For Comfort Cases, partnerships have always been central to the mission. The organization’s first corporate Packing Parties began in Indiana with Elevance Health and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in 2008. Since then, Anthem has remained a longstanding partner, demonstrating an ongoing commitment to corporate responsibility and to supporting children and youth experiencing foster care.

Today, that commitment continues through collaboration with Kids’ Voice of Indiana, working together to raise the voice of youth transitioning out of foster care by creating resources, providing transition support, and expanding opportunities for education and career advancement.

As Foster Care Awareness Month approaches in May, this conversation highlights the importance of recognizing the needs of young people preparing to age out of the system — and the role partnerships play in helping them build strong, independent futures.

Episode Highlights

The importance of supporting youth as they transition out of foster care

How corporate partnerships can expand resources and opportunities for young people

The role of Kids’ Voice of Indiana in advocating for older youth and preparing them for independence

The impact of mentorship, advocacy, and youth voice in shaping better outcomes

Real-life success stories, including pathways to higher education and career development

About the Guests

Sarah Baumgartner is the Older Youth Case Manager on the Foster Care Team at Anthem Indiana Behavioral Health Services. She brings more than 20 years of experience in mental health, including residential treatment, school-based counseling, and private practice. Her work focuses on supporting older youth as they transition from foster care to adulthood.

Brian Robinson is the Director of Older Youth Initiatives for Kids’ Voice of Indiana. With more than 25 years of experience working with children and families, including serving as a Guardian ad Litem since the early 1990s, he centers his work on preparing older youth in foster care for independence.

Princess Martinez Casanova is a bilingual education advocate, foster youth leader, and member of the Youth Impact Board at Kids’ Voice of Indiana. After immigrating from Mexico as a teenager and entering foster care at fourteen, she is now attending DePauw University on a full scholarship, studying Education Studies and Spanish, and advocating for foster youth and immigrant communities.

About the Work

The collaboration between Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Kids’ Voice focuses on:

Transition support for youth aging out of foster care

Elevating youth voice and advocacy

Expanding access to education and career pathways

These efforts reflect a shared commitment to helping young people move from foster care into adulthood with the tools, support, and opportunities they need to succeed.

Connect & Learn More

Kids’ Voice of Indiana: https://kidsvoicein.org/

Facebook: @AnthemMedicaid

Instagram: @anthembcbs

X (Twitter): @AnthemBCBS

LinkedIn: Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield – Medicaid Health Plans

🎥 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.

For most families, childhood photos are a given. They capture milestones, friendships, and the small moments that help us understand who we are and where we come from. But for many children experiencing foster care, frequent moves and disrupted connections mean those memories are rarely preserved.

Photo Safe was founded to close that gap. Through a network of volunteer photographers, the organization has provided more than 60,000 professionally taken and framed photographs to youth connected to foster care and their families.

At the heart of Photo Safe’s work is a commitment to safety and confidentiality. Every image is securely archived and preserved so children can access their memories safely now and decades into the future.

In this conversation, Rob and Karen explore why photographs matter for identity, how preserving childhood moments can help young people build a sense of belonging, and why something as simple as a picture can become a powerful anchor in a child’s life.

Episode Highlights

Why childhood photographs play a vital role in identity and emotional development

The often-overlooked reality is that many youth in foster care grow up without documented memories

How Photo Safe protects images through secure archival systems and strict confidentiality

The lasting emotional impact of framed photographs and preserved milestones

How preserving memories helps youth maintain a connection to their own story

About the Guest

Karen Segal is the founder of Photo Safe, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving childhood photographs for youth in foster care. After a 30-year career in financial technology with firms including Merrill Lynch, Citigroup, and Barclays, she now serves as a Quality Executive at Ernst & Young. Through Photo Safe’s volunteer network of photographers, the organization has provided more than 60,000 framed photographs to children and families connected to foster care while maintaining rigorous standards of privacy, security, and long-term archival preservation.

Connect with Photo Safe

🌐 Website: www.photosafe.org

📘 Facebook: facebook.com/photosafe.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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Pedro is the host and producer of the HBO Max documentary series Somewhat Familiar, which follows Pedro and his husband as they adopt a baby and travel the world exploring how families are formed across cultures and communities.

One episode of the series is especially meaningful to the Fostering Change community. Episode five featured Rob Scheer and the Scheer family, offering an honest look at foster care, adoption, and what permanency can look like in real life.

In this conversation, Rob and Pedro revisit that experience and explore how storytelling can expand our understanding of family, bring visibility to foster care, and inspire more compassionate conversations about belonging.

Episode Highlights

How media and storytelling can redefine traditional ideas of family

Why foster care stories deserve a place in global conversations about belonging

Pedro’s experience of becoming a parent and how it shaped his perspective on adoption

What the Scheer family story revealed about permanency and resilience

The role of documentaries in shifting public understanding and reducing stigma

About the Guest

Pedro Andrade is an Emmy Award–winning journalist, producer, and global storyteller known for his work exploring culture, identity, and human connection. He is the host and producer of the HBO Max documentary series Somewhat Familiar, which follows Pedro and his husband as they navigate adoption while exploring family structures around the world. Through his work, Pedro highlights diverse stories of belonging and invites audiences to see family through a wider, more compassionate lens.

Connect with Pedro

📸 Instagram: @pedroandradeTV

🎬 Series: Somewhat Familiar with Pedro Andrade on HBO Max

🎥 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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Temple is the author of the novel Not Quite Home, which explores the cracks in America’s social service safety net. While the book is fiction, its themes are grounded in real-world experience. Having worked both inside nonprofit leadership and as an elected official, Temple brings a rare systems-level perspective to the conversation.

Together, Rob and Temple discuss the gap between policy and lived reality, how well-intentioned systems can sometimes cause unintended harm, and why storytelling may be one of the most powerful tools we have to illuminate the need for reform.

Episode Highlights

• Why systems meant to help families often fall short

• The unintended consequences of well-intentioned policies

• What people misunderstand about how social service systems actually function

• Why fiction can humanize policy failures more effectively than reports and data

• How civic engagement and storytelling can open doors to meaningful reform

About the Guest

Temple Lentz is a nonprofit CEO, local elected official, and debut novelist. She earned a BA from the University of Chicago and a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Claremont Lincoln University. Her writing has appeared in outlets including the Portland Mercury, Vancouver Business Journal, Live Wire! Radio, New City Chicago, and the Windy City Times.

Her first novel, Not Quite Home, examines the human impact of systemic gaps within America’s social safety net.

Connect with Temple

🌐 Website: templelentzbooks.com

📘 Facebook: Temple Lentz

📸 Instagram: @gototemple

🐦 X/Twitter: @gototemple

🧵 Threads: @gototemple

🔗 LinkedIn: Temple Lentz

🎥 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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Dr. Liz is the founder of Migrating Toward Wholeness, a trauma-informed, arts-based healing framework, and the author of Adult Adoptees and Writing to Heal. Her work centers on an often-overlooked truth: adoption isn’t a moment — it’s a lifelong identity journey.

This conversation is especially meaningful for Rob, who reflects on his own experience adopting his son Alex, who joined the Scheer family at 18 and was formally adopted at 22 — a powerful reminder that belonging and permanency have no age limit.

Together, Rob and Dr. Liz explore how adults navigate adoption-related grief and identity, why healing can unfold later in life, and how storytelling becomes a transformative tool for reclaiming voice and wholeness.

Episode Highlights

Late and adult adoption as meaningful and transformative

How writing and embodied storytelling support trauma integration

What “wholeness” means for identities shaped by early loss

The role adoptive families play in supporting adult adoptees over time

About the Guest

Dr. Liz DeBetta is an award-winning writer, educator, and solo performance artist whose work focuses on adoption, trauma, and identity through narrative expression. She is the founder of Migrating Toward Wholeness™, the author of Adult Adoptees and Writing to Heal, and the creator of the acclaimed one-woman show Un-M-Othered, which examines adoption and patriarchy through embodied storytelling. Holding a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies, she blends research, lived experience, and art to support healing and identity integration.

Connect with Dr. Liz

🌐 Website: www.lizdebetta.com

📘 Facebook: Dr. Liz DeBetta

📸 Instagram: @dr.liz.debetta

🎵 TikTok: @dr.liz.debetta

🔗 LinkedIn: Liz DeBetta, Ph.D.

🎥 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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Rob is joined by Rachel Bruno, a Nashville-based author, speaker, and advocate whose deeply personal experience with the child welfare system ignited a powerful call for accountability and reform.

After her children were unlawfully removed by child protective services, Rachel found herself confronting a system where parental rights, due process, and family integrity are often overlooked. Instead of staying silent, she fought back — ultimately securing a seven-figure civil rights settlement and emerging as a leading national voice for families facing similar injustices.

Rachel is the author of Fractured Hope: A Mother’s Fight for Justice and founder of Giver of Light, an organization dedicated to supporting families navigating child welfare involvement. Together, Rob and Rachel discuss hope after trauma, the urgent need for accountability, and why lived experience must guide ethical, child-centered reform.

Episode Highlights

• How one mother’s fight sparked national conversations about reform

• What families experience when due process is ignored

• Accountability and justice within child welfare

• How Giver of Light supports families in crisis

• Why lived experience belongs at the center of policy change

📘 Book Recommendation

Rob strongly recommends Rachel’s book:

Fractured Hope: A Mother’s Fight for Justice — a powerful firsthand account that exposes the realities families face inside the child welfare system and why reform is urgently needed.

👉 Get the book directly from Rachel:

https://rachelbruno.com/book/

Purchasing directly supports her advocacy and helps amplify voices too often unheard.

About the Guest

Rachel Bruno is an author, speaker, and advocate for parental rights. Her lived experience navigating the child welfare system made her a national leader in reform. After securing a civil rights settlement for the unlawful removal of her children, she authored Fractured Hope and founded Giver of Light. She continues to serve in leadership and advisory roles, promoting family integrity, accountability, and ethical child welfare practices.

Connect with Rachel & Giver of Light

🌐 Website: www.thegiveroflight.org

📘 Facebook: facebook.com/rachelbrunospeaks

📸 Instagram: @rachelbrunospeaks

🐦 X/Twitter: @bruno.rachel

🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rachelbruno

🎥 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.

But too often, outdated financial systems slow growth, strain leadership, and pull focus away from mission-driven work.

This week on Fostering Change, Rob Scheer sits down with Stephen Garten, Founder & CEO of Charity Charge, a Public Benefit Corporation built exclusively to support the financial needs of nonprofit organizations.

Stephen launched Charity Charge in 2015 after recognizing a widespread problem: nonprofits were forced to rely on banking and financial tools never designed for how they actually operate. Today, Charity Charge serves more than 3,000 nonprofits nationwide, offering nonprofit-specific credit cards, bookkeeping and compliance tools, gift cards, and over $60 million in working capital — empowering leaders to focus on impact instead of infrastructure.

Rob and Stephen also reflect on their recent crossover conversation, following Rob’s appearance on Stephen’s podcast, The Charity Charge Nonprofit Spotlight, where they continued discussing leadership, transparency, and sustainability in the social sector.

🎧 Watch or listen to Rob’s interview here:

https://www.charitycharge.com/nonprofit-resources/rob-scheer-comfort-cases/

Episode Highlights

• Why traditional banking often fails nonprofit organizations

• How Charity Charge was built specifically for mission-driven leaders

• The connection between financial transparency and donor trust

• Lessons learned from supporting thousands of nonprofits nationwide

• What it takes to build long-term sustainability without losing sight of mission

About the Guest

Stephen Garten is the Founder and CEO of Charity Charge, a Public Benefit Corporation providing financial infrastructure built exclusively for nonprofits. Since launching in 2015, Charity Charge has supported more than 3,000 organizations, delivered over $60 million in working capital, and granted more than $1 million through the Charity Charge Foundation.

His work has been featured by Forbes, Fast Company, and The Today Show, and he hosts The Charity Charge Nonprofit Spotlight, highlighting nonprofit and social impact leaders across the country.

Connect with Charity Charge

🌐 Website: www.charitycharge.com

📘 Facebook: facebook.com/CharityCharge

📸 Instagram: @charitycharge

🐦 X/Twitter: @charitycharge

🔗 LinkedIn: Charity Charge

🎥 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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Rob Scheer sits down with Yvonne Esipila Patron, Co-Founder and CEO of the PATESI Foundation, an organization working globally to ensure women and girls have the dignity, resources, and education they deserve.

In 2025, Comfort Cases and PATESI began a powerful partnership to make sure no girl entering foster care faces her first night without essential menstrual supplies. Through this collaboration, PATESI donates up to 10,000 emergency menstrual kits each year, included in Comfort Cases® backpacks for girls ages eight and up — providing dignity, protection, and confidence during moments of deep transition.

Together, Rob and Yvonne unpack why menstrual poverty remains invisible, why postpartum poverty continues long after childbirth, and why involving men and boys is key to ending stigma and driving real change.

Episode Highlights

• The global impact of menstrual poverty and why it’s rarely discussed

• How entering foster care can make menstruation even more stressful for young girls

• What the Comfort Cases × PATESI partnership delivers each year

• Why postpartum poverty deserves national attention

• How male allyship strengthens long-term solutions

About the Guest

Yvonne Esipila Patron is the Co-Founder and CEO of the PATESI Foundation, a global nonprofit dedicated to ending menstrual and postpartum poverty. With a background in public health and sustainable development, she has spent her career advancing reproductive health equity, youth empowerment, and community-driven solutions.

Connect with PATESI

🌐 Website: www.patesifoundation.org

📘 Facebook: facebook.com/patesifoundation

📸 Instagram: @patesifoundation

🎥 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.

Rob Scheer is joined by Kelsey Davis, National Director of Foster Parent Recruitment, and Stacy Brindley, National Treatment Director at StepStone Family & Youth Services. Together, they explore why fewer families are stepping forward, how misconceptions about fostering hinder progress, and why supporting foster parents is essential to better outcomes for children.

With more than 343,000 children in foster care and fewer than 200,000 licensed foster homes nationwide, this conversation goes beyond the numbers. Kelsey and Stacy share how StepStone approaches recruitment differently, centers trauma-informed care, and treats the entire family as part of the healing process.

Episode Highlights

This episode explores why the foster parent shortage continues to grow and how it directly impacts children who need consistency and belonging. The discussion challenges common myths about fostering, explains why recruitment messaging must change, and emphasizes that strong outcomes depend on strong support for foster parents.

Listeners also hear why trauma-informed care must include the whole family, not just the child, and how communities can get involved with StepStone through volunteering, respite support, and national initiatives beyond fostering.

As Rob notes, “We must get more qualified families to support our youth in foster care.” And as Kelsey reminds us, fostering works best when families know they are not doing it alone.

About the Guests

Kelsey Davis is the National Director of Foster Parent Recruitment at StepStone Family & Youth Services. A former Title I educator with an MBA in Marketing, she leads national strategies to recruit, train, and retain foster families through people-centered, community-driven outreach.

Stacy Brindley is StepStone’s National Treatment Director and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with nearly 30 years of experience. She has worked across residential treatment, therapeutic foster care, independent living, and in-home services, and now leads trauma-informed and evidence-based practices nationwide.

Learn More

Website: https://www.stepstoneyouth.com/

🎥 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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Instead of children waiting for hours in government offices, Isaiah 117 House creates a warm, home-like space where kids can exhale, eat a meal, change into clean clothes, and feel safe while caseworkers find placement. Lindsay shares why this model is a true game changer for children, foster families, and social workers alike, and how South Carolina is rapidly expanding its footprint.

