How Can We Equip Foster & Kinship Youth for Adulthood?

How Can We Equip Foster & Kinship Youth for Adulthood?

Author: Creating a Family April 1, 2026 Duration: 1:00:38
Drop us some Fan Mail. Thanks! Helping young adults in foster or kinship care transition toward adulthood can feel overwhelming for foster parents and relative caregivers. Join us today for a conversation with Vernell Gore of Youth Villages and Nick Sgarlata of Bridge to Brighter, for practical ways to prepare and equip your foster or kin youth for adulthood. In this episode, we discuss: What makes this stage of life uniquely challenging for youth in foster or kinship care compared to their p...

Navigating the world of adoption, foster care, or kinship care brings a unique mix of hope, complexity, and countless questions. Creating a Family: Talk about Adoption, Foster & Kinship Care exists to meet you right where you are in that journey. Each week, we sit down with leading psychologists, social workers, legal experts, and experienced parents for substantive, hour-long conversations. You’ll hear practical guidance on everything from initial considerations and legal processes to the nuanced, everyday realities of parenting children who have experienced trauma or loss. This isn't about superficial tips; it's about building a foundation of understanding and resilience. Whether you're just exploring options, are deep in the certification process, or are years into caring for your child, these discussions provide clarity and connection. The Creating a Family podcast, produced by the organization of the same name, draws from a deep well of professional and lived experience across the non-profit, business, and parenting spheres. Tune in for honest talk that respects the gravity of your decisions and celebrates the profound commitment of building families through alternative paths.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Creating a Family: Talk about Adoption, Foster & Kinship Care
Podcast Episodes
Are You Ready to Foster or Adopt a Sibling Group? - Weekend Wisdom [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:15
Drop us some Fan Mail. Thanks! Are you considering whether your family is ready to foster or adopt a sibling group? Keeping siblings together can preserve important family relationships, shared history, and connection, b…
How Do You Adopt a Relative from Another Country? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:41
Drop us some Fan Mail. Thanks! If you want to adopt a relative from another country, the process involves much more than simply proving your family connection. International relative adoption—sometimes called internation…
Can Autistic Adults Be Foster Parents? – Weekend Wisdom [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:50
Drop us some Fan Mail. Thanks! Question: I recently received an autism diagnosis in my mid-30s. I have relatively low support needs and am working with my therapist to identify the best ways to manage my energy. I think…
Kids Do Well When They Can - Weekend Wisdom [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:28
Drop us some Fan Mail. Thanks! Parenting kids exposed to trauma is hard. Sometimes, it is very hard, but these families can thrive. In an interview with Creating a Family, Dr. Ross Greene, a Harvard Psychology professor,…
Too Many Goodbyes: How Foster Care Instability Impacts Children [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:09
Drop us some Fan Mail. Thanks! Children in foster care can experience far more than a change in placement. They may lose caregivers, siblings, schools, routines, communities, caseworkers, therapists, and other trusted re…
Big Feelings, Better Connection: Using Play to Help Kids Thrive [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:29
Drop us some Fan Mail. Thanks! How can play help children heal, regulate big emotions, and strengthen attachment? We talk with Georgie Wisen-Vincent about ways that adoptive, foster, and kinship caregivers can use playfu…