Preparing Foster Youth for Adulting

Episode 023: Interview with Ann Marie Binsner from CASA Prince George's County (Riverdale, MD)

In this episode, Lynn Tonini interviews Ann Marie Binsner, Executive Director of CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) in Prince George's County, Maryland. Ann Marie and Lynn talk about how CASA volunteers advocate for foster youth in the courts, the benefits of their advocacy work, the importance of having youth engaged in the planning of their own future, how their program has managed through COVID-19, and more. 

Episode 022: Interview with Lorilynn Violanta from NMCAN (Albuquerque, NM)

In this episode, Lynn Tonini interviews Lorilynn Violanta, Director of Advancement for NMCAN. NMCAN is an organization that supports youth aging out of foster care through mentoring, coaching, and advocacy. Lorilynn and Lynn talk about NMCAN's mentoring and coaching programs, strategies that ensure authentic youth engagement in planning their own future, how their program has managed through COVID-19, and more. 

Episode 021: Interview with Jevon Wilkes from CA Coalition for Youth (Sacramento, CA)

In this episode, Lynn Tonini interviews Jevon Wilkes, Executive Director of California Coalition for Youth. California Coalition for Youth is a program that supports and encourages youth to advocate for their needs to state leaders and decision makers. Jevon and Lynn talk about their advocacy work, how their efforts have helped transition age foster youth in the state, some improvements that the system could make, and more. 

 

 

Episode 020: Interview with Dr. Tiffany Lane from Almatine's Goodies (Wilmington, NC)

In this episode, Lynn Tonini interviews Dr. Tiffany Lane, Director/Founder of Almatine's Goodies and Associate Professor at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington. Almatine's Goodies is a program that collaborates with social service agencies, colleges, and universities in the U.S. to provide care packages to former and current foster care youth enrolled in college. Tiffany and Lynn talk about her program, how more positive research is needed to explore the strengths of foster youth, some improvements that the system could make, and more. 

Episode 019: Interview with Bruin Richardson & Kim Lewis from Children's Home Society of VA (Richmond, VA)

In this episode, Lynn Tonini interviews Bruin Richardson (Chief Advancement Officer) & Kim Lewis (My Path Forward Life Coach) from Children's Home Society of VA, particularly focusing on their housing program for youth who have aged out of foster care in Richmond, VA. Bruin, Kim, and Lynn talk about the strategies of their My Path Forward housing and support program, how the COVID-19 crisis has impacted their services, and more.

Episode 018: Interview with Sixto Cancel from Think of Us (New York, NY)

In this episode, Lynn Tonini interviews Sixto Cancel, CEO of Think of Us, an innovation focused organization based in New York City. Sixto and Lynn talk about some of the opportunities for improvement in the foster care system, the housing solution that Think of Us developed for older foster youth during the COVID-19 crisis, and more. 

Episode 017: Interview with Kellie Knox from Fred Finch Youth and Family Services (Oakland, CA)

In this episode, Lynn Tonini interviews Kellie Knox, Senior Director with Fred Finch Youth and Family Services. Kellie and Lynn talk about the transitional housing program (one of many programs) that Fred Finch runs to serve foster youth, the challenges that they have faced and managed during the COVID-19 crisis, and ideas regarding things the system can do to improve its support of foster youth. 

 

 

Episode 016: Interview with Mary Kate Howard with CASA Youth Advocates (Media, PA)

In this episode, Lynn Tonini interviews Mary Kate Howard, Program Director of CASA Youth Advocates serving Delaware and Chester Counties in Pennsylvania. Mary Kate and Lynn talk about the work that CASA does to advocate for foster youth, the details around training CASA volunteers, the challenges that they have faced and managed during the COVID-19 crisis, and things that the system can do to improve its support of foster youth. 

Episode 015: Interview with Chris Lopez and Robyn Parker with THRU Project (San Antonio, TX)

In this episode, Lynn Tonini interviews Chris Lopez, Program Manager, and Robyn Parker, Program Outreach Coordinator...both with THRU Project, an organization based in San Antonio, TX. Chris, Robyn, and Lynn talk about the THRU Project mentoring program, as well as the housing program, which is run as a partnership between the organization and a project management company; the challenges that they have faced and managed during the COVID-19 crisis; and things that the system can do to improve its support of foster youth. (Our apologies for the audio issues as one of the guest recordings ended up being a bit choppy.)

 

 

AOI Episode 014: Interview with Kristi Perez, Founder and Executive Director of Inspire Life Skills Training (Corona, CA)

In this episode, Lynn Tonini interviews Kristi Perez, Founder and Executive Director of Inspire Life Skills Training based in Corona, CA. Kristi and Lynn talk about the Inspire Life Skills Training mentoring program, housing program, and Inspired Scholars higher education support program; the challenges that they have faced and managed during the COVID-19 crisis; and things that the system can do to improve its support of foster youth.