What You Will Hear in This Episode

* What Removal Day really looks like, and why so many youth remember it as the hardest day of their lives

* How Isaiah 117 House replaces a cold, adult-centered setting with comfort, dignity, and stability

* The heart of the model: trauma-informed volunteers providing steady, calm presence during a chaotic moment

* How community support builds a stronger system around children and the professionals serving them

* South Carolina growth updates, including York County and new houses coming soon

Quotes to Highlight

* Lindsay on why this matters: “Nearly all of them recount removal day as the worst day of their lives.”

* Lindsay on the mission: “We can fix how foster care begins for our kids.”

* Lindsay on what kids experience at Isaiah 117 House: “It’s a yes… For a kid who’s lived a life of nos, that is a game changer.”

* Lindsay on why the system needs community: “Every single person should help a child in foster care. Full stop.”

South Carolina Updates

* York County opened September 2025

* Greenville County expected to open early spring 2026

* Horry County fundraising begins February 2026

* Lexington County kickoff coming early 2026

Why This Episode Matters

This conversation is a reminder that children enter foster care because of choices other people made, and that the first hours of care should not add trauma. Isaiah 117 House proves that a better beginning is possible, and it starts with community saying yes to dignity.

Links and Ways to Connect

Main Website: https://isaiah117house.com/York County Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/isaiah117houseyorkcoscYork County Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isaiah117houseyorkcosc

LinkTrees:York County: https://linktr.ee/isaiah117houseyorkcoscGreenville County: https://linktr.ee/isaiah117housegreenvillesc

Horry County: https://linktr.ee/isaiah117househorrycosc

🎥 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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Rob Scheer is joined by Jenny Coleman, a nationally recognized expert in child welfare and abuse prevention, and a former foster parent whose work is grounded in both professional expertise and lived experience.

Jenny serves as Director of Stop It Now!, a national organization focused on preventing child sexual abuse through education and early intervention. She also leads What’s OK?, a first-of-its-kind online platform and free helpline where teens and young adults can anonymously ask questions about relationships, boundaries, sexting, consent, and online behavior — without fear or shame.

In this conversation, Jenny helps parents, caregivers, and educators better understand how to talk with young people about tough topics — especially as AI-generated and non-consensual images become an increasing form of peer-driven harm.

Episode Highlights

Youth Safety in the Digital AgeHow sexting, cyberbullying, and online exploitation are changing — and what adults need to know.

New & Alarming TrendsWhy recent data shows a sharp rise in AI-generated inappropriate images targeting teens, most often created and shared by peers.

What’s OK?How this research-backed platform empowers youth ages 14–21 to ask honest questions and get reliable guidance.

What Caregivers Can DoPractical steps for parents and caregivers, including how to respond, stay connected, and support youth without judgment.

A Foster Care PerspectiveWhy trauma-informed, prevention-focused conversations are especially critical for foster and adopted youth.

About Jenny Coleman

Jenny Coleman, MA, LMHC, has spent more than 30 years working in child welfare as a clinician, educator, and prevention advocate. She is the Director of Stop It Now! and leads What’s OK?, an innovative online resource for youth navigating questions about sexual behavior, consent, and boundaries. A former foster parent and longtime foster care trainer, Jenny brings a compassionate, prevention-centered approach to keeping young people safe.

Resources

Stop It Now!: www.stopitnow.orgWhat’s OK?: www.whatsok.org

✨ Why This Episode MattersThis episode is a reminder that prevention starts with conversation. When young people have access to trustworthy information — and adults willing to listen without judgment — safety and resilience follow.

🎧 Fostering Change continues next week with another powerful conversation.

Thank you for being part of a community committed to protecting, educating, and supporting young people — especially when the topics are hard, but the stakes are high.

🎥 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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This week, Rob Scheer is joined by Dr. (Candidate) Shanté Elliott, a learning scientist, social innovator, and founder of TasselTurn — an organization reimagining how children in foster care and students experiencing housing insecurity move through school, graduation, and the transition to adulthood.

Having experienced foster care herself, Shanté brings rare and powerful insight to her work. She blends academic research, technology, and deep empathy to help children in foster care not only stay in school, but truly see themselves as capable, worthy, and supported.

What began in 2020 with a $300 grant has grown into a nationally recognized platform connecting young people with coaching, mentorship, and meaningful incentives tied to educational milestones.

Now a PhD candidate at Northwestern University, Shanté has been recognized as a Forbes Changemaker, L’Oréal Paris Woman of Worth, and Echoing Green Fellow, with her work featured in Forbes, The Imprint, and Reader’s Digest. In this conversation, she shares how education — when paired with trust and opportunity — can become a powerful pathway to stability, confidence, and economic mobility for children in foster care.

🎧 Episode Highlights

Education & Foster Care

The real barriers children in foster care face in completing high school and navigating what comes next — and why traditional systems often fall short.

The TasselTurn Model

How personalized coaching, milestone-based incentives, and digital tools keep children in foster care engaged and supported.

Tech for Good

Using technology to track progress, close equity gaps, and create accountability that centers student success.

Lived Experience as Leadership

How Shanté’s own foster care journey informs her research, innovation, and belief in changing — not “beating” — the odds.

Why It Matters

The long-term impact of investing in education as a tool to disrupt cycles of poverty and instability for children in foster care.

Shanté Elliott is a learning scientist, social entrepreneur, and founder of TasselTurn — a national platform supporting children in foster care and students experiencing housing insecurity through key educational milestones. A former child in foster care and first-generation college graduate, she is currently a PhD candidate at Northwestern University, where her research focuses on educational identity and narrative.

Since launching TasselTurn in 2020 with just $300, Shanté has built a nationally recognized organization rooted in the belief that young people deserve more than survival — they deserve systems designed for their success.

🔗 Connect with Shanté & TasselTurn

Website: www.tasselturn.org

Instagram: @tasselturn

LinkedIn: TasselTurn

✨ Why This Episode Matters

This conversation is a powerful reminder that when we stop asking children in foster care to overcome broken systems — and instead commit to changing those systems — futures shift. Shanté Elliott isn’t just turning tassels; she’s helping young people step into adulthood with confidence, support, and real opportunity.

🎧 Fostering Change continues next week with another powerful conversation as Season 7 unfolds. Thank you for listening, believing, and being part of a community that shows up for children in foster care — not just in words, but in action.

If you have questions or a guest suggestion, please reach out to our producer at dthalberg@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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🎙 Introduction

This week, Rob Scheer is joined by Dr. Brandi Kelly, an award-winning educator, licensed clinical social worker, leadership coach, and founder of Spark HOPE Edu. For more than 20 years, Dr. Kelly has served children and families as a school social worker, principal, and superintendent, always guided by her belief in the transformative power of H.O.P.E. — Habits, Optimistic Outlook, Purpose, and Excellence.

Her approach blends emotional wellness, compassionate leadership, and practical tools that empower students — especially those experiencing trauma, foster care, or instability — to build resilience and recognize their inherent worth. Through Spark HOPE Edu and her coaching programs, Dr. Kelly now equips caregivers, educators, and community leaders to create environments where every child feels safe, supported, and capable of thriving.

Her message is the perfect way to begin a new year: intentional, uplifting, and rooted in the belief that we can all lead with hope.

Main Topic / Theme

How Dr. Kelly’s H.O.P.E. framework cultivates resilience, emotional wellness, and confidence in children — particularly those who have experienced trauma — by equipping the adults who support them to lead with compassion, clarity, and purpose.

Key Discussion Points

Resilience Through H.O.P.E.

How Habits, Optimistic Outlook, Purpose, and Excellence help youth overcome adversity and build self-worth.

Education + Healing

Why collaboration between educators, caregivers, and social workers is essential for children in foster or kinship care.

Leadership for Youth

Helping children see themselves as leaders regardless of their circumstances.

Coaching for Connection

Dr. Kelly’s January 2026 six-week cohort designed to help adults strengthen resilience and relational skills using the H.O.P.E. model.

Guest Bio

Dr. Brandi Kelly is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, award-winning educator, and founder of Spark HOPE Edu. Over her two-decade career, she has served as a school social worker, principal, and superintendent — earning multiple leadership awards. Her H.O.P.E. framework (Habits, Optimistic Outlook, Purpose, Excellence) provides a roadmap for helping youth—and the adults who guide them—build resilience and belonging. She is the author of Lead with H.O.P.E. and host of the Lead with HOPE podcast.

Connect with Dr. Kelly

Website: www.sparkhopeedu.com

Facebook: @LTW24

Instagram: @leadwithhope.23

LinkedIn: Dr. Brandi Kelly

✨ A New Year Note from Fostering Change

As we launch into 2026, we want to thank you — our listeners — for being part of this powerful community. We hope your holiday season was restful and meaningful, and that this new year brings purpose, possibility, and renewed hope.

We’re excited to continue this incredible Season 7 journey with you. Fostering Change returns next Tuesday with another inspiring conversation as we work together to support children, families, and caregivers across the country.

Here’s to a year of compassion, courage, and making a difference — one story, one act, and one child at a time.

Happy New Year, and thank you for being GOOD HUMANS. 🎉

🎥 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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A former educator and foster parent herself, Becky witnessed firsthand how overwhelmed and isolated caregivers can feel. She also saw something powerful: children thrive when the adults caring for them are supported, equipped, and connected. That realization led her to co-found Foster Village Charlotte in 2018 — a community-driven model that has since expanded nationwide through a growing network of Foster Village affiliates.

Today, Becky and her team not only serve families across the Charlotte region, but also coach and mentor emerging affiliates across the U.S., helping communities build their own “village” of wraparound care. From practical resources to emotional connection to dignified, trauma-informed visitation spaces, Foster Village is reimagining what it means to care for children by caring for the caregivers who love them.

🎙️ In This Episode, Rob and Becky Discuss:

• Why Foster Village exists and how it bridges gaps between foster, kinship, and birth families

• The powerful connection between caregiver support and positive child outcomes

• The Connection Cottage — a trauma-informed, dignified visitation center helping families reconnect

• How Foster Village Charlotte coaches and mentors new affiliates nationwide

• The Foster the Movement year-end funding campaign supporting urgent needs into 2026

• What resilience, compassion, and community look like in action — and what gives Becky hope for the future

This uplifting conversation is the perfect way to wrap up 2025 — rooted in gratitude, connection, and the reminder that we build stronger futures when we build them together.

👤 Guest Bio

Becky Santoro is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Foster Village Charlotte, an organization providing holistic support for foster, kinship, and birth families. Since 2018, Becky has grown Foster Village Charlotte into a cornerstone of community care while mentoring new Foster Village affiliates across the country. Her work strengthens families, builds community, and empowers children to thrive.

🔗 Connect with Foster Village Charlotte

🌐 Website: https://www.fostervillagecharlotte.org

💙 Foster the Movement Year-End Campaign:

https://www.fostervillagecharlotte.org/foster-the-movement-2025

📘 Facebook: Foster Village Charlotte

📸 Instagram: @fostervillagecharlotte

💼 LinkedIn: Foster Village Charlotte

🎄 From Our Family to Yours — Happy New Year!

As we celebrate this holiday season, we wish you a New Year filled with hope, compassion, and community.

Thank you for listening, sharing, and helping raise awareness for children and families impacted by foster care.

✨ Fostering Change returns next Tuesday as we continue an incredible Season 7.

More powerful conversations. More inspiring leaders. More reminders of the change we can create together.

Until then — thank you for being GOOD HUMANS.

🎥 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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Rob Scheer is joined by Carolyn Aronson, founder and CEO of It’s A 10 Haircare — one of the most successful Latina-owned beauty brands in the world.

Carolyn’s journey began in foster care, where she learned independence, grit, and perseverance at a young age. From those early experiences, she built a career as a hairstylist and salon owner before creating a single product that would change the beauty industry forever. Today, It’s A 10 Haircare is a billion-dollar global brand, selling more than 10 million bottles annually in over 130 countries, and inspiring a new generation of entrepreneurs.

Beyond her business success, Carolyn is a devoted philanthropist whose generosity supports foster care organizations, youth empowerment, LGBTQ+ advocacy, disaster relief efforts, and workforce development programs. Her message is simple yet powerful: success isn’t measured only by what you build — but by how you give back.

In this inspiring conversation, Rob and Carolyn explore how her time in foster care shaped her vision, the creation and growth of an iconic global brand, and why purpose and philanthropy remain central to her work.

In this episode, Rob and Carolyn discuss:

How Carolyn’s early experiences in foster care fueled her ambition and compassion

The creation and explosive growth of It’s A 10 Haircare

Building a billion-dollar company rooted in authenticity, quality, and empowerment

High-profile collaborations with DJ Khaled, Fat Joe, Travis Kelce, Tyson Beckford, and more

Her commitment to philanthropy — from pandemic aid to wildfire relief to youth empowerment

The upcoming 20th anniversary of It’s A 10 in 2026

Carolyn’s forthcoming book on beauty, confidence, and perseverance

About Carolyn Aronson

Carolyn Aronson is a self-made Latina billionaire, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. After navigating the foster care system, she built It’s A 10 Haircare into a global beauty powerhouse now valued at over $1 billion. Her Rewind It 10 men’s line has earned national attention through celebrity collaborations, and she has donated millions in products and funding to causes nationwide. Carolyn continues to inspire through her message of grit, generosity, and reinvention.

Connect with Carolyn:

🌐 Website: www.itsa10haircare.com

📸 Instagram: @itsa10ceo

🎄 From all of us at Fostering Change, we wish a very Merry Christmas to those who celebrate, and a joyful and peaceful holiday season to all.

🎙️ Don’t miss our final episode of 2025, airing next week — a special year-end conversation you won’t want to miss.

🎧 If you enjoyed this episode, please like, comment, and share. Your support helps us continue lifting up stories that inspire real change.

🎥 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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While millions know Jen from her work in television and film, her most meaningful role has been off-camera: as a foster and adoptive mother deeply committed to supporting children and families in crisis. Jen recently served as emcee for the 2025 Fostering Futures Gala — her second time hosting Comfort Cases’ signature event — and continues to use her platform to elevate foster care awareness nationwide.

In this heartfelt conversation, Rob and Jen dive into themes of faith, courage, storytelling, and the transformational impact fostering has had on Jen’s life. They also explore her book, Wake Up Your Faith, and her upcoming 2026 release, Called to Foster?

In this episode, Rob and Jen discuss:

• Why Jen remains deeply committed to Comfort Cases and the foster care community

• Her book Wake Up Your Faith and the message she hopes readers embrace

• Called to Foster?, a forthcoming guide for prospective foster parents

• What fostering and adopting two children taught her about love, patience, and identity

• How Jen balances motherhood, advocacy, and a thriving entertainment career

• The responsibility and privilege of using her platform to inspire compassion

• Practical encouragement for anyone considering fostering or adoption

⸻

Guest Bio

Jen Lilley is an award-winning actress, producer, author, and passionate child welfare advocate. She has appeared in an Academy Award–winning film, starred in multiple Emmy-winning series, and featured in a wide range of beloved movies. Off-screen, Jen is a devoted mother to two children adopted from foster care and a powerful voice for families navigating the child welfare system. She is the author of Wake Up Your Faith and the upcoming Called to Foster?, arriving May 2026. Jen is also a treasured supporter of Comfort Cases and recently served as emcee for the 2025 Fostering Futures Gala.

⸻

Connect with Jen

Website: www.jenlilley.com

Facebook: facebook.com/JenLilleyOfficial

Instagram: @Jen_Lilley

X (Twitter): @Jen_Lilley

🎧 After you listen, please like, comment, and share the episode to help us continue raising awareness for children in foster care.

📅 New episodes of Fostering Change drop every Tuesday.

