wonderful God-fearing man, a strong FASD Advocate creating FASD-informed resources and services in her community, and one of many primary care providing biological mothers of children with FASD. In 2021 she boldly stepped onto the stage of FASD Advocacy after years of knowing something was going on with one of her younger sons, there was confirmation of prenatal alcohol exposure and still, there were no answers, resources, or services to turn to. Finding this great deficit unacceptable, JJ founded Our Families Are FASDtastic Families: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder(s) Education, Caregiver Peer Support & FASD Awareness Advocacy. JJ boldly stands up to stop the shame, blame, and stigmas associated with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders so that all families of individuals with an FASD can be confident in seeking wrap-around support and so that the support will be there when they need it most.
Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media.
Links mentioned in this episode:
justicefororphansny.org/hope-community
Email: sandraflach@justicefororphansny.org
Email: jj@dunhamreed.com
Social Media:
Facebook and Instagram @JJDunhamReed,
@FASDtasticFamilies and @FASDtasticKidJJ
Monday Sep 02, 2024
Monday Sep 02, 2024
"Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you." -Deuteronomy 31:6
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.
September is FASD Awareness Month and we’re kicking it off a special guest, Maggie May. Maggie is an adult born in Ireland with an FASD. She speaks internationally about the impact prenatal exposure to alcohol has had on her life. Maggie provides advice for parents and caregivers of people with FASD and supports individuals, like herself, living with FASD. She also runs monthly online support and social groups for kids, teens and adults living with FASD in 5 different countries. Maggie is an ambassador for FASD Awareness UK and the FASD Red Shoes Rock Ireland Ambassador. She is also a member of the International Adult Leadership Collaborative of FASD Change-Makers.
Listen in as host, Sandra Flach, talks with Maggie about growing up with FASD and how she navigates life as an adult.
Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media.
Links mentioned in this episode:
justicefororphansny.org/hope-community
Email: sandraflach@justicefororphansny.org
FB Group: Flying With Broken Wings
Monday Aug 26, 2024
Monday Aug 26, 2024
"For the LORD gives wisdom; From his mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, Guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of His saints.Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; For wisdom will come into your heart, And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul." -Proverbs 2:6-10
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.
Maybe you’re dancing a jig because the kids are back in school and you’re getting a much needed break. Or, maybe you cringe every time the phone rings knowing it’s probably the school…again…because your child is in trouble…again. Or maybe you homeschool one or more kiddos and feel overwhelmed trying to get them to sit still and pay attention.
Whether you have kids in public school, private school or you homeschool—this episode is for you. Listen in as host, Sandra Flach, shares her family’s school experiences. Sandra will also unpack ways to support your child for success this school year.
Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media.
Links mentioned in this episode:
justicefororphansny.org/hope-community
Monday Aug 19, 2024
Monday Aug 19, 2024
"Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow." 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 talks with adoptive dad, Darrin Jahnel. Darrin is the founder and CEO of Jahnel Group, a 135-person software consulting company headquartered in Schenectady, NY. He leads with energy and is obsessed with creating an amazing work environment for his team. Jahnel Group has made the Inc. 5,000 list 7 years in a row and has won multiple best workplace awards for their amazing culture. In addition to being a successful businessman, Darrin is happily married and has four children (ages 13-23)—including two by adoption.
Listen in as Darrin shares his passion for investing into the lives of kids from hard places.
Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media.
Links mentioned in this episode:
justicefororphansny.org/hope-community
Monday Aug 12, 2024
Monday Aug 12, 2024
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." 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 talks with Kim Sheagren. Kim and her husband Joel are adoptive parents to two children, now young adults ages 21 and 19. Their oldest son lives with effects of fetal alcohol exposure and their parenting journey has been, and continues to be, wide and vast. Their priority is continued learning of FASD, supporting and encouraging other caregivers, and working to successfully and safely launch their kids into adulthood.
Listen in as Kim shares her parenting journey and how she’s found help and hope through the Hope For the FASD Journey support community.
Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media.
Links mentioned in this episode:
justicefororphansny.org/hope-community
Wednesday Aug 07, 2024
Wednesday Aug 07, 2024
“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” -Galatians 6:2
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 Andrea Bowling. Andrea is a US Army veteran and licensed clinical mental health counselor with 20 years of experience in human services. She primarily works with children and families involved in the child welfare system. Andrea is author of the new children’s book, From Foster to Forever—Jack’s Journey Home.
Listen in as Andrea shares why she wrote From Foster to Forever and how she hopes it will help children in foster care feel less scared and experience healing.
Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media.
Links mentioned in this episode:
justicefororphansny.org/hope-community
Email: sandraflach@justicefororphansny.org
Andrea’s Instagram: @author_andereabowling
From Foster to Forever at Amazon & Barnes and Noble
Monday Jul 29, 2024
Monday Jul 29, 2024
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” -Colossians 3:12
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, talks with returning guest, Dr. Jerrod Brown, PhD. Dr. Brown is a professor, trainer, researcher, and consultant with multiple years of experience teaching collegiate courses. Jerrod has also provided consultation services to a number of caregivers, professionals, and organizations pertaining to topics related to autism spectrum disorder (ASD), fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), confabulation, suggestibility, trauma and other life adversities, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and youth fire-setting. Jerrod has completed four separate master’s degree programs and holds graduate certificates in Neuropsychology, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Other Health Disabilities (OHD), and Traumatic-Brain Injuries (TBI). In 2021, Jerrod completed a post-doctoral certificate in Leadership and Organizational Strategy and a Professional Certificate in Forensic Psychology. Jerrod has published several articles and book chapters and is also regularly featured on several national and international podcasts.
Here Dr. Brown explains the vital role hormones play in the human body and how prenatal exposure and childhood trauma can disrupt this important body system. Listen in as he explains the signs of hormonal dysfunction and how parents and caregivers can help the children in their care.
Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media.
Links mentioned in this episode:
justicefororphansny.org/hope-community
Monday Jul 22, 2024
Monday Jul 22, 2024
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” -Jeremiah 29:11
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 Dr. Kimberly Offutt. Kim is an inspirational speaker, author, child advocate, social worker, and adoptive parent. She began her career in child welfare as a foster care case manager for the State of Georgia. Dr. Kim has served at Bethany Christian Services for more than 20 years in various capacities in the child welfare field, advocating on behalf of children who are in foster care and available for adoption. She has developed statewide and national recruitment programs, led church engagement recruitment teams, and created innovative programs focused on youth most at risk of aging out of foster care.
As a speaker, leader, and program developer, Kimberly has used her unique personal and professional skills to impact the lives of children and families around the world. Kimberly and her husband, Dr. Marcus Offutt, have seven children (four adopted from foster care) and six grandchildren.
Listen in as Kim shares her passion for vulnerable children and families and offers hope to those of us on the journey.
Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media.
Links mentioned in this episode:
justicefororphansny.org/hope-community
Email: sandraflach@justicefororphansny.org
They Need You Now—One Mother’s Plea for the Church to Embrace Adoption
Kim’s Social Media: FB DrKimberly Grace & Insta drkimberlygrace