Fostering Change

Latest Episodes:

Fostering Change | Susan Silverman Jun 07, 2022

Show notes

In this week’s episode of Fostering Change Rob Scheer talks with Susan Silverman, a rabbi, writer and activist. She is the author of Casting Lots: Creating a Family in a Beautiful, Broken World (Da Capo Press)a memoir that weaves the story of her family, formed through birth and adoption, with Jewish theology and ritual. Susan is the founding director of Second Nurture: Every Child Deserves a Family -- and a Community. Second Nurture partners with communities in LA County and Columbus, OH, to help them prioritize fostering and adoption from foster care among their member families. While some step forward and foster/adopt, many other members support those families in a variety of meaningful ways leading to more permanent, loving families for the kids who need them.

On June 19, 2nd Nurture is co-hosting a large event in Los Angeles. It’s titled: “Treasures Not Trash: We Ready to Nurture and Comfort”.

Story Key Notes:

🖐️ Second Nurture

🖐️ Treasures Not Trash: We Ready to Nurture and Comfort

🖐️ Second Nurture’s Mission and Growth

To register for the “Treasures Not Trash” event on June 19 in Los Angeles, please visit: https://www.2nurture.org/event-details/im-not-garbage

Thank you to our contributing organizations:

SheReady:

Twitter: @shereadyfound

Instagram: @shereadyfoundation

Book Foundation:

Twitter: @book_foundation

Instagram: @makegoodinc

Second Nurture:

Twitter: @2ndNurture

Instagram: @2ndnurture

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

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Fostering Change | Marcy Bursac May 31, 2022

Show notes

In this week’s episode of Fostering Change Rob Scheer talks with Marcy Bursac, Adoptive Mom, Author, Podcast Host, and App Designer. Foster care adoption was Marcy's Plan A. She and her husband adopted a biological sibling pair. While remote schooling her children during the pandemic, Marcy began to see a gap between adults with a desire to adopt and the 115,000 adoptable children within the United States.

With a heart for those children and a deep desire to take action, Marcy wrote a book, The Forgotten Adoption Option: A How-To and Self-Reflection Guide for Pursuing Foster Care Adoption, and launched a podcast, The Forgotten Adoption Option Podcast. After winning the People's Choice Award and placing in the Top 16 at the 2022 United States of America's Mrs. pageant, Marcy created an app (The Forgotten Adoption Option App) to teach 25,000 adoptive families how to get licensed to adopt through foster care.

Story Key Notes:

🖐️ Marcy learned pageant skills and became USOA Mrs. Ohio to expand the light shining on our country’s 115,000 waiting children.

🖐️ Marcy wrote “Are You a Forever Family?” – a children’s book that creates conversations about who can become a forever family.

🖐️ In teaching and mentoring people around the country, the most frequent question is how to get licensed. Insert The Forgotten Adoption Option App.

You can find out more about Marcy by visiting:

Facebook: Marcy Bursac , USOA Mrs. Ohio , The Forgotten Adoption Option by Marcy Bursac

Instagram: @marcybursac , @usoa.mrsohio , @forgottenadoptionoption

Linkedin: Marcy Bursac ,The Forgotten Adoption Option

Learn more about Comfort Cases by visiting: https://www.comfortcases.org/

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fostering Change | Brittany Cruikshank and Nancy Molenda May 24, 2022

Show notes

In this week's episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer talks with Nancy Molenda, Executive Director, Mattel Children's Foundation and Mattel Corporate Philanthropy, and Brittany Cruickshank, Senior Specialist, Mattel Children's Foundation and Mattel Corporate Philanthropy.

Everyone at Comfort Cases is thrilled with our new partnership with Mattel. They have kindly donated many hundreds of stuffy's and UNO card games and other assorted items. We look forward to their continued support.

At the Mattel Children's Foundation, play is one of the most powerful ways we can affect meaningful change in kids' lives. So whether it's on the playground, at home, or at one of our many volunteer events, Mattel is committed to ensuring all children have the opportunity to play.

