Crystal Young is the founding director of Hope Center and has served in this capacity since 2018. Crystal is a 2006 graduate of Tennessee Technological University, and holds a Masters of Public Health from Liberty University. Prior to her role as Hope Center’s Executive Director, Crystal served for 5 years with Tennessee’s Department of Children’s Services, and also as Vice President to Hope Center’s Executive Board. Crystal and her husband Jonathan are proud parents to their two daughters and o...
Dec 03, 2021•59 min•Ep. 119
Connect with Celestina at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachcelestina/ PullTogether is about enlisting parents, families, community members, and young people in the fight to make sure New Mexico's children are safe, cared for, and ready to succeed. Find out more at: https://pulltogether.org/ The New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department provides an array of prevention, intervention, rehabilitative and after-care services to New Mexico children and their families. Find out more at: https...
Dec 02, 2021•52 min•Ep. 118
After successfully adopting 2 children in 2020, Eric and Marissa decided to work at helping other families achieve the same. In addition to a fulltime job as a lead pastor, Eric worked 20 additional hours a week on a side hustle making websites. Marissa got a part-time job in addition to homeschooling their two biological children. With these additional jobs, fundraisers, the generosity of friends, and a small grant from “Gift of Adoption”; Eric and Marissa adopted debt-free. They decided at the...
Dec 01, 2021•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 117
Jenn is Co-Founder & Executive Director of UARE Utah Coalition for Adoption Reform & Education. She's been recognized nationally with Spokeo Search Angel Award 2015 for personally facilitating over 100 adoption reunions. She has also lead online support community for over 300 members of the adoption constellation and trained teams of volunteer DNA researchers to help adult adoptees find birth families Connect with Jenn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferajohnston/ or jenniferajohnsto...
Nov 30, 2021•54 min•Ep. 115
Marcie J. Keithley, Co founder and President, is a retired Vice President of Retail Bank Management and was also a licensed securities and insurance representative serving the financial community for over 32 years. Her background includes sales, management, operations, team development and leadership. She has served on a variety of boards during her career such as Habitat for Humanity, United Way, Kiwanis International and Executive Director for her local Chamber of Commerce. A birthmom in reuni...
Nov 29, 2021•56 min•Ep. 116
Born in India, adopted at 10 months, raised in Australia, Vin is a true one off. He runs a Facebook group where adoptees and adopters can learn from one another in a friendly and no conflict environment. Connect with him at: https://www.facebook.com/VinAdopteewarrior/ https://www.instagram.com/vinadoptee Here's the link I mention in the show https://www.amazon.com/Michael-Neill/e/B0034PVSJ0 Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion...
Nov 26, 2021•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 114
Annalisa is mixed-race Welsh and Jamaican and was adopted at four years old by Jamaican parents. Annalisa is an award-winning cultural producer, communications and marketing consultant, and journalist whose work and research focus on racial identity, anti-racism, sustainable change, and developmental trauma. You can read more about Annalisa's adoption story here and her thoughts on why adult adoptees need to be heard here. Connect with her at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annalisa-toccara/ https:...
Nov 25, 2021•59 min•Ep. 113
Here's a bit about Taylor from his website My name is Taylor and I was born in Cheboksarui, Russia in October 1986. I lived there for five years with my family. I had one brother who is four years older than me and one sister who is two years younger than me. At the age of five, I lost my dad. Since that point, my biological mom, my younger sister, and I began traveling all over Russia as a homeless family, which some considered “Gypsy”. We stayed in train stations, under bridges, in haystacks, ...
Nov 24, 2021•53 min•Ep. 112
Dr. Catherine Horvath is a registered psychologist with competencies in clinical work with children, adolescents, and families, as well as forensic work with adolescents. Dr. Horvath has experience in working with those struggling with disruptive behaviours, self-regulation, attachment, and sexual behaviour issues related to histories of adverse childhood experiences, complex developmental trauma, adoption related issues, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, and involvement with the child welfare an...
Nov 23, 2021•55 min•Ep. 111
David Schunk was born in Smolensk, Russia in 1994. He was adopted at a young age by an American family from New Hampshire. He was a resident of Bedford, New Hampshire since he could remember until he left for college in 2013. He studied Computer Networking and Cyber Security at Champlain College, located in Burlington Vermont. David currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors and Founder for the Russian Adoptees nonprofit organization. In addition, he served as a Board Member for the ...
