Preparing Foster Youth for Adulting

Episode 043: Interview with Miriam Cobb with the Empty Frames Initiative (TX and NC)

In this episode, Lynn Tonini interviews Miriam Cobb, Founder and Director of the Empty Frames Initiative based in both Texas and North Carolina. Miriam shares her experience studying government care systems in other countries, how her organization has supported youth by teaching story telling through photography, the residential program that she is planning in the future, and more.

Episode 042: Interview with Debbie Ausburn, Foster Parent and Author (Woodstock, GA)

In this episode, Lynn Tonini interviews Debbie Ausburn, social worker turned lawyer, foster parent, and author from Woodstock, Georgia. Debbie shares her experience as both a foster parent and step-parent, and also discusses some key lessons she has learned - especially working with older foster youth - that she has captured in her book, Raising Other People's Children.

Episode 041: Interview with Joann Taijala from Home Grown (Eureka, CA)

In this episode, Lynn Tonini interviews Joann Taijala, Founder and Executive Director of Home Grown in Eureka, California. Joann and Lynn talk about the organization's unique host home model in which volunteer hosts provide temporary housing in their own homes for youth facing homelessness, including those aging out of foster care.

Episode 040: Interview with Dr. Natalie Ellington with Eileen & Callie's Place (Kent, WA)

In this episode, Lynn Tonini interviews Dr. Natalie Ellington, Founder and Executive Director of Eileen & Callie's Place in Kent, Washington. Natalie and Lynn talk about the organization's mentoring program for young ladies aging out of foster care, their goal of opening a transitional living house, why letting these young people make their own choices is so important, and more.

Episode 039: Interview with Samantha Baldassari with C.B. Community Schools (Philadelphia, PA)

In this episode, Lynn Tonini interviews Samantha Baldassari, Postsecondary Coordinator with C.B. Community Schools in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They talk about how C.B. Community Schools provide academic and support services for older foster youth, the school's unique model that focuses on competency rather than grade levels (freshman, sophomore, junior, senior), and how they managed through the Covid crisis. 

Episode 038: Interview with Daniel Crandall - Foster Parent, Speaker, & Trainer (Nolensville, TN)

In this episode, Lynn Tonini interviews Daniel Crandall, who is a foster parent, speaker, trainer, and Creative Director with a passion for helping youth to create the future they love. Lynn and Daniel talk about the journey that brought him to helping foster youth, the future focus of his work with youth, and the importance of helping young people find hope and meaning in their lives.

Episode 037: Interview with Jamie Pfau from Peace for All of Us Homes (Winnipeg, Manitoba)

In this episode, Lynn Tonini interviews Jamie Pfau, co-founder of Peace for All of Us Homes in Winnipeg, Manitoba in Canada. They talk about the transitional housing program that she and her husband started during COVID, the state of foster youth support in Canada (particularly in Manitoba), and ideas to improve the way the foster care systems in Canada and the USA prepare youth for aging out. 

Episode 036: Interview with Miriam Connolly from Blavin Scholars (Ann Arbor, MI)

In this episode, Lynn Tonini interviews Miriam Connolly, LMSW, with Blavin Scholars at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. They talk about Miriam's background as a social worker in the foster care system, the services that the Blavin Scholars program provides youth aging out of foster care, and ideas to improve the way the foster care system prepares youth for aging out. 

Episode 035: Interview with Natalie Chavis Fisher (Indianapolis, IN)

In this episode, Lynn Tonini interviews Natalie Chavis Fisher from Indianapolis, Indiana. They talk about Natalie's work as an attorney in foster care and adoption law, as well as a novel she has written, a documentary being developed, and a television show - all focusing on adoption and aging out of foster care. They also brainstorm solutions that the foster care system could implement that would help youth be better prepared for aging out of care.

Episode 034: Interview with Natasha Doan-Motsinger and Alyssa Silletti from Our House (Ypsilanti, MI)

In this episode, Lynn Tonini interviews Natasha Doan-Motsinger (Executive Director) and Alyssa Silletti (Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator) from Our House in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Natasha, Alyssa, and Lynn talk about the variety of services that Our House provides to help prepare youth in foster care for independence. Their services include mentoring, teaching life skills, providing transitional housing, piloting a temporary host home model, and helping youth build resiliency.