Creating A Family: Talk About Adoption, Foster & Kinship Care podcast

#Family #Lifestyle #Parenting #Adoption #Foster Care #International Adoption #Infant Adoption #Adopting A Baby #Trauma-informed Parenting #Family Life #Non-Profit #Business #Creating A Family #Adoptive Parents #Foster Parent #Foster #Grandparents Raising Grandchildren #Kinship Care #Raising Relative Children

24:35

It’s the very first episode of The Big Pitch with Jimmy Carr and our first guest is Phil Wang! And Phil’s subgenre is…This Place is Evil. We’re talking psychological torture, we’re talking gory death scenes, we’re talking Lorraine Kelly?! The Big Pitch with Jimmy Carr is a brand new comedy podcast where each week a different celebrity guest pitches an idea for a film based on one of the SUPER niche sub-genres on Netflix. From ‘Steamy Crime Movies from the 1970s’ to ‘Australian Dysfunctional Family Comedies Starring A Strong Female Lead’, our celebrity guests will pitch their wacky plot, their dream cast, the marketing stunts, and everything in between. By the end of every episode, Jimmy Carr, Comedian by night / “Netflix Executive” by day, will decide whether the pitch is greenlit or condemned to development hell! Listen on all podcast platforms and watch on the Netflix Is A Joke YouTube Channel . The Big Pitch is a co-production by Netflix and BBC Studios Audio. Jimmy Carr is an award-winning stand-up comedian and writer, touring his brand-new show JIMMY CARR: LAUGHS FUNNY throughout the USA from May to November this year, as well as across the UK and Europe, before hitting Australia and New Zealand in early 2026. All info and tickets for the tour are available at JIMMYCARR.COM Production Coordinator: Becky Carewe-Jeffries Production Manager: Mabel Finnegan-Wright Editor: Stuart Reid Producer: Pete Strauss Executive Producer: Richard Morris Executive Producers for Netflix: Kathryn Huyghue, Erica Brady, and David Markowitz Set Design: Helen Coyston Studios: Tower Bridge Studios Make Up: Samantha Coughlan Cameras: Daniel Spencer Sound: Charlie Emery Branding: Tim Lane Photography: James Hole…

Creating a Family: Talk about Adoption, Foster & Kinship Care

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Are you thinking about adopting or fostering a child? Confused about all the options and wondering where to begin? Or are you an adoptive or foster parent or kinship caregiver trying to be the best parent possible to this precious child? This is the podcast for you! Every week, we interview leading experts for an hour, discussing the topics you care about in deciding whether to adopt/foster or how to be a better parent. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are the national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them. Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content: weekly podcasts, weekly articles, and resource pages on all aspects of family building at our website, CreatingaFamily.org. We also have an active presence on many social media platforms. Please like or follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter).

759 episodes

Creating a Family: Talk about Adoption, Foster & Kinship Care

155 subscribers

updated about 17 hours ago

Series home•Feed

759 episodes

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1
The Adoption Home Study: Should You Be Nervous? 54:56

17 hours ago54:56

54:56

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Many prospective adoptive families feel anxious about the home study. Our guest, Sheila Kowit, is an adoption social worker with Adoptions From the Heart. She prepares home studies for both domestic infant and international adoptions. She explains what the process is like, what you can expect, and what you will learn in the home study process. In this episode, we discuss: What is an adoption home study? Is it possible to get one home study that can be used with all types of adoptions: domestic infant, foster care, and international adoption? What is the purpose of the adoption home study? At what point in the adoption process is the home study usually done in domestic infant adoption? In international adoption? How long does it take to complete an adoption home study in domestic infant adoption? In international adoption How much does an adoption home study cost for domestic infant adoption? For international adoption What information can the prospective adoptive parents expect to compile for a domestic infant adoption home study? How does this differ for international adoption? Medical history Statements of income and assets Autobiographical statements References What, if any, are the physical health concerns: For international adoption, consult our Adoption Comparison Charts Do you have to have a current physical? What to do about getting a medical physical if you don’t have a regular primary doctor. Can you go to Urgent Care clinics or Minute Clinics for an adoption physical? Can you do domestic infant adoption if you or your partner/spouse has a mental health diagnosis? What about international adoption? For international adoption, consult our Adoption Comparison Charts Criminal background concerns for domestic infant adoption? For international adoption? DUIs, misdemeanors, expunged records? It is important to be honest and share it all with your social worker. What gets included in the financial portion of the home study for domestic infant adoption? For international adoption? Income, liabilities, and assets assessment Documentation necessary Check country listings at our Adoption Comparison Charts or USCIS Intercountry Adoption Information Writing your personal history for a domestic infant? And for international? Support the show Please leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org . We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them. Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content: Weekly podcasts Weekly articles/blog posts Resource pages on all aspects of family building…