Nov 18, 2021•57 min•Ep. 110
Melanie Scheetz and her husband are proud adoptive parents of two children. Melanie has 29 years of non-profit management experience in the areas of administration and development. She joined the Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition as its Executive Director in 1999. Under her guidance, the agency developed the groundbreaking programs, Extreme Recruitment® and 30 Days to Family®. Melanie has been honored with the St. Louis Business Journal’s 50 Most Influential Business Women of 2019 award; Nort...
Nov 17, 2021•57 min•Ep. 109
Tony, a former foster youth and adoptee, was adopted by a same sex couple in the mid 1990’s. He writes about his experiences growing up as both an interracial adoptee and as a child growing up in a same sex headed household in his memoir “The Son With Two Moms .” Connect with Tony: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-hynes-283aa941/ C.A.S.E. offers mental health services and educational resources for all members of the adoption and foster community. They are committed to nurturing, inspiring and...
Nov 16, 2021•58 min•Ep. 108
Jenni first encountered the child welfare system in 1995 when her foster brother entered their family as a toddler. His story and five-year adoptive journey had a profound impact, and she has had a desire for systemic transformation since. After several years in the business sector, the road for professional advocacy opened up in 2008 when she had an idea of how to help children who needed loving and safe families. Subsequently, she founded Chosen. Jenni has a background in Communications, Psych...
Nov 15, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 105
Connect with Sandy at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandy-pricer-566741107/ RiseUP is a nonprofit that supports teens and at-risk youth (13-23 years old). By teaching life and leadership skills and by filling in service gaps, RiseUP is working to make sure that no child becomes a statistic. We believe every teen can learn the skills and principles needed to become responsible, independent, strong, empowered, upstanding, and productive adults with a positive mindset and self-esteem. RiseUP stands ...
Nov 11, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 107
As Director of Adoption and Permanency Services, Erika is responsible for overseeing all functions of the full service Infant Adoption Program, State Wide Adoption and Permanency Network (SWAN) program, and county foster care placement services. She is a Management Team member at The Children’s Home of Pittsburgh & Lemieux Family Center, maintains all financial aspects of the program and is involved in strategic planning. Erika also works directly with clients providing infertility and pre-a...
Nov 10, 2021•51 min•Ep. 106
Connect with Alejandro at: https://twitter.com/alejandro_caw?lang=en https://www.linkedin.com/in/alejandro-quezada-caw/ “CAW” is an organization realized for those adopted from Chile or even within the country borders in order to provide them with a platform they can relate to. In the 70s, 80s and 90s there has been a wave of children leaving the country and due to this phenomenon they are currently spread all over the world. These decades have known to be very difficult times for the countries ...
Nov 09, 2021•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 104
Here's a bit about Julie and her agency from their website: Julie VanHoose-Wells has worked at Greater Love Adoption Decision, Inc (GLAD) since 1997. She began as a Case Manager and became the Executive Director in 2014. Julie’s parents, Rick and Nancy VanHoose, founded GLAD after their own adoption experience. Julie waited 9 years to become a big sister, which was like “dog years” for an only child. The whole family celebrated the gift of adoption when Julie’s brother, Jeron, was placed with th...
Nov 08, 2021•44 min•Ep. 103
Bryan Post is one of America’s foremost child behavior experts and founder of the Post Institute for Family-Centered Therapy. The Post Institute works with adults, children and families struggling with early life trauma and the impact on the development of the mind/body system. A renowned clinician, lecturer, and author, Bryan has traveled throughout the world providing expert treatment and consultation. An internationally recognized specialist in the treatment of emotional and behavioral distur...
Nov 04, 2021•53 min•Ep. 97
Connect with Kate at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-patel-3569a3170 Diagrama Adoption is an independent, voluntary adoption agency rated GOOD by Ofsted . Their friendly and professional team members are dedicated to finding loving and nurturing families for vulnerable children waiting to be adopted . For more about Diagrama Adoption visit: https://www.diagramaadoption.org.uk/ https://twitter.com/diagramaukkids https://www.youtube.com/user/DiagramaFoundation https://www.facebook.com/Diagramafo...
Nov 03, 2021•55 min•Ep. 102
Jill Crewes, MSW has over 23 years experience working within child welfare and the foster/adoption community. She is the Vice President of Colorado Programs at Raise the Future where she manages program development and critically examines issues and trends in the public child welfare and adoption arenas to determine the most effective avenues to recruit families for waiting youth and support those connections long term. She also Co-founded Emerge Family Connections in 2013. Connect with Jill her...
