Creating a Family: Talk about Adoption, Foster & Kinship Care - podcast cover

Creating a Family: Talk about Adoption, Foster & Kinship Care

Creating a Familycreatingafamily.org

Are you thinking about adopting or fostering a child? Confused about all the options and wondering where to begin? Or are you an adoptive or foster parent or kinship caregiver trying to be the best parent possible to this precious child? This is the podcast for you! Every week, we interview leading experts for an hour, discussing the topics you care about in deciding whether to adopt/foster or how to be a better parent. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are the national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them. Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content: weekly podcasts, weekly articles, and resource pages on all aspects of family building at our website, CreatingaFamily.org. We also have an active presence on many social media platforms. Please like or follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).

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Episodes

Collaborative Parenting

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Is your child more challenging than most? Do typical parenting approaches not work? We talk about how to parent harder-to- parent kids with Dr. Ross Greene , the originator of the Collaborative & Proactive Solutions parenting model, a non-punitive, non-adversarial, trauma-informed model of care. Dr. Greene is a clinical psychologist, former Harvard professor, and the author The Explosive Child and Raising Human Beings . In th...

Oct 26, 202257 minSeason 16Ep. 43

Introduction to International Adoption

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Have you ever thought about adopting a child from abroad? What does it take and what type of kids are available? To learn more, listen to our interview with Robin Sizemore, Executive Director of Hopscotch Adoptions, who has worked in the international adoption field for 27 years and Debbie Price, Executive Director of Children’s House International and who has worked in international adoption for 28 years. In this episode, we cov...

Oct 19, 202255 minSeason 16Ep. 42

Unexpected Stresses on Newly Adoptive Parents

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Are you getting ready to adopt or have just adopted? Do you wonder what the experience will really be like and what you can do to prepare? Join our conversation with Dr. Jennifer Bliss, LCSW and Director of Adoptions and Foster Care at Vista Del Mar and Family Services in Los Angeles; and Molly Berger, MSW and Adoption Social Worker at Adoption Center of Illinois. In this episode, we cover: Domestic Infant Adoption: Process Typic...

Oct 12, 202257 minSeason 16Ep. 41

IVF from the Male Partner's Perspective

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. What's IVF like for the male partner? We spend a lot of time talking about the experience of infertility treatment for the person going through treatment, but what about their partner? We talk with Keegan Prue, the author of "The IVF Dad." He and his wife Olivia went through two rounds of IVF and suffered two miscarriages before welcoming their daughter. In this episode, we cover: Tell us your story to parenthood. The imagined ro...

Oct 05, 202248 minSeason 16Ep. 40

Finding an Adoption​ and Foster​ Competent Therapist​

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Do you think your child or your family would benefit from counseling? How do you find the right therapist and how can you tell in advance if they will be a good fit for your family? We talk with Debbie Riley, a Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist and CEO of the Center for Adoption Support and Education. In this episode, we cover: What type of professional can provide therapy to an adopted or foster child or family? Wh...

Sep 28, 202246 minSeason 16Ep. 39

Introduction to Foster Parenting

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Have you ever thought about becoming a foster parent? If so, this is the podcast for you! We talk with Arnie Eby, the Executive Director of the National Foster Parent Association and a foster parent for 22 years; and Angie Jones, a licensed clinical social worker and the Intensive Service Foster Care Recruiter and Trainer at Vista Del Mar, an agency placing foster children. In this episode, we cover: What is the goal of the foste...

Sep 21, 202253 minSeason 16Ep. 38

Therapeutic Parenting: Strategies and Solutions

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. We talk today with Sarah Naish, the CEO of the Center of Excellence in Child Trauma and founder of the National Association of Therapeutic Parents. She is the author of "The A-Z of Therapeutic Parenting" and "The A-Z of Survival Strategies for Therapeutic Parents." She is the adoptive mom to a sibling group of 5 who are now adults and she has fostered over 40 kids. In this episode, we cover: Why are some kids harder to parent and...

Sep 14, 20221 hr 4 minSeason 16Ep. 37

When to Consider Sperm or Egg Donation

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Are you considering donor egg or sperm? When should you consider these options? What choices do you have and what are some of the psychological hurdles you need to consider? We talk with Dr. Angela Leung, a reproductive endocrinologist at Reproductive Medicine Associates of New Jersey; and Dr. Poonam Sharma, a Licensed Psychologist specializing in reproductive issues. In this episode, we cover: Sperm Donation: What are the possib...

Sep 07, 202250 minSeason 16Ep. 36

Transracial Adoption from the Eyes of Adoptee, Birth Mom, and Adoptive Mom

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Transracial adoption affects all parts of the adoption triad. We will talk today with a transracial adoptee and his birth mom and adopted mom. We will include tips for adoptive parents raising transracially adopted or fostered child. In this episode, we cover: Adoptee’s experience with transracial adoption Preschool Elementary years Middle and high school years Code switching Feelings Identity formation College Adulthood Reunion ...

