Fostering Change

Latest Episodes:

Episode 25: About that viral used suitcases post... Jan 21, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, Rob and Dana talk to fellow advocates Whitney Gilliard and Kimberly Raff about the “give your used suitcases to foster kids” post that recently went viral. While we all appreciate the attention to the horrible practice of giving trash bags to children in foster care, and we believe it was shared with the best of intentions, we also feel a responsibility to educate the public about why it’s important to give new items to youth in foster care.

Read more at comfortcases.org/podcast.

🎥 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.

Episode 24: Advocacy and Impact Jan 14, 2020

Show notes

When you give to Comfort Cases, you're not just supporting our mission to eliminate the use of trash bags in the foster care system, you are also supporting the advocacy work we do to bring about real change.

Rob Scheer is a leading advocate for youth in foster care. He knows first-hand what it feels like to struggle with feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, and depression. He travels the country to share his story and works tirelessly to educate policymakers and the public about the experiences of children in the system.

In this episode, Rob and Dana talk about some of the ways in which Comfort Cases is making change, whether it’s speaking about foster care to a crowd of many or making an impact on one child in the system.

Rob also shares how the work of running this charity can sometimes weigh heavy on his heart, and he reads a touching message that he received at just the right time.

You’ll also hear about what our biggest expense is, how many agencies are currently waiting to receive Comfort Cases, and some ways in which you can help.

Correction: At the beginning of the podcast, Dana mentions that we gave over 95,000 Comfort Cases and Comfort XL last year. She misspoke - that is the total since we were founded in 2013. In 2019, we distributed over 38,000 Comfort Cases and Comfort XL to children in foster care.

🎥 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.

Episode 23: Foster Parent Recruiter Kate Davenport, LSCW-C Jan 07, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, Rob and Dana talk to Kate Davenport, LCSW-C. Kate is a foster parent recruiter and trainer in Montgomery County, Maryland. She talks about how to become a foster parent, what some of the requirements are, and she answers questions about the process.

For more info, please visit comfortcases.org/podcast.

🎥 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.

Episode 22: A Look Ahead to 2020 Dec 31, 2019

Show notes

In this episode, Rob and Dana close out 2019 with a look ahead at 2020. They talk about 3 new items that will be added to Comfort Cases beginning in January. They also discuss all of the ways supporters near and far can help Comfort Cases. From becoming a Social Media Ambassador, to hosting a donation drive, volunteering at our center, or taking a second to set up an Amazon Smile account, everyone can do something to make a difference in the lives of children in foster care.

For more info on the things discussed in this episode, visit comfortcases.org/podcast.

🎥 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.

Episode 21: Monica Pantoja, Nsoro Educational Foundation Dec 24, 2019

Show notes

In this episode, Rob and Dana talk to Monica Pantoja, Executive Director of the Nsoro Foundation. The Nsoro Foundation provides scholarships and other services to former youth in foster care who aged out of the system. They currently have 268 students enrolled in their program attending colleges in 31 states. The Nsoro Foundation believes that education is the great equalizer and that youth who have aged out of foster care just need a support system to help them thrive and get a college education. Listen as Monica tells the inspiring story of how the foundation came to be, the services they provide, and how successful their students have been.

For more visit comfortcases.org/podcast.

🎥 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.

Episode 20: LaTasha Watts and The Purple Project Dec 17, 2019

Show notes

In this episode, Rob and Dana talk to author, speaker, and foster care advocate LaTasha Watts. LaTasha is the founder of The Purple Project, a yearly conference that brings teens in foster care together for workshops and to share their experiences. LaTasha spent most of her childhood in foster care, suffered horrible abuse, battled cancer, and has now dedicated her life to helping youth who are aging out of foster care.

For more information, please visit comfortcases.org/podcast.

🎥 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.

Episode 19: Noah Ehlert's Discover Your Path Tour Dec 10, 2019

Show notes

In this episode, Rob and Dana talk to Noah Ehlert. Noah grew up in and out of the foster care system and discovered a passion for cycling when a friend's mother gave him a bicycle when he was a teenager. Now a father of three, Noah is embarking on a bike tour from San Diego, CA to St. Petersburg, FL to share his story and inspire youth in foster care. He will spend two months riding his bike across the southern part of the country, speaking at various group homes along the way... and we'll be delivering Comfort Cases to the kids at every stop. Listen as Noah tells the story of his childhood and why he is seeking to share it with kids who are currently in care.

Learn more at comfortcases.org/podcast.

🎥 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.

Episode 18: Reece Scheer Nov 26, 2019

Show notes

In this episode, Rob and Dana talk to Rob's husband and Comfort Cases co-founder Reece Scheer. Together, Rob and Reece talk about their foster-to-adopt journey and what made them decide to grow their forever family by adopting from the foster care system. They share some of the struggles they faced on their journey and how their four children have brought so much joy to their lives.

For more info, please visit comfortcases.org/podcast.

🎥 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.

Episode 17: Marathon Packing Party with Markia Chambers Nov 19, 2019

Show notes

In this episode, Rob and Dana talk to Comfort Cases' Volunteer Coordinator Markia Chambers. On Friday, November 22, Comfort Cases will kick off the first ever "Marathon Packing Party" in which over 350 volunteers will come to the national center in Rockville, MD to pack 2,400 Comfort Cases in 24 hours. Markia talks about the volunteers who will come for the Marathon Packing Party as well as all of the ways in which supporters in other parts of the country can help. For more info please visit comfortcases.org/podcast.

🎥 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.

Episode 16: Adoptive Dads Steve and Rob Anderson Nov 11, 2019

Show notes

In this episode, Rob and Dana talk to Steve and Rob Anderson-McLean about their amazing adoption story. They knew they wanted to grow their family by adopting from foster care, but they didn’t plan on falling in love with 6 siblings from Ohio until they saw their photos. Steve and Rob talk about the foster-to-adopt process, what happened when they first met the kids, and what the first day as a family of 8 was like.

For more info, please visit comfortcases.org/podcast.

🎥 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.

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