Nov 02, 2021•54 min•Ep. 101
To find out more at her work check out: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alice-h-murray-174521157/ https://aliceinwonderingland.wordpress.com/ https://www.facebook.com/alicemurraywriter https://www.instagram.com/alice.h.murray/ https://www.facebook.com/alice.h.murray Guests and the host are not (unless mentioned) licensed pscyho-therapists and speak from their own opinion only. Seek qualified advice if you need help....
Nov 01, 2021•52 min•Ep. 99
Here's a bit about New Family Social from their website. "We're a UK charity, led by LGBT+ adopters and foster carers. New Family Social exists to help you decide if adoption or fostering is right for you and then support you on your journey to becoming parents and carers. We also work with agencies to develop their services to be as LGBT+ inclusive and friendly as possible. We aim to make the pool of available parents as wide as possible for the many children in care." Find out more at: https:/...
Oct 29, 2021•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 99
Amy is passionate about helping others heal their hearts from past hurts - through the use of research and evidence based practices infused with the latest neuroscience research. She has personal and professional experience with adoption, developmental trauma and other developmental disabilities. She is a self-proclaimed "brain geek" and continuously finds fun ways to incorporate the latest neuroscience research into evidence-based practices specializing in the effects of early trauma or neglect...
Oct 28, 2021•48 min•Ep. 98
Cynthia K. Jensen is a Certified Social Worker in the State of Wisconsin. Cindy graduated Cum Laude from Milton College in 1978 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. From 1990 to 2009 she was employed by another Wisconsin child placing agency. During that time Cindy placed more than 550 children with adoptive families. Cindy keeps current on adoption practice by obtaining an additional 30 hours (or more) of continuing education every two years as required to maintain state certification. In addition, ...
Oct 27, 2021•58 min•Ep. 96
Connect with Kerry https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerry-bocook-34261b83/ Heart to Home Adoption Agency, LLC (HTH) is a licensed Kentucky adoption agency that provides home studies, post placement visits, adoptive and foster parent education and referrals to other professional agencies to prospective adoptive/foster parents in Kentucky seeking to adopt domestically. We offer face to face meetings to support our adoptive families and our placing parents. HTH also provides birth parent services such a...
Oct 26, 2021•43 min•Ep. 95
Open Arms Adoption Agency has been Sam’s vision for many years. Since reuniting with his birth mother 15 years ago, he has been developing a service to support and educate women when they are in a time of need. His birth mother was 15 years old and not prepared to raise a child when he was born, so adoption was the most loving decision for both her and Sam. Their adoption was originally closed, but as an adult Sam was able to locate his birth mom and now he feels fortunate to have a great relati...
Oct 25, 2021•59 min•Ep. 94
Terry has worked in the field of children’s social care for over 38 years. He began his career in the Voluntary Sector, working for the then Catholic Rescue Society as a residential child care officer, before moving to work within a local authority setting in 1983. For several years he again worked in a residential setting, helping to manage a “fostering preparation unit”, as a qualified social worker, he was enlisted to conduct fostering and adoption assessments too and so the passion for famil...
Oct 21, 2021•1 hr•Ep. 93
Here's some information about Nugent from their website: Nugent Adoption is a registered and approved Independent Adoption Agency located in the North West of England. Nugent became a Registered Adoption Agency in 1943; therefore we have been involved in placing children for adoption for 75 years. We provide a welcoming team of professional and dedicated social work staff who are experienced in all areas of adoption. Our aim is to increase the opportunities for children who have experienced a di...
Oct 20, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 92
Dominic is an ambassador for IAC - The Centre for Adoption - the UK's only dedicated intercountry adoption charity. Connect with Dominic at https://www.instagram.com/dominicpaul91/ IAC’s mission is to place children from all parts of the world, both in the UK and overseas, in loving families and to work in a fair, transparent and professional manner with all individuals who need our services. Find out more at https://www.icacentre.org.uk https://www.facebook.com/iacadoption https://twitter.com/A...
Oct 19, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 91
Here's the link we discuss in the podcast: https://voice-for-adoption.org/family-portrait-project Schylar, a Montanan, joined Voice for Adoption in May 2016. Schylar has dedicated his professional and volunteer life to the belief that children and youth in the child welfare system need respect, support, and family. Schylar has a bachelor’s in professional and technical communications from Montana Tech and a master’s in public administration from the University of Montana. He has served as presid...
Oct 18, 2021•54 min•Ep. 90
