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

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

Creating a Family
Adoption
Foster Care
Parenting
Trauma
Kinship Care
Child Development
International Adoption
Adoption Tax Credit
Mental Health
Parenting Strategies
Child Welfare
Open Adoption
Prenatal Substance Exposure
Family Dynamics
Child Trauma
Transracial Adoption
Fostering
Creating a Family
Domestic Infant Adoption
Trauma-Informed Care

Are you thinking about adopting or fostering a child? Confused about all the options and wondering where to begin? Or are you an adoptive or foster parent or kinship caregiver trying to be the best parent possible to this precious child? This is the podcast for you! Every week, we interview leading experts for an hour, discussing the topics you care about in deciding whether to adopt/foster or how... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes989Founded19 years ago
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Artwork for Creating a Family: Talk about Adoption, Foster & Kinship Care

Latest Episodes

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Question: We’re getting close to adopting our foster child, and I keep worrying there are things we should be asking for before finalization that we don’t even know to request. What information or records should we mak... more

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Many parents raising adopted, foster, or kinship children feel like they’re carrying most of the parenting load alone. Talking about it and changing it can be hard. In this episode, Josh Davis, PhD, shares practical, n... more

YouTube

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Question: Our daughter is 11 months old and was adopted through an open adoption. We have a relationship with her birth mother, but don't yet feel it's the right moment to ask about family history, and her birth father... more

YouTube

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We talk a lot about the child’s experience in foster care, but what is this experience like for the child’s birth parents? You may be surprised! Join our conversation with Dr. Darcey Merritt, a professor at the Univers... more

YouTube

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Recent Guests

Dr. Darcey Merritt
Professor at the University of Chicago School of Social Work, expert in social welfare and child welfare systems.
University of Chicago
Episode: Understanding the Child Welfare Experience from the Birth Parent's Perspective
Daniel Hostetter
Camp director at Fair Play Camp
Fair Play Camp, Westminster, South Carolina
Episode: A Hard but Helpful Step: Navigating Residential Treatment for Adopted Kids
Dr. David Anderson
Psychologist; founder and executive director of Safe Families for Children
Safe Families for Children; Lydia Home Association
Episode: The Power of Showing Up for Families Before They Fall Apart
Kathleen Bierce
Licensed therapist, foster mom, creator of Fearless Fostering
Fearless Fostering
Episode: Strengthening Foster Families
Ricky Watters
Former NFL running back and Super Bowl champion, author of a children's book about adoption.
Episode: NFL Running Back Ricky Watters: How Adoption Shaped My Life
Casey Call
Associate Director of Education at the Karen Purvis Institute of Child Development, Associate Professor of Professorial Practices at Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University (Karen Purvis Institute)
Episode: Maintaining Secure Attachment While Disciplining Misbehavior
Tony Craddock
Prevention social worker with Wake County, North Carolina; Kinship In Action Support Group co-facilitator
Wake County Department of Social Services (North Carolina)
Episode: Celebrating & Supporting Men in Foster & Kinship Care
Lenette Serlo
Adoptive mom of four children impacted by prenatal substance exposure; founder of Generation O
Generation O
Episode: Raising Kids Impacted by Opioid Exposure to Thrive
Vernell Gore
Program Representative for Youth Villages in Eastern North Carolina
Youth Villages
Episode: How Can We Equip Foster & Kinship Youth for Adulthood?

Host

Tracy Whitney
Host and Content Director for Creating a Family; long-time organizer and advocate in adoption, foster care, and kinship care communities

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 421 ratings
  • Essential for all foster and adoptive parents

    I love this podcast and find so much strength in having a podcast that touches on topics that most of my other mothering friends can’t necessarily relate to. The content is so relevant and so helpful. I highly recommend!

    We have five incredible biological children and one amazing adopted son. We always felt like a child would join our family through adoption but the process proved to take much longer than we anticipated. Our son came to live with us when he was 17 and became ours forever ju... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    sarahgranata
    United Statesa month ago
  • Most Influential Podcast In Our Adoption Journey

    For nearly two years, we were in the planning and waiting phase of what would become an open adoption with our child’s birth family. This podcast is one that educated me on so many things - trauma and adoption informed parenting, the values and challenges of an open adoption and the importance of listening to the stories of birth parents and adoptees. I attribute much of my understanding and intentionality with our open adoption to this podcast and others I learned about through guests on the sh... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    T. Ewinghill
    United Statesa year ago
  • Great and Informative

    Great podcast, providing informative and insightful information!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    GF33
    United Statesa year ago
  • Our go to!

    Such a wonderful podcast. Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    lisaversa01
    United Statesa year ago
  • My favorite foster care/adoption podcast

    I found you about a year ago while we were going through our home study. Your podcast has been so helpful! We are now foster parents of two teen girls and I have gone back and listened to almost all of your old episodes as well. Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MackenzieAlexisMatthew
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some feedback notes occasional pacing or audio quality issues but praise the impact and usefulness
Listeners praise practical, trauma-informed guidance and accessible expert insights
Guests are knowledgeable and diverse, offering lived-experience and professional expertise

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

A Hard but Helpful Step: Navigating Residential Treatment for Adopted Kids
Q: What kinds of needs is residential treatment designed to meet for adoptive kids?
It provides a professional, intensified environment to work on coping skills, regulation, and language for emotions, while also enabling parents to gain a different voice and perspective to support the child and re-engage the family.
A Hard but Helpful Step: Navigating Residential Treatment for Adopted Kids
Q: Based on your experiences, how should we think about residential treatment in the broader picture of supporting our kids?
It should be viewed as a step in the healing journey, not the last resort; families are encouraged to seek extra support before, during, and after placement and to maintain hope and collaboration.
Strengthening Foster Families
Q: What does a strong foster family look like in five years if supported well?
A family where every voice is heard, regular check-ins occur, and parents protect space for authentic feelings and needs, including scheduled one-on-one time with each child to strengthen safety and bonding.
Strengthening Foster Families
Q: How can foster parents guard against burnout and stay connected to their partner and kids?
Prioritize regular couple time, honest check-ins about feelings, delegating mundane tasks, and carving out predictable one-on-one time with each child to maintain connection and prevent strain on the marriage.
Strengthening Foster Families
Q: What four basic supports would you give every foster parent?
Community, therapeutic support, a designated day with no scheduled activities, and permission to do something just for themselves to reclaim their identity outside foster care.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This program centers on adoption, fostering, and kinship care, featuring trauma-informed conversations with leading experts and lived-experience guests. Episodes cover practical guidance for prospective and current foster/adoptive families, kinship networks, and the professionals who support them. Topics span trauma-informed parenting, navigating licensing and reunifications, youth transitioning to adulthood, and the societal systems around foster care, often anchored by real-world stories, actionable tips, and community resources. A standout throughline is the blend of expert insight and personal experience to empower families, improve outcomes for children, and broaden understanding of the adoption and foster care triad. Listeners can exp... more

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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. The Baffling Behavior Show {Parenting after Trauma}
2. Raising Good Humans
3. Calm Parenting Podcast
4. Minimal-ish: Minimalism, Intentional Living, Motherhood
5. Good Inside with Dr. Becky

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 19 years ago and published 989 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Dr. Darcey Merritt
2. Daniel Hostetter
3. Dr. David Anderson
4. Kathleen Bierce
5. Ricky Watters
6. Casey Call
7. Tony Craddock
8. Lenette Serlo

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