3,000 Good Things

Amanda is 15-years-old and she has seen more than most adults have. In this episode, she and her dad Kris sit down together for their first podcast to share what recovery, foster care, hurricanes, evictions, and a family friend's kitchen table have taught them. Kris talks about the peer support worker who took him by the arm, looked him in the eye, and told him the only way through was radical hon...

Jamie was 42, pregnant with her fifth child, newly married to Ben, and parenting four older kids from her first marriage. Then the call came about her one month old niece. In this episode, Jamie and Ben share what it took to say yes together, why they never regretted it even when the moment felt overwhelming, and how their older kids modeled love in a way that made kinship care feel natural. They...

When Laurel first met Fawn, she noticed that Fawn listened. Not at her, but with her. That single detail is what makes this systems disruptors episode land. Fawn Gadel, the director