1
Birthparents and Agency Lied About Drug Use - Weekend Wisdom 9:52

5 days ago9:52

9:52

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Question: My husband and I had a swift match and placement in December. When we were presented with the case, all that was reported for drug use was smoking 12 cigarettes a day. After about a month of trying to get medical records from the hospital for my pediatrician, I discovered my baby’s meconium tested positive for meth. This lab test resulted on Monday, and we were released from the hospital the Friday before, so no one told us about this result. The agency got me the medical records and didn’t mention them when sending them to me. I was also told the birth mom had prenatal care when the medical records say spotty prenatal care. I was shocked when I came across the lab results. We met both of my son’s birth parents a couple of times while in the hospital and had good visits. My husband is usually very good at identifying people on drugs, but he didn’t suspect anything was amiss. We met our son’s siblings, and they all seemed well cared for. My son also did not appear to go through withdrawals. He was never in the NICU and was released from the hospital 2 days after birth. He was of a healthy weight and had excellent Apgar scores. I know I would have passed on this case if I knew meth was involved and so in a way this is a blessing because I love my son and am so glad we were selected to parent him, but I feel some trust has broken between us and his birth parents. I text them weekly with photos and small updates, but I can’t help but feel a little resentful (to both the birth parents and the agency). How do you suggest I deal with this situation? Resources: Raising a Child with Prenatal Substance Exposure (Resource page) Evaluating Risk Factors in Adoption (Resource page) Creating a Family Online Support Group Support the show Please leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org . We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them. Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content: Weekly podcasts Weekly articles/blog posts Resource pages on all aspects of family building…

1
Raising a Biracial Child 53:29

8 days ago53:29

53:29

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Are you raising a mixed-race child? Join our conversation with Nicole Doyley, a biracial woman raising biracial kids, and the author of What About the Children: 5 Values for Multiracial Families . Terminology: what is preferred-biracial, mixed race, multi-racial, mixed? Biracial includes Black/White, Black/Asian, White/Asian, Hispanic/Black, Indigenous/Black/Hispanic. In this interview, we are talking about mixed-race, but families can also be mixed culturally. Is it true that mixed-race is the fastest-growing group in the US? Issues facing biracial people in the US. Based on personal experience as well as a 2020 Vox Survey of Mixed Americans. No man’s land of racelessness Having to always answer the question “What are you?” Not fully accepted by either race Wanting to ditch one race so as to be fully the other race Feeling isolated Confused identity Rejecting the idea of having to fit into just one box As a child, you didn’t like the ambiguity that biracial brought to your life. You say you felt a “two-ness”. But you came to view being of mixed race as a blessing rather than a curse. Why, as a child did it feel uncomfortable to you and how did you grow to accept it? Do you think a mixed-race adopted or foster child being raised by parents of a different race from them but the same shared race with each other will face different challenges? In the past, it was common to tell adoptive/foster/grandparents that the world was going to treat their child as Black (or another race), so you should focus your efforts on raising a Black child and not emphasize their other race. People in the US see race first. How should parents handle it? Does it matter if the child’s dominant features make her look like she fits more squarely in one race? 5 values for raising a biracial child: Awareness Humility Diversity Honesty Exploration Benefits/advantages to being mixed-race: Can function in both majority and minority environments Tips for Raising a Mixed-Race Child Support the show Please leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org . We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them. Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content: Weekly podcasts Weekly articles/blog posts Resource pages on all aspects of family building…

