In this episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, hosts Courtney Williams, Travis Vangsnes, and Brian Mavis discuss Brian's new book, 'Go Upstream,' (releasing soon) which explores the connection between foster care and various social issues such as homelessness, addiction, and trafficking. The conversation emphasizes the importance of early intervention in children's lives and the role of family in healing social wounds. Brian outlines ten social wounds that often affect youth in foster care and shares his vision for a future where every child feels loved and cared for. The episode concludes with a call to action for listeners to get involved in supporting foster care and the families that provide it.

Checkout all the resources and ways you can get involved fostering, adopting from foster care, or supporting foster families.
https://americaskidsbelong.org/

Takeaways

• The book 'Go Upstream' addresses the connection between foster care and social issues.
• Early intervention is crucial for healing children's trauma.
• Foster care is often overlooked in discussions about social wounds.
• Good families can provide better outcomes than programs alone.
• The ten social wounds include trauma, physical illness, and homelessness.
• Every child deserves to feel loved and cared for.
• The system is a response to harm, not the cause of it.
• Not everyone is called to foster, but everyone can care.
• Communities play a vital role in supporting foster families.
• Awareness and understanding of these issues can lead to change.

Thank you for listening to this episode of The Foster Friendly Podcast.

Learn more about being a foster or adoptive parent or supporting those who are in your community.

Meet kids awaiting adoption.

Join us in helping kids in foster care by donating $18 a month and change the lives of foster kids before they age out.

Visit AmericasKidsBelong.org and click the donate button to help us change the outcomes of kids in foster care.

In this episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, hosts Travis Vangsnes and Courtney Williams interview Ariana Rodriguez, Miss Kentucky 2025. Ariana shares her inspiring journey from being a homeless child in foster care to winning the title of Miss Kentucky! She discusses her advocacy work through The Lucky Ones Foundation, which aims to empower youth in foster care and educate the public about the foster care system.

Ariana emphasizes the importance of amplifying the voices of children in care and the need for social support. The conversation also touches on the role of pageantry in advocacy and the life skills necessary for youth aging out of foster care. They also discuss the critical importance of equipping kids in foster care with crucial life skills. This is a great conversation and Ariana's resiliency and drive to dream big while amplifying the voices of others is really inspiring.

Checkout Ariana's nonprofit, The Lucky Ones, which provides essential resources and support for kids in foster care.

She also has a podcast--The Lucky Ones

Takeaways

• Ariana's journey from foster care to Miss Kentucky is inspiring.
• The importance of social support for youth in foster care.
• Advocacy for children's voices in the foster care system is crucial.
• The Lucky Ones Foundation aims to educate and empower foster youth.
• Life skills education is essential for youth aging out of foster care.
• Ariana's podcast amplifies the voices of those in the foster care system.
• Social workers need to listen to children to make effective changes.
• The pageant platform can be a powerful tool for advocacy.
• Ariana's initiatives focus on both foster care and agricultural education.
• Community support is vital for the success of initiatives like The Lucky Ones.

Thank you for listening to this episode of The Foster Friendly Podcast.

Learn more about being a foster or adoptive parent or supporting those who are in your community.

Meet kids awaiting adoption.

Join us in helping kids in foster care by donating $18 a month and change the lives of foster kids before they age out.

Visit AmericasKidsBelong.org and click the donate button to help us change the outcomes of kids in foster care.

In this episode of the Foster Friendly Podcast, host Brian and co-host Travis welcome Greg and Valerie, a couple who have made a significant impact in the foster care community. They share their journey of becoming foster parents, the challenges and joys of raising four adopted children, and the lessons learned along the way. The conversation touches on the importance of sibling relationships, the chaos of parenting, and the resilience required in foster care. Greg and Valerie emphasize the need for compassion and understanding in their home, creating a supportive environment for both their children and the foster kids that come through their doors. In this conversation, Greg and Valerie share their journey in foster care and advocacy, emphasizing the importance of community support and engagement. They discuss their experiences with fundraising, the role of faith in fostering, and how businesses can contribute to the cause. Their insights highlight the ripple effect of advocacy and the need for more families to step up and support children in need.

Takeaways

• Valerie is the driving force in their household.
• Fostering involves taking risks for the sake of children.
• Every yes to something means a no to something else.
• Horses teach us about beauty and unpredictability, similar to parenting.
• The couple went from zero to four children in under a year.
• Chaos in a large family can lead to happiness and bonding.
• Their children learned compassion through welcoming foster kids.
• The dynamics of fostering can be complex, especially with biological children.
• It's important to remember the trauma that foster kids have experienced.
• Creating a stable environment helps foster kids feel secure. Foster care requires community support and advocacy.
• Fundraising events can significantly impact foster care initiatives.
• Corporate support is crucial for fostering awareness and funding.
• Faith communities have a unique opportunity to engage in foster care.
• Normalizing foster care can encourage more families to participate.
• Building relationships is essential for successful foster care outcomes.
• Awareness is as important as recruiting new foster families.
• Foster care impacts various societal issues, including homelessness and mental health.
• Every individual can contribute to foster care in meaningful ways.
• The journey of fostering can be rewarding despite its challenges.

Thank you for listening to this episode of The Foster Friendly Podcast.

Learn more about being a foster or adoptive parent or supporting those who are in your community.

Meet kids awaiting adoption.

Join us in helping kids in foster care by donating $18 a month and change the lives of foster kids before they age out.

Visit AmericasKidsBelong.org and click the donate button to help us change the outcomes of kids in foster care.