Jeff and Suzanne discuss their son, Zach Souers, the namesake of the Zach Souers Giving Hope Fund at The Village Network. They share details about Zach's background and his struggles with mental health, as well as how these challenges affected them as parents. They also explain how the Zach Souers Giving Hope Fund was established and introduce a new skating event organized by The Village Network to benefit this fund.

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Let’s Explore That is a production of The Village Network, a nonprofit behavioral health provider for children. If you’d like to learn more about The Village Network, visit www.thevillagenetwork.org or subscribe to our newsletter.

If you are struggling with your mental health, you’re not alone. Please visit https://findtreatment.gov or call 1-800-662-HELP (4357) to get help and find resources near you. If you are in crisis, please call 988 immediately.

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not necessarily represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of The Village Network. The material presented here is for general informational purposes and for personal use only and is not intended to replace or constitute medical advice, medical information, legal advice, investment advice, or other professional advice or guidance for a particular purpose. All copyrighted information and trademarks and all forms and abbreviations of the same are the property of their respective owners, and their use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service.

We’re excited to celebrate the season with a joyful talk about one of our favorite shows. We invited fellow TVN colleague and mom, Amanda Phillips, to chat with us about Bluey, why it resonates with children, and how it has become part of the greater mental health dialogue for families.

Bluey is currently the biggest cultural touchstone for children and families around the world. This funny, heart-warming animated series originated in Australia and became the most streamed program in the United States in 2024. It is beloved by kids and parents alike, even attracting superstar fans like Lin-Manuel Miranda and Natalie Portman.

Amanda Phillips is the Northeast Regional Administrative Supervisor at The Village Network. Originally from Youngstown, Ohio, Amanda has been a part of TVN for almost five wonderful years. She loves working with her colleagues and seeing all the positive things everyone does for TVN youths and families. Amanda has a 4-year-old daughter who is determined to be a future RAS at TVN! Amanda and her daughter are avid Bluey fangirls.

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Let’s Explore That is a production of The Village Network, a nonprofit behavioral health provider for children. If you’d like to learn more about The Village Network, visit www.thevillagenetwork.org or subscribe to our newsletter.

If you are struggling with your mental health, you’re not alone. Please visit https://findtreatment.gov or call 1-800-662-HELP (4357) to get help and find resources near you. If you are in crisis, please call 988 immediately.

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not necessarily represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of The Village Network. The material presented here is for general informational purposes and for personal use only and is not intended to replace or constitute medical advice, medical information, legal advice, investment advice, or other professional advice or guidance for a particular purpose. All copyrighted information and trademarks and all forms and abbreviations of the same are the property of their respective owners, and their use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service.

We learned a ton about our colleague, Travis Porter, in today’s conversation! Travis proudly recounts his experience growing up in a home alongside both biological and foster siblings and how that inspired him to become an advocate. His incredible story of how family can be built on love and commitment will make your heart grow several sizes this holiday season.

Travis Porter is the Foster Care Marketing and Recruiting Program Manager at The Village Network. He is a community leader in foster care services and mental health. Travis is active in the community, serving kids and volunteering with various programs. Travis is trained in multiple mental health disciplines and intervention skills to aid the populations he serves. He has had experience in residential settings as a caseworker, mentor, and program supervisor. Travis completed his studies at Ohio Dominican University and Mount Vernon Nazarene University. He lives in the Columbus area with his wife and their children.

Follow Let’s Explore That on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Threads!

Let’s Explore That is a production of The Village Network, a nonprofit behavioral health provider for children. If you’d like to learn more about The Village Network, visit www.thevillagenetwork.org or subscribe to our newsletter.

If you are struggling with your mental health, you’re not alone. Please visit https://findtreatment.gov or call 1-800-662-HELP (4357) to get help and find resources near you. If you are in crisis, please call 988 immediately.

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed are the speaker’s own and do not necessarily represent the views, thoughts, and opinions of The Village Network. The material presented here is for general informational purposes and for personal use only and is not intended to replace or constitute medical advice, medical information, legal advice, investment advice, or other professional advice or guidance for a particular purpose. All copyrighted information and trademarks and all forms and abbreviations of the same are the property of their respective owners, and their use does not imply endorsement of or opposition to any specific organization, product, or service.