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

Keri Hope Richmond, Child Welfare Policy Advocate, Speaker, and Podcast Host, joins Matt Anderson in conversation on engaging storytellers with lived experience with the child welfare system. Listen as Keri talks about her experiences sharing her story about navigating foster care—some empowering and some not—and the lessons she’s learned along the way. She also passes along advice to organizations on the do’s and don’t’s in engaging storytellers with lived expertise. Show Notes 00:02:55  | When was the first time Keri publicly shared her story?    00:04:46  | Keri expresses feeling anger leading up to the moment she shared her story.  00:06:41  | Keri shares what it was like shifting from anger to empowerment.    00:10:10  | Keri talks about her experiences stepping into her role as a storyteller with lived expertise leading up to her participation in TEDxKent State.  00:13:48  | How can including people with lived expertise at the organizational level as employees impact conversations and organizational priorities and policies?    00:17:05  | Keri shares an account of when she felt like her story and the sharing of her experiences were taken advantage of.    00:22:30  | Now, Keri is a part of Unbelievably Resilient, which hosts a storytelling platform and spurs important conversations about foster care and child welfare.  00:25:32  | Matt and Keri talk about key principles and practices for organizations to honor storytellers with lived expertise. 00:27:44  | Final thoughts from Keri on engaging storytellers with lived experience. 00:29:24  | Matt shares his final thoughts. Resources  What can you learn from a trash bag? By Keri Hope Richmond | TEDxKentState  Episode 40: Keri Richmond | Fostering Change  Healed People Heal People With Former Foster Youth Keri Hope Richmond | Around the World with Archibald Project  Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute   Advocacy | American Academy of Pediatrics  Learn more about UR and their team of storytellers | Unbelievably Resilient  Bonus Content  4 Tips on How To Use Storytelling In Your Work The Unlearning of Child Welfare, Part 3 with co-host Keri Hope Richmond | The Institute for Family  A Conversation with the FosterStrong (now Unbelivibly Resilient) | The Institute for Family YouTube Visiting our podcast

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

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

Gina Wassemiller is a mother of three and a passionate parent ally. In the short film “Being Gina” she shares her evolution from being a parent struggling with substance use disorder, domestic abuse, and the removal of her children to being a leader at the F.I.R.S.T. Legal Clinic. This organization supports new mothers experiencing substance use challenges with legal advocacy and other services to prevent Child Protective Services removals. Gina is also a contracted Social Service Specialist with the Office of Public Defense Parent Representation Program. Gina has been actively involved in local and national organizations and support groups, including Snohomish County Parent Ally Committee, Washington State Parent Ally Committee, and Birth Parent National Network.  Show Notes  00:00:26  | Matt introduces Gina Wassemiller from the Institute for Family’s short film “Being Gina”  and her work with the F.I.R.S.T. Legal Clinic (Family Intervention Response to Stop Trauma).  00:01:26  | Gina talks about her source of passion for her work. Gina and Matt dig into her background as a parent experiencing substance use disorder, domestic violence, and the removal of her children., and talk about the dichotomies of addiction.  00:04:25  | Gina explains the difficulty of asking for help while engulfed in addiction, despite experiencing the removal of her children and other consequences.  00:05:55  | In September 2009, Gina opened to her family about her addiction and began the journey to recovery.  00:08:05  | As a parent ally at the F.I.R.S.T. Legal Clinic Gina engages pregnant women and mothers of newborns with substance use disorder at risk of CPS intervention.  00:10:35  | Matt shares his thoughts on a lesson for the system. 00:11:08  | Gina and Matt give insight on leveraging compassion to help parents turn their fear of losing parental rights into hope.  00:18:30  | Gina reflects on her journey as a parent and how helpful it would have been to have someone like herself approach Gina early on.  00:20:45  | Matt shares final thoughts  Resources F.I.R.S.T. Legal Clinic Reunification Heroes: Gina Wassemiller | American Bar Association Birth Parent National Network | Children's Trust Fund Alliance Supporting Early Legal Advocacy before Court Involvement in Child Welfare Cases Resources for Families Coping with Mental and Substance Use Disorders   Bonus Content Featured short film: "Being Gina" | Institute for Family Connect with us and support us by... Rating and reviewing the showSupporting our show through PaypalVisiting our podcast website for more contentFollowing Institute for Family on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter

Dr. Bruce Perry and Matt pick up from their conversation in Season 1 to dive deeper into strategies for creating positive change for families. Hear Dr. Bruce Perry give his advice for organizations like the Institute for Family on what it takes to make an impact—from shifting mindsets through storytelling to creating sustainable connections in communities. Show Notes  00:02:00  | Picking up from S1 E3: PEOPLE CHANGE THROUGH STORIES, Matt recalls a compelling statement from Dr. Bruce Perry. 00:08:30  | Matt asks, “If our systems are a collection of individuals who make decisions, to address the issues of those who have been marginalized is it about a mass number of people changing through story, or a right select group of people that hold the right power, or some combination of [those options]?”   00:10:13  | What changes people’s minds?  00:12:00  | Matt and Dr. Bruce Perry discuss how the Institute for Family is making progress with the strategy of storytelling to influence thinking and behaviors.  00:13:45  | Dr. Bruce Perry reflects on the historical impact of storytelling.  “Ultimately, the most efficiently transmitted information is relationally mediated.”  00:14:50  | Matt notes the difference in narrative between the status quo perspective that childhood adversity is an individualistic parenting problem with “bad parents” and the shifting viewpoint that long-term, systemic inequities are part of the issue.    00:15:18  | Matt and Dr. Perry talk about the needs and challenges in solving systemic issues through community connectedness.   00:19:00  | If organizations want to create conditions in communities that help families succeed, what can they focus on?  00:20:45  | Dr. Bruce Perry examines society’s expectations on parenting. “Parenting is hard even if you have a bunch of people in the house."  00:21:21  | To meet family needs, should systems be focused on providing better programs and direct services or on creating better community conditions?  00:27:30  | Dr. Bruce Perry gives advice for family providers and advocates.   00:28:46  | Final thoughts from Matt Anderson  Resources How the Media Shapes Our Perception of HIV and AIDS | Healthline Public health campaigns using storytelling - Digital Storytelling for Change | HIV.gov Emotive content while learning a concept – What Makes Storytelling So Effective for Learning? | Harvard Business Publishing Book: What Happened to You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing | Author: Oprah Winfrey and Bruce D. Perry, M.D., Ph.D. Connect with us and support us by... Rating and reviewing the showSupporting our show through PaypalVisiting our podcast website for more contentFollowing Institute for Family on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter

On this bonus episode celebrating social work month, Jaquia Wilson returns to the mic with her former social worker Raven Mitchell. Hear from Jaquia and Raven about the solid foundation they built during Jaquia’s time in foster care. Get insight on the importance of relationship-building between youth in care and social workers and how impactful Raven has been on Jaquia’s early years.  Show Notes  00:00:36  | On S1, E5: CRACK THE CONCRETE WHEN YOU WALK we meet Jaquia Wilson and learn about her experiences as a youth in foster care, meeting an influential social worker, and aging out of the foster care system.  00:02:30  | Meet Raven Mitchell, Senior Human Services Worker at Prince William County Department of Social Services in Virginia. Hear how Jaquia describes the lasting impression Raven had on Jaquia as her social worker.  00:03:48  | Hear from Raven on her aspirations for youth in care as a social worker.  00:04:38  | Hear from Jaquia about the impacts of her social worker being consistent, reliable, and treating her like a person first.  00:06:20  | What could’ve happened if Raven wasn’t as present in Jaquia’s life during her time in foster care? Hear from Raven and get insights on how she managed her relationship with Jaquia.  “Every day wasn’t progress or no progress, sometimes it was ‘How are you doing? Is there anything I can help you with?’ and that was important to me,” says Jaquia.  00:10:33  | Hear final thoughts from Matt Anderson.  Resources  Social Work Month Toolkit from NASW Why Consistency Matters Connect with us and support us by... Rating and reviewing the showSupporting our show through PaypalVisiting our podcast website for more contentFollowing Institute for Family on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter

Reimaging child welfare starts with looking inward. On this bonus episode, get to know more about host Matt Anderson as he provides candid responses to listener questions about reimaging child welfare, the power of listening, and his source of hope.  Call in with your questions and reactions at (512) 815-3956. 00:01:45  | Adrian McLemore, Program Officer, Annie E. Casey Foundation, and Host, FosterStrong Podcast: What keeps you hopeful while doing this work, given how the premise of foster care is centered around traumatic experiences? 00:03:56  | Lyndsey Wilson, CEO, FirstStar: I’d love to hear you talk about why, as a service providing organization, is it important to prioritize hearing and telling stories? 00:07:04  | Maureen Sorenson, Senior Director of Foster Care Operations at Coordinated Care of Washington and Part-time Lecturer in the School of Social Work at the University of Washington: How can we encourage more [prospective] adoptive parents to be focused on reunification?  Maureen alludes to Seen Out Loud S1, E1: WHAT IF WE DIDN’T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL BAD ENOUGH Matt references Seen Out Loud S1, E6: THE WALLS STARTED TO COME DOWN 00:10:12  | Kathleen Creamer, Managing Attorney of the Family Advocacy Unit, Community Legal Services of Philadelphia: What does it say about us that we’ve designed a system where expressions of care and compassion for parents are experienced and described by parents as miraculous exceptions?  Matt references Seen Out Loud S1, E2: LOOKING FOR THAT WARM HUG ALL MY LIFE 00:13:34  | Gina, Kinship Parent and Family Partner: When you’re talking about amends, what does it mean [for child welfare] and how can we all work towards reestablishing trust with the [child welfare] systems.   Gina references Seen Out Loud S1, E1: WHAT IF WE DIDN’T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL BAD ENOUGH  “Amends” are also discussed in Seen Out Loud S1, E7: TITLE THE MOMENTUM IS BUILDING  00:16:31  | Austin, Program Coordinator, Psychological Department of Social Services: How can we become better listeners? Can you offer any practical suggestions for how all of us can become better listeners?   00:19:17  | Matt shares final thoughts on Season 1 of Seen Out Loud. Call in at (512) 815-3956 to leave a message with your questions.   Resources  Submit your questions to our host by emailing our team at [email protected].  Join our LinkedIn group to ask Matt Anderson and other professionals your questions about reimagining child welfare  Book: “The Whole Language: The Power of Extravagant Tenderness” by Father Greg Boyle 

From the national to community level, hear how the movement to prioritize family well-being is gaining momentum. In this season finale, Matt interviews three guests to hear the types of conversations taking place across the country around supporting families and recognizing their value. Jerry Milner, former Associate Commissioner at the Children’s Bureau, shares his perspective on the progress of the child welfare transformation work on a national scale. Sharee Pemberton and Hope B. Haywood of a rural county in North Carolina discuss how community leaders can bring about change and build trust through listening to families and meeting them where they are.   Shownotes:  00:01:50  | Meet Jerry Milner, Ph.D., and hear his take on the family well-being movement.   00:09:05  | Matt asks if amends are necessary for the child and family well-being movement to advance.    00:09:50  | Matt reflects on his conversation with Jerry and expands on the idea of how professionals and organizations within the child welfare system can make amends with children and families. 00:12:13  | To demonstrate how the movement is taking shape locally, Matt introduces Sharee Pemberton and County Commissioner Hope Haywood. 00:17:14 | What led Sharee to her work as an advocate for child and family well-being? 00:19:26 | Commissioner Haywood talks about the impact of hearing from Sharee at the County Commissioner meeting. 00:23:00  | Sharee shares her thoughts about the importance of trust and access. 00:26:39  | Commissioner Haywood shares how she is adopting new perspectives by learning more about her community. Sharee reacts to feeling heard. 00:30:00  | Matt shares his final thoughts on this episode conversions and the conclusion of Season 1. Resources:  Thriving Families, Safer Children: National Partnership to Reinvent Child Welfare Expands | Annie E. Casey Foundation Blog  About Hope B. Haywood: Randolph County Board of Commissioners | Randolph County, NC  About Sharee Pembleton: My Journey to Change Agent by Sharee Pemberton | Smart Start  Randolph Partnership for Children  About Jerry Milner, Ph.D.: About | Public Knowledge  National Family Support Network | Championing Family Support Communities of Hope Connect with us and support us by... Rating and reviewing the showSupporting our show through PaypalVisiting our podcast website for more contentFollowing Institute for Family on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter

Brett and Jessica Crisp have been married for over a decade and have a 9-year-old adopted son. They served as licensed foster parents with Children’s Home Society of North Carolina from 2016 to 2020. Through their experiences as adoptive parents and former foster parents, they have become advocates for reunification, as well as parents and foster parents working together. SHOW NOTES 00:01:25  | How do children in foster care bond with foster parents?    00:03:38  | Hear from the Crisps’ about the first visitation with London’s parents as they recall seeing their joy in seeing their daughter, but also fear of letting their guards down.    00:08:28  | At what point did the Crisps’ relationship with London’s parents take a turn?   00:19:00  | As London’s parents and the Crisps’ relationship improved over time, both families found themselves having a deep connection. 00:21:31  | The court issues a continuance on London’s case for an additional three months after a 14-month separation. 00:23:27  | How can foster care families advocate for birth parents and families? 00:28:08  | London’s case is suddenly dropped and the Crisps are told that within a day, she needs to go home to her birth parents. 00:34:04  | Shortly after London reunified with her birth family, her parents reach out to the Crisps to stay connected.  00:39:15  | What do the Crisps want people to learn and take away from their story?    RESOURCES Growing Families through Foster Care to Permanency | Children’s Home Society of North Carolina Working With the Courts for Permanency | Child Welfare Information Gateway Birth Parent/Foster Parent Relationships to Support Family Reunification | Child Welfare Information Gateway  Connect with us and support us by... Rating and reviewing the showSupporting our show through PaypalVisiting our podcast website for more contentFollowing Institute for Family on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter

Hear what life was like for Jaquia Wilson, the youngest of nine children, who went from growing up with a loving mother in the Bronx to aging out of foster care without a support system. Jaquia demonstrates resilience through a series of tragedies, resulting in her entering foster care as a teenager. With a little help from a caring social worker, Jaquia’s fighting spirit leads her to college and, now, advocacy work for youth in care.  Show Notes: 00:01:05  | Meet Jaquia Wilson as she shares stories from her childhood memories in Bronx, New York.   00:09:10  | “I didn’t know what to do,” says Jaquia, “I was 15 [years old] and my mom had just passed. My family had to figure out what to do with a 15-year-old that was expecting.” 00:10:54  | What is it like to be a pregnant teen? Hear from Jaquia as she describes the array of emotions she experienced.    00:13:00  | What happens when a teen like Jaquia enters the foster care system in North Carolina? 00:20:32  | Who were the people in Jaquia’s life during her teenage years in foster care?   “It’s a little bit like a revolving door, I feel like,” says Jaquia.      00:26:13  | Jaquia shares where she drew strength to continue making steps towards independence and success after aging out of foster care. 00:28:01  | Life after foster care: At 17 years old, Jaquia heads to college, but runs into unforeseen roadblocks with housing that she was prepared for. 00:34:17  | Jaquia deep dives into her vision for foster care and shares what she wants youth in care to experience, and answers insight about what she aims to help create. 00:34:54  | Matt shares his final thoughts.  Resources:  Judicial Bypass Procedures: Undue Burdens for Young People Seeking Safe Abortion Care | Advocates for Youth  What happens to kids who age out of foster care | House of Providence  North Carolina LINKS Program |NC DHHS  Jaquia Wilson, Webinar Host | The Unlearning of Child Welfare: Webinar Series  Written by Jaquia Wilson: Redefining "Child Welfare Expert" | Children’s Bureau Express   How the Child Welfare System Made Me Prioritize Education Over Myself | The Imprint  Support Services for Youth in Transition: Housing | Child Welfare Information Gateway Connect with us and support us by... Rating and reviewing the showSupporting our show through PaypalVisiting our podcast website for more contentFollowing Institute for Family on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter

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