Story Key Notes:

🖐️ Mattel’s Mission

🖐️ Foster Child Awareness Month

🖐️ Play it Forward

You can find out more about Brittany and Nancy by visiting:

Facebook: @mattel

Instagram: @mattel

Twitter: @mattel

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fostering Change | Kate Trambitskaya May 17, 2022

Show notes

In this week’s episode of Fostering Change Rob Scheer talks with Kate Trambitskaya, Chief Executive Officer, Spence-Chapin Services to Families and Children. As Chief Executive Officer, Kate oversees the administration, programs, and strategic plan of Spence-Chapin. Kate began working at Spence-Chapin in 2012, most recently serving as Executive Vice President, General Counsel for the organization. Before coming to Spence-Chapin, Kate was a Senior Team Leader/Attorney for the Family Court Legal Services, Administration for Children’s Services in Brooklyn for six years, representing the Commissioner of Social Services in court and various judicial proceedings. Kate is a Posse Foundation alumna, a fellow of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, a member of New York Attorneys for Adoption & Family Formation (NYAAFF), and board member of the National Council For Adoption (NCFA).

Kate received a bachelor’s degree from Brandeis University and a JD from St. John’s University School of Law.

Story Key Notes:

🖐️ Adoption and Adoption Services

🖐️ Assistance to Children without Families Living in Institutions Overseas (Our Granny Program)

🖐️ The State of Child Welfare System Locally

You can find out more about Kate by visiting:

Facebook: /spencechapin

Instagram: @spencechapinsvc

Twitter: @SpenceChapinSVC

Tik Tok: spencechapinsvc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/spence-chapin

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fostering Change | Rita Soronen May 10, 2022

Show notes

In this week’s episode of Fostering Change Rob Scheer talks with Rita Soronen, President & CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. Rita is a national non-profit public charity executive with extensive national experience in fundraising, grantmaking, strategic planning and organizational management and program growth. Children's social justice issues are always a focus while providing a business environment of accountability and excellence in finance management, marketing, communications, governance and planning on their behalf.

Story Key Notes:

🖐️ Who does DTFA Serve?

🖐️ What does Scaled Mean?

🖐️ More than 11,000+ children have been Adopted from the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program

🖐️ Why are Youth Lingering in Foster Care?

🖐️ DTFA is Celebrating 30 Years as a Foundation

You can find out more about Rita by visiting:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaveThomasFoundationforAdoption

Instagram: @dtfa

Twitter: @dtfa

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fostering Change | Leigh Anne Tuohy May 03, 2022

Show notes

In this week’s episode of Fostering Change Rob Scheer talks with Leigh Anne Tuohy, Foster Care advocate, Motivational Speaker, NY Times Best Selling author and Interior Designer. Leigh Anne is an interior designer by trade, but her heartbeat is advocating for children at risk of slipping through the cracks of society. Leigh Anne and her husband Sean live in Memphis, TN. They are the proud parents of daughter Collins, and sons Michael and Sean, Jr.

Story Key Notes:

🖐️ Forever Family Friday

🖐️ Build a Community that Inspires You. Surround Yourself with Others that Want to Make a Difference.

🖐️ Take Action! Purposefully! Get Out of your Comfort Zone. There’s no Overnight Success Story!

You can find out more about Leigh Anne by visiting:

Facebook: @LeighAnneTuohy

Instagram: @LeighAnneTuohy

Twitter: @LeighAnneTuohy

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fostering Change | Audra O’Neil Apr 26, 2022

Show notes

In this week’s episode of Fostering Change Rob Scheer talks with Audra O’Neil.Audra is an author, widow, and mother of twin thirteen year-old boys. Her husband Chad died in November of 2105, five months after being diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. Being a reading and writing teacher and coach, Audra felt called to use the gift of writing to share her journey through the pitfalls and trials of young widowhood.