1
Attachment Dance - Weekend Wisdom 10:11

12 days ago10:11

10:11

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Question: For three months now, we’ve been fostering our 17-year-old son, with the intention of adopting. My question is regarding attachment. How can you tell if the child is setting up boundaries or testing you to see how hard you’ll pursue/run after them? Resources: Creating and Cultivating Attachment (Resource page) Helping a Child Heal from Trauma (Resource page) Transitioning a Child to Your Home (Resource page) Support the show Please leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org . We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them. Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content: Weekly podcasts Weekly articles/blog posts Resource pages on all aspects of family building…

1
How to Engage Kinship Caregivers 46:16

15 days ago46:16

46:16

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Are you a professional working with kinship caregivers? You need to listen to this interview with Dr. Tyreasa Washington, is a nationally and internationally recognized scholar specializing in kinship care families (e.g., grandparents raising grandchildren). She is a Distinguished Senior Scholar for Child Welfare at Child Trends, the leading research organization in the United States focused solely on improving the lives of children, youth, and families. In this episode, we discuss: Advantages of keeping children with extended family when their parents are not able to raise them. How do kids who are raised temporarily or permanently by relatives fare compared to kids placed with unknown foster parents? One of the biggest questions we receive from professionals is how to engage kinship caregivers. They tell us that they set up programs to support kinship caregivers, but few show up. This seems universal. Why does this happen? We also hear about institutional trauma-(law enforcement struggles/foster care system struggles- leads to lack of trust--not feeling safe in their community, not trusting DSS.) How does this impact kinship caregivers? How does it impact those of us trying to serve them? What types of support are the most helpful? What are some cultural differences you've observed in Black relatives raising children within the family, and how do these differences impact how professionals interact with kin raising children? What have you found in your research on the impact of caregiving on the health of kinship caregivers? Need for training for kinship caregivers. How can professionals support self-care with folks who are so busy just getting by? Support the show Please leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org . We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them. Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content: Weekly podcasts Weekly articles/blog posts Resource pages on all aspects of family building…

1
Dealing with a Long Wait When Adopting - Weekend Wisdom 9:43

19 days ago9:43

9:43

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Question: How can prospective parents manage their thoughts and emotions while waiting to be matched with a child (especially in cases where the waiting period is a long one)? Resources: Suggested Books for Adoption Coping Mechanisms for the Waiting (Article) Creating a Family Online Support Group Support the show Please leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org . We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them. Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content: Weekly podcasts Weekly articles/blog posts Resource pages on all aspects of family building…

1
Evaluating Risk Factors in Foster Care Adoption 51:50

22 days ago51:50

51:50

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Are you considering adopting from foster care or becoming a foster parent? Join us to discuss this topic with Dr. Lindsay Terrell, a pediatrician and Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Duke University Medical Center, as well as the Clinical Director of their Foster Care Clinic. She and her husband are licensed foster parents. In this episode, we discuss: The common risk factors that foster parents and those wanting to adopt from foster care need to be aware of include physical, emotional, developmental, educational, and behavioral problems rooted in childhood adversity and trauma. What types of trauma are foster kids exposed to? What percentage of children in foster care have been exposed to drugs or alcohol prenatally? Creating a Family’s Prenatal Substance Exposure Workshop for Parents Impact of trauma on physical health. Foster parents and caseworkers often have little information about prior health history. Other common physical health issues that are common in kids in foster care that are not necessarily connected to trauma. Impact of trauma on mental health. Those areas of the brain most affected by trauma, especially early trauma, are those involved in stress response, emotional regulation, attention, cognition, executive function, and memory. What types of behaviors are common as a result of trauma? Medication and over-medication of foster children and youth. Research has found that the average number of psychiatric diagnoses and psychotropic medications prescribed were significantly greater for youth and children in foster care. Children in foster care are likely to be kept on them longer than other Medicaid-enrolled children who are not in foster care. What are psychotropic drugs, and why are they so often prescribed for children in foster care? Who has the authority to make healthcare decisions for foster children and youth? Sleep issues common to children in foster care. Food issues common to children in foster care. Impact of trauma on a foster child’s education. Children in foster care need educational advocates. Risk factors to consider for children already in the home. Children can heal, and foster parents can make a difference! Support the show Please leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org . We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them. Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content: Weekly podcasts Weekly articles/blog posts Resource pages on all aspects of family building…