Questions or guest suggestions? Email dthalberg@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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What started in 2012, when Luke built a single bed for a family in need, has grown into a global movement. Today, SHP has 400+ chapters across 46 states and 4 countries, and has delivered nearly 300,000 beds to children who would otherwise be sleeping on the floor.

As Luke shares:

“When I found out a child was sleeping on a pile of clothes, it changed me. I realized I could sit there and do nothing, or I could get my feet on the ground and build another bed.”

SHP empowers communities to take action by building beds locally, training new chapters, and helping neighbors come together through service — proving that every community can solve this issue in its own backyard.

In this episode, Rob and Luke discuss:

How one small idea grew into a global movement

The often unseen crisis of child bedlessness

SHP’s “Humans Helping Humans” approach to volunteerism

What it takes to start a chapter in your own community

Why staying focused on a simple mission fuels sustainable growth

Luke’s story is a powerful reminder that transformative change often begins with a single decision to help someone else.

👉 Learn more & get involved:

Website: www.shpbeds.org

Facebook: facebook.com/SHPLuke

Instagram: instagram.com/lukemickelson

X: x.com/ShpLuke

🎧 After listening, please like, comment, and share the episode so more people can join the mission to ensure no child in your town sleeps on the floor.

For guest suggestions or questions, email dthalberg@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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What started with one county has grown into a statewide movement, driven by simple generosity and community partnership. Each year, thousands of youth receive gift cards that offer dignity, autonomy, and a reminder that their community cares.

Dionna also leads the Foster Hope Holiday Fest, happening Sunday, December 7 in Columbus, Ohio — a resource fair designed to support youth preparing to age out of foster care. “We wanted to be a bridge,” Dionna shares, “because so many teens lose support networks as they age out. This event shows them that help is available.”

In this episode, Rob and Dionna discuss:

How a small idea grew into a statewide giving movement

Why gift cards matter for teens in foster care during the holidays

The impact of the Foster Hope Holiday Fest and how the community can participate

How listeners anywhere can start similar outreach efforts in their own counties

Dionna’s message is simple and powerful: “Even if you impact one youth, it is so worth it.”

Learn More & Support:

Foster Hope Holiday Fest – December 7, Columbus, OH

https://onedotchurch.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/3054175

Website: www.dionnacarter.com

Instagram: @FlyAndShyyy

Facebook: Dionna Carter

LinkedIn: Dionna Carter

🎧 After you listen, please like, comment, and share the episode to help spread hope and support to teens who need it most this holiday season.

🎥 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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This week, host Rob Scheer welcomes back Marcy Bursac, nationally recognized adoption advocate, author, podcast host, and adoptive mom. After adopting siblings from foster care, Marcy founded The Forgotten Adoption Option, developed free tools used by over 12,000 prospective parents, and launched a national reading program to help normalize adoption conversations in schools.

Her new book, It’s Okay to Talk About Adoption, invites people to open their hearts and conversations—because when we talk about adoption, we help waiting children find families faster.

In this episode, Rob and Marcy explore:

Why conversations matter

“There are more than 100,000 children in U.S. foster care waiting for adoption—and many adults do not know adoption from foster care is often free. Awareness can change outcomes.”

The Forgotten Adoption Option

How her nonprofit breaks down barriers and helps families navigate adoption with clarity and confidence.

Her new book

“We need to give people permission to talk about adoption—without fear, stigma, or shame.”

Marcy’s message is powerful:

“Every time someone starts a conversation about adoption, a waiting child or sibling group moves one step closer to a permanent family.”

Book Release Update

It’s Okay to Talk About Adoption is now available in audiobook and eBook formats. Paperback pre-orders are open through January 15, 2026.

Purchase links:

Kindle: https://bit.ly/4oDvifp

BookBaby: https://store.bookbaby.com/book/it%E2%80%99s-okay-to-talk-about-adoption

Audiobook available on Apple Books, Google Play, Chirp, eStories, Hoopla, OverDrive, and Everand.

Learn More

Website: www.forgottenadoptionoption.org

Instagram: @marcybursac | @forgottenadoptionoption

After listening, please like, comment, and share our podcast. Your support helps expand the conversation and bring awareness to the thousands of children waiting in foster care.

As we conclude National Adoption Awareness Month, we invite you to keep talking—in your homes, schools, and communities. Every conversation helps move a child closer to belonging.

New episodes release every Tuesday. Questions, comments, or guest suggestions: dthalberg@comfortcases.org

Thank you for listening and for being a good human.

🎥 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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This week, host Rob Scheer sits down with Becky Fawcett, founder of Helpusadopt.org, a national nonprofit adoption grant program helping thousands of families overcome the financial barriers to adoption. What began in Becky’s New York City apartment in 2007 has grown into a multimillion-dollar organization that has transformed countless lives—and this month, Helpusadopt.org celebrates its 18th anniversary.

Becky’s own adoption journey—welcoming her daughters Jane and Brooke—inspired a lifelong commitment to changing a system that makes building a family so difficult for so many. Her mission is simple and powerful: every child deserves a loving, permanent home, and no parent should be prevented from adopting because of cost.

In this inspiring conversation, Rob and Becky discuss:

• The personal story behind Helpusadopt.org—and how one mother’s vision became a national movement for adoption equality.

• The staggering financial realities of adoption and how these costs prevent too many children from finding homes.

• What it means for Helpusadopt.org to reach its 18-year milestone—and how its impact continues to grow across all 50 states.

• The importance of inclusion and diversity in adoption: “Love makes a family—not money, not zip codes, not who you love or where you come from.”

• How you can help ensure that more families can adopt—and that every child waiting for a home has the chance to thrive.

Becky’s story reminds us that changing the world doesn’t always start in a boardroom. Sometimes, it begins at a kitchen table—fueled by love, determination, and the belief that every child deserves a family.

👉 Learn more about Becky Fawcett & Helpusadopt.org:

Website: www.helpusadopt.org

Facebook: facebook.com/helpusadopt.org

Instagram: @helpusadopt

TikTok: @helpusadopt

LinkedIn: Helpusadopt.org

🎧 Enjoying the episode?

Please like, comment, and share the podcast! Your support helps us reach more listeners who want to learn about these important topics.

New episodes of Fostering Change drop every Tuesday.

Questions, comments, or guest suggestions? Email us at: dthalberg@comfortcases.org

As we continue through National Adoption Awareness Month, visit comfortcases.org to learn more about our mission, our partnerships, and how you can make a difference—because when we invest in families, we invest in a brighter future for every child.

Thank you for listening—and thank you for being a GOOD HUMAN.

🎥 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.

Throughout the month, we’re spotlighting extraordinary advocates, educators, and parents who are helping every child feel safe, seen, and supported.

We also invite you to join Comfort Cases’ 2nd Annual “Coats for a Cause” Drive, hosted by CNN’s Laura Coates.

Our goal is to collect 500 brand-new coats for youth in need this winter.

Every coat donated provides warmth, dignity, and comfort to a child or teen who needs it most.

Learn more and get involved at: https://www.comfortcases.org/lauracoates

🎙️ This Episode: Featuring Laura Adams, Founder & President of iCARE4 Adoptive And Foster Families (iCARE4AAFF)

With more than 30 years in education and nonprofit leadership—and as the mother of four daughters, including two adopted internationally—Laura Adams is on a mission to ensure that every school is equipped to meet the emotional and learning needs of adoptive, foster, and kinship children.

Through iCARE’s professional development programs and her innovative Connection Kits™, Laura is helping educators build trauma-informed, healing-centered schools where connection leads to confidence—and where children not only learn but thrive.

💬 In This Conversation:

• The urgent need for trauma-informed professional development in schools

“Adopted, foster, and kinship children make up nearly 15% of our classrooms, yet most educators have never received any formal training on how to support them.”

• Why connection—not compliance—is the foundation for learning

“Children who feel safe and seen are children who can learn.”

• How Connection Kits™ are transforming classrooms nationwide

• The power of collaboration between schools, families, and child welfare professionals

“When we work together, we create communities of belonging—and connected, we thrive.”

Laura’s insights remind us that healing often begins in the classroom.

By equipping teachers with shared language and the right tools, we can build schools that don’t just educate—but nurture.

🌐 Connect with Laura Adams & iCARE4AAFF

Website: https://icare4aaff.org

Facebook: https://facebook.com/iCARE4AAFF

Instagram: https://instagram.com/icare4aaff

LinkedIn: Laura Adams – iCARE4AAFF

🎧 After you listen:

Like, comment, and share this episode! Your support helps us reach more listeners and continue spreading awareness about these vital topics.

📅 New episodes every Tuesday — subscribe so you never miss an inspiring story.

Questions, comments, or guest suggestions?

Email us at dthalberg@comfortcases.org

💙 Thank you for listening — and thank you for being a GOOD HUMAN.

🎥 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.

We also invite you to visit comfortcases.org to explore how Comfort Cases is celebrating this important month through meaningful partnerships and programs—including our 2nd Annual “Coats for Comfort” Coat Drive, ensuring every child in foster care has warmth, dignity, and hope this winter.

Today, our host Rob Scheer welcomes back one of our favorite guests, Peter Mutabazi—author, speaker, and founder of Now I Am Known. Many of you know Peter as the “Foster Dad Flipper,” a man who has opened his home and heart to more than 40 foster children and adopted three. He joins us again to talk about his brand-new book, Love Does Not Conquer All, a raw and beautiful reflection on the realities of foster care, parenting children with trauma, and learning that love—while powerful—is only the beginning.

In this deeply moving episode, Rob and Peter discuss:

How to love children for who they truly are, not who we hope they’ll become.

Why every child needs at least one adult they can call, depend on, and trust.

How to prepare kids for independence by teaching life skills—“Every foster parent should give their kids the tools to survive when they’re on their own: laundry, banking, cooking, confidence.”

The importance of empathy and connection—“Empathy isn’t in our DNA,” Rob shares. “It must be taught.”

Peter’s wish for the system: “I wish I could foster a family before a child is taken—mentor parents the way we mentor kids. Imagine the change if we did for parents what we do in foster care.”

How to handle the heartbreak of goodbyes when a child leaves your home: “Be the uncle. Stay in their life. Don’t disappear.”

This conversation reminds us that parenting, in all its forms, is an act of courage, consistency, and unconditional care. And don’t miss the end—there’s a heart-warming surprise you’ll want to experience for yourself.

👉 Learn more about Peter Mutabazi and his mission:

Website: petermutabazi.com

Book: Love Does Not Conquer All (available wherever books are sold)

Organization: Now I Am Known

Facebook: Peter Mutabaz

Instagram: @fosterdadflipper

🎧 After you listen to this episode, please remember to “like” and comment and also share our podcast. We look to you—our loyal listeners—to help us grow our audience so more people can listen and learn about these vital topics.

And remember: we’re back every Tuesday with a new episode of Fostering Change. If you have questions, comments, or guest suggestions, please email us at dthalberg@comfortcases.org.

As we celebrate National Adoption Awareness Month, we invite you to honor the families who open their hearts and homes—and to remember the thousands of children still waiting for theirs. Together, we can make sure every child knows they are seen, valued, and loved.

Thank you for listening—and thank you for being a GOOD HUMAN.

🎥 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.

This week on Fostering Change, host Rob Scheer welcomes back two dear friends — Julie and David Bulitt — for one of the most personal and moving conversations of the season. Rob and his husband Reece have known the Bulitts for many years, and their honesty, humor, and heart have made them audience favorites.

Julie is a licensed clinical social worker with more than 30 years of experience in family therapy, and David is a leading family-law attorney in the D.C. metro area who has spent decades helping parents and children navigate painful transitions. Together, they’ve raised four daughters, built nearly 40 years of marriage, co-authored two acclaimed books (The Five Core Conversations for Couples and Secrets of Strong Couples), and co-host the podcast Conversations for Couples.

In this emotional and thought-provoking episode, Rob, Julie, and David explore what it means to lose a child while they’re still alive — to addiction, estrangement, or emotional distance — and how families can begin to heal.

Topics discussed include:

* Ambiguous loss: Grieving a child who is still living and learning to coexist with that pain.

* Addiction and family systems: How substance use can fracture relationships, redefine love, and challenge every parent’s hope.

* Parenting through heartbreak: “We can love our children fiercely and still have to let go,” Julie shares. “Healing doesn’t mean forgetting — it means finding peace with what is.”

* Balancing love and self-protection: “You reach a point where love also means protecting yourself and your family from chaos,” David reflects.

* Hope beyond the silence: Grace, therapy, and community as pathways to reconnection.

This episode is a testament to honesty, empathy, and the complicated beauty of parenthood. If you or someone you love is struggling with a similar loss, may this conversation offer comfort and understanding.

👉 Learn more about Julie & David Bulitt:Website: www.thebulitts.comPodcast: Conversations for CouplesFacebook: @TheBulittsInstagram: @thebulittsTikTok: @thebulitts

🎧 After you listen, please like, comment, and share this episode so more families can discover stories of resilience, hope, and healing.

We’re back every Tuesday with a new episode of Fostering Change.

Have a guest suggestion or feedback? Email us at dthalberg@comfortcases.org.

Next week, we kick off our National Adoption Awareness Month series — celebrating families built through love and the thousands of children still waiting for theirs.

Thank you for listening — and for being a GOOD HUMAN. 💙

🎥 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.

Welcome to this week’s episode of Fostering Change, where host Rob Scheer speaks with Susan Chesnutt — a family law attorney, child welfare advocate, and former foster youth based in Vero Beach, Florida.

Susan’s journey is one of resilience and purpose. After growing up in the foster care system, she became a child abuse investigator for Florida’s Department of Children and Families (DCF), then earned her law degree and founded The Chesnutt Law Firm, focusing exclusively on child welfare and family law. She also hosts the podcast From Foster Care to Family Law: A Child Welfare Focus, where she and her guests unpack the toughest issues facing families today.

In this powerful conversation, Rob and Susan explore:

✅ Lived experience as a foundation for advocacy.

“I know what it’s like to feel powerless in a system that’s supposed to protect you. That’s why I fight so hard to make sure every child—and every parent—has a voice.”

✅ What really happens inside a DCF investigation.

Susan breaks down the process from the inside, reminding families that “you have rights, even when it feels like you don’t.”

✅ Why empathy matters in family law.

Her trauma-informed approach prioritizes safety, healing, and understanding over blame.

✅ A call for systemic change.

“We can’t fix the child welfare system until we start valuing families instead of labeling them. Real reform begins with compassion.”

Susan’s unique perspective—combining lived experience, government service, and legal advocacy—shows how justice and empathy must go hand in hand.

👉 Learn more about Susan Chesnutt:

🌐 thechesnuttlawfirm.com

🎧 After you listen: Please like, comment, and share this episode! Your support helps us reach more people and amplify these vital conversations.

🗓 New episodes drop every Tuesday.

Questions, comments, or guest suggestions? Please email us at dthalberg@comfortcases.org.

💙 Thank you for listening—and for being a GOOD HUMAN.

🎥 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.

Welcome to this week’s episode of Fostering Change. Our host, Rob Scheer, sits down with an extraordinary guest — Baron Li, co-owner of Four Tiers Contracting and founder of the CKMD Army.

Baron’s journey is one of unimaginable pain, resilience, and redemption. A former foster youth who endured 17 placements and severe childhood abuse — including being burned with a clothing iron and cigarettes at just three years old — Baron later survived an attempted murder-for-hire plot that left him shot nine times. Yet, through it all, he transformed trauma into purpose.

Today, Baron is building homes and hope through Four Tiers Contracting, employing and mentoring aged-out foster youth, and expanding CKMD Army — a nationwide movement uniting the foster care community with a 50-state resource network.

