“Their healing begins with your hope.” Our guest ended our time together on this phrase, but we wanted to start with it. This is at the heart of what individuals, churches, nonprofits, and agency workers do all across Houston, and hopefully, it’s why you are here, now, listening to this conversation. Foster care is not an isolated issue. There are many factors at play, both upstream (before a family is impacted by the foster care system) and downstream (after a child or young adult has been impa...
Jul 07, 2025•36 min
Biological children who grow up in a family that fosters or adopts can experience some intense and complicated emotions. While many children are supportive—and even protective—of their non-biological siblings, it’s important to recognize that some may struggle with feeling overlooked or invisible in the process. While their needs are just as important as their foster or adoptive siblings, biological children can sometimes feel as though they need to take up less of their parents’ attention, mini...
Jun 02, 2025•31 min
We often use the analogy of the River to describe how each and every one of us has a unique role to play in supporting the vulnerable children and families of Houston. One of the reasons why we need hands both upstream and downstream, helping from all sides, is because the foster care system does not exist in isolation . It’s shaped by—and deeply connected to—a range of other social challenges. One such challenge is homelessness and the circumstances that lead to it. The Greater Houston area hol...
May 05, 2025•47 min
The term “pro-life” can be a politically charged topic. While the most common understanding of being pro-life is in regard to protecting life before birth, we had the opportunity to talk with someone who has a broader understanding of what it means to take up the charge of the vulnerable and protect life at all ages. Our guest for this conversation is Julie Dumalet. She has led the Archdiocese Office of Pro-Life Activities here in Houston, Texas since 2016 in the position of Director. The Pro-Li...
Apr 07, 2025•52 min
The Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) may be most commonly associated with the act of “taking children away” from unsafe home environments. Unfortunately, this small snapshot of what DFPS does is often portrayed in a negative light in media and movies. But while the removal of children—whether it be temporary or permanent—is one of the responsibilities of DFPS, there is so much more to what they do. Our latest guest is here to highlight a DFPS division that partners with servic...
Mar 06, 2025•47 min
When you first become a foster parent, you are likely to get a lot of advice. Some of it is extremely helpful, while some may not apply to your specific situation. When you combine the uncertainty of stepping into a new role with the fact that every child brings a completely different story to the table, it can be difficult to know exactly what to expect as a first-time foster parent. That's why I'm so thrilled that my guests today are here to offer valuable insight into what this experience can...
Feb 03, 2025•40 min
For many young adults, turning 18 is an exciting milestone—a step toward independence while still having the support of family. But for children in foster care, this birthday marks the date you age out of the system. Sometimes, these individuals don’t feel fully prepared to navigate the adult world. Often, an 18-year-old aging out of foster care has to face life decisions most people wouldn’t expect to tackle until their mid-20s. It’s a daunting situation that can feel impossible to face alone, ...
Jan 06, 2025•41 min
During the holiday season, the concept of hospitality is at the front of our minds. However, hospitality can mean so much more than inviting family and friends to your dinner table to share a nice meal once a year. Biblical hospitality can be practiced every day of our lives—and it can be extended to our neighbors who we may not know personally. Helping us lead a discussion about the Lord’s call for us to open our homes through hospitality is Fr. Drew Knowles. He is the Rector of Oak Forest Angl...
Dec 02, 2024•20 min
We are passionate about not only transforming the foster care system in and around Houston but about helping others find their place along The River. This means providing key trainings, rallying community members together, and bringing awareness to how we can all be better equipped to make Houston a place where families heal and children thrive. For this episode, we have two of our staff members, Kathleen Cowie and Caitlin Simpson, joining us. Kathleen is the Director of Agency Partnerships at T...
Nov 06, 2024•1 hr 6 min
Transracial adoption is not a new topic to The Riverside Project Podcast. We had the honor of speaking with Isaac Etter in a past episode on this topic and today we are talking with his adoptive mother, Julie. Julie Etter is an adoptive mom along with her husband. They have five children—two through adoption and three biologically. Julie is a beloved speaker on this topic of transracial adoption and the ups and downs her family has experienced. As a history teacher by trade, Julie loves to read ...