1
What the Heck is Happening with the Adoption Tax Credit? - Weekend Wisdom 4:13

26 days ago4:13

4:13

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Question: On the 2025 Adoption Tax Credit Episode, it was mentioned that they thought this would possibly be the year it becomes refundable. Does that only apply to finalizations in 2025, or will it make previous adoptions (if within the 5-year tax credit range) refundable too? For example, an adoption finalized in 2023 but we haven’t used all of the tax credit available. Does the remaining amount become refundable, too? ~Oklahoma City, OK Resources: Understanding the Adoption Tax Credit AdoptionTaxCredit.org Josh Kroll, Families Rising ( joshk@wearefamiliesrising.org ) Support the show Please leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org . We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them. Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content: Weekly podcasts Weekly articles/blog posts Resource pages on all aspects of family building…

1
What's It Like When Your Parents Decide to Foster 54:00

29 days ago54:00

54:00

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Are you considering fostering but are concerned about how it impacts the kids already living in your home? Join us for a conversation with Michelle Snyder, a foster, adoptive, and bio mom, and her son, Ben, to hear their stories of fostering and how it impacted their family. They are co-authors of Beyond Blood: How Being a Foster Brother Shattered My World and Rebuilt It. In this episode, we discuss: Ben - How old were you when your parents sat you down to talk about fostering? Do you remember how it felt to consider that a child could not safely live with his or her family? What do you remember about the time when your family was preparing, taking classes, getting licensed, etc.? Michelle - When you and your husband felt the desire to begin fostering, what were your biggest concerns? What considerations about fostering gave you pause, considering you had two young kids already in your home? How did you and your husband handle those concerns or issues? Ben - Can you briefly share the story of your family’s first placement? We’d love to also hear how you think it impacted you and what you took from that experience for the coming placements. Ben - What are some of the benefits or advantages you have seen in your development to young adulthood that you can directly trace to being part of this fostering and adoption journey? Character traits your family developed as you faced those challenges. Can you share a short example for a couple of them? Compassion Perseverance Ability to Adapt/Change Perspective Ben’s diagnoses (“twice exceptional”): What did you learn about yourself in that process? How do you feel your unique combination of diagnoses equipped you well for being a foster brother? Saying no to a placement Learning how to say no when you know it’s not the right time or circumstance to say yes to a foster placement? How did you develop that skill? Ben, what did you learn from your parents over the years about the value of knowing when to say yes, and when it’s okay to say no? The value of respite for your family and offering it to other foster families What practical tips can families implement to prepare for a new placement of a foster, newly adopted, or relative child in their home? Support the show Please leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org . We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them. Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content: Weekly podcasts Weekly articles/blog posts Resource pages on all aspects of family building…

1
De-escalation in the Heat of the Moment - Weekend Wisdom 12:15

5 weeks ago12:15

12:15

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Question: How do I respond in the moment when my child is melting down, including physical or verbal aggression? Resources: Practical Tips to Help Your Kids Manage Stress The Ideal Response: How to Maintain Connection When Correcting Your Child How to Maintain Connection When Your Child Struggles with Anger Support the show Please leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org . We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them. Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content: Weekly podcasts Weekly articles/blog posts Resource pages on all aspects of family building…