In this powerful and emotional conversation, Rob and Baron discuss:

How a childhood marked by violence and instability shaped Baron’s mission to help others rebuild their lives

His incredible survival story: “I was shot nine times, left for dead — but I chose not to be a victim. I chose to live, to forgive, and to give back.”

How Four Tiers Contracting provides aged-out foster youth with steady employment, mentorship, and a pathway to independence

The vision behind CKMD Army (Can’t Keep Me Down) — a 50-state foster care resource network empowering youth, families, and advocates nationwide

Why Baron believes resilience is forged through service — and that “purpose is the only thing stronger than pain.”

Baron Li’s story is a testament to the human spirit — proof that even after the darkest moments, there is light. Trauma can shape us, but it never has to define who we become.

👉 Learn more about Baron Li and his work:

All Links: linktr.ee/baronbli

LinkedIn: CKMD Army

🎧 After you listen, please “like,” comment, and share the episode. Your support helps us reach more listeners and shine a light on vital conversations like this.

Fostering Change releases new episodes every Tuesday.

Questions, comments, or guest suggestions? Please email us at dthalberg@comfortcases.org.

Thank you for listening — and thank you for being a GOOD HUMAN.

🎥 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.

CASA—Court Appointed Special Advocates—ensures that children in the child welfare system have a voice in the courtroom and access to the support they need to thrive.

With nearly two decades of leadership at CASA SHaW, Tracey shares:

💬 How CASA changes lives: “Kids with a CASA do better in school, get services faster, and have someone in their corner when everyone else changes.”

⚖️ The danger of funding cuts that could silence advocacy for vulnerable children.

🤝 The critical role of volunteers and how you can step up to be that one stable, consistent advocate.

💙 Tracey’s personal journey from foster parent to nonprofit leader—and what it’s taught her about resilience and compassion.

Her message is clear: Advocacy isn’t optional—it’s essential. And CASA’s fight today is every child’s fight.

👉 Learn more about CASA SHaW and how to get involved:

Website: www.casashaw.org

Facebook: facebook.com/CASASHaW

Instagram: instagram.com/casa_shaw

Email: info@casashaw.org

🎧 Like, comment, and share this episode to help us spread awareness and inspire change.

📅 New episodes of Fostering Change drop every Tuesday!

For questions or guest suggestions, email: dthalberg@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.

In this episode, host Rob Scheer sits down with the incredible Charell Star—author, speaker, and foster care advocate. Many first discovered Charell through her moving feature in Humans of New York. Now she returns to share wisdom from her brilliant new book, Trash Bag Tales and Other Stories from an Accidentally Happy Life.

Her story is raw, funny, and deeply empowering—proving that resilience, joy, and self-discovery can grow from even the hardest beginnings.

👉 In this conversation, Rob and Charell explore:

How humor and honesty can reshape the way the world sees foster care stories

The journey behind Trash Bag Tales and turning pain into empowerment

Why the award-winning documentary Feeling Wanted is used in child welfare training worldwide

What it means to move beyond survival and claim the life you deserve

✨ Learn more about Charell Star:

📖 Book: Trash Bag Tales and Other Stories from an Accidentally Happy Life → https://www.amazon.com/Trash-Bag-Tales-Other-Accidentally/dp/1646639741

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charellstar

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charellstar

📖 Humans of New York Feature: https://www.humansofnewyork.com/post/618907346047008768

🎧 If you’re new to Fostering Change or a long-time listener, don’t miss this inspiring episode!

Please like, comment, and share to help spread these stories of hope and dignity.

New episodes release every Tuesday—stay tuned and thank you for being a GOOD HUMAN. 💙

🎥 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.

Today’s guest is Dr. Danisha Keating—author, speaker, and former foster youth whose journey from heartbreak to healing is nothing short of extraordinary. At just 16, CPS workers separated her from her eight siblings and handed her a trash bag with five minutes to pack her life. By 24, she became the guardian of her five younger siblings, choosing resilience and purpose over despair.

Dr. Keating is the bestselling author of Taking My Voice Back: Healing What Broke Me and From Foster to PhD. In this powerful conversation, she and Rob dive into:

✨ How to heal from trauma, shame, and blame

✨ The importance of protecting your story while still speaking your truth

✨ The systemic barriers youth in foster care face—including files that hold pieces of their own lives

✨ Why education became her lifeline and how she stepped boldly into her future

Her story is proof that no matter what you’ve lived through, you have the power to write the next chapter. As Dr. Keating reminds us: “When you’re in foster care, the courts and the files decide your story — not you. That’s why I had to learn how to take my voice back.”

👉 Learn more about Dr. Danisha Keating:

🌐 Website: danishakeating.com

📱 Instagram: @drdanishakeating

📘 Facebook: Danisha Keating

▶️ YouTube: The Dr. Danisha Keating Show

🎵 TikTok: @drdanishakeating

🎧 Don’t forget to like, comment, and share this episode to help us reach more listeners.

We’re back every Tuesday with new conversations on Fostering Change. For guest suggestions or feedback, please email us at dthalberg@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.

In this inspiring episode of Fostering Change, host Rob Scheer is joined by Dana Marlowe, founder of I Support the Girls and Accessibility Partners. Dana’s work provides dignity to marginalized women and youth through access to bras, new underwear, and menstrual hygiene products.

Together, Dana and Rob discuss:

✨ How to start a nonprofit and build strong partnerships with other grassroots organizations

✨ The importance of supporting youth and building confidence through dignity

✨ The powerful partnership between Comfort Cases and I Support the Girls

✨ ISTG’s upcoming 10-year anniversary in July 🎉

As a human rights advocate, Dana has dedicated her life to amplifying the voices of invisible populations while also making technology more inclusive for people with disabilities.

When she isn’t sorting hygiene products or striving for equity, you’ll find her cheering at her sons’ sports games, walking her Silver Lab, or even at early morning dance raves.

💙 Follow I Support the Girls:

Website: http://www.isupportthegirls.org

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isupportthegirls/?hl=en

Twitter/X: https://x.com/i_support_girls?lang=en

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@isupportthegirls

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@isupportthegirls?lang=en

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/29214127/admin/dashboard/

🎥 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.

Patti’s story is one of resilience and advocacy. After learning about her diagnosis, she shifted her work to focus on the 15 million U.S. adults living with undiagnosed FASD, bringing awareness, education, and hope to those who may not even realize how deeply FASD affects their lives.

In this conversation, you’ll hear:

✨ Patti’s personal journey of discovery and healing

✨ The hidden challenges of adults living with undiagnosed FASD

✨ How Rob’s own connection to FASD fuels Comfort Cases’ mission

✨ The importance of spreading awareness on International FASD Awareness Day

Patti is also the host of the podcast Living with FASD and author of Sip by Sip: Candid Conversation with Adults Living with FASD. You can find her book here: books.by/yourfasdcoach.

🔗 Connect with Patti Kasper:

Facebook: facebook.com/Patricia.Kasper.Your.FASD.Coach

Instagram: instagram.com/patriciakasperthefasdcoach

Threads: threads.com/patriciakasperthefasdcoach

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/patricia-kasper

Email: contact@patriciakasper.com

📢 After listening, please leave us a review—it helps us reach more people and continue these important conversations. Have guest suggestions or questions? Email our producer: dthalberg@comfortcases.org.

💙 Thank you for supporting Fostering Change. Together, we can bring dignity and hope to children and families everywhere.

🎥 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.

Believe it or not, this is our 243rd episode — and it’s all thanks to YOU and your support. Starting this season, new episodes will drop every Tuesday, just like you requested!

👉 We’d love your help: after watching/listening, please leave a review. It takes just a minute and makes a huge difference with the “mysterious algorithm,” helping us share our incredible guests with even more people.

🌟 Today’s Guest: Bob Dalton

We’re kicking off Season 7 with our friend and Comfort Cases supporter, Bob Dalton — founder of Sackcloth & Ashes, the company behind stunning Italian-made blankets. For every blanket sold, one is donated to a local shelter. Bob and his team have already given countless blankets to Comfort Cases, and we couldn’t be more grateful.

In this episode, Rob and Bob dive into:

Why community matters now more than ever

How Sackcloth & Ashes is transforming giving with a one-for-one model

Bob’s exciting new app LOCL, designed to reconnect us with our neighbors, groups, and events nearby

💡 More About Bob:

Bob Dalton is an entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and social designer on a mission to reclaim human connection in the digital age. Named a Forbes Changemaker and CNN Champion of Change, he’s donated hundreds of thousands of blankets through Sackcloth & Ashes and now, through LOCL, is building digital tools to help people connect locally.

📌 Learn More:

🌐 sackclothandashes.com

🌐 locl.com

🎥 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.

This week, Rob Scheer is joined by:

👩‍💼 Jennifer Perry – Co-Founder of FosterMore & Executive Director of Children’s Action Network

📚 Lara Love Hardin – FosterMorey Award Winner & New York Times bestselling author of The Many Lives of Mama Love (an Oprah Book Club pick!)

Lara opens up about her journey through addiction, incarceration, and the painful separation from her children—and how she rebuilt her life through resilience, recovery, and storytelling. Together, Rob, Jennifer, and Lara shine a light on the foster care system, the power of second chances, and the urgent need to support youth in care.

🎧 Listen & Subscribe:

YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | wherever you get your podcasts!

💬 Share your thoughts in the comments—we’d love to hear from you!

📅 Don’t miss it: In honor of National Foster Care Awareness Month, new episodes will be released every Tuesday in May.

🌐 Learn more & support our mission: www.comfortcases.org

📌 More Information:

Children’s Action Network

FosterMore

📱 Follow & Connect:

Children’s Action Network: Instagram @childrensactionnetwork | X @childrensaction | Facebook Children’s Action Network

FosterMore: Instagram @foster_more | X @fostermore | Facebook FosterMore

Lara Love Hardin: Instagram @laralovehardin | Facebook Lara Love Hardin

📖 Get Lara’s book, The Many Lives of Mama Love, at your favorite bookstore.

🎥 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.

In this Best of Fostering Change episode, Rob Scheer sits down with Jamie Truman of Truman Charities, an organization dedicated to helping both local and national charities — including Comfort Cases — by hosting multiple fundraising events each year. The best part? 100% of the funds raised go directly to the charities they support.

Over the past 15 years, Jamie and her husband Jerry have helped raise more than $2 million for various causes. Jamie is also the author of Vanishing Fathers: The Ripple Effect on Tomorrow's Generation, a #1 Amazon Best New Release, with all proceeds benefiting charities supporting at-risk youth.

In this inspiring conversation, we discuss:

The power of giving back to your community

How Truman Charities creates a meaningful impact

The vital role fathers play in shaping future generations

Jamie also hosts The Truman Charities Podcast, available wherever you listen to podcasts.

Learn more about Jamie & Truman Charities:

📚 Order her book: Vanishing Fathers on Amazon

🌐 Website: trumancharities.com

📸 Instagram: @jamie_trumancharities

📍 Facebook: trumancharities

💼 LinkedIn: jamietruman

✉️ Email: info@trumancharities.com

If you enjoyed this episode, please like, share, and subscribe! Have a guest suggestion or feedback? Email us at info@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.

This week, we revisit a powerful conversation originally aired in March, featuring two changemakers in the world of child welfare and LGBTQ+ advocacy: Kate Trambitskaya, CEO of Spence-Chapin Services to Families and Children, and Brian Rosenberg, founder of GWK Academy Family Building.

Join host Rob Scheer for an honest and urgent discussion about how federal cutbacks are impacting foster youth, LGBTQ+ families, and other vulnerable communities—and how you can help make a difference.

🔍 Why This Episode Matters:

💡 Kate Trambitskaya is a returning guest who continues to lead efforts that support expectant mothers, children in institutional care overseas, and adoptees here in the U.S.

🌈 Brian Rosenberg introduces the future of GWK Academy—expanding from supporting gay and queer men to serving all LGBTQ+ individuals in their family-building journeys starting March 2025.

🛠️ How You Can Help:

🔥 Don’t just listen—take action.

💬 Leave a comment or question below.

❤️ Like, share, and subscribe to spread the message.

📩 Contact us at: fosteringchange@comfortcases.org

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

📲 Connect with Our Guests:

Spence-Chapin Services to Families and Children

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spencechapinsvc/

Twitter/X: https://x.com/spencechapinsvc

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/71342/

GWK Academy / Gays With Kids

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gays_with_kids

Instagram (GWK Academy): https://www.instagram.com/gwkacademy

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GWK

LinkedIn (Brian Rosenberg): https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianrrosenberg/

🎧 Subscribe for more powerful conversations that lead to real, lasting chang

🎥 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.

You may have seen Doogie on The Today Show or follow him on social media. But beyond the viral Croc fame, Doogie's story is deeply personal. Like Rob — and many youth in foster care — Doogie never learned how to tie his shoes as a child. That’s where Crocs became more than footwear — they became a symbol of independence and identity.

This episode is not just fun (we promise it is!), but it also delves into the real-life challenges faced by youth in foster care and how individuals like Rob and Doogie are working to make a difference.

👉 Know someone who should be a guest on Season 7 of Fostering Change?

Email us at: info@comfortcases.org

🔗 Follow Doogie “The Croc King” on Social Media:

📘 Facebook: facebook.com/doogielicious

📸 Instagram: instagram.com/doogielish

🎵 TikTok: tiktok.com/@hardcroclife4me

💙 Thank you for listening and supporting Fostering Change!

🎥 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.

In this featured episode, Rob Scheer is joined by guest co-host Rita Soronen, CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, for an incredible conversation with Andrew Bridge — former foster youth, attorney, and author of The Child Catcher: A Fight for Justice & Truth.

Andrew shares his story of surviving 11 years in Los Angeles County foster care, his rise to become a Harvard Law graduate and Fulbright Scholar, and his fight to protect children in broken systems. His new book, The Child Catcher, tells the true story of a legal battle to rescue youth trapped in a secretive and abusive institution in rural Alabama.

💥 Proceeds from The Child Catcher support CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) chapters nationwide. To support, visit AndrewBridgeAuthor.com and select your preferred chapter — 50% of pre-sale royalties will be donated directly.

📩 Have questions, comments, or guest suggestions? Email us at info@comfortcases.org

—

📚 About Andrew Bridge

Spent 11 years in foster care

Graduated from Wesleyan University and Harvard Law School

Led efforts to shut down abusive institutions

Former CEO of The Alliance for Children’s Rights

Co-founder of National Adoption Day and New Village Girls Academy

NYT bestselling author of Hope’s Boy

Serves on the Arizona Foster Care Review Board

📲 Follow Andrew:

Facebook: facebook.com/andrew.bridge.9041

Instagram: @andrewbridgejd

Twitter/X: @AndrewBridgeJD

Threads: @AndrewBridgeJD

🔗 Learn More About The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption:

Website: https://www.davethomasfoundation.org/

Instagram: @dtfa

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

🎥 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.

What an incredible season it's been — filled with inspiring, motivating, and heartfelt stories. THANK YOU for being part of our journey, for tuning in each week, and for all your comments and reviews. We do this for YOU. 💙

📅 Coming Soon:

Starting June 17, join us for our "Best of" Summer Series — a special collection of our favorite episodes. Whether you’re re-listening or discovering them for the first time, we hope these powerful stories inspire you all over again.

🔥 Mark your calendar:

Season 7 premieres on September 2, and we’re returning to weekly episodes every Tuesday! More guests, more voices, and even more impact. Have a guest suggestion? Email us at: info@comfortcases.org

🎙️ Today’s Season Finale Guest: Dr. Kisha Davis

There’s no better way to wrap this season than with the amazing Dr. Kisha Davis — family physician, public health leader, and a dear friend of Rob Scheer and the Comfort Cases family.