Aug 31, 202255 minSeason 16Ep. 35

Trauma and Transracial Adoption

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. We talk today with Dr. Gina Samuels about Trauma and Transracial Adoption. Dr. Samuels is an Associate Professor at the University of Chicago's School of Social Service Administration and In-Coming Director at the Center for the Study of Race, Politics and Culture. She is an adult transracial adoptee. She has a newly published article in the journal Child Abuse & Neglect tilted “Epistemic trauma and transracial adoption.” In ...

Aug 24, 202254 minSeason 16Ep. 34

Adoptions in the US: Who is Adopting and How are the Kids Doing?

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. We talk with Ryan Hanlon, with National Council for Adoption, about the largest survey of adoptive parents ever conducted. We talk about who adoptive parents are, the needs of the kids adopted, and so much more. In the episode, we cover: Who is adopting in the US? How are they similar and how do they differ from the general population of parents in relation to income and education level? What are the primary motivations for paren...

Aug 17, 202250 minSeason 16Ep. 33

Epigenetics in Fertility and Infertility Treatment

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. How can epigenetic changes affect your fertility or the health of your child conceived by fertility treatment? We talk with Dr. Jason Franasiak, a board certified Obstetrician Gynecologist, board certified Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility specialist, board certified High Complexity Laboratory Director in Embryology and Andrology, and lead physician of RMA’s Marlton Clinic and Lab in South Jersey. He has authored and con...

Aug 10, 202239 minSeason 16Ep. 32

Helping Our Kids Overcome a Traumatic Background

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. We know our kids have experienced trauma, but how can we help them overcome this trauma to become healthy happy adults. We talk about resilience and overcoming an adverse beginning with Dr. Julian Ford and Dr. Amanda Zelechoski. Dr. Ford is a clinical psychologist and Professor of Psychiatry and Law at the University of Connecticut where he directs two Treatment and Services Adaptation Centers in the National Child Traumatic Stre...

Aug 03, 202256 minSeason 16Ep. 31

Surviving Childhood Trauma and Succeeding in Life: Panel of Former Foster Youth

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. We talk with a panel of former foster youth about their stories and what helped them survive their trauma and succeed in life. In this episode, we cover: What were the two most important things in helping you heal and ultimately thrive after your years in foster care and early life trauma? Was their one or two people in your life who helped you overcome? What did they do to help? Why do you think you became a survivor when others...

Jul 27, 202259 minSeason 16Ep. 30

How Do Teachers Understand Adoption (and What Can Parents Do About It?)

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. What do teachers know about adoption? What are the misperceptions? We talk with two researchers on this topic: Dr. Hal Grotevant, the Rudd Family Foundation Chair in Psychology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and Dr. Abbie Goldberg, a Professor of Psychology and current Director of Women’s & Gender Studies at Clark University. In this episode, we cover: How knowledgeable were teachers in understanding the impact o...

Jul 20, 202242 minSeason 16Ep. 29

Back to School with Foster & Adopted Kids

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. How can you help you child succeed at school? We talk with Heather Forbes, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the owner of the Beyond Consequences Institute. She specializes on the impact of trauma and is the author of Help for Billy and Classroom 180 . In this episode, we cover: What are some of the specific issues that parents of foster and adopted kids need to consider when their children go back to school? Tips for helping...

Jul 13, 202247 minSeason 16Ep. 28

Endometriosis and Adenomyosis

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. We talk with Dr. Julie Lamb about Endometriosis and Adenomyosis. Dr. Lamb is a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist practicing at Pacific Northwest Fertility in Seattle and Bellevue and serves as clinical faculty at the University of Washington. In this episode, we cover: Endometriosis What is endometriosis? What are the symptoms of endometriosis? What is the cause of endometriosis? Is there a genetic link to endometriosi...

Jul 06, 202249 minSeason 16Ep. 27

How to Raise an Anti-Racist Child

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. How can white parents raise anti-racist children in this time of violence against people of color and protests. We talk with Dr. Ann Hazzard, a clinical child psychologist who was on the faculty at Emory University in Atlanta and co-author of Something Happened in Our Town: A Child's Story about Racial Injustice; and Dr. Joy Harris, a Full-time Lecturer at Princeton Theological Seminary and co-author of The ABCs of Diversity: Hel...

Jun 29, 20221 hr 8 minSeason 16Ep. 26

Kinship Caregiving: Managing Relationships with the Child's Parents

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. One of the hardest parts of being a kinship caregiver is navigating the relationship with the child's birth parent. We talk with Dr. Joseph Crumbley, a social worker, family therapist and author of “An Overview of Kinship Care”. In this episode, we cover: Creating a Family listening sessions with kinship caregivers in rural counties. What are some of the complicating factors in the relationship between kinship caregivers and the ...