Oct 07, 2024•59 min
You may have heard of the term Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI) or trauma-informed care before, but you may not know what it is or how it can help transform how we care for children in foster care. To help us dive deeper into this topic is Mitzi McBride. Mitzi is not only well-versed in TBRI® but is also a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years of experience guiding children and families through their journey to emotional healing. She has an extensive background in foster ...
Sep 02, 2024•36 min
“Despite all the bad circumstances that I dealt with and navigated, there were people who were meeting my belonging needs in a way that allowed me to continue to grow, learn, and thrive in spite of the things I was experiencing.” Children in foster care are often deeply longing for connection, intimacy, and relationships. How can we offer children the support necessary to help them flourish and shift from surviving to actively living? How does their need for belonging affect the decisions we mak...
Aug 05, 2024•56 min
This episode of The Riverside Project Podcast is hosted by Chandler James, our Director of Church Mobilization. We are so excited to have him in this seat today! Collaboration is a big part of what we do at The Riverside Project. It’s how we connect, share resources, communicate about the needs of families and children in foster care, and more. For this episode, we are taking an inside look at how one person’s passion has led to a vibrant foster care and adoptive ministry at their church, all th...
Jul 08, 2024•40 min
Do you know what the single most important factor in overcoming childhood adversity is? Research found that it is a long-term, nurturing relationship with a consistent and caring adult. Today, we are talking with Brandon Denton who has an impressive resume full of experiences and passion. Brandon was the Founding Executive Director of Friends of the Children Houston, an organization that is seeking to create generational change by pairing youth facing some of life’s greatest obstacles with a pro...
Jun 10, 2024•45 min
May is National Foster Care Awareness Month! During this month, we’re not only raising awareness about foster care, but we are also celebrating the beautiful work of collaboration in this space. (Watch our new “As One” documentary series here for some incredible stories about the work happening in our city.) With this focus, we are revisiting the very first episode we shared on The Riverside Project Podcast. In this conversation, Jason Johnson joined us to break down the parable of the River and...
May 13, 2024•36 min•Season 2Ep. 25
For young adults who faced significant challenges growing up, it can be very hard to successfully transition into the workforce. They may not have the resources or self-confidence to strive for a fulfilling career. As a result, they may end up unemployed or stuck in a cycle of jobs that don’t offer upward mobility. Today’s guest, Brian Meza, is tackling this problem with his Petra Cares program. We are so excited to spread the word about this inspiring resource, as we believe it’s truly an inval...
Apr 29, 2024•36 min•Season 2Ep. 24
Adopting children who are of a different race than your own can be a beautiful thing. But many parents who do so make one crucial mistake—they try to disregard the topic of race altogether. They may feel uncomfortable addressing this subject or think that it’s better just to ignore it. But the truth is, in order to set children up for success, you need to understand the unique challenges they face and communicate with them about those challenges. Otherwise, they may feel alone, unsure of their i...
Apr 15, 2024•51 min•Season 2Ep. 23
Life as a foster parent is a constant learning process. You complete extensive training, but quickly realize that there's always more to learn. As you figure out the best ways to meet the needs of the children in your care, one thing continues to become clear—every child comes with their own unique needs. The best way to grow in how you're supporting the children in your care is to gain experience, and that’s why I’m so grateful to have sat down with Chelsea Floro. Chelsea is an adoptive, foster...
Apr 01, 2024•47 min•Season 2Ep. 22
The foster care system’s primary goal is to serve the best interests of the families within it. Whenever possible, that means reuniting biological parents with their children. To help a family heal, birth parents need intentional support. But all too often, they aren’t given the resources they need to overcome their challenging life circumstances and set their family on a positive trajectory. In this episode, I am joined by two incredible women from Decatur, Texas: Catherine Vannatta and Tiffany...
Mar 18, 2024•50 min•Season 2Ep. 21
It’s a joy to have Travis Hand, a Licensed Master Social Worker who currently serves as a Behavioral Health Specialist at Texas Children’s Hospital, on our latest episode of the podcast. Once a teen struggling to navigate the challenges of growing up in the foster care system, Travis gained a strong passion for social work in college. This conversation is full of perspective and encouragement for each of us as we find our place along the River! Find the show notes and links to anything we discus...