Kisha shares the powerful legacy of her grandmother in her new biography:

📖 “The Making of a Pearl” – Buy the book on Amazon

In this episode, you'll hear heartfelt stories of resilience, love, and history passed down over weekday breakfasts with her grandmother, Ida Pearl Green, who lived to be 106. Dr. Davis also discusses her work in the Quince Orchard community, her role as Montgomery County’s Chief Health Officer, and her involvement in the documentary Finding Fellowship — co-produced with her brother and previous Fostering Change guest, Jason Green.

✨ Don’t miss this powerful conversation about family, legacy, and leadership.

🔗 Connect with Dr. Kisha Davis:

📘 Facebook: facebook.com/kisha.davis2

📸 Instagram: @drkishadavis

🐦 Twitter/X: @kishadavismd

📱 Threads: @drkishadavis

💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/daviskisha

#ComfortCases #FosteringChange #FosterCareAwareness

🎥 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.

In today’s episode, we welcome back one of Rob’s favorite guests: Charell Star, who first joined us in Season 5. Charell gained national attention when she was featured in Humans of New York (link below), and she returns to discuss her powerful new book, Trash Bag Tales and Other Stories from an Accidentally Happy Life. The book offers readers a raw, heartfelt, and often humorous look at what it means to claim the joyful life you deserve.

Charell is also the featured subject in the award-winning documentary Feeling Wanted, which chronicles her time in foster care and is now used as a training resource by child welfare organizations around the world.

We absolutely loved this episode—and we’ve already invited Charell back for Season 7!

📚 Want to read Charell’s book?

Find it at your favorite bookstore or purchase it on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Trash-Bag-Tales-Stories-Accidentally/dp/B0F24H8DXS

📲 Connect with Charell:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charellstar/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charellstar/

Read her “Humans of New York” story:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CUK7yfSrFT3/?hl=en

🎧 One more episode of Season 6 drops next week! After that, we’ll take a short break and share some “Best Of” episodes before returning with Season 7 this fall.

💌 Got thoughts or guest suggestions? Email us at: info@comfortcases.org

Thank you for being a GOOD HUMAN. 💙

🎥 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.

If you’d like a simple way to support Comfort Cases, here’s an idea: You can participate in the Hundred X program. Click on the following link, and you’ll be guided to complete surveys about brands and companies you are familiar with. Comfort Cases will receive $1.60 for every survey you fill out (and it only takes 2 minutes max for each!) https://programs.hundredx.com/givewithoutspending

Now, on to today’s episode: For 8 years, we have worked with the team at Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield in Indiana, and have expanded that partnership throughout the country, literally giving away THOUSANDS of our Comfort Cases backpacks to social service agencies and youth experiencing foster care.

Today, we speak with Aimee Christian, a Fostering Connections Case Manager with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield. Aimee and Rob Scheer have a lively discussion that focuses on the positive changes that can be made to improve the foster care system.

Some of the points they cover include changing our vocabulary so we’re not labeling these youth, changing the focus from just on the child to the entire family, and building and improving relationships with the birth family and the foster family.

Aimee and Rob will certainly motivate you to—at minimum—give new thoughts to the foster care system and—at best—possibly motivate you to consider becoming a foster parent yourself!

We know you’ll enjoy this interview. Thank you again to Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield for being such a valuable and supportive partner to Comfort Cases all these years! ​​The partnership between Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Comfort Cases has grown since 2018. Since the expansion, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s affiliated health plans have hosted dozens of packing parties across 16 states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico, providing thousands of Comfort Cases and XL duffel bags to youth in foster care nationwide.

For more information about the foster care system or how you can support Comfort Cases, please visit our website: www.comfortcases.org. If you have any questions, comments, or guest suggestions, please reach out to us at info@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.

Amy shares how her own foster care journey inspired a mission: to design products that provide real comfort, like Percy, a weighted plush bear that mimics the feeling of a hug. Their conversation explores:

✅ The power of pairing entrepreneurship with advocacy

✅ How sensory tools support those facing trauma, ADHD, anxiety, and more

✅ The lack of comforting resources for children entering care

✅ What empathetic corporate responsibility really looks like

This powerful episode is part of our ongoing spotlight series for National Foster Care Awareness Month. Don’t miss this heartfelt discussion about healing, innovation, and how we can all do better for youth in care.

🔗 Learn more about For the Cubs: www.forthecubs.com

📅 New episodes every Tuesday in May

💙 Learn more about Comfort Cases: www.comfortcases.org

📧 Contact: info@comfortcases.org

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Google Podcasts—wherever you tune in.

🎥 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.

This week on Fostering Change, host Rob Scheer is joined by special guest co-host Jennifer Perry, Executive Director of the Children’s Action Network and Co-Founder of FosterMore. Jennifer’s tireless advocacy has brought national attention to the urgent needs of the 108,000+ children in U.S. foster care currently waiting for adoptive families.

Together, they sit down with Lara Love Hardin, author of The Many Lives of Mama Love—a 2024 Oprah Book Club selection and New York Times bestseller. In this profoundly moving conversation, Lara shares her remarkable journey through opioid addiction, incarceration, the devastating loss of her children, and how she fought her way back to rebuild her life.

This episode is a raw and inspiring look at:

The transformative power of storytelling

The realities of addiction, incarceration, and recovery

The broken pieces of the foster care system—and how we can fix them

The power of second chances and redemption

🎧 Listen, share, and comment on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts—or wherever you get your podcasts!

📅 New episodes air every Tuesday throughout May in honor of National Foster Care Awareness Month. Remember to subscribe so you don’t miss a single story.

🌐 Learn More & Support:

Comfort Cases – https://www.comfortcases.org

📧 Contact: info@comfortcases.org

🔗 Featured Organizations:

Children’s Action Network

Website: https://www.childrensactionnetwork.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/childrensactionnetwork

Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/childrensaction

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

FosterMore

Website: https://fostermore.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foster_more

Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/fostermore

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

📚 About Lara Love Hardin:

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laralovehardin

📖 Buy The Many Lives of Mama Love: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-many-lives-of-mama-love-a-memoir-of-lying-stealing-writing-and-healing-lara-love-hardin/19897569 or wherever you buy books

🎥 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.

On this episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer welcomes Randi Thompson, co-founder of Kidsave—a remarkable nonprofit helping youth ages 9–17 in foster care and orphanages find meaningful, lasting connections and permanent homes. Randi is truly one of the “Good Humans” we’re honored to feature!

Kidsave offers several incredible programs, including their flagship Weekend Miracles initiative, which connects older youth with families who are considering fostering or adoption. As Kidsave says:

“When a child feels like they have someone in their corner, the world opens up to them, and they thrive.”

🎉 Upcoming Kidsave Miracle Galas:

📍 Washington, DC – May 29

📍 Los Angeles – June 7

📍 Houston – June 21

💙 May is National Foster Care Awareness Month!

Comfort Cases is celebrating with events, fundraisers, and new weekly episodes every Tuesday in May. The Season 6 finale airs June 3!

💡 Have guest ideas for Season 7 (coming this Fall)? Reach out to our producer:

📧 dthalberg@comfortcases.org | info@comfortcases.org

🔗 Learn more about Kidsave and connect with them here:

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KidsaveInternational

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kidsave/

🧵 Threads: https://www.threads.net/@kidsave

🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kidsave

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kidsave/

🌐 Website: https://www.kidsave.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.

Tristian shares the powerful story behind his memoir, Against All Odds, which chronicles his journey through the challenges of foster care and his path to becoming a voice for change.

Now a retired U.S. Army Officer, Tristian continues to serve as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), a Foster Care Review Board Member, and a mentor to youth aging out of the system. His commitment to advocacy, mentorship, and reform is genuinely inspiring.

📘 Get Tristian’s book, Against All Odds, available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.

🔗 Connect with Tristian: Instagram: @undeterred_anomaly

LinkedIn: Tristian Smith

📩 Have questions or guest suggestions? Please email us at info@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.

Shawn is the founder of Giving Sole, a non-profit organization that gives new shoes to youth in foster care. Technically, Shawn’s son came up with the idea for Giving Sole at the age of 10!

Since founding Giving Sole in 2018, they have given away more than 3,000 new, brand-name shoes and sneakers to youth in foster care throughout Arizona, and are looking to share this generosity throughout the US.

We can go on longer here, but we’d rather you listen to Shawn’s story directly from him in this beautiful interview with our host, Rob Scheer.

To find out more information about Giving Sole, including how to donate, please visit: www.givingsole.org.

You can also follow them on various social media channels:

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/givingsole/

Instagram

@giving_sole

Twitter/X

@givingsole

Threads

https://www.threads.net/@giving_sole

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/company/giving-sole

#fostercare #givingsole #adoption

🎥 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.

Why This Episode Matters:

Kate, who last joined us in May 2022, is a passionate advocate for children, women, and families. As CEO of Spence-Chapin Services to Families and Childre,, she has expanded programs supporting expectant women facing adversity, children in institutional care overseas, and adoptees and their families here in the U.S.

Brian is the founder and executive director of GWK Academy Family Building, a non-profit spin-off of the beloved Gays With Kids community. Originally focused on supporting gay and queer men in their journey to parenthood, Brian is excited to announce that starting in March 2025, GWK Academy will support ALL family-building paths for ALL LGBTQ+ individuals!

🔥 Don’t just listen—take action! 🔥

🎧 Tune in now and get informed.

💬 Join the conversation—leave a comment or question!

❤️ Like, share, and help us spread the word! The more people who hear Fostering Change, the faster we can create real, lasting impact.

📩 Have thoughts or questions? Reach out at fosteringchange@comfortcases.org or visit www.comfortcases.org—we’d love to hear from you!

#FosteringChange #Podcast #LGBTQFamilies #FosterCare #Adoption #MakeAChange

To find more about each organization:

Spence-Chapin

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/spencechapin

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/spencechapinsvc/

Twitter/X

https://x.com/spencechapinsvc

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/company/71342/

GWK Academy/Gays With Kids

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/GaysWithKids

Instagram

@gays_with_kids; @gwkacademy

Twitter/X

https://www.youtube.com/@GWK

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianrrosenberg/

🎥 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.

On today’s episode of Fostering Change we welcome Jeremy Su, co-founder of “Cards for Cubs”, an organization that demonstrates how a simple handmade card can profoundly impact a child’s life by offering hope and comfort during difficult times.

Since being founded in 2020, Cards for Cubs have collected and distributed more than 200,000 cards and over 400 foster care related organizations.

In 2024, Cards for Cubs collected 70,000 cards. The 2025 Card Drive ends March 31. To send in cards, please visit https://cardsforcubs.org/.

We’re so happy to call Jeremy a friend, and know that you’ll love hearing why he’s doing this and what’s to come!

TO CONTACT & DONATE, PLEASE VISIT:

Website

https://cardsforcubs.org/

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/thecardsforcubs

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/CardsForCubs/

🎥 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.

Welcome back for the second part of our special 2-episode series of Fostering Change, featuring the story of the horrific murder of 5-year-old Harmony Montgomery.

On our last episode, we spoke with Judge Carol Erskine, author of the book A Cruel Injustice, which documents how our judicial system failed young Harmony, who was taken out of foster care and placed with her birth father - who rather than nurturing her, murdered her.

Today, we speak with Blair & Johnathan Bobbit-Miller, adoptive fathers of two sons before becoming the father of a 3rd son, Jamison, Harmony’s brother.

These amazing and sensitive humans discuss with Rob how the system continues to fail those who need it most—the children. They explain what they are doing, along with help from other Good Humans like Judge Erskine and Rob Scheer, to fix what many consider to be unfixable.

This powerful episode of Fostering Change will make you want to activate yours.

At the sentencing of Adam Montgomery (Harmony’s father), Jamison read a victim-impact-statement. Part of the statement:

"Tell everyone my name is Jamison. I'm 7 years old. My sister is Harmony. I love Harmony, I miss her," Bobbitt-Miller read. "I hope I get to see her again."

He spoke of a broken Elmo toy Harmony had given him that was hers that he has kept ever since. He said he has a Minnie Mouse pillow and new Elmo he planned to give to her.

"I keep it in my closet for her," Bobbitt-Miller read. "I am really sad she is an angel. I miss her. She was my best friend. I hope she can see me playing basketball and being silly with my brothers and I wish I could bring Harmony to my school to meet my friends and teacher."

To learn more about the Bobbit-Miller Family:

Twitter: @BlairMillerTV @BobbitMiller

Instagram: @johnathanb @blairmillertv

“A Cruel Injustice” can be found anywhere you purchase books, including Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Cruel-Injustic...

If you have any comments or questions regarding this episode or the foster care system, please send them to info@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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On today’s special episode of Fostering Change we speak with Judge Carol Erskine. Judge Erskine is the author of the book, A Cruel Injustice. In thebook, and in today’s interview with Rob Scheer, Judge Erskine discusses the tragic death of 5-year-old Harmony, at the hands of her father.

Harmony’s murder was the result of our failed foster care system. Where the system should have provided legal advocacy on behalf of Harmony, protecting her, instead it let her, her brother and all of us, down.

Judge Erskine further discusses her career on the bench, and how she remains an advocate for youth in foster care.

Please note that this is PART ONE of a two-episode series. On our next episode of Fostering Change, Blair Miller and Johnathan Bobbit-Miller, the adoptive fathers of Harmony’s brother, speak to Rob about their experiences with the system - their frustrations, and all they are doing to raise Jamison and work with him as he remembers his sister and fights for justice in her name.

To purchase a copy of A Cruel Injustice, please visit a local bookstore, Amazon, or carolerskine.com.

More About Carol:

Carol Erskine has been a lifelong child advocate and a Massachusetts Juvenile Court judge for twenty-one years. Prior to being appointed to the bench, Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly named her one of the state's top ten lawyers.

Judge Erskine has written and published a children’s book and several op-ed columns on children’s issues. She and her husband are the proud parents of a blended family with their now grown adopted and stepchildren.

Website

carolerskine.com

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCarolErskine/

Twitter/X

https://x.com/TheCarolErskine

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/carol-erskine-1065a1207/

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Hunter started this initiative in 2016 at the age of 15 as part of his Eagle Scout project (yes, he’s a Real Eagle Scout!). He initially provided 100 duffel bags filled with essential supplies to a local nonprofit serving foster youth in San Antonio, Texas. The project quickly became a sustainable mission to support foster children across the United States.

Hunter's work has led to significant milestones, including distributing over 220,000 bags to foster youth across 47 states, legislative advocacy for proper luggage bills, and initiatives that celebrate foster youth's achievements. Through Day 1 Bags, Hunter has inspired meaningful change and continues to empower children in foster care by promoting dignity, belonging, and recognition.

To learn more about Hunter and Day1Bags - and how you can support them, please visit the following links:

Website:

https://day1bags.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/day1bags

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/day1bags/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/day-1-bags/

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Thank you to all of you who have written in with comments and guests suggestions about what you’ve listened to this year. We truly appreciate YOU ALL!

Our charity, Comfort Cases has touched so many people around the country this year, with Rob Scheer once again sharing our message of providing hope and dignity for youth in foster care. It’s not too late to make one last donation if this is possible for you. If this is something you would like to do, to help out our most important people, youth entering foster care, please click on this link or here: https://comfortcases.org/ to become a #Bagbuster to help us stop the evil practice of giving trash bags to our youth.

Thank you!

As for today’s Christmas Eve episode, we end the year with a Very Special Guest: Chef Art Smith. You may initially recognize him as Oprah’s personal Chef, a role he held for 10 years. He is also the founder of Common Threads, a non-profit organization teaching low-income children to cook wholesome and affordable meals since 2003. He believes that through hands-on cooking and introducing children to fresh foods we can help prevent childhood obesity, reverse the trend of poor eating habits, and learn about diversity and tolerance through the celebration of our cultural differences and our commonalities.

