In this episode of In Real Life: Foster Care Unfiltered, Amanda, a program supervisor at Children's Home Society of North Carolina and experienced foster and adoptive parent, shares her personal and professional journey in foster care. She discusses the growing shortage of foster families, increased needs of children post-COVID-19, and the importance of shared parenting—collaborating with birth families to support children in care. Amanda challenges common misconceptions about foster children, shares inspiring success stories, and encourages those considering fostering to take the step, emphasizing that while challenging, the experience is deeply rewarding and life-changing for everyone involved.

On shared parenting: “Ideally what we want is someone who's open to that (shared parenting), even if the end goal is adoption, because there will always be children who need to be adopted. But what if you'reable to help a number of families before a child that doesn't have other options for permanency comes along, and you've grown your family by that many additional families? What a blessing that is.” —Amanda

What You Will Learn:

• Personal and professional journey in foster care and adoption
• Challenges and rewards of fostering children
• Current needs in the foster care system, particularly post-COVID-19
• Shortage of foster families and barriers to fostering
• Importance of shared parenting and collaboration with birth parents
• Characteristics of effective foster parents
• Emotional challenges of fostering and the impact of saying goodbye
• Success stories of children overcoming trauma in loving homes
• The significance of love and relationships in fostering
• Myths and stereotypes about children in foster care and how to challenge them

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction to the Podcast
00:36 – Amanda’s Background & Journey
01:58 – Current Role & Family Experience
02:46 – Pressing Needs in Foster Care
04:32 – Changes in Foster Care Needs Post-COVID
06:45 – What Makes a Good Foster Parent
10:13 – Shared Parenting & Success Stories
14:00 – Maintaining Connections After Reunification
15:41 – Coping with Saying Goodbye
17:43 – Foster Care Statistics & Call-to-Action
18:03 – Transition From Foster Care to Adoption
21:49 – Myths & Stereotypes About Children in Foster Care
25:32 – Success Stories: Overcoming Trauma
29:06 – Best Things About Fostering & Adoption
31:01 – What Amanda Wishes She Knew Before Fostering
33:17 – Greatest Wish for Foster Care System
35:17 – Final Thoughts & Encouragement
35:58 – Personal Reflections on Adopted Children
39:05 – Episode Closing

Episode Resources:

• Catch up on previous episodes of In Real Life: Foster Care Unfiltered here: https://chsnc.org/about/podcast/
• For more information about Children’s Home Society of North Carolina, visit: chsnc.org
• To be a guest on the podcast, email: inreallifepodcast@chsnc.org
• To learn more about foster care, visit: https://chsnc.org/adoption-and-foster-care/get-started/
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