Seen Out Loud

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Latest Episodes:

Addressing Poverty to Keep Families Together with Sarah Winograd Jul 27, 2022

Sarah Winograd’s journey as a “professional volunteer” led to the realization that poverty was a driving factor in the child removals in the families she was working with. See how Sarah mobilized her community to address family poverty to help families stay together. Through the Together for Families program, Sarah lives out her vision of supporting families by helping them meet basic needs.
Show Notes
00:00:30 | Matt opens this episode reflecting on the child welfare system’s association between poverty and neglect
00:01:10 | Meet Sarah Winograd: Program Manager for Together for Families, Advocates for Children, and an adoptive mom.
00:05:05 | Back in the U.S. as an adult, Sarah dedicated herself to volunteering where she would begin spending a lot of her time working with youth formerly in foster care in New York and later in Georgia.
00:06:45 | Sarah talks about the first case she worked on as a CASA volunteer in Georgia.
00:10:37 | Who was representing and supporting the mom in Sarah’s case?
00:11:28 | Sarah explains the “ah-ha” moment she experienced while talking to one of the children in the family. This helped her fill in gaps that were missing from the family’s case file.
00:15:20 | Matt and Sarah discuss a shift in thinking around the reason Sarah became a CASA volunteer—from helping kids to helping the whole family.
00:17:38 | Sarah explains some of the support she provided to the family while staying within the boundaries of her role as a CASA volunteer.
00:20:37 | Sarah shares how she received the reputation for the "resource queen” by helping families not on her case load meet their basic needs and stay in-tact.
00:22:59 | Sarah shares her findings on poverty as a driver of child welfare involvements, as well as how her colleagues felt about the realities of the families they served.
00:25:10 | Sarah talks about the conversation with her CASA supervisor.
00:30:54 | Matt reflects on the punitive structure of the child welfare system and Sarah’s approach to seeing families for their strengths and with empathy, rather than defining them by their circumstances.
00:32:14 | What’s next for Sarah after CASA?
00:41:14 | Sarah’s vision of what’s next for the Together for Families program.
00:44:40 | Advice for people seeing the same issues in their community who want to address the needs of families.
00:45:53 | Final thoughts from Matt Anderson.
Resources
Together for Families | Advocates for Children

Georgia ranks 38th in the Nation for Child and Family Well-Being | Georgia Family Connection Partnership

One promise became a lifelong mission for this Atlanta family advocate | CBS46

Cobb County, GA Child Welfare Stats | Fostering Court Improvement

A Key Connection: Economic Stability and Family Well-being | Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago

Child Welfare: Purposes, Federal Programs, and Funding | Congressional Research Service Reports

Child Welfare Financing SFY 2018: A survey of federal, state, and local expenditures | Child Trends

In the Community, Of the Community with Cherie Craft Jul 13, 2022

Cherie Craft, the founding CEO and Executive Director of Smart from the Start, talks about her organization’s unique approach to engaging communities and addressing conditions to enhance child and family well-being. Cherie references a previous episode of Seen Out Loud with Matthew Jackson to explain how Smart from the Start builds trust with families. Cherie also offers advice for other organizational leaders on relationship building, reducing recidivism rates, and incorporating social justice into community work.
00:00:23 | Matt recaps the last episode S2, E5: The Impact of Community Conditions with Matthew Jackson
00:02:36 | What is Smart from the Start and what are they all about?
00:07:39 | What is Cherie’s “secret sauce” to building trust with families?
00:08:52 | Why don’t families trust social workers and service-providing organizations that come into communities?
00:10:14 | Cherie shares how Smart from the Start operates
00:13:03 | Cherie talks about how she saw Matthew when he first approached her at Smart from the Start.
00:18:00 | Cherie talks about baking a strengths-based approach to seeing families into Smart from the Start’s culture.
00:20:10 | Matt and Cherie recall a story Matthew shared in S2, E5: The Impact of Community Conditions with Matthew Jackson
00:25:27 | Matt asks Cherie about what happens when something her team vouches for doesn’t come to fruition.
00:29:06 | Matt asks Cherie how Smart from the Start responds to skeptics of her organization.
00:33:11 | Cherie shares more about her origin story.
00:36:44 | Cherie shares how her organization’s foundation impacts the recidivism rate for fully engaged families in organizational programs.
00:39:50 | Cherie explains Smart from the Start’s intentional approach to addressing systemic issues impacting families and the new program, Justice 4.
00:47:22 | Matt, an organizational leader at Children’s Home Society of N.C. and the Institute for Family asks advice from Cherie for leaders like him that feel like they don’t have relatable stories to use as building blocks when connecting with families.
00:49:12 | Final thoughts from host Matt Anderson.

