using technology to leverage cross-sector communication

using technology to leverage cross-sector communication

Author: Marcy Bursac, Adoptive Mom & Founder of The Forgotten Adoption Option May 13, 2025 Duration: 44:56

Karen Phillips didn’t plan to become a child welfare changemaker—she simply said yes to becoming a foster parent. That yes set her on a path to help families in crisis long before the foster care system gets involved.

In this episode of The Forgotten Adoption Option Podcast, Karen shares how her lived experience fueled the creation of the 100 Families Initiative at Restore Hope Arkansas. Together with her team, she’s building tech-powered, community-based solutions that bring together nonprofits, agencies, and families to prevent foster care entry.

🎧 You’ll hear:

  • How Karen’s journey into foster care turned into statewide impact

  • What the 100 Families model looks like in action

  • The surprising ways technology is bridging gaps across systems

  • Why prevention is both possible and powerful

This is more than a story—it’s a blueprint for hope.


Now in its sixth season, The Forgotten Adoption Option Podcast moves beyond statistics to explore the human heart of foster care adoption. Hosted by Marcy Bursac, an adoptive mother and founder of the initiative, this podcast creates a space for voices often overlooked. Conversations flow naturally with adoptive parents, adoptees themselves, adults who experienced the foster system, and seasoned child welfare professionals. Together, they unpack the complexities, joys, and raw realities of building families through this path. The central, sobering truth guiding these discussions is that nearly 30% of children in U.S. foster care are legally free for adoption, yet many potential families encounter hurdles that prevent finalization. This series exists to bridge that gap with authenticity and practical insight. By listening, you’ll hear firsthand narratives that challenge misconceptions, offering a clearer picture of the process and the profound connections it can forge. Marcy’s role as a mentor shines through in each episode, fostering dialogues that are as informative as they are deeply personal. It’s a documentary-style journey into the layers of society and culture surrounding child welfare, designed for anyone curious about adoption, involved in the system, or simply seeking stories of resilience and belonging. Tune in monthly for these essential conversations that illuminate a path toward permanent homes.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 86

The Forgotten Adoption Option Podcast
Podcast Episodes
What is EMDR therapy? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:54
What is EMDR therapy and how does it help children process trauma? EMDR trained therapist Casey O'Donnell Jones, M.Ed., LPC, RPT explains Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing , how it works in practice, and how…
how to prepare to care for sibling groups [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:06
Keeping siblings together isn’t accidental. It’s intentional. Tiffany and Hakim talk about how they prepare for sibling groups and what it looks like to be the family that says yes when agencies are trying to keep brothe…
coaching the heart and mind through adoption [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:13
Adoptive mom Francine Apy shares the story behind her adoption pendant necklace and her business, SoulFilling, which helps normalize adoption and support families touched by it.
how to recognize and overcome blocked care [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:09
Adoptive mom and Reclaim Compassion author Lisa C. Qualls explains blocked care and how parents can begin reclaiming compassion in adoptive families.Learn more about Lisa and her work at www.lisacqualls.com
the importance of trauma-informed services [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:34
Adoptee-turned-therapist Bre Gronli shares her foster care adoption story, her path to trauma-informed work, and the resources that help shape her own healing.
what it is like to be adopted as part of a sibling group [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:12
Adopted together. Growing up together. Sharing their story together.In this bonus episode, siblings Laura, Kim, and Dan reflect on entering foster care, being adopted as a group, and what they want families to know about…
evolving support for youth transitioning from foster care [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:20
Tom Baldwin serves as the Director of Strategy and Development for the Belmont University Social Innovation Labs, where he helps students, leaders, and organizations rethink how meaningful social change is made. With mor…