Mar 04, 2024•36 min•Season 2Ep. 20
We are delighted to have the Deputy Regional Director at the Texas Department of Family Protective Services, Shaundricka Easley, on the podcast. She has been with the department for over 15 years and had various roles during that time as well as served all 13 counties across the Houston area. Shaundricka gives us unique insight from her vast experience, including some of the challenges she faces on a daily basis, how to support the children within the system, what can happen when we work togethe...
Feb 05, 2024•29 min•Season 2Ep. 19
“Who is with them long term?” This is the question that Jenni Lord started asking after her organization helped fund hundreds of adoptions. What she realized is that the breakdown of these adoptive families often stemmed from the parents not being equipped to handle the behaviors and challenges that came along with trauma. Today, Jenni Lord is a resolute advocate for fostering family healing through the power of genuine connection. Her journey blends personal experiences with a visionary commitm...
Jan 22, 2024•43 min•Season 2Ep. 18
DePelchin Children’s Center has existed for over 130 years and has continued to evolve to meet the needs of the community. Their mission is to strengthen the lives of children by enhancing their mental health and physical well-being in Houston and central Texas. Jesse Booher is the Senior Vice President and Chief Operations Officer of DePelchin Children’s Center, which provides foster care and adoption services in Texas communities. As COO, Jesse oversees a diverse array of programs ranging from...
Jan 08, 2024•44 min•Season 2Ep. 17
It all started with a simple napkin exercise. Chandler James was asked to write his dream on a napkin. Initially, it seemed like a silly exercise but when he was finished his napkin read: creating safe spaces for the next generation. Chandler James is our Director of Church Mobilization here at The Riverside Project. He has worked in a number of local churches both as a Student Pastor and as a Next Gen Pastor. Chandler and his wife, Caitlin, are licensed foster parents of a few teenagers. He is ...
Dec 04, 2023•33 min•Season 2Ep. 16
Foster youth face many challenges, and education can be one of them. In fact, studies show that just 4% of children who have experienced foster care will go on to obtain a four-year college degree. Children who are involved within the foster care system also experience a higher number of school transitions, lower academic achievement, heightened experiences of exclusionary school discipline, higher drop out rates, and decreased access to postsecondary education. Accessible resources and healthy ...
Nov 13, 2023•50 min•Season 2Ep. 15
Anytime there is news related to the border or a refugee crisis, we frequently hear this question: “How does our city serve unaccompanied minors and refugees that come to our country without their parents? Does this affect the foster care community?” You may never have heard the term “international foster care” before, but this is a unique and important topic. You may be curious how the federal programs are run, how people can get involved, and how it’s different from domestic foster care. This ...
Sep 04, 2023•28 min•Season 2Ep. 14
This is not working. What do we do next? After several infertility treatments, Jennifer Clifford and her husband, Ryan, asked themselves this question. After a discussion and an informational meeting about foster care, they came to the conclusion that God was closing the door to biological children and opening the door to foster care, specifically for sibling groups. Foster care came with its own ups and downs as they learned how to navigate the licensing process and the reality of emotions that...
Aug 07, 2023•40 min•Season 2Ep. 13
There's a place for everyone in supporting children and families here in Houston. That's something we believe firmly here at The Riverside Project. Today, we have the opportunity to share our conversation with Luevenia Chapman, co-founder and Program Director for Hearts with Hope Foundation, a local general residential operation (GRO) that provides treatment services for girls ages 7-23. She not only has a passion to provide high-quality, trauma-informed care for the girls in their care, but she...
Jul 03, 2023•29 min•Season 2Ep. 12
Healing happens in the context of relationship. As Dr. Bruce Perry says, “Relationships matter: the currency for systemic change is trust, and trust comes through forming healthy, working relationships. People, not programs, change people.” Programs and services for children in foster care are helpful, but when it comes to producing long term healing, the programs that help youth and families access healthy and stable relationships will be far more effective than those that do not. In this episo...
Jun 01, 2023•30 min•Season 2Ep. 11
Extended relatives, such as grandparents, aunts/uncles, cousins, and even close friends (referred to as “fictive kin”) have always been a stabilizing force in the family system. These relationships have historically been, and are still today, a vital source of safety and permanency for children. In this episode, Dr. Valerie Jackson shares how Monarch Family Services got started as a child placing agency providing specialized support for biological families and kinship (relative) caregivers. We d...
May 01, 2023•28 min•Season 2Ep. 10