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The Impact of Community Conditions with Matthew Jackson Jun 29, 2022

In this episode, Matthew Jackson explains how the community conditions he grew up in influenced the trajectory of his life into adulthood, and the difficulties he experienced with leaving “Jungle” in the past and charting a new path for the betterment of his family. Listen as Matthew shares his story as a single father, passionately invested in his daughter’s life, and how he’s helping other dads, with similar beginnings in Boston, MA and Washington, D.C.

[Warning: This conversation contains explicit language]
Show Notes
00:00:26 | Matt starts the conversation on what he means by child welfare reform.
00:01:18 | Meet Matthew Jackson.
00:04:17 | Matthew talks about parenting his 10-year-old daughter.
00:06:44 | Matthew’s take on how options presented in his community during his youth strongly impacted the trajectory of his early years into adulthood.
00:09:53 | Matthew explains how baseball provided him and his peers a vision of a way out of his neighborhood and the surrounding circumstances.
00:12:06 | How Matthew arrived at the decision to push his baseball dreams aside and pursue the hustle culture that consumed his community and––one by one––each of his teammates and friends.
00:13:50 | Matthew shares how he received his nickname “Jungle” and how the creation of this persona helped him survive in a community where lives were often cut short.
00:17:22 | Matthew recalls the beginnings of his relationship with his then-girlfriend and eventually becoming a first-time dad.
00:20:08 | Matthew reflects on the conflict he experienced while wrestling with how he would provide for his family.
00:21:49 | On Halloween 2014, Matthew’s life changed forever–– he describes the events that take place which hurled him into the role of a single father.
00:24:49 | Matthew shares how wrestling with the grief of the loss of his girlfriend, as well as his newfound responsibility as the sole provider for his daughter, brought him to the decision to leave hustling in his past and chart a new path.
00:27:42 | Matthew explains the difficulties of earning low wages at a retail job and providing for his daughter.
00:31:17 | Matthew shares the impact of the district attorneys on his case postponing his trial and later putting Matthew on probation instead of in jail.
00:35:35 | Matt poses a question to listeners as he reflects on Matthew’s story.
00:36:30 | Matthew shares more on his involvement with Smart from the Start.
00:37:34 | What are some things Matthew is hearing from other dads he works with at Smart from the Start about how they’re viewed and treated as fathers in communities?
00:38:55 | What exactly does Matthew do when working with fathers in the Focusing on Fatherhood program?
00:41:46 | Matt shares final thoughts
Resources
Smart from the Start
Fatherhood Organizations | Child Welfare Information Gateway
Bonus Content
Photo album
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The Risk and Power of Storytelling with Keri Hope Richmond Jun 15, 2022

Keri Hope Richmond, Child Welfare Policy Advocate, Speaker, joins conversation on engaging storytellers with lived experience with the child welfare system. Listen as Keri talks about her experiences sharing her story about navigating foster care—some empowering and some not—and the lessons she’s learned along the way. She also passes along advice to organizations on the do’s and don’t’s in engaging storytellers with lived expertise.
Show Notes
00:02:55 | When was the first time Keri publicly shared her story?
00:04:46 | Keri expresses feeling anger leading up to the moment she shared her story.
00:06:41 | Keri shares what it was like shifting from anger to empowerment.
00:10:10 | Keri talks about her experiences stepping into her role as a storyteller with lived expertise leading up to her participation in TEDxKent State.
00:13:48 | How can including people with lived expertise at the organizational level as employees impact conversations and organizational priorities and policies?
00:17:05 | Keri shares an account of when she felt like her story and the sharing of her experiences were taken advantage of.
00:22:30 | Now, Keri is a part of Unbelievably Resilient, which hosts a storytelling platform and spurs important conversations about foster care and child welfare.
00:25:32 | Matt and Keri talk about key principles and practices for organizations to honor storytellers with lived expertise.
00:27:44 | Final thoughts from Keri on engaging storytellers with lived experience.
00:29:24 | Matt shares his final thoughts.
Resources