Chef Art has appeared on numerous national television appearances including ABC’s Lady Gaga Thanksgiving Special, Top Chef, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Iron Chef America, The Today Show, Good Morning America, Nightline, Fox News, Extra, Entertainment Tonight, BBQ Pitmasters, The Talk, The Dr. Oz Show and of course, The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Chef Art has appeared on the cover of Parade Magazine, and has been featured in Cooking Light magazine. He is a regular contributor to Standup magazine, whose proceeds benefit The Ben Foundation, which raises awareness of the long-term, damaging effects of bullying.

To learn more about Chef Art Smith, please visit:

Website: https://www.chefartsmith.com/

Instagram: @thechefartsmith

Facebook: ChefArtSmith

X/Twitter: @chefartsmith

To learn more about Common Threads, please visit:

Website: https://www.commonthreads.org/

Instagram: @commonthreadsorg

Facebook: CommonThreadsOrg

X/Twitter: @commonthreadsUS

Thank you again for listening and watching Fostering Change. We hope you have a happy and safe holiday and look forward to bringing you more great discussions in 2025. Again, if you have any comments or guest suggestions, please feel free to reach out by emailing our producers at info@comfortcases.org.

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We thought today would be a perfect time to share this interview in the spirit of the holiday season.

Following the episode, we encourage you to watch Finding Fellowship. You can find it on PBS, or click the following link to stream it on PBS.org: https://www.pbs.org/show/finding-fellowship/

If you have any comments or questions, please get in touch with us at info@comfortcases.org. There is just one more episode before the New Year, which posts on Christmas Eve—with someone we know you will love to meet!

To learn more about Jason and Finding Fellowship:

Instagram: @jg1732

Twitter/X: @jg1732

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasongerardgreen/

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Today, we go back almost exactly 3 years to revisit a special episode about a remarkable woman, Pam Willis and family.  We know you’ll enjoy!

Pam and her husband have been married 36 years, raised 5 biological children (the youngest is 20). 11 years ago they became foster parents and began caring for children in their home. Pam led down a road of foster care and as a surprise to their life plan, 5 years ago they adopted a set of seven siblings from the foster care system.  These kids now have a second chance at parenting, and they have a second chance at a family after their first parents passed away in a car accident.

It’s an amazing story we wanted to reshare with you.

Story Key Notes:

🖐️Adopting 7 Sets of Children Siblings 

🖐️History of the 7 Children

🖐️Adjusting into a New Home

🖐️5 Biological Children's Reaction to Adopt New Siblings

🖐️Process to Adopt 7 Set of Children Siblings

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

If you have any questions, comments or guest suggestions, please reach out to us at info@comfortcases.org.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING !!!

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Our “Coats for Comfort” Coat Drive, co-sponsored by CNN’s Laura Coates, is in full swing. There are donation boxes throughout the DC Metro area (including Maryland & Virginia), and for those of you outside the district, you can purchase coats and have them delivered directly to Comfort Cases by visiting https://comfortcases.org/lauracoates/

We are thrilled to announce our renewed partnership with Barely Canadian, running through November 30th! Known for their insanely soft sweaters and premium apparel, they have redefined cozy. With every purchase from their beautiful garment collection, Barely Canadian will generously donate a Comfort XL (valued at $148) to a child entering foster care. Explore their collection here: https://barelycanadian.com/

In today’s powerful episode of Fostering Change, we welcome Gretchen Sisson, author of RELINQUISHED: The Politics of Adoption and the Privilege of American Motherhood. As a researcher at UC San Francisco’s Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health, Gretchen has conducted hundreds of interviews with women who have relinquished infants for adoption, especially since Roe v. Wade. Her eye-opening research has been featured on NPR, New York Magazine, VOX, and more.

In this riveting conversation with host Rob Scheer, they dive into the complex and often heartbreaking reasons behind adoption decisions, shedding light on the financial and societal pressures that force mothers to make impossible choices. This timely discussion touches on the profound challenges families face and why it should matter to us all.

This is an important discussion for our community, and we were honored to have Gretchen on Fostering Change to continue it.

For more information about RELINQUISHED or to follow Gretchen on social media, please visit:

Website: https://www.gretchensisson.com/

Twitter/X: @gesisson

Threads: gretchen.sisson

Instagram: @gretchen.sisson

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gretchensisson/

Substack: https://gretchen.substack.com/

#nationaladoptionawarenessmonth #adoptionawareness #fostercare

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On today’s episode of Fostering Change, we welcome our good friend Jamie Truman. She and her husband Jerry co-founded Truman Charities, an organization that truly exemplifies what our host, Rob Scheer, has expressed over the years: it focuses on helping other local and national charities, hosts events multiple times a year, and covers all costs so that 100% of raised funds go directly to the charity.

Over the past fifteen years, Truman Charities has raised a little over $2 million for several different charities (INCLUDING COMFORT CASES).

Yes, Jamie and Jerry epitomize being “Good Humans.”

Jamie is also the author of “Vanishing Fathers: The Ripple Effect on Tomorrow's Generation," which hit #1 on Amazon's Best New Releases. Of course, 100% of the proceeds from Vanishing Fathers go towards charities that help at-risk youth.

These two themes, giving back to society and the important roles fathers play in that same society, are discussed in a lively interview. We know you will not only enjoy them but also be inspired.

Jamie Truman hosts The Truman Charities Podcast, which you can find wherever you listen to podcasts.

Find out more about Jamie and Truman Charities below:

Order her book, “Vanishing Fathers”: https://www.amazon.com/Vanishing-Fathers-Ripple-Tomorrows-Generation/dp/B0CW3Q1QY8.

Visit the Website: trumancharities.com

Facebook: trumancharites

Instagram: jamie_trumancharities

LinkedIn: jamietruman

Email: info@trumancharities.com

Thank you for listening! Of course, if you have any questions or comments about today’s episode or a suggestion for a guest for Fostering Change, please reach out to us at info@comfortcases.org.

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

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When Lillian Colon shared that phrase above with Rob Scheer when he interviewed her recently, there was a pause in the conversation as those words hit home. Reflect on them for a moment.

On today’s episode of Fostering Change, Rob interviews Lillian Colon, who spent more than a decade in a strict New York City orphanage because her father “thought it would be best” to separate from the mother she adored. With restrictions all around her, she strove to be someone better than anyone ever believed she could. Lilly never knew the care and loving attention of a stable family, but she didn’t let obstacles and family tragedies stand in the way of her dreams.

As a child, after the nuns who ran the orphanage took her to Radio City Music Hall to see the famed “Rockettes, “Lilly was driven to become a dancer. A graduate of New York’s prestigious High School of Performing Arts (if you’ve ever seen the movie Fame,” you’ll understand), Lillian became the first Latina Rockette.

Lillian achieved so much more in her career, having performed with some of the great names in Hollywood and on Broadway, including the legendary Chita Rivera. Most recently, she was the oldest dancer in the Hollywood adaptation of Lin Manuel Miranda’s “In the Heights!”

We celebrate this achievement on the last day of Hispanic Heritage Month.

Lillian shares all this in her memoir Lilly: The First Latina Rockette. This is a truly lovely conversation with a wonderful, good human. We know you will enjoy her growing-up stories and her performance success.

To find out more about what Lillian is up to, please visit her website: https://www.lilliancolon.com/

You can purchase her book here: https://www.lilliancolon.com/product/lilly-book/

Thank you for listening! Of course, if you have any questions or comments about today’s episode or a suggestion for a guest for Fostering Change, please reach out to us at info@comfortcases.org.

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We recorded our show today several weeks ago but intentionally posted it today, as we are featuring not one, not two, but THREE Good Humans: Rob’s special co-host Jill Ross, who is also the President of Comfort Cases’ Board of Directors, and Parker Lopez and Ashley Baker, who were both recent recipients of academic scholarships presented by Comfort Cases at previous fundraiser events.

Parker and Ashley share how these scholarships have profoundly impacted them and how they could advance their academic pursuits.

Beyond academics, they also are giving back to the community:

Parker is involved with “First Star” Academies (https://eoss.asu.edu/access/first-star-academy) a long-term college-prep program for high school students in foster care, while Ashley works with “It’s On Us” (www.itsonus.org) a non-profit campaign in the United States aimed at raising awareness about sexual assault and promoting a culture of consent.

Jill also shares more about Comfort Cases’ Pathway Program, which is designed to provide additional resources to our scholarship recipients. You can learn more about Pathways by visiting https://scheerfocus.com/pathways-program/

We hope you feel inspired and hopeful after listening to these fantastic young people. It is people like them who will make all of our futures brighter.

If you have any questions or comments about our interview with Jill, Parker, and Ashley or have a guest suggestion, please feel free to email us at info@comfortcases.org.

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

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👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

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We hope you enjoyed our first episode of the season with Andrew Bridge. This is a reminder that if you order his book before its publication date, a portion of the sale will go to CASA chapters nationwide. Please visit AndrewBridgeAuthor.com and select the CASA chapter of your choice.

In today’s episode, we have two exceptional guests - one is making her second appearance on our show. Donna Biase co-founded BEST FOOT FORWARD Foundation, a Florida-based organization whose mission is to empower foster care and at-risk youth to become self-sufficient adults and positive contributing members of society through academic achievement.

Having survived the deadly and horrific earthquake that ravaged his home country of Haiti, Elie Merisier was in the foster care system in High School when Best Foot Forward reached out to him to provide assistance with his academic studies. We’ll let you listen to the show for more details, but you should know that despite attending five different high schools, Elie graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a degree in accounting. Today, he is a licensed real estate agent.

We hope you enjoy today’s episode of Fostering Change as much as we think you will. Of course, if you have any questions or comments about our interview with Elie and Donna or have a guest suggestion, please email us at info@comfortcases.org.

More about Donna and Elie:

To learn more about Elie, please follow him on social media:

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092082848694

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/elie_merisier/

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/eliemerisier/

To learn more about Best Foot Forward:

Facebook

facebook.com/bestfootkids

Instagram

instagram.com/bestfootkids

Twitter/X

twitter.com/bestfootkids

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👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

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Following 220 amazing episodes, we are so excited for what’s to come this season.  We have special and moving guests, and throughout the season we are inviting some of Comfort Cases’ friends to co-host episodes with Rob Scheer.  That includes today’s episode, as we are so lucky to have Rita Soronen, CEO of the Dave Thomas Center for Adoption join Rob to interview our first guest of the season, Andrew Bridge, author of The Child Catcher: A Fight for Justice & Truth. 

If you have a suggestion for a guest, or questions or comments about today’s episode, please reach out to us at info@comfortcases.org.

About today’s first episode of our new season:  Rob and Rita have a riveting conversation with Andrew Bridge - about his time in foster care, and the battles he has fought for youth in foster care. His new book, The Child Catcher, is the true story of the fight to rescue the children confined to a violent and secretive institution in the rural South.

Proceeds from the book will go to CASA National, State, and local county chapters. Buyers should go to AndrewBridgeAuthor.com and select the CASA chapter of their choice, and 50% of pre-sale royalties will go there.

More About Andrew: Andrew spent 11 years in Los Angeles County foster care. After aging out, unlike so many in foster care he made it to college: Wesleyan University, and then graduated from Harvard Law School and was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship. 

He began his legal career representing children against the State of Alabama, where his work resulted in the closure of one of the country’s most notorious psychiatric institutions, the Eufaula Adolescent Center. 

Returning to Los Angeles, he became CEO of The Alliance for Children’s Rights, representing children in the foster care system where he grew up. 

Andrew is the co-founder of National Adoption Day and New Village Girls Academy for pregnant and parenting teens. As Chair of Los Angeles County’s Blue Ribbon Task Force, he called for an end to the disproportionate removal of Black babies from their mothers. 

His memoir Hope’s Boy was a New York Times bestseller and Washington Post Best Book of the Year. Most recently, he was a member of the executive management team for Illinois DCFS, and with Arizona as his home, he now serves on the Arizona Foster Care Review Board. 

His second book about that fight against Alabama, The Child Catcher, will be released in September. 

To find out more about Andrew, please follow him on social media:

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/andrew.bridge.9041/

Instagram

andrewbridgejd

Twitter/X

@AndrewBridgeJD

Threads

AndrewBridgejd

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Just a note that Season 6 will debut next week, Tuesday, September 3.  We have some amazing guests lined up, and are doing something new this season: on several episodes, we are bringing in special guests to Co-Host interviews with Rob Scheer.  You’ll recognize some of the names as previous guests, and there will also be some new names for you - who we know you will love as much as we do.

Now, for our final “Best of” we needed to do something special. When we booked Emily Cole on Fostering Change last December for our 200th episode, we knew that we would hear all about the amazing Savannah Bananas baseball team (maybe you’ve been lucky enough to see them in person this season, or at least on ESPN?) as well as their philanthropic effort Bananas Foster, dedicated to Bringing Families Together by focusing on celebrating those who are doing amazing things in the foster care world while educating and inspiring others to get involved. 

Because of all that Emily, her husband Jesse, and the team do for our foster youth, Comfort Cases will award them our special Barbara Harrison Award at our Farm-to-Feast Annual Fundraising event on September 28. This award is given annually to someone who truly is changing the lives of those in the foster care system.

If you would like to celebrate Emily, Jess and many other “Good Humans”, we would love for you to join us on September 28. Tickets are available at https://comfortcases.org/feast/. If you have an item you would like to donate for our live auction, you can also find information on the site.  Our annual fundraiser is held on a beautiful farm in the Maryland countryside.  There will be entertainment by our friends, the Como Brothers, fabulous food and wine, and other surprises.

Emily shares her story with Rob on today’s podcast. We hope you will find it inspiring and motivated to become involved in your community, be it foster care or some other form of charitable act.

To learn more about Bananas Foster, please visit: https://bananasfoster.org/ and visit https://thesavannahbananas.com/ to learn more about the Savannah Bananas Baseball team!

You can follow Emily and the Bananas on Social Media:

Instagram: @EmCole3 @thesavbananas @bananasfosterinc

TikTok: @SavBananas

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

To listen to previous episodes of Fostering Change, please visit: www.comfortcases.org/podcast or your favorite podcast outlets.

If you have any comments, questions, or guest suggestions, we’d love to hear from you!  Please write us at info@comfortcases.org.Thank you for listening and we’ll see you next Tuesday for the start of Season 6 of Fostering Change!!!

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Welcome back to the “Best of Fostering Change: Season 5.”  Today, we revisit what was our final episode of our season - our interview with our good friend, Sarah Fraser.  Sarah is not just a friend - she’s an extremely talented broadcaster as the host of one of the most popular podcasts out there, the eponymously titled, “The Sarah Fraser Show.” 

On her show, Sarah talks about reality TV, interviews unique guests and talks about her own fun life.  She has so much more going on, we highly recommend you follow her on social media (links below) to keep up-to-date!

Many first became aware of Sarah’s talents when she was the co-host of Hot 95.5’s “The Kane Show” in Washington, DC  and then on DC’s 107.3’s “Sarah, Ty, and Mel”.  She was also an entertainment contributor for FOX 5 in DC for 13 years!  

Sarah is also looking to become a foster parent.  She and Rob have a lively discussion about the hoops many need to go through to become a foster parent - and Rob also offers a possible solution to Sarah that she hadn’t considered before.  (You’ll have to listen to the end for this!)

Our final “Best of” episode will post August 27 - we then kick-off Season 6 in September.

If you have any guest suggestions, please let us know. Please each out to us at info@comfortcases.org. 

 You can always catch up on previous episodes of all 5 seasons of Fostering Change by visiting www.comfortcases.org/podcast or your favorite podcast outlets.

Thank you again for being such supportive listeners!

Follow Sarah here!

Facebook

@thesarahfrasershow

Instagram

@thesarahfrasershow

Twitter/X

@sarahfrasershow

TikTok

@thesarahfrasershow

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Benjy and Rob discuss why he chose to take on this wonderful opportunity to help our youth in foster care and what he’s expecting to gain from the experience.  

To learn more about becoming a CASA, please visit: https://nationalcasagal.org/

To learn more about Benjy:

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/benjybenjy

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjy-grinberg-ba85653/

Thank you again for listening, and please remember to send in any comments or questions to info@comfortcases.org.  

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Today, we revisit an episode that aired back in November: Rob Scheer interviews Peter Mutabazi: entrepreneur, international advocate for children, and the founder of Now I Am Known, a nonprofit that supplies resources that encourage and affirm children and families. A single adoptive father of three and foster dad to many (34 as of this date!), Mutabazi is a former street kid originally from Uganda who has worked for World Vision, Compassion International, and the Red Cross, and has appeared on media outlets such as the BBC and The TODAY Show.

Rob and Peter discuss his book, Now I Am Known: How a Street Kid Turned Foster Dad Found Acceptance and True Worth, how Peter’s organization is helping countless youth in foster care, and what it takes to be a single parent / foster parent.

To learn more about Peter and Now I Am Known, please visit:

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fosterdadflipper/

Website: https://www.nowiamknownfoundation.org/

As a reminder, you can listen to previous episodes of Fostering Change, by visiting: www.comfortcases.org/podcast or your favorite podcast outlets.

If you have any comments, questions, or guest suggestions, we’d love to hear from you!  Please write us at info@comfortcases.org.

Thank you for listening and we’ll see you again on July 30th!

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Today we revisit our interview with Laura, whose mission is to educate and support people about the foster care system. Often, new foster parents are not prepared for everything they need to know before their first children come to them.

Laura discuss how the “cracks of child welfare are deep”, from misplaced birth certificates to wrong names of the child, and without knowing the right types of questions to ask, you run the risk of not knowing these things and have to play catch up - which is not the situation a new foster parent - or their child - wants to be in!

In this insightful conversation, you will hear:

• What sweeping changes need to be made in the foster care system
• What should be considered when setting up your home for a foster child
• How every state has different rules and regulations and how that affects parents and youth
• How we should be moving from “mandated reporting” to “mandated supporting”

You can learn more about Laura by visiting her here:

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/foster.parenting

Website: https://www.fosterparentpartner.com/

Instagram: @foster.parenting

TikTok: @fosterparenting 

YouTube: @foster.parenting

Storefront: https://www.amazon.com/shop/influencer-a74dff14

Our next “Best of” episode will air July 16.  As always, you can find an archive of all 5 seasons of Fostering Change here: https://comfortcases.org/podcasts/.

If you have any questions, please feel free to send us an email at info@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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Today, on Fostering Change, Comfort Cases’ founder Rob Scheer has an enlightening conversation with Mark Daley, author of SAFE: A Memoir of Fatherhood, Foster Care, and the Risks We Take for Family.  The book offers a deeply personal window into what happens when the universal longing for family crashes up against the unique madness and bureaucracy of a child protection system that often fails to consider the needs of the most vulnerable parties of all—the children themselves.

You will hear Rob share that he believes that SAFE is an important resource for anyone who is interested in learning more about, or is actively participating in our foster care system.  You will hear Rob and Mark discuss how having a community of support all around you is so important. In fact, finding community is “Step Number 1!” - be that community family, church, neighbors or others who can support you as you work to juggle this new lifestyle.

Mark shares some important tips for new foster parents, including:

• Go in with your eyes open. Do your homework.
• Don’t rush to judgment on the families of the child/children you’ve brought into your home. You likely do not know the “whole story.” Be empathetic.
• Speak up and be “the voice” for your child/children

To purchase SAFE, please visit your local independent bookstore or purchase online on sites including:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Bookshop.org

You can follow Mark on Social Media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markdaley00/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markdaley00

Our next “Best of” episode will air July 2nd. Stay tuned!

You can always catch up on previous episodes of Fostering Change by visiting www.comfortcases.org/podcast or your favorite podcast outlets.

If you have any comments, questions, or guest suggestions, we’d love to hear from you!  Please write to us at info@comfortcases.org.

As always, thank you for listening!

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!

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👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases

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Season 6 will debut in September, but following today’s episode, we will air some of our favorite episodes from the past season once again bi-weekly. So stay tuned!

And for our final episode of the season, we wanted to go out on a HIGH NOTE, and couldn’t have looked any further than today’s guest, Rob Scheer’s good friend, Sarah Fraser.

Many first became aware of Sarah’s talents when she was the co-host of Hot 95.5’s “The Kane Show” in Washington, DC  and then on DC’s 107.3’s “Sarah, Ty, and Mel”.  She was also an entertainment contributor for FOX 5 in DC for 13 years!  

But DC couldn’t hold a talent like her, and she recently moved to the Bright Lights of Los Angeles, and is the host of “The Sarah Fraser Show,” one of the top-trending pop culture podcasts in the country. (More than 15 MILLION downloads!)  Sarah covers reality TV, interviews unique guests and talks about her own fun life.  She has so much more going on, we highly recommend you follow her on social media (links below) to keep up-to-date!

Sarah is also looking to become a foster parent.  She and Rob have a lively discussion about the hoops many need to go through to become a foster parent - and Rob also offers a possible solution to Sarah that she hadn’t considered before.  (You’ll have to listen to the end for this!)

What a terrific way to end the season.

A reminder that our first “Best of” episode will air Tuesday, June 18. And then episodes will air on alternate Tuesdays until the start of Season 6.

Thank you again for being such supportive listeners!

Follow Sarah here!

Facebook

@thesarahfrasershow

Instagram

@thesarahfrasershow

Twitter/X

@sarahfrasershow

TikTok

@thesarahfrasershow

Our next episode will be the start of our “Best of Season 5”. The first “Best of” will post on Tuesday, June 18.  We’ll then stay on our schedule of alternate weeks until Season 6 debuts in September.

 You can always catch up on previous episodes of all 5 seasons of Fostering Change by visiting www.comfortcases.org/podcast or your favorite podcast outlets.

If you have any comments, questions, or guest suggestions, we’d love to hear from you!  Please write to us at info@comfortcases.org.

As always, thank you for listening!

🎥 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.

We end this month with a very special guest: Emi Nietfeld. Emi is the author of an amazing book that we highly recommend you purchase right now: Acceptance. In her memoir, Emi shares how she did something that only 3% of youth in foster care do: she went to college—and not just any college, but Harvard!

As a homeless teenager writing college essays in her rusty Toyota Corolla, Emi Nietfeld was convinced that the Ivy League was the only escape from her dysfunctional childhood. But upward mobility required crafting the perfect resilience narrative. She had to prove that she was an “overcomer,” made stronger by all that she had endured.

In her interview with Rob, Emi shares the life lessons she’s learned, particularly of challenging our ideas of what it means to overcome - and find contentment on your own terms.

To learn more about Emi and her memoir, please visit https://www.eminietfeld.com/

You can also find and follow Emi on social media:

Substack:

https://eminietfeld.substack.com/

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/eminietfeld/

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/emi-nietfeld 

Twitter/X

https://twitter.com/eminietfeld

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/eminietfeld

TikTok

https://www.tiktok.com/@eminietfeld

Our next episode is our final episode of Season 5 and will air June 4. 

Throughout the rest of the Summer, we will be sharing some of our favorite episodes of Season 5.  Stay tuned!

 You can always catch up on previous episodes of all 5 seasons of Fostering Change by visiting www.comfortcases.org/podcast or your favorite podcast outlets.

If you have any comments, questions, or guest suggestions, we’d love to hear from you!  Please write to us at info@comfortcases.org.

As always, thank you for listening!

🎥 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.

We’ll learn how in the period of just 3 years, Kate Rapier quickly went from being single, to becoming a foster mom, soon an adoptive parent of two and then married to a man with 3 wonderful kids from a previous marriage!

Kate was single when she first began the process of becoming a foster parent in 2020.  And like many parents who take this journey, her life changed with a phone call that there was a child coming into custody that day and would she be able to take her?  Just about 5 hours after stating an emphatic “YES”, a caseworker arrived with 1-week old “Gigi”.

After having adopted Gigi in 2021, she was just six weeks into dating her now husband when she received another life-changing phone call. This time about baby Ryland.  

You’ll hear Kate share more about her life with Gigi, Ryland and her new family and this amazing journey she is on. 

Kate is one of the loveliest people you’ll meet. We know you’ll agree and will enjoy her story as much as we have.

You can learn more about Kate on her Instagram feed: @katerapier 

Our final episode during National Foster Care Awareness Month will drop on May 28!  You can always catch up on previous episodes of Fostering Change by visiting www.comfortcases.org/podcast or your favorite podcast outlets.

If you have any comments, questions, or guest suggestions, we’d love to hear from you!  Please write to us at info@comfortcases.org.

As always, thank you for listening!

🎥 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.

Before we get on to today’s show with the amazing Benjy Grinberg, just a suggestion to visit the Comfort Cases website - www.comfortcases.org, and see all of the programs we are working on this month, with some genuinely unique organizations. Thanks.

And now, as they say… “On with the Show!”

On today’s episode, Rob Scheer speaks with Benjy Grinberg - yes, a GOOD HUMAN.

Benjy is the Founder and CEO of Rostrum Records, an independent record label known mainly for developing artists early in their careers and championing their vision. Grinberg started in the music industry at Arista Records as an assistant to record executive Antonio “L.A.” Reid.

 A career-long champion of the indie community, he leads the labels’ well-recognized, innovative, artist-centric approach driven by his commitment to ensuring the long-term success of his artists. Over the course of two decades, the label has had a diverse roster of chart-topping artists, including Mac Miller, Wiz Khalifa, DC The Don, The Bird and The Bee, 24hrs, Mod Sun, Rockie Fresh, Problem, KT Tunstall, and more. 

How does this relate to Foster Care? Well, Benjy recently became a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate)! CASAs are everyday community members appointed by a judge to advocate for children in need of care. On today’s show, Benjy speaks with Rob about why he chose to become a CASA and what it means to him.

Definitely an inspirational conversation.

To learn more about becoming a CASA, please visit https://nationalcasagal.org/

To learn more about Benjy:

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/benjybenjy

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjy-grinberg-ba85653/

Our next episode will air on May 21. You can also catch up on previous episodes of Fostering Change by visiting www.comfortcases.org/podcast or your favorite podcast outlets.

If you have any comments, questions, or guest suggestions, we’d love to hear from you!  Please write to us at info@comfortcases.org.

As always, thank you for listening!

🎥 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.

And thank you to YOU, our faithful (and new) listeners of Fostering Change. We produce this podcast for you and in support of all you are doing. Thank you for your comments and sharing episodes with friends, family and colleagues.

We couldn’t have asked for a better guest for this first episode airing during National Foster Care Awareness Month.  Award-winning journalist Rob Henderson vividly recounts growing up in foster care, enlisting in the Air Force, and surprisingly attending elite universities in his raw coming-of-age memoir, Troubled: A Memoir of Foster Care, Family and Social Class.

Rob’s book was an instant USA TODAY Best Seller.  In the book and in his interview with Rob Scheer (who is a Navy veteran), he discusses his pioneering concept of “luxury beliefs”: ideas and opinions that confer status on the Upper Class while inflicting costs on the less fortunate.

Rob Henderson was born to a drug-addicted mother and a father he never met, ultimately shuttling between ten different foster homes in California. When he was adopted into a loving family, he hoped that life would finally be stable and safe. Divorce, tragedy, poverty, and violence marked his adolescent and teen years, propelling Henderson to join the military upon completing high school.

An unflinching portrait of shattered families, desperation, and determination, Troubled recounts Henderson’s expectation-defying young life and juxtaposes his story with those of his friends who wound up incarcerated or killed. He retreads the steps and missteps he took to escape the drama and disorder of his youth. As he navigates the peaks and valleys of social class, Henderson finds that he remains on the outside looking in. 

Rob Henderson is a columnist at The Free Press and his weekly newsletter is sent to more than fifty thousand subscribers. Learn more at RobKHenderson.com.

To find out more about:

Visit Rob’s Website and Subscribe to his newsletter: https://www.robkhenderson.com/

Twitter: @robkhenderson 

To learn more about or purchase Troubled, please visit: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Troubled/Rob-Henderson/9781982168537

🎥 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.

FAS is close to home to our host, Rob Scheer, as one of Rob’s children has FAS.  And although the diagnosis for Rob’s son was that he may never walk, or even talk, his son has achieved amazing things in his life, including being the President of his Student Government in High School, and has been accepted into the college he’s loved for years.

Susan and Rob discuss the importance of animal therapy on those diagnosed with FAS (one reason Rob and his husband Reece moved his family to a farm!) 7th Generation Foundation operates an inclusive, sustainable green care farm animal sanctuary with programming for children and youth.

Author of The Silent Epidemic: A Child Psychiatrist’s Journey Beyond Death Row, Susan and Rob also discuss the thousands of inmates on Death Row who were in Foster Care and diagnosed with FAS at a young age. This is not a coincidence, and there is much that our society can do to curb this horrifying statistic.

To learn more about or to purchase Susan’s book, please visit: www.prenatalalcoholexposure.com 

To learn more about 7th Generation Foundation, please visit:

Website: www.7thGenerationFoundationInc.org or www.dreamcatchermeadows.org

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TheDreamCatcherFarm 

Blog: www.bettersafethansorryproject.com

Book: www.prenatalalcoholexposure.com 

🎥 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.

Here is part of the note Jackie sent us when she inquired about sharing her story:

I'm a boy mom of 3. I have 8 year old twins, and an 11 month old baby. 6 years ago I completely rebuilt my life from rock bottom. My rock bottom was filled with drug addiction, domestic violence and having my children removed from my care. I changed everything about my life and regained custody of my children and have been sober for almost 7 years. I'm happily married to an incredible man who's also in addiction recovery.  

I share my story in order to inspire and encourage others to never give up on themselves no matter where they find themselves in life. There's so much of my story that I could feel guilty or embarrassed about which would make it easy to keep to myself but there's so many people struggling the same way that I was and I want them to know that there's hope for a better life. I'm no more special than anyone else, I just decided I wanted a different life and I worked really hard to have it.

In our interview, Jackie stated: “Foster care gave me the chance to be a better person… a better mom.”

Our host, and founder of Comfort Cases Rob Scheer shared that “We all have the ability to change and write your own life chapters. Don’t let anyone else write them for you.”

A reminder that Fostering Change now posts on alternative Tuesdays.  Our next episode will drop on April 23!  You can always catch up on previous episodes of Fostering Change by visiting www.comfortcases.org/podcast or your favorite podcast outlets.

If you have any comments, questions, or guest suggestions, we’d love to hear from you!  Please write to us at info@comfortcases.org.

As always, thank you for listening!

🎥 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.

Jerold Hawkins was introduced to Rob Scheer and Comfort Cases in 2023 when the company he works for, Aptiv, held a “Packing Party,” packing up backpacks filled with new essential items to be delivered to local social service agencies for distribution to youth entering foster care in Michigan.

Following the event, Jerold reached out to us because he wanted to share his story: his experience in foster care, moving to a variety of homes over a 5 year period - recalling “all my life’s belongings dumped into a black trash bag.”

Jerold shares his journey with Rob and also his now mission to help make positive change to the foster care system. 

We know you’ll enjoy today’s episode.

A reminder that Fostering Change now posts on alternative Tuesdays.  Our next episode will drop on April 9!  You can always catch up on previous episodes of Fostering Change by visiting www.comfortcases.org/podcast or your favorite podcast outlets.

If you have any comments, questions, or guest suggestions, we’d love to hear from you!  Please write to us at info@comfortcases.org.

As always, thank you for listening!

🎥 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.

Charell shares her common experiences with CASA and talks with Rob about the needs of youth in foster care, especially to promote reunification.

“If we were looking to help people, and not penalize people for the unfair luck of being born poor in a system that doesn’t want to support those born without privilege. If we would spend even a fraction of what we spend to take their children away from them… we could actually solve this.”

Later this Spring, Charell will be an Honoree at the 2024 CASA-NYC Gala.

Charell has finished her autobiography. Once it’s published, you know she’ll be back on our podcast!

You can learn more about Charell by visiting her here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charellstar/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charellstar/

You can read Charell’s “Human’s of New York” story here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CUK7yfSrFT3/?hl=en

A reminder that Fostering Change now posts on alternative Tuesdays. Our next episode will drop on March 26! You can always catch up on previous episodes of Fostering Change by visiting www.comfortcases.org/podcast or your favorite podcast outlets.

If you have any comments, questions, or guest suggestions, we’d love to hear from you! Please write to us at info@comfortcases.org.

As always, thank you for listening!

🎥 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.

Jennifer Tice and her team at LilyPad: A Soft Place to Land have taken steps to end this practice in their home state of South Carolina, and soon throughout the country. Lily Pad volunteers are building comfortable living spaces, within the state’s Department of Social Service offices, for children to feel loved and valued during an uncertain time.

Each Lily Pad space is unique to the DSS office it is installed in. You can click HERE to see a “before and after” of what a Lily Pad space is like (or visit this link: https://www.lilypadinc.org/lilypadroomsbeforeandafter)

On today’s episode of Fostering Change, you will learn, as Rob Scheer did, more about Jennifer and her family’s road to foster care, and why the name “Lily” is so important to them.

All Lily Pad funding comes from volunteers and good humans like you - our listeners.  To find out more about LilyPad, volunteer, or see how you can get involved, please visit: https://www.lilypadinc.org/

You can also follow Lilypad on social media:

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/LilyPad.ASoftPlacetoLand

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/lily.pad.inc/

A reminder that Fostering Change now posts on alternative Tuesdays.  Our next episode will drop on February 27  You can always catch up on previous episodes of Fostering Change by visiting www.comfortcases.org/podcast or your favorite podcast outlets.

If you have any comments, questions, or guest suggestions, we’d love to hear from you!  Please write to us at info@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.

On today’s special episode, of Fostering Change we bring in two of our favorite married couples:

David & Julie Bulitt and Rob & Reece Scheer!  Yes, our host and his husband - co-founders of Comfort Cases - discuss relationships, particularly the issues faced by parents who adopt children and how to keep the marital relationship going strong!

David & Julie have appeared on Fostering Change before. They have a unique perspective based on their careers as Julie is a licensed clinical social worker and David is a Divorce Attorney. David and Julie have been married for more than 35 years. They have four daughters and three grandchildren and are the authors of two books: Secrets of Strong Couples and the recently released, Couple’s Journal - Goal Setting for Strong Couples.

Rob & Reece are soon to be celebrating their 21st anniversary, and as you likely know are the parents of five children, all adopted through the foster care system.

In today’s discussion, you will hear the Scheers and Bulitts discuss issues they are currently experiencing as married couples and the solutions they have - including compromise - that keep the lines of communication open and flowing positively.  But they do admit that it’s not all “wine and roses” every day, and you need to work together and on a regular basis to keep the relationship going strong.

The Bulitt’s new book, The Couple’s Journal is a terrific tool to do just that.  It helps couples set goals and arranges “check-ins” to make sure you’re actually working on those goals.  They also have a new podcast, Conversations for Couples that we encourage you to listen (after you finish this episode of Fostering Change, of course!)

To learn more about David & Julie Bulitt:

Website: https://thebulitts.com/ 

All social media channels: @thebulitts

Conversations for Couples Podcast: https://audioboom.com/channels/5118597-conversations-for-couples

A reminder that Fostering Change now posts on alternative Tuesdays.  Our next episode will drop on February 27  You can always catch up on previous episodes of Fostering Change by visiting www.comfortcases.org/podcast or your favorite podcast outlets.

If you have any comments, questions, or guest suggestions, we’d love to hear from you!  Please write to us at info@comfortcases.org.

As always, thank you for listening!

🎥 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.

You will hear Rob share that he believes that SAFE is an important resource for anyone who is interested in learning more about, or is actively participating in our foster care system.  You will hear Rob and Mark discuss how having a community of support all around you is so important. In fact, finding community is “Step Number 1!” - be that community family, church, neighbors or others who can support you as you work to juggle this new lifestyle.

You will learn so much more about Mark and his thoughts on our broken foster care system. We encourage you to write a review, and share this podcast with others you care about.

Mark will be visiting a number of cities for book readings and signings. To see when he is coming to your city, or to invite him to your city, please visit: https://markdaley.us/

To purchase SAFE, please visit your local independent bookstore or purchase online on sites including:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Bookshop.org

You can follow Mark on Social Media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markdaley00/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markdaley00

A reminder that Fostering Change now posts on alternative Tuesdays.  So our next episode will drop on February 13 - a very special Valentine’s Day episode!  You can always catch up on previous episodes of Fostering Change by visiting www.comfortcases.org/podcast or your favorite podcast outlets.

If you have any comments, questions, or guest suggestions, we’d love to hear from you!  Please write to us at info@comfortcases.org.

As always, thank you for listening!

🎥 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.

Kevin is known for many movie and tv roles, most recently appearing in the Christmas movie: Christmas at the Holly Day Inn.  Today on Fostering Change, Rob Scheer talks to Kevin about the new children’s books series he wrote, Granddad Brian & His Stories.

Kevin wrote these books as a creative way of dealing with loss and grief, following the loss of his grandfather to covid.  His grandfather loved telling stories and Kevin wanted to share the warmth from his “granddad” with children around the world.  He partnered with Comfort Cases and has donated numerous books to our center in the UK! 

We know you’ll enjoy today’s episode!

To find out more about Kevin, please visit him on social media:

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kevinleslieactor/ 

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/TheKevinLeslie 

If interested in getting one of Kevin’s books, reach out to him directly at:  https://www.instagram.com/grandadbrianstories/

If interested in making a donation to our center in the UK, please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/comfortcasesuk

A reminder that Fostering Change now posts on alternative Tuesdays.  So our next episode will drop on Tuesday, January 30.  You can always catch up on previous episodes of Fostering Change by visiting www.comfortcases.org/podcast or your favorite podcast outlets.

If you have any comments, questions, or guest suggestions, we’d love to hear from you!  Please write to us at info@comfortcases.org.

As always, thank you for listening!

🎥 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.

This is why we are starting off our 2024 season right, with an interview with Ashley Neese, author of Permission to Rest: Revolutionary Practices for Healing, Empowerment, and Collective Care. 

Ashley Neese is a renowned breathwork teacher, author, parent, and land steward. She has spent over a decade working at the intersections of embodiment, transformation, and renewal. Ashley is host of The Deeper Call podcast, where she shares restorative conversations to support connection and healing. 

Ashley is a foster parent, as well as adoptive parent and biological parent. She has recently brought a foster son into their home as part of an emergency foster care situation and understands that all parents need to find time for rest in their lives. 

In this interview, host Rob Scheer and Ashley discuss how resting as a practice is a portal to grow ones capacity to be with hard things , which in turn gives you the capacity to be there for your kids and partner when they are going through hard things rather than dismiss, shame, or try to make them feel differently - it allows one to meet them where they are.

To learn more about Ashley, please visit:

Website: https://www.ashleyneese.com/

Instagram: ashley_neese

About her books: https://www.ashleyneese.com/books

* We want to share one note about Fostering Change. Starting this week, we will be posting episodes on a bi-weekly basis (we all need a little rest, right?) So our next episode will be posted on January 16.

But you can always catch up on previous episodes of Fostering Change by visiting www.comfortcases.org/podcast or your favorite podcast outlets.

If you have any comments, questions, or guest suggestions, we’d love to hear from you!  Please write us at info@comfortcases.org.

As always, thank you for listening!

🎥 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.

We couldn’t have achieved this without the amazing support from our amazing guests and all of the positive feedback we’ve received from you, our viewers and listeners. Thank you so much!

And what a way to mark this milestone, with another GOOD HUMAN, Emily Cole. You may not know Emily’s name (yet), but surely you’ve heard of the organization she and her husband Jesse run: The Savannah Bananas (https://thesavannahbananas.com/), known as “The Greatest Show in Sports!” The Cole’s started the organization with the goal to make baseball fun and bring families together.

And beyond the entertaining brand of baseball the team plays, Emily and Jesse founded Bananas Foster,, an official 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to Bringing Families Together by focusing on celebrating those who are doing amazing things in the foster care world while educating and inspiring others to get involved. In 2020, the Cole’s became a licensed foster family, an action that would truly change their life.

Emily shares her story with Rob on today’s podcast. We know you will find it inspiring and hopefully motivate you to become involved in your community - be it foster care or some other form of charitable act.

To learn more about Bananas Foster, please visit: https://bananasfoster.org/ and visit https://thesavannahbananas.com/ to learn more about the Savannah Bananas Baseball team!

You can follow Emily and the Bananas on Social Media:

Instagram: @EmCole3 @thesavbananas @bananasfosterinc

TikTok: @SavBananas

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

To listen to previous episodes of Fostering Change, please visit: www.comfortcases.org/podcast or your favorite podcast outlets.

If you have any comments, questions, or guest suggestions, we’d love to hear from you! Please write us at info@comfortcases.org.

Thank you for listening and we’ll see you next Tuesday!

🎥 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.

Scaling her lived experience as an adoptive mom of a sibling pair, Marcy advocates for the more than 100,000 children in the U.S. foster care system that are waiting to be adopted through her free app, books, monthly podcast, speaking engagements, and TV, radio, magazine, and podcast appearances.

Marcy’s latest book, "What to Know When You Adopt Through Foster Care" is available now - and we highly recommend that if you’ve given any thought at all to adopting that you order this book today. This honest guide covers how to handle the ups and downs, behaviors, and realities involved in raising children adopted through the foster care system who may have experienced neglect, abuse, trauma and/or loss.

Inside you'll learn:

- what foster care adoption is and which children can be adopted

- why some families waited and how some pursued this path after facing infertility

- how some had to be persistent and how they endured the process

- tips for parenting children who have experienced neglect, trauma, alcohol exposure

- tips for parenting children who have mental health or medical needs

and more!

Marcy is a recipient of the Angels in Adoption® Award from the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute from Missouri with Senator Blunt. She was crowned United States of America’s Mrs. Ohio 2022. She founded the organization The Forgotten Adoption Option. She is the creator of the Foster Care Adoption Awareness Reading Program. Most recently, Marcy was interviewed and announced the winner of the Pilot Pen G2 Overachievers Grant on The Kelly Clarkson Show on October 26th, 2023.

To learn more about Marcy, please visit her website: https://forgottenadoptionoption.com/

You can also follow Marcy on social media:

Instagram: @marcybursac

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

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcybursac/ 

To listen to previous episodes of Fostering Change, please visit: www.comfortcases.org/podcast or your favorite podcast outlets.

If you have any comments, questions, or guest suggestions, we’d love to hear from you!  Please write us at info@comfortcases.org.

Thank you for listening and we’ll see you next Tuesday!

🎥 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.

She is also co-author of Etched in Sand’s sequel which she wrote with her younger sister Rosie Maloney, Girl Unbroken, A Sister’s Harrowing Journey from the Streets of Long Island to the Farms of Idaho. Girl Unbroken has also been integrated into college curricula alongside Etched in Sand. Regina speaks nationally about her books’ messages and how we can all impact the life of a child in need. 

To learn more about Regina, please visit: https://reginacalcaterra.com/

We encourage you to follow Regina’s journey on social media:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Calcaterra.Regina/ 

Instagram: @regina_calcaterra 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/regina-calcaterra-1a9608285/

To listen to previous episodes of Fostering Change, please visit: www.comfortcases.org/podcast or your favorite podcast outlets.

If you have any comments, questions, or guest suggestions, we’d love to hear from you!  Please write us at info@comfortcases.org.

Thank you for listening and we’ll see you next Tuesday!

🎥 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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Today’s episode of Fostering Change will truly inspire you!  Rob Scheer interviews Lisa Cohen, someone he shares much in common.  They were both in foster care, both from Washington, DC and following foster care, both joined the Navy.  They also both have “bucked the trend” and have been successful in business and in life.  They share how they moved forward in their careers, they didn’t talk about their experiences in foster care, as they didn’t want it to be used against them.

Lisa has also loved sports her entire life and was a “Muhammad Ali addict”, and became a championship boxer!  She writes about these experiences in her memoir, “Being Too Fierce”.

Lisa holds the esteemed position of President of the Rotary Club of Washington DC. Under her leadership, she has spearheaded an initiative called "Rotary's Championship Fight for Youth," which aims to provide essential services to foster youth in the Washington DC metropolitan area. She also works as a Behavioral Clinician for Sasha Bruce Youthwork, an organization that is the leading provider of homeless youth services in the DC Region and have opened their first Foster House.

This episode will truly inspire you! 

To get in touch with Lisa and/or order a signed copy of “Being Too Fierce,” please email directly at: lisac.dcrotary@gmail.com.

To learn more about Sasha Bruce Youthwork, please visit: https://www.sashabruce.org/

To listen to previous episodes of Fostering Change, please visit: www.comfortcases.org/podcast or your favorite podcast outlets.

If you have any comments, questions, or guest suggestions, we’d love to hear from you!  Please write us at info@comfortcases.org.

Thank you for listening and we’ll see you next Tuesday!

🎥 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.

You will hear Rob Scheer speak with April Lam, Chief of Staff for the health plan. April has a strong connection to Comfort Cases’ mission, as she not only works closely with non-profit organizations, but has also been a foster parent and adopted a child out of foster care.

Since the partnership with Comfort Cases began 6 years ago, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield has packed more than 7,000 Comfort Cases® to support youth living in foster care.

The partnership between Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Comfort Cases has grown since 2018. Since the expansion, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s affiliated health plans have hosted 24 packing parties across 16 states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico, providing over 12,000 Comfort Cases and XL duffel bags to youth in foster care nationwide.

To learn more about Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Indiana, please visit: https://mss.anthem.com/in/indiana-hom...

To listen to previous episodes of Fostering Change, please visit: www.comfortcases.org/podcast or your favorite podcast outlets.

If you have any comments, questions, or guest suggestions, we’d love to hear from you! Please write us at info@comfortcases.org.

Thank you for listening and we’ll see you next Tuesday!

🎥 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.

Rob and Peter discuss his book, Now I Am Known: How a Street Kid Turned Foster Dad Found Acceptance and True Worth, how Peter’s organization is helping countless youth in foster care, and what it takes to be a single parent / foster parent.

To learn more about Peter and Now I Am Known, please visit:

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fosterdadflipper/

Website: https://www.nowiamknownfoundation.org/

To listen to previous episodes of Fostering Change, please visit: www.comfortcases.org/podcast or your favorite podcast outlets.

If you have any comments, questions, or guest suggestions, we’d love to hear from you!  Please write us at info@comfortcases.org.

Thank you for listening and we’ll see you next Tuesday!

🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!