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

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Join us for a conversation about why men in foster and kinship care matter - to the family unit, to the system, and most importantly, to the kids. Our guest is Tony Craddock, a Prevention Social Worker in Wake County, NC, with more than 25 years of experience supporting families. For the past decade, he has engaged kinship families and fathers through his co‑facilitation of the Kinship In Action Support Group.
In this episode, we talk about:
What first drew you to working with families, and later to engaging fathers and kinship caregivers?
Why is it so important that we intentionally engage and celebrate men — fathers, grandfathers, uncles, mentors — in foster and kinship care spaces?
What positive differences have you seen in children’s lives when men are actively supported and involved in caregiving?
What unique strengths do men bring to families in foster and kinship roles?
What are some ways that normalizing men as caregivers helps not just families, but the larger community?
What are some of the reasons you hear men sharing about their hesitation to step into these caregiving roles or to seek support when they take on such a role?
Do you see common themes of how they describe their experiences of being welcomed — or not — into support spaces?
What strategies have you found most effective for inviting and retaining men in support groups and similar caregiving networks?
What role do their peers who are already plugged into their roles as caregivers play in encouraging or retaining engagement with newer father figures in your groups?
What have you noticed in children’s emotional, behavioral, or developmental well-being when there’s consistent male involvement?
How does having a balanced caregiving network, one that includes a multi-generational approach and welcomes both men and women, strengthen a family’s resilience?
Who are the men — in your work or your life — who inspire you as caregivers and supporters?
What advice would you give to a man who may already be a foster or kinship caregiver, but who also wants to step more intentionally into that role to make a difference for their child?
If you could change one thing about how the system engages men in foster and kinship care, what would it be?
Looking ahead, what gives you the most hope about supporting men in these spaces?
What’s one message you’d like every listener — caregiver, professional, or community member — to walk away with today?
Resources
Father Engagement Strategies
The Vital Role of Men in Foster Care
Finding Male Role Models for Kids of Single Moms

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

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Question: I love my child so much, but lately I feel emotionally worn down and shut down in my parenting. Someone mentioned they recently learned about blocked care, and now I’m wondering if that's what’s happening. What is blocked care, and what can a parent do about it?
Resources:
Understanding and Overcoming Blocked Care
What Is Blocked Care? How Do I Overcome It?
Trauma-Informed Therapy
Building Rhythms of Self-Care Into Our Parenting
Making Self-Care a Priority for the New Year
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

Drop us some Fan Mail. Thanks!
Are you raising a child with known or suspected prenatal opioid exposure? Understanding the impacts and how to parent them will help you set your child up to thrive! We are joined by Lenette Serlo, an adoptive mom of four children impacted by prenatal substance exposure and the founder of Generation O, a nonprofit focused on creating understanding and support for children with prenatal opioid exposure and their families.
In this episode, we talk about:
What are opioids, and what does it mean when a child has been exposed to opioids before birth?
What are some of the short-term and long-term ways prenatal opioid exposure can affect a child’s brain, body, and development?
What were some of the earliest things you noticed that helped you understand that your kids might experience the world differently?
How can parents make the shift from asking “What’s wrong with this child?” to “What does this child need?”
When a child has prenatal opioid exposure, what practical ways can parents help support emotional regulation and nervous system balance for these kids?
What are some everyday challenges families might see at home?  And what strategies can parents and caregivers try to support their kids with those challenges?
What tools or routines can help kids succeed with things like organization, memory, and follow-through?
How could a parent or caregiver partner with teachers or schools so that children impacted by prenatal opioid exposure can succeed academically and behaviorally?
What have you learned about helping children build friendships and navigate social situations successfully?
In the baby and preschool years, what supports or parenting approaches can make the biggest difference?
What challenges tend to emerge during the elementary school years, and how can caregivers support learning, independence, and confidence during that stage?
As children move into adolescence, what new challenges can appear, and how can parents continue supporting identity, independence, and life skills?
What is one small change parents or caregivers can make tomorrow that could have a big impact?
You founded Generation O to support families navigating prenatal opioid exposure. What gaps did you see that made you want to start this organization? 
What’s giving you hope right now? 
What is one message would you most want our listeners to take with them about helping their kids with a history of opioid exposure thrive now and into their futures?
Resources:
Prenatal Substance Exposure Workshop for Foster, Adoptive & Kinship Parents
Raising a Child with Prenatal Substance Exposure
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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

Drop us some Fan Mail. Thanks!
Question: Should I tell my nephew that by the time he turns 18, he has to be in school and passing his classes, or have a job, to continue living with us? He will turn 18 at the end of this school year and will inherit a small amount of money that could get him started. He is currently in school, and he doesn’t have a job or any interest in getting one. Anytime someone asks him about his goals or future plans, his answer is “I don’t know” or “I don’t care.” I know that he is depressed and apprehensive about growing up, so part of me worries about pushing him too hard, but on the other hand, without a push, I worry his situation will continue to deteriorate. 
Resources:
Prenatal Exposure, Part 2: Parenting Tweens and Teens
Practical Ways to Connect with Your Tween or Teen
Supporting Kids with Prenatal Exposure in the Transition to Adolescence and Beyond
Raising Resilient Kids
Raising Kids for a Lifelong Parent/Child Bond
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

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 peers?
What does a successful transition to adulthood actually look like?
What are some common misconceptions that caregivers or professionals have about youth who are nearing adulthood?
When you think about a young person leaving care and thriving in adulthood, what key elements need to be in place?
Why might a young person leaving foster care or relative care at the same time they are leaving high school feel the weight of this uncertainty more than their peers? 
How and where can foster parents or kin carers help youth explore different career paths and possibilities?
What are some practical ways they can research those options and make informed decisions?
What types of programs or pathways will help youth develop skills, discipline, or career direction?
What are the most important money skills young people need before they leave care?
What are some simple ways to start teaching these skills while the youth are still at home?
What are some everyday adult responsibilities that youth may struggle with? 
What are some of the benefits of mentors for a young person transitioning out of foster care? 
How can they begin finding mentors or supportive role models?
Beyond practical skills, what character traits or skills do young people need to develop to succeed in adulthood?
Many youth in foster care or living with a grandparent or relative are carrying trauma from earlier experiences. How important are healing and identity development in preparing them for adulthood?
How might a foster parent or relative caregiver support their young person toward healing?
What are a few common mistakes adults make when trying to prepare youth for adulthood?
What practical steps can foster or kinship carers start today to prepare their youth for adulthood? 
Resources:
Raising Kids with Neurodiversity (ADHD)
Maintaining a Healthy Perspective When Parenting Tweens & Teens
Prenatal Exposure, Part 2: Parenting Tweens and Teens

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