What can you learn from a trash bag? By Keri Hope Richmond | TEDxKentState

Episode 40: Keri Richmond | Fostering Change

Healed People Heal People With Former Foster Youth Keri Hope Richmond | Around the World with Archibald Project

Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute

Advocacy | American Academy of Pediatrics

Learn more about UR and their team of storytellers | Unbelievably Resilient

Bonus Content

4 Tips on How To Use Storytelling In Your Work
The Unlearning of Child Welfare, Part 3 with co-host Keri Hope Richmond | The Institute for Family

A Conversation with the FosterStrong (now Unbelivibly Resilient) | The Institute for Family YouTube
Visiting our podcast

In Search of Belonging with Sana L. Cotten, Part Two Jun 01, 2022

Pick up where part one left off with Sana L. Cotten on her journey to find answers about her family history. In this episode, Sana, who has never met her father, goes on a 10-year search to locate her paternal family and find belonging. She reflects on how her unfulfilled need for family connection after entering foster care has impacted her through adulthood.
Show Notes
00:00:30 | S2 E3: In Search of Belonging with Sana L. Cotten, Part One is a prelude to the conversation that continues here.
00:02:09 | To learn her paternal history, Sana takes an Ancestry® DNA test which leads her to finding her birth certificate and her mother’s marriage certificate.
00:05:00 | TV personality and specialist in finding long-lost family members, Troy Dunn of “The Locator” (2008-2010) and his team agree to help Sana follow up on the information from her mother’s marriage certificate.
00:06:00 | Why do children in foster care want to know their family history?
00:07:19 | Sana applies to another TV show, “Relative Race” (2016-Present). The producers and their team take control of Sana’s Ancestry® account in search of clues to help Sana reconnect with her paternal family.
00:09:40 | Sana gets reconnected with her uncle and gets an opportunity to ask the burning question, “Do you know who my dad is?”Sana is able to share this name with the genealogist that was able to finally help her get closer to her father.
00:11:58 | After a 10-year journey of trying to find her father, Sana describes her internal experience before she contacts the family member the genealogist found in Sana’s family tree.
00:14:58 | Hear from Sana on the importance of finding family for youth in care and adoptees.
00:15:20 | Sana calls her family contact who she discovers is her father’s brother.
00:18:19 | On New Year’s Eve of 2020, Sana calls and meets her siblings, two older brothers, over the phone.
00:20:40 | Sana meets more of her family at the family reunion for her paternal family in April 2022.
00:23:56 | Sana reflects on a photo of her as a young girl when she sat on the stoop of her aunt’s trailer feeling like she didn’t belong and how it captured her feelings from childhood until now.
00:26:50 | Matt shares his final thoughts.

Resources
Meet Sana L. Cotten

Book: “Everyone will know it was God” by Sana L. Cotten

The Social and Emotional Well-Being of Children in Foster Care| National Conference on State Legislators

Creating and Maintaining Meaningful Connections | Child Welfare Information Gateway

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In Search of Belonging with Sana L. Cotten, Part One May 18, 2022

Determined to discover where she came from, Sana L. Cotten recalls her ventures to uncover her past, face her family’s trauma, and reconnect with relatives who are part of her story. Hear from Sana how the process of learning about her birth family after adoption has helped her break generational cycles, shape her identity, and begin a journey to healing through empathy.