After meeting other young widows, and absorbing their stories, Audra has found a reservoir of strength from which to draw. She is hoping to support others like herself through her newly published book, At the Helm: The Young Widow’s Journey from Struggle to Strength. Audra would like her book to act as a beacon of hope for those who are reaching out for a hand to hold, a story to relate to, and a pathway back towards strength and happiness.

Story Key Notes:

🖐️ Building Rituals for Kids/Families who have Experienced Loss

🖐️ Giving Kids Choices After Loss

🖐️ Posttraumatic Growth and How Struggle can Lead to Growth, Resilience, and Strength

You can find out more about Audra by visiting:

Facebook : Facebook.com/oneilatthehelm

Instagram: Instagram.com/audraoneil/

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fostering Change | Richard Valenza Apr 19, 2022

Show notes

In this week’s episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer talks with Richard Valenza. Richard is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Raise A Child Inc., the nationwide leader in the recruitment, retention and support of LGBTQ+ and all prospective parents interested in building loving families for children in foster care™. In its eleven-year history, RaiseAChild has served more than 35,000 prospective and current foster and foster-to-adopt parents across the United States.

In establishing RaiseAChild, Rich has drawn on 30 years’ success in marketing and development for major television networks, international apparel brands, and nonprofit organizations. Today, Valenza continues to use his expertise in working with leading national corporations and regional businesses to form strategic partnerships with community service agencies and organizations to build upon RaiseAChild’s strength and influence.

Story Key Notes:

🖐️ A different approach to Helping Children and Youth in Foster Care

🖐️ Communicating the Needs of Children Through Strategic Marketing and Messaging.

🖐️ Compassion through Lived Experience.

You can find out more about Richard by visiting:

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/RaiseAChild

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RaiseAChild/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/raiseachild/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/raiseachild/

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fostering Change | Chris Simonsen Apr 12, 2022

Show notes

In this week’s episode of Fostering Change Rob Scheer talks with Chris Simonsen , CEO at Orangewood Foundation. Chris spent many years of his career in various financial executive roles in the for-profit world. Fifteen years ago, he made a significant “life decision” by accepting the CFO position at a small nonprofit in Orange County, CA called Orangewood Foundation. This became one of the best decisions he has ever made.

Orangewood Foundation supports teens and young adults in Orange County, California. Many of them have either spent time in the foster care system, are struggling with homelessness or are survivors of human trafficking or have experienced all these situations. The foundation strives to support them so they can achieve the life that THEY envision for themselves.

Story Key Notes:

🖐️ Orangewood Foundation Supports Teens and Young Adults in Orange County

🖐️ You Cannot Solve the Youth Homelessness Crisis by Solely Building More Housing Units

🖐️ The Work Done with Teens and Young Adults must be done through a “Trauma-Informed Lens”

You can find out more about Chris by visiting:

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/orangewoodfoundation

Twitter: https://twitter.com/orangewoodfdn#

IG: https://www.instagram.com/orangewoodfoundation/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/orangewoodfoundation/mycompany/

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:

👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fostering Change | Julie & David Bulitt Apr 05, 2022

Show notes

In this week’s episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer talks with Julie and David Bulitt. Julie and David have been married for more than 35 years and have four daughters, two of whom are biological, and two adopted, and three grandchildren. Together, Julie and David are the authors of the award-winning book, The 5 Core Conversations for Couples, relationship coaches and speakers.

Story Key Notes:

🖐️ Overview of 5 core conversations - what are they, why couples need to communicate in these areas

🖐️ Focus on parenting (one of the core conversations is titled “Parents and partners”)

🖐️ Can share our own story – adoption, raising child with mental health/behavioral issues, addiction, etc.

You can find out more about Julie and David by visiting:

Facebook : @thebulitts

Twitter: @thebulitts

IG: @Thebulitts

YouTube Channel - The Bulitts

Learn more at https://www.comfortcases.org/

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation: