Best The Missouri Department Of Social Services Podcasts (2025)

1
"Find some way to get involved." 43:35

16d ago43:35

43:35

In this episode, Shasta, Jessica, and Ashton speak with Tim Hite. Tim is the Executive Director of Divine Nest in Missouri. One piece of this nonprofit is the Sparrow House, a place for kids to go when they are removed from their homes for their safety and wellbeing while their case worker is in search of a foster placement. Tim and his wife are fo…

1
"I don't know that anyone really feels totally ready for it." 40:37

2M ago40:37

40:37

Join Shasta, Jessica, and Ashton as they talk with Hillary Lammert. Hillary was adopted as a child and talks about her experience growing and learning as a foster/adoptive parent. She shares advice for working with biological parents, and practical information about taking care of yourself while you go through a foster and adoptive journey, the man…

1
Meet Deputy Director of Field Operations Pam Alston 43:33

3M ago43:33

43:33

Children's Division has a new Deputy Director of Field Operations, Pam Alston. We are so excited to have this new position and Pam to fill it. Pam is enthusiastic about how this new role can support the regions and help improve outcomes for the families and children served by the Children's Division. Pam has been featured as a guest on past podcast…

1
"If we don't take care of ourselves, how are we going to take care of our kids?" 36:18

3M ago36:18

36:18

This month's guest, Micah Smiley, shares her experience as a "medical home." Micah is currently a respite only foster home, but she started as a full foster home! Micah even moved to a new home to get closer to medical care for a child in her home. This episode is full of great information for anyone who is considering the opportunity to care for t…

1
BONUS EPISODE: Meet Interim Children's Division Director Kayla Ueligger 49:52

4M ago49:52

49:52

Get to know the Interim Children's Division Director, Kayla Ueligger! Kayla shares her journey to and through Children's Division, her heart for serving others, and her deep and meaningful "why" for doing this work! She has a personal connection to Children's Division and experience on the frontlines of child welfare that informs her day-to-day wor…

1
What is the State Technical Assistance Team (STAT)? 43:25

4M ago43:25

43:25

Baylee and Grace join forces with the State Technical Assistance Team (STAT) aka Grace's "Crime Fighting Friends". Learn about what STAT does for Missouri's children, DSS's canine coworker, and the elephant in the room.... You don't want to miss this episode. Want to learn more about Ike? Check out this video: https://www.facebook.com/MOSocialServi…

1
"Love can fix a lot..." 41:02

4M ago41:02

41:02

Our hosts, Shasta, Jessica, and Ashton talk to a very special guest this month - Shasta's husband, Chris Miller. Chris grew up in foster care, experiencing 6 or 7 placements before finally aging out of the system. While his story was not always positive, Chris does his best to share that even through the hard times, there is a lot of positive swirl…

1
The Misconceptions of Child Support 55:05

5M ago55:05

55:05

Are you aware of the common misconceptions surrounding child support? It's often misunderstood, and even our cohosts, Grace and Baylee, were surprised by what they learned. They were joined by experts Steve Kissinger and Valerie Taylor, who highlighted the invaluable work of the DSS CSE team. Remember, by tuning into each episode of Our Common Thre…

1
BONUS: Farewell, Darrell 1:09:53

5M ago1:09:53

1:09:53

All things must come to an end...and with that, what better way to send our host, Darrell, off to his next great adventure but a podcast? In this episode, Darrell shares his hopes for the future of Children's Division and reminds us of the 10 Directives. In true Darrell fashion, prepare yourself for heartfelt words, stories, and an emotional goodby…

1
"Get attached." 46:30

5M ago46:30

46:30

This month, Shasta, Jessica, and Ashton talk with Tori Ward. Tori was introduced to foster parenting at a young age when her parents became licensed. She saw, first-hand, the impact foster parents have in the lives of children. As soon as she could, she became a foster parent and is a mentor and advocate for foster parenting. Tori is living proof t…

1
Conversations around Safe Sleep 55:15

6M ago55:15

55:15

This month we met with Alison Jacobson, the current CEO of First Candle. As a SIDS mom, Alison knows the pain of losing an infant to a sleep-related death firsthand. Also joining us for this conversation was Haylee Musso and Misty Allen from our DSS team. While we cover trend data, experience and other great information, the whole podcast boils dow…

1
Strength Through Support: Building a Mental Health Toolkit 50:58

6M ago50:58

50:58

Join your hosts Baylee and Grace as they team up with Shartina Campbell and Ken Haigler to discuss the significance of mental health awareness.By Missouri Department of Social Services

1
Safe Haven Baby Boxes 39:01

7M ago39:01

39:01

Listen in on a conversation with the Founder and current CEO of Safe Haven Baby Boxes, Monica Kelsey. Safe Haven Baby Boxes' (SHBB) mission is to prevent the illegal abandonment of newborns through education, raising awareness of the safe haven law, and offering the only anonymous option, the Baby Box. Monica talks about how the organization got st…

1
Safe Haven Baby Boxes 41:17

7M ago41:17

41:17

Listen in on a conversation with the Founder and current CEO of Safe Haven Baby Boxes, Monica Kelsey. Safe Haven Baby Boxes' (SHBB) mission is to prevent the illegal abandonment of newborns through education, raising awareness of the safe haven law, and offering the only anonymous option, the Baby Box. Monica talks about how the organization got st…

1
Shaping Missouri's Youth 40:45

7M ago40:45

40:45

Join hosts Grace and Baylee for an insightful discussion with DYS Director Scott Odum, DYS Deputy Director Mike Pitzen, and Fiscal Liaison Christina Wood as they delve into various aspects of the Division of Youth Services.By Missouri Department of Social Services

1
"Every kid needs a family history." 39:35

7M ago39:35

39:35

This month, Shasta, Jessica, and Ashton sit down with Deborah Stukey. Deborah is a retired school teacher and principal and is a resourceful learner. Her natural educating talents, as well as the training she received as an educator and to become a foster parent, has been extremely valuable in her foster parenting journey. Deborah has an adopted so…

1
Program Improvement Plan (PIP) 36:05

8M ago36:05

36:05

Ashton Kever hosts this episode with guests Julie Starr and JoDene Bogart. Learn all about the findings of the CFSR and how they are implemented in the Program Improvement Plan (PIP), how that plan is used to make improvements in practice, and a few actionable tips for you to start tweaking your work to better serve the children and families of Mis…

1
Summer of Appreciation Tour '24 Recap 24:58

8M ago24:58

24:58

Join co-hosts Baylee and Grace as they chat with Director Knodell and Deputy Director Joanie Rogers to reflect over the DSS Summer of Appreciation Tour 2024!By Missouri Department of Social Services

1
"They deserve help just as much as anyone else." 45:43

8M ago45:43

45:43

This month we had a wonderful call with the Kueblers! Alexus Kuebler, a former foster child, is passionate about being a safe home for Missouri's foster children. She knew she wanted to be a foster and adoptive parent since she was taken into care. The Kueblers are excited to work with families to achieve reunification. Listen along and soak up the…

1
Funding the Future: How Missouri's FY25 Budget Affects You 22:04

9M ago22:04

22:04

Co-Host Grace teams up with DSS Director Robert Knodell, Legislative Director Ryan Conway, and CFO Pat Luebbering to discuss the current legislative session and Governor Parson's signed FY25 budget.By Missouri Department of Social Services

1
SOUND OF HOPE: The Story of Possum Trot 45:31

9M ago45:31

45:31

The fight for children starts July 4, 2024. In this episode of the Call to Foster, our hosts are joined by Darrell Missey, the Director of Children's Division, and Rebekah Weigel, Writer and Producer of "SOUND OF HOPE: The Story of Possum Trot". Hear from the writer of this incredible film about the writing process, the characters, and the true sto…

1
BONUS: SOUND OF HOPE: The Story of Possum Trot 45:31

9M ago45:31

45:31

The fight for children starts July 4, 2024. In this bonus episode of the We Are Children's Division Podcast, our hosts are joined by Shasta Miller and Jessica Huckstep, the hosts of the Call to Foster Podcast, and Rebekah Weigel, Writer and Producer of "SOUND OF HOPE: The Story of Possum Trot". Hear from Rebekah about the writing process, the chara…

1
A Successfully Reunified Parent Shares Her Story 38:51

10M ago38:51

38:51

This month, Darrell and Ashton sit down with Crystal Wenger and Katie Murphy. Katie is a parent who successfully reunified with her children. In this episode, she shares her story of overcoming addiction and hard times in order to become the parent her children needed. You'll also hear from Crystal about what Children's Division is working on to cr…

1
"101 Considerations for Foster Parents" 35:21

10M ago35:21

35:21

In this episode, our hosts speak with author, youth pastor, and foster parent, David Wermuth. David has over 11 years of experience as a foster parent to older teen boys with a goal of independence. He used his experience as a foster parent to share stories of encouragement and helpful tips in his book, "101 Considerations for Foster Parents." A li…

1
Empowering Success: How SkillUp Is Transforming Lives in Missouri 22:03

11M ago22:03

22:03

On episode 6 of Our Common Thread, join Baylee as she sits down with three remarkable guests - Jennifer Heimricks from OWCI, Toni Sneller from FSD, and Lauren Hall from CD - who share their insights and experiences with this innovative initiative for SNAP recipients around the Show-Me State!By Missouri Department of Social Services

1
Advice from the Older Youth 52:34

11M ago52:34

52:34

Ana and "T" share a bit about their stories and the impact foster care has had on their lives. These young adults are passionate and articulate in sharing their advice to those working in the child welfare space. They also talk with Darrell and Rene Brinkman about Child Advocacy Day 2024.By The Missouri Department of Social Services

1
"If they go home and you're not a little sad, you didn't do your job." 35:53

12M ago35:53

35:53

Listen along as Jessica and Shasta talk with Jason Seter, a foster parent and co-trainer in Missouri for over 10 years. Jason admits that they started fostering to adopt, but then quickly fell in love with fostering and realized the great need for foster homes. Having cared for children from one day old to fifteen years old, he has found that each …

1
Building a Safer Tomorrow: A Focus on Child Abuse Prevention 43:36

12M ago43:36

43:36

In episode 5 of 'Our Common Thread', we talk about all things Child Abuse Prevention with Haylee Musso from STAT, Elaine Casteel from CD, and Kara Wilcox from CD. Please note that in this episode you may hear some distortion in the sound. We appreciate your patience as we work towards continuous improvement and learning.…

1
Children's Division Prevention Team 57:45

12M ago57:45

57:45

In this episode, you'll hear from the dedicated Primary Prevention Team at Children's Division. They discuss how they all got started with the division, where their interest sparked in prevention work, and what's going on now with the quickly growing and evolving world of prevention in the division.By The Missouri Department of Social Services

1
"The whole system isn't made up of that horrible news headline." 45:30

1y ago45:30

45:30

Shasta, Jessica, and Ashton talk with Missouri Foster Parent Pauline Roberts in this episode. Pauline shares a lot of practical advice and wisdom with for future and current foster parents. She stresses the importance of remembering that foster parents are coming into this family's story at one of the worst possible moments imaginable. These parent…

1
Nurturing New Beginnings: Maternal and Infant Health Initiatives 33:16

1y ago33:16

33:16

In this episode, we join forces with Kirk Mathews from MHD, Dawne Votra from FSD, and Misty Allen from CD to discuss all things maternal and infant health, including the new Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies initiative within in the department!By Missouri Department of Social Services

1
Child Welfare As Seen on TV 1:01:19

1y ago1:01:19

1:01:19

In this episode, Darrell and the Deputies react to the portrayal of Child Welfare/Social Workers in the movies! Listen along as they talk about the stereotypes and situations shown in King Richard, Lilo and Stitch, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Instant Family. If you haven't watched these movies, you can find the clips being referenced below. DISCLAIMER: We …

1
What's Your Why? Pt 2 32:12

1y ago32:12

32:12

In this episode we sit down with department leadership to hear about their "why", and how they play a role in the department. This episode features guests including FSD Director Kim Evans, CD Director Darrell Missey, MHD Director Todd Richardson, MMAC Director Dale Carr, and STAT Director Frank Tennant.…

1
What's Your Why? Pt 3 48:37

1y ago48:37

48:37

In this episode we sit down with department leadership to hear about their "why", and how they play a role in the department. This episode features guests including Communications Director Chelsea Blair, DYS Director Scott Odum, HR Director Karen Meyer, DLS Director Sharie Hahn, Deputy Legislative Director Taylor Jones, and Legislative Director Rya…

1
“It's gonna be the most amazing thing you ever do.” 39:09

1y ago39:09

39:09

In this episode, Shasta, Jessica, and Ashton talk with a very impressive foster parent, Ali Keck, who at the time of recording was 25 years old! After only 3 months of foster parenting, Ali has a lot of practical advice and experience to share with young, new, or even seasoned foster parents. She also addresses how foster parenting fits in when it …

1
2024 Legislative Session 38:08

1y ago38:08

38:08

Listen along as Darrell has a conversation with Director Robert Knodell, CFO Pat Luebbering, and Legislative Director Ryan Conway. These four department leaders sit down to discuss what team members can expect this legislative season along with expressing their appreciation to team members for their continued work in empowering Missourians.…

1
What's Your Why? Pt 1 22:53

1y ago22:53

22:53

In this episode we sit down with department leadership to hear about their "why", and how they play a role in the department. This episode features guests including Department Director Robert Knodell, Department Deputy Director Joanie Rogers, Chief Operational Officer Jennifer Tidball, and Chief Financial Officer Pat Luebbering.…

1
“You get to be a lifelong part of their family.” 43:48

1y ago43:48

43:48

In this episode, Shasta, Jessica and Ashton spoke with Jared Baker, a current foster parent in Missouri. Jared and his wife are ambassadors, advocates, and trainers for future foster parents and are passionate about the cause. If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a foster parent, share this episode with them! You can also find out m…

1
Department of Mental Health Services and Resources 55:58

1y ago55:58

55:58

Darrell, Danielle, and Ashton speak with Rachel Jones from the Missouri Department of Mental Health (DMH) in this episode. Hear what DMH does for families and how the work they do overlaps with Children's Division's work. Learn how you can get involved and enjoy Rachel's passion as she discusses her big dreams for the future of our work together.…

1
"I always try to put myself in their shoes." 39:01

1+ y ago39:01

39:01

Shasta, Jessica and Ashton chat with Abby Pancoast about her foster parenting journey. Abby admits that they became foster parents with the intention to adopt and discusses the heartbreak that can come with reunification. She also shares some insight into what it might look like to be a foster parent during the holiday seasons. If you're considerin…

1
Faith-Based and Community Partnerships 55:38

1+ y ago55:38

55:38

Listen along as Darrell and Ashton have a conversation with Vickie Stoneberger and a couple of our partners at the Missouri Baptist Children's Home, David Burch and George Fulgham. These passionate gentlemen share how they got involved with charitable work and ministry, the ways they work with Children's Division to support the families and childre…

1
The Forgotten Adoption Option 50:51

1+ y ago50:51

50:51

In this episode of The Call to Foster, Ashton sits down with Angie Swarnes, Deputy Director of Children's Division over Permanency, and Marcy Bursac, local author and founder of the Forgotten Adoption Option. We were honored to get to hear Marcy's story firsthand. The impact Marcy is making with her nonprofit is undeniable and we look forward to wo…

1
"There are no kids too far gone." 32:58

1+ y ago32:58

32:58

In honor of National Adoption Month, we spoke to adoptive parent and Southwest Regional Director for the Children's Division, Pam Alston. Pam brings a unique perspective to our podcast as an employee of the Children's Division. Her story is a perfect example of how children might find you and their permanent home through foster care. While this pod…

1
National Adoption Month 2023 44:16

1+ y ago44:16

44:16

For National Adoption Month, Deputy Director of Permanency, Angie Swarnes, Vickie Stoneberger and Ashton Kever sit down with representatives from our Family Resource Centers. Lori Ross (FosterAdopt Connect), Heather Craig (Foster Adoptive Care Coalition), and Deanna Alonso (Central Missouri Foster Care and Adoption Association) all share their pers…

1
Meet Regional Directors Phoelica McKenzie(St. Louis) and Brian West(KC) 1:05:58

1+ y ago1:05:58

1:05:58

It's here! The last of the intro podcasts from this season. We are thrilled to be able to give you this opportunity to learn about the executive leadership team in the metro areas. Hear about how they came to CD, their regions, what their goals and vision are, and what keeps them invested in their work.…

1
"Don't think your age counts you out." 42:56

1+ y ago42:56

42:56

We had the privilege of speaking with Dave and Patty Hedrick this month about their journey with foster care. They stress how important it is to pour into the kids and find common interests. Eager to care for more kids, the Hedricks want potential foster parents to know that age doesn't count you out and that these kids will keep you young. If you'…

1
Meet Regional Directors Lisa Crawford (SW) and Pam Alston (SE) 42:03

1+ y ago42:03

42:03

With a combined experience of over 50 years with DSS, Lisa and Pam share their passion for the wellbeing of Missouri's children and families. Learn how they got their start with Children's Division, where their passions have lead them, what their visions are for the future of their region, and why they come to work every day. Get to know these two …

1
Safe Sleep Month 2023 40:35

1+ y ago40:35

40:35

October is Safe Sleep Month! In 2021, of the 102 infants who died from non-medical causes, 81 percent were related to the infant’s sleep environment. Another way to look at it, is that we are losing one infant every four days to deaths that could have been easily prevented. We sat down with Liz Tietsort and Haylee Musso and chatted about safe sleep…

1
"This isn't gonna be our forever." 48:28

1+ y ago48:28

48:28

In this episode, hosts Shasta Miller, Jessica Huckstep, and Ashton Kever, had the privilege of talking with Miss Black Missouri, USA, Eugenia Doreen. Eugenia was previously a foster youth in Missouri and shares her experience in the foster system. Now, a successful college graduate working at a law firm, Eugenia has built a platform supporting and …

1
A Conversation with Miss Black Missouri, USA, Eugenia Wallace 46:06

1+ y ago46:06

46:06

Join us for this great conversation with Miss Black Missouri, USA, Eugenia Wallace, about her experience in the foster care system. She tells her story and shares how it has impacted her life and mission in adulthood. She is passionate about empowering foster youth to go to college and follow their dreams and helps them navigate the system. Eugenia…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

The Missouri Department Of Social Services Podcasts

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