Practical Financial Strategies for Foster & Kinship Families

Practical Financial Strategies for Foster & Kinship Families

Author: Creating a Family October 29, 2025 Duration: 51:22
Drop us some Fan Mail. Thanks! How do you manage daily expenses and budgeting when you are a foster or kinship caregiving family? We speak with Nicole Valenzuela, a foster parent and founder of Fostering Finances, to learn about simplified budgeting practices and healthy mindsets for managing money. In this episode, we discuss: What are the financial challenges that foster and kinship families commonly face?How do those challenges differ between kinship caregivers and licensed foster parents?...

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: 100

Creating a Family: Talk about Adoption, Foster & Kinship Care
Podcast Episodes
Why Is My Foster Child Hiding Food Everywhere? - Weekend Wisdom [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:25
Drop us some Fan Mail. Thanks! Question: We’re new foster parents and have noticed that our child is hiding food in their backpack, closet, and even under the bed. We make sure there’s always plenty to eat, so we’re conf…
Raising Kids, Caring for Parents [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:04
Drop us some Fan Mail. Thanks! Raising kids while caring for aging parents is more common than ever—and often overwhelming. We talk with Robyn Wind, the GRAND Voices Support Coordinator for the National Center on Grandfa…
The Power of Showing Up for Families Before They Fall Apart [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:59
Drop us some Fan Mail. Thanks! What if families had support before a crisis led to foster care? In this episode, we talk with Dr. David Anderson, psychologist and founder and executive director of SAFE Families for Child…
Is Fostering Going to Hurt My Kids? - Weekend Wisdom [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:19
Drop us some Fan Mail. Thanks! Question: We are seriously considering becoming foster parents. We have 2 children by birth, and I am really worried about how this will affect them and what I can do to prevent some of the…
Strengthening Foster Families [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:44
Drop us some Fan Mail. Thanks! Foster families are doing significant work to support both the children in their homes and the parents of those kids. What do they need to thrive in this work? We talk with Cathleen Bearse,…
So You Want to be a Foster Parent [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:29
Drop us some Fan Mail. Thanks! Have you considered fostering? What might be holding you back? Join us for a conversation with Laura, the Foster Parent Partner, to explore what it takes to be ready to foster, what the lic…