1
Embryo Donation / Embryo Adoption 58:27

5 weeks ago58:27

58:27

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Have you thought about adopting a baby, but long for the experience of being pregnant, or want to control the intrauterine environment? Join us for this fascinating discussion about embryo donation/adoption with Dr. Craig Sweet with Embryo Donation International, Mark Mellinger with the National Embryo Donation Center, and Beth Button with the Snowflakes Embryo Adoption Program. In this episode, we discuss: The IVF process. Remaining embryos. Donating to another person. How to find embryos available for donation? What is the medical process of embryo donation/embryo adoption? What is the success rate of having a baby through a donated embryo? What factors influence the success rate? What percentage of donated embryos are created via donor egg or sperm? What information is available about the embryos and the donors? Can you have twins via embryo donation if that is your preference? Does it matter how long they’ve been frozen? Are pregnancies conceived through donated embryos considered high-risk? Are there long-term health risks for children conceived via frozen embryos? What is the legal process for embryo donation/embryo adoption? Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys Is there a matching process? Do you have a choice regarding what embryos you receive? Do the people who donate the embryo continue to have a legal connection to the child? Do they have legal rights to see the child, contact the child, or take the child back? Openness after the birth? What is the relationship between the embryo donor and the person who receives the embryo and the child conceived? Is the contact information shared between both parties? How much does embryo donation/embryo adoption cost? What factors influence the cost? Can you use your local infertility clinic to perform the transfer? LGBTQ+ and single parents What should you consider when choosing a clinic or organization to facilitate embryo donation/ adoption? How to talk with children conceived through embryo donation/embryo adoption about their conception? Support the show Please leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org . We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them. Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content: Weekly podcasts Weekly articles/blog posts Resource pages on all aspects of family building…

1
Will I Get to Choose the Name of My Adopted Baby? - Weekend Wisdom 5:14

6 weeks ago5:14

5:14

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Question: Is it important to keep a young child or baby’s birth-given name? How often, if ever, do expectant mothers let adopting parents name the baby in private adoptions? Resources: Understanding the Birth Parent's Experience Open Adoption Creating a Family Online Facebook Support Group Support the show Please leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org . We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them. Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content: Weekly podcasts Weekly articles/blog posts Resource pages on all aspects of family building…

1
Raising Kids for a Lifelong Parent/Child Bond 57:36

6 weeks ago57:36

57:36

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Do you want to raise kids who you will like and want to hang out with as adults? Listen to this interview with Dr. Ginsburg, a pediatrician at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and professor of pediatrics at U Penn’s Perelman School of Medicine. He is the author of Lighthouse Parenting: Raising Your Child With Loving Guidance for a Lifelong Bond , and the founder of the Center for Parent and Teen Communication. In this episode, we discuss: Definition of Lighthouse Parenting (7 key elements): Stability Modeling & Knowing Communicating Protecting Resilience & Thriving Preparation Reliability Benefits of Lighthouse/Balanced Parenting Misunderstanding of attachment/trauma-sensitive parenting as permissive parenting. Self-care as the foundation of Lighthouse Parenting, “Stability: Finding Your Footing.” Why start there? Why is self-care critical to being a balanced parent? 6 key elements of self-care and examples of how each might look for parents and caregivers who feel they cannot prioritize self-care: Love and friendships Sleep Exercise/Movement Relaxation strategies Express emotions Recognize and reach for support Offer 1 or 2 practical tips for parenting with this lifelong bond in mind for parents with: Elementary-aged kids Tweens and teens Young adults (college or early career age) Support the show Please leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org . We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them. Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content: Weekly podcasts Weekly articles/blog posts Resource pages on all aspects of family building…

1
Who Should We Tell About a Match With an Expectant Mom? - Weekend Wisdom 7:25

7 weeks ago7:25

7:25

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom. Question: My husband and I started the adoption process a few months ago and we just matched with an expectant mom. We are obviously excited, but we also know that a lot can happen or change between now and her due date. My question is two fold. (1) Although a lot of people in our life know we are going through the adoption process, who should we tell beyond our immediate families? (2) I am a small business owner. Since we are adopting a baby from another state, I am expecting to be out for at least a couple of weeks and then back at work on a limited schedule as my husband and I share caretaking duties. Internally, my team is already aware and on board with when this will happen, and they will handle client requests on my behalf while I am out. But at what point is it appropriate to share with my clients that this change is taking place? Resources: Failed Adoption Matches: How Common? How Costly? How to Survive Signs that an Expectant Woman May Change Her Mind about Placing Her Child for Adoption Tips for Coping When Your Domestic Infant Adoption is On Hold Support the show Please leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org . We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them. Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content: Weekly podcasts Weekly articles/blog posts Resource pages on all aspects of family building…

1
Parenting Kids with Prenatal Exposure 57:10

7 weeks ago57:10