Jun 22, 202251 minSeason 16Ep. 25

Engaging Churches in the Foster Care Crisis

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. How can churches support kids in foster care and prevent children from entering foster care? Join us for our discussion with Jedd Medefind, President of the Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO) and Amber Knowles, the Executive Director of The Riverside Project (formerly Fostering Family). In this episode, we cover: We call it a foster care “crisis”. What does that term mean? What are the needs of foster children? What is each or...

Jun 15, 202249 minSeason 16Ep. 24

Legal and Medical Risk in Infant Adoption

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Are you considering adopting a baby? On today's show we talk about the legal and medical risk factors you need to consider. We talk with Amy Wallas Fox about the legal risk factors in infant adoption. Ms. Fox is an attorney partner of Claiborne Fox Bradley Goldman, a North Carolina and Georgia law firm and a fellow in the American Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys. We talk with Dr. Lisa Prock, MD, MPH, about...

Jun 08, 202256 minSeason 16Ep. 23

Racial Disparities in Reproductive Medicine

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. In this episode, we talk with Dr. Tia Jackson-Bey about Racial Disparities in Reproductive Medicine. Dr. Jackson-Bey is a Reproductive Endocrinologist with RMA of NY. She speaks frequently on reproductive justice and increasing access to fertility care and she is a member of the Americian Society for Reproductive Medicine Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Taskforce. In this episode, we cover: What biological reproductive health co...

Jun 01, 202241 minSeason 16Ep. 22

Effectiveness of Online Parent Support Groups

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. What is the future for parent support groups and are online support groups here to stay? How can we make them better? We talk with Dr. Jay Miller, Dean and Dorothy Miller Research Professor at the College of Social Work, University of Kentucky. He is a former foster youth and is now a prolific researcher in what works to support foster, adoptive, and kinship families. In this episode, we cover: The Virtual Interaction Pilot Progr...

May 25, 202253 minSeason 16Ep. 21

Protecting our Kids from Sexual Exploitation

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Foster youth or children who have been in the foster care system make up over 80% of children being sexually exploited. What can you do to prevent this from happening to your child? We talk with Audrey Morrissey, Co-Executive Director of My Life My Choice , a survivor-led nonprofit fighting sexual exploitation of youth. In this episode, we cover: What are some of the different forms that sexual exploitation can take? What is incl...

May 18, 202238 minSeason 16Ep. 20

Raising a Blended Family

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Representative Marjorie Margolies had a busy career as a journalist, author, Congressional Representative, professor, and founder of Women’s Campaign International all while raising 11 kids by adoption, birth, sponsorship, and marriage. She is the author of a new memoir And How Are the Children . In this episode, we cover: How did each of your children join your family? How did you “blend” children that came to you in different w...

May 11, 202231 minSeason 16Ep. 19

Disclosing Donor Conception to Our Kids

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Have you conceived through donor conception or are you considering this? Join us for the fascinating dive into disclosing (or not) this information to your child. We will talk with Dr. Patricia E. Hershberger, Associate Professor at the College of Nursing and Affiliate Professor at the College of Medicine, Dept. of Obstetrics & Gynecology, at the University of Illinois in Chicago. In this episode, we cover: How common is dono...

May 04, 20221 hrSeason 16Ep. 18

A Panel of Birth Moms Talk About Adoption

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. We talk with a panel of birth moms about their adoption experience. What is the adoption experience for birth mothers and what do they think of some of the controversies in adoption, such as pre-birth matching, adoptive parents at the hospital, adoptive mother breastfeeding, etc. In this episode, we cover: Tell us what your child’s adoption looks like. What are your ideas on: Options counseling being provided by adoption agencies...

Apr 27, 202255 minSeason 16Ep. 17

First Six Months with a Baby with Opioid Exposure

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Are you considering adopting or fostering a baby who was exposed to opioids prenatally? We talk with Dr. Robin Gurwitch, a faculty member in the Duke University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and the Center for Child and Family Health. Her research focuses on improving the outcomes and increasing resilience in children who have experienced trauma, including prenatal exposure. In this episode, we cover: What drug...

Apr 18, 202244 minSeason 16Ep. 16

Parenting Toolkit for Harder to Parent Kids

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Is your child "more"...more intense, more defiant, more everything and in general, just harder to parent? We talk with Dr. Chuck Geddes, the founder of Complex Trauma Resources where he developed the Complex Care and Intervention (CCI) program to support foster and adoptive children. He is the author of Children and Complex Trauma: A Roadmap for Healing and Recovery . In this episode, we cover: What makes a child harder to parent...

Apr 13, 202258 minSeason 16Ep. 15

Genetics, Genetic Testing, and Miscarriage

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Have you experienced a miscarriage? What type of genetic tests should you consider to prevent another miscarriage? We will talk about Genetics, Genetic Testing, and Miscarriage with Kim Skellington, a laboratory genetic counselor with CooperGenomics providing pre-test and post-test counseling to patients regarding genetic testing, and Dr. Rachel Gerber, a board-certified Reproductive Endocrinologist and Infertility Specialist wit...

Apr 06, 202254 minSeason 16Ep. 14
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