Trigger Warning: Descriptions of rape and sex trafficking
Show Notes
00:01:19 | Meet Sana L. Cotten, as she recalls, through the reading of her case files, how she and her twin brother were taken by child protective services as children after undergoing traumatic experiences in their home.
00:06:24 | Sana paints a picture of life as a young child in Bridgeport, Connecticut
00:09:30 | Sana describes the limited relationship she had with her mom as a result of being in foster care and her mother being incarcerated.
00:11:05 | Sana shares a memory of her mother’s attempt to visit Sana at her foster home, which was rejected by Sana’s foster mother.
00:14:58 | Sana talks about her experience of being adopted, still yearning for a relationship with her mother, and beginning a journey to find her.
00:15:38 | Sana learns that her birth mother, who was incarcerated, had been longing to connect with the twins.
00:17:46 | Matt asks Sana about the opportunities she had to ask her mother about the details of her childhood.
00:19:38 | Sana shares her experience of developing a relationship with her mother once she was released from prison and why it was brought to a halt.
00:21:10 | Sana recalls being 18 years old and pregnant and feeling an urge for her birth mother’s presence after being written off by her adoptive family.
00:24:18 | Sana learns of her birth mother’s passing. She recalls being angry and feeling victimized because of the harmful events she endured as a young child.
00:26:28 | Sana reflects on impact of the reunion she had with her uncle on her healing journey as she learned more about her family’s history and her mother’s regrets.
00:31:12 | Matt reflects on the nuanced conversation on framing experiences with ‘what happened to you’ versus ‘what’s wrong with you’ with guest Dr. Bruce Perry as it applies to Sana’s journey finding love for the inner child of her mother. See more on S1 E3: PEOPLE CHANGE THROUGH STORIES.
00:33:55 | Sana shares that she originally intended on learning more about her dad when she reunited with her uncle.
Resources
Meet Sana L. Cotten
Book: “Everyone will know it was God” by Sana L. Cotten
Connections Matter: Relationships with Birth Families are Important for Foster, Adopted Children | The Imprint
Human Trafficking | Child Welfare Information Gateway
Child Trafficking and the Child Welfare System | Polaris Project
Connect Our Kids
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A Pivotal Moment For Parent Allyship with Gina Wassemiller May 04, 2022

Gina Wassemiller is a mother of three and a passionate parent ally. In the short film “Being Gina” she shares her evolution from being a parent struggling with substance use disorder, domestic abuse, and the removal of her children to being a leader at the F.I.R.S.T. Legal Clinic. This organization supports new mothers experiencing substance use challenges with legal advocacy and other services to prevent Child Protective Services removals. Gina is also a contracted Social Service Specialist with the Office of Public Defense Parent Representation Program. Gina has been actively involved in local and national organizations and support groups, including Snohomish County Parent Ally Committee, Washington State Parent Ally Committee, and Birth Parent National Network.
Show Notes

00:00:26 | Matt introduces Gina Wassemiller from the Institute for Family’s short film “Being Gina” and her work with the F.I.R.S.T. Legal Clinic (Family Intervention Response to Stop Trauma).
00:01:26 | Gina talks about her source of passion for her work. Gina and Matt dig into her background as a parent experiencing substance use disorder, domestic violence, and the removal of her children., and talk about the dichotomies of addiction.
00:04:25 | Gina explains the difficulty of asking for help while engulfed in addiction, despite experiencing the removal of her children and other consequences.
00:05:55 | In September 2009, Gina opened to her family about her addiction and began the journey to recovery.
00:08:05 | As a parent ally at the F.I.R.S.T. Legal Clinic Gina engages pregnant women and mothers of newborns with substance use disorder at risk of CPS intervention.
00:10:35 | Matt shares his thoughts on a lesson for the system.
00:11:08 | Gina and Matt give insight on leveraging compassion to help parents turn their fear of losing parental rights into hope.
00:18:30 | Gina reflects on her journey as a parent and how helpful it would have been to have someone like herself approach Gina early on.
00:20:45 | Matt shares final thoughts

Resources
F.I.R.S.T. Legal Clinic
Reunification Heroes: Gina Wassemiller | American Bar Association
Birth Parent National Network | Children's Trust Fund Alliance
Supporting Early Legal Advocacy before Court Involvement in Child Welfare Cases
Resources for Families Coping with Mental and Substance Use Disorders

Bonus Content
Featured short film: "Being Gina" | Institute for Family
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How to Influence Systems Change with Dr. Bruce Perry Apr 20, 2022

Dr. Bruce Perry and Matt pick up from their conversation in Season 1 to dive deeper into strategies for creating positive change for families. Hear Dr. Bruce Perry give his advice for organizations like the Institute for Family on what it takes to make an impact—from shifting mindsets through storytelling to creating sustainable connections in communities.
Show Notes

00:02:00 | Picking up from S1 E3: PEOPLE CHANGE THROUGH STORIES, Matt recalls a compelling statement from Dr. Bruce Perry.
00:08:30 | Matt asks, “If our systems are a collection of individuals who make decisions, to address the issues of those who have been marginalized is it about a mass number of people changing through story, or a right select group of people that hold the right power, or some combination of [those options]?”
00:10:13 | What changes people’s minds?
00:12:00 | Matt and Dr. Bruce Perry discuss how the Institute for Family is making progress with the strategy of storytelling to influence thinking and behaviors.
00:13:45 | Dr. Bruce Perry reflects on the historical impact of storytelling. “Ultimately, the most efficiently transmitted information is relationally mediated.”
00:14:50 | Matt notes the difference in narrative between the status quo perspective that childhood adversity is an individualistic parenting problem with “bad parents” and the shifting viewpoint that long-term, systemic inequities are part of the issue.
00:15:18 | Matt and Dr. Perry talk about the needs and challenges in solving systemic issues through community connectedness.
00:19:00 | If organizations want to create conditions in communities that help families succeed, what can they focus on?
00:20:45 | Dr. Bruce Perry examines society’s expectations on parenting. “Parenting is hard even if you have a bunch of people in the house."
00:21:21 | To meet family needs, should systems be focused on providing better programs and direct services or on creating better community conditions?
00:27:30 | Dr. Bruce Perry gives advice for family providers and advocates.
00:28:46 | Final thoughts from Matt Anderson

Resources
How the Media Shapes Our Perception of HIV and AIDS | Healthline
Public health campaigns using storytelling - Digital Storytelling for Change | HIV.gov
Emotive content while learning a concept – What Makes Storytelling So Effective for Learning? | Harvard Business Publishing
Book: What Happened to You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing | Author: Oprah Winfrey and Bruce D. Perry, M.D., Ph.D.
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BONUS EPISODE: NAVIGATING TOGETHER WITH JAQUIA AND RAVEN Mar 17, 2022

On this bonus episode celebrating social work month, Jaquia Wilson returns to the mic with her former social worker Raven Mitchell. Hear from Jaquia and Raven about the solid foundation they built during Jaquia’s time in foster care. Get insight on the importance of relationship-building between youth in care and social workers and how impactful Raven has been on Jaquia’s early years.

Show Notes

00:00:36 | On S1, E5: CRACK THE CONCRETE WHEN YOU WALK we meet Jaquia Wilson and learn about her experiences as a youth in foster care, meeting an influential social worker, and aging out of the foster care system.
00:02:30 | Meet Raven Mitchell, Senior Human Services Worker at Prince William County Department of Social Services in Virginia. Hear how Jaquia describes the lasting impression Raven had on Jaquia as her social worker.
00:03:48 | Hear from Raven on her aspirations for youth in care as a social worker.
00:04:38 | Hear from Jaquia about the impacts of her social worker being consistent, reliable, and treating her like a person first.
00:06:20 | What could’ve happened if Raven wasn’t as present in Jaquia’s life during her time in foster care? Hear from Raven and get insights on how she managed her relationship with Jaquia. “Every day wasn’t progress or no progress, sometimes it was ‘How are you doing? Is there anything I can help you with?’ and that was important to me,” says Jaquia.
00:10:33 | Hear final thoughts from Matt Anderson.

Resources

Social Work Month Toolkit from NASW
Why Consistency Matters

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THE MOMENTUM IS BUILDING Nov 19, 2021

From the national to community level, hear how the movement to prioritize family well-being is gaining momentum. In this season finale, three guests give insight on conversations taking place across the country around supporting families and recognizing their value. Jerry Milner, former Associate Commissioner at the Children’s Bureau, shares his perspective on the progress of the child welfare transformation work on a national scale. Sharee Pemberton and Commissioner Hope B. Haywood of a rural county in North Carolina discuss how community leaders can bring about change and build trust through listening to families and meeting them where they are.
Shownotes:

00:01:50 | Meet Jerry Milner, Ph.D., and hear his take on the family well-being movement.
00:09:05 | Matt asks if amends are necessary for the child and family well-being movement to advance.
00:09:50 | Matt reflects on his conversation with Jerry and expands on the idea of how professionals and organizations within the child welfare system can make amends with children and families.
00:12:13 | To demonstrate how the movement is taking shape locally, Matt introduces Sharee Pemberton and County Commissioner Hope Haywood.
00:17:14 | What led Sharee to her work as an advocate for child and family well-being?
00:19:26 | Commissioner Haywood talks about the impact of hearing from Sharee at the County Commissioner meeting.
00:23:00 | Sharee shares her thoughts about the importance of trust and access.
00:26:39 | Commissioner Haywood shares how she is adopting new perspectives by learning more about her community. Sharee reacts to feeling heard.
00:30:00 | Matt shares his final thoughts on this episode conversions and the conclusion of Season 1.
Resources:

Thriving Families, Safer Children: National Partnership to Reinvent Child Welfare Expands | Annie E. Casey Foundation Blog

About Hope B. Haywood: Randolph County Board of Commissioners | Randolph County, NC

About Sharee Pembleton: My Journey to Change Agent by Sharee Pemberton | Smart Start

Randolph Partnership for Children

About Jerry Milner, Ph.D.: About | Public Knowledge

National Family Support Network | Championing Family Support
Communities of Hope
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THE WALLS STARTED TO COME DOWN Nov 10, 2021

Brett and Jessica Crisp have been married for over a decade and have a 9-year-old adopted son. They served as licensed foster parents with Children’s Home Society of North Carolina from 2016 to 2020. Through their experiences as adoptive parents and former foster parents, they have become advocates for reunification, as well as parents and foster parents working together.
SHOW NOTES
00:01:25 | How do children in foster care bond with foster parents?
00:03:38 | Hear from the Crisps’ about the first visitation with London’s parents as they recall seeing their joy in seeing their daughter, but also fear of letting their guards down.
00:08:28 | At what point did the Crisps’ relationship with London’s parents take a turn?
00:19:00 | As London’s parents and the Crisps’ relationship improved over time, both families found themselves having a deep connection.
00:21:31 | The court issues a continuance on London’s case for an additional three months after a 14-month separation.
00:23:27 | How can foster care families advocate for birth parents and families?
00:28:08 | London’s case is suddenly dropped and the Crisps are told that within a day, she needs to go home to her birth parents.
00:34:04 | Shortly after London reunified with her birth family, her parents reach out to the Crisps to stay connected.
00:39:15 | What do the Crisps want people to learn and take away from their story?
RESOURCES

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CRACK THE CONCRETE WHEN YOU WALK Nov 03, 2021

Hear what life was like for Jaquia Wilson, the youngest of nine children, who went from growing up with a loving mother in the Bronx to aging out of foster care without a support system. Jaquia demonstrates resilience through a series of tragedies, resulting in her entering foster care as a teenager. With a little help from a caring social worker, Jaquia’s fighting spirit leads her to college and, now, advocacy work for youth in care.
Show Notes:
00:01:05 | Meet Jaquia Wilson as she shares stories from her childhood memories in Bronx, New York.
00:09:10 | “I didn’t know what to do,” says Jaquia, “I was 15 [years old] and my mom had just passed. My family had to figure out what to do with a 15-year-old that was expecting.”
00:10:54 | What is it like to be a pregnant teen? Hear from Jaquia as she describes the array of emotions she experienced.
00:13:00 | What happens when a teen like Jaquia enters the foster care system in North Carolina?
00:20:32 | Who were the people in Jaquia’s life during her teenage years in foster care? “It’s a little bit like a revolving door, I feel like,” says Jaquia.
00:26:13 | Jaquia shares where she drew strength to continue making steps towards independence and success after aging out of foster care.
00:28:01 | Life after foster care: At 17 years old, Jaquia heads to college, but runs into unforeseen roadblocks with housing that she was prepared for.
00:34:17 | Jaquia deep dives into her vision for foster care and shares what she wants youth in care to experience, and answers insight about what she aims to help create.
00:34:54 | Matt shares his final thoughts.
Resources:

Judicial Bypass Procedures: Undue Burdens for Young People Seeking Safe Abortion Care | Advocates for Youth

What happens to kids who age out of foster care | House of Providence

North Carolina LINKS Program |NC DHHS

Jaquia Wilson, Webinar Host | The Unlearning of Child Welfare: Webinar Series

Written by Jaquia Wilson: Redefining "Child Welfare Expert" | Children’s Bureau Express

How the Child Welfare System Made Me Prioritize Education Over Myself | The Imprint

Support Services for Youth in Transition: Housing | Child Welfare Information Gateway
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MY DARKEST MOMENT WAS NO LONGER GOING TO BE BLEAK Oct 27, 2021

Hear from Alise Morrissey about the impacts of individuals—a volunteer, a judge, an attorney, and a program leader—who offered glimmers of hope by seeing her for who she was instead of her circumstances. Alise tells her story of going from straight-A student to giving birth amidst a prison sentence. She reveals how her faith, the people who showed her kindness, and the determination of being there for her child led to recovery from substance use disorder and reunification with her daughter.
Show Notes
00:00:55 | Meet Alise Morrissey and hear her story from formative years to young adulthood where Alise recalls how her mom was her biggest cheerleader.
00:02:55 | Alise shares how she started to feel angry and rebel in her preteen years.
00:09:00 | What supports are offered to young Alise when she finds out she is expecting while incarcerated in the short term?
00:12:30 | What happens when pregnant women with substance use disorder aren’t met with empathy and understanding over judgement?
00:15:30 | Hear from Alise on how one inspiring person had a profound impact on her spirituality and life.
00:21:02 | As an indigent inmate and while her daughter is a few months old, Alise describes writing 60-70 kites or messages requesting to learn more about her case and find out what’s happening with her child.
00:23:40 | Alise describes being met where she was, as one attorney fought on her behalf and on behalf of her baby.
00:24:30 | Alise describes meeting a CASA advocate that “saw beyond the yuck,” and decided that in order to support Alise’s child she had to get to know the birth parent.
00:26:40 | Alise describes the effects of having two voices follow her through treatment.
00:30:55 | What happens when a birth parent gets to connect with the foster family?
00:33:40 | Hear from Alise on why professionals should embrace the messiness of co-parenting.
00:35:34 | What is the “Parent to Parent” program?
00:41:40 | Advice from Alise on how to communicate with skeptics about families affected by the child welfare system.
00:44:00 | Final thoughts from Matt.
Resources

Supporting Young Parents: State and local examples | Child Welfare Information Gateway

Supporting Children and Families Affected by Parental Incarceration | Child Welfare Information Gateway

King County’s Parents for Parents program

Nacy Roberts-Brown, Former Director of Catalyst for Kids, Washington

Transforming Hearts and Minds Through Valuing Parent Voice | Children's Bureau Express
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PEOPLE CHANGE THROUGH STORIES Oct 20, 2021

Systems change when people change. And people change through stories. Dr. Bruce Perry candidly offers compelling insights on the power and science of storytelling. This episode demonstrates how some of the most important things we can do to improve family well-being and change systems starts with listening.
Show Notes:
01:45 | Matt shares his origin story as a caseworker and shares what happened when he stepped back from his social worker checklist and listened to someone’s story.
07:00 | What are the origins of the book title “What Happened to You?” as it relates to Dr. Bruce Perry’s work?
09:10 | How can we alter the trajectory of the current child welfare system?
10:12 | What happens when practitioners ask families “What happened to you,” versus “What’s wrong with you?" Dr. Bruce Perry references how this question shift derived from Dr. Sandra Bloom’s work on The Sanctuary Model.
12:15 | Matt shares, “I think that if we’re worried about kids who are coming into CPS and we’re worried about their safety (which we are), then we have to be worried about their parents, their families, and their communities, too.”
13:00 | Dr. Bruce Perry on his decision to use storytelling in his work.
14:10 | Dr. Bruce Perry shares his insights on the impact of storytelling on a listener.
17:48 | Matt shares an audio clip from Episode 2 “LOOKING FOR THAT WARM HUG ALL MY LIFE” with Shrounda Selivanoff.
19:50 | Dr. Bruce Perry recalls his book with Oprah where she describes her experience of being seen and preludes stories from a documentary he’s working on.
21:20 | How can people create powerful connections and open brave spaces for deep understanding?
22:45 | Dr. Bruce Perry asks, “how do we make it easier for our front-line people to be the providers of [full, present] moments.”
25:50 | Assessing and working towards relational wealth versus relational poverty.
26:45 | What is “traumatic wisdom” and where does it come from?
30:12 | Dr. Bruce Perry offers advice to organizations and systems on chasing change.
32:10 | Matt shares final thoughts.
Resources:
Documentary Film “From Place to Place” | Institute for Family

EP 66: Social Workers in Film | NASW Social Work Talks Podcast

Dr. Bruce Perry’s website

Book: What Happened to You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing | Authors: Oprah Winfrey and Bruce D. Perry, M.D., Ph.D.

Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Bruce Perry on 60 Minutes: Treating childhood trauma | CBS News

Resources | The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
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LOOKING FOR THAT WARM HUG ALL MY LIFE Oct 18, 2021

Shrounda Selivanoff takes us on a journey from childhood to motherhood, including a head-on collision with the child welfare system. Hear from Shrounda on how being seen and acknowledged for who she was changed her life forever. Shrounda is a passionate mother, kinship caregiver, and parent ally who inspires and helps other parents who experience the system through her work as public policy director at Children’s Home Society of Washington.
Show Notes:
0:50 | Meet Shrounda Selivanoff, who talks about the result of growing up in an isolated, overburdened family.
4:45 | Shrounda shares that school was her haven and that at 13 years old, a newfound friend offered to help in her moment of need.
6:08 | The beginnings of motherhood and battling substance use disorder.
20:02 | Hear from Shrounda how being seen and acknowledged for who she was changed her life forever.
22:14 | Shrounda describes how stepping into being loved for exactly who she is and not feeling the need to be something else helped her change the direction of her life.
33:30 | A new kind of warm hug with King, grandson, and Alexis, daughter.
34:32 | As a mom, professional, and advocate for children and families, Shrounda says “My story is your story. We’re in this together.”
35:40 | Matt and Shrounda share final thoughts.

Resources:

Kinship Care Resources | Child Information Gateway
Children's Home Society of Washington

Shrounda’s Work | In Pursuit of Growing and Healing: Changing Child Welfare

Shrounda’s Work | Choose Compassion When Supporting Parents
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WHAT IF WE DIDN’T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL BAD ENOUGH Oct 13, 2021

Spoken word poet, Slam Anderson, and her mom, Lillie Lee-Williams, engage in an emotional conversation demonstrating the strength of family bonds despite a 14-year child welfare-initiated separation. This episode questions what would happen if the child welfare system was designed to support root causes of family stress instead of waiting for late-stage intervention. Plus, Slam recites her spoken word poem “My Need for Change,” detailing her experiences with the system, which Matt Anderson refers to as the “anthem” of the family well-being movement.
Show Notes:

0:56 | Meet Slam Anderson, spoken word poet
1:08 | Slam recites the first segment of her original poem “My Need for Change.”
2:50 | Slam shares insight on life growing up and how her mom poured into Slam and her siblings' lives while struggling to make ends meet.
5:00 | Meet Lillie Lee-Williams, Slam’s mom.
6:55 | What would’ve helped Lillie’s family?
8:26 | What does it feel like to go through a system that isn’t designed to truly listen to what families need? Listen to Lillie’s experience when she asked for help.
9:40 | What happened to Slam when she and her siblings were separated from their mother, Lillie? Slam reveals her story and shares the second segment of her poem “My Need for Change.”
16:00 | How does Slam find her love for poetry?
17:54 | After 14 years, Slam and Lillie share how reconnecting was emotional and exhilarating.
20:05 | The third and final segment of Slam’s spoken word poem “My Need for Change.”
21:20 | Matt asks Lillie, “What do you want us to know? What do you want us to do?”
23:00 | Matt shares final thoughts.
Transcript:
View transcript here
Resources:

Slam works with these organizations to promote self-empowerment and love: Kitchen Table and FosterStrong

Introduction to Family Well-being: Promoting Child & Family Well-Being | Child Welfare Information Gateway

Program example of in-home services that build supports for families: CHSNC | Family Preservation Program

Kinship Care Resources | Child Information Gateway

Housing Services | Child Welfare Information Gateway

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Seen Out Loud Podcast Trailer Sep 29, 2021

Seen Out Loud, formerly Seen and Heard, is a show about disrupting the child welfare system by the simple act of seeing families in their full humanity. Listen to their stories with your host Matt Anderson. Tune in weekly to hear new perspectives and compelling insights that can lead to the radical transformation of America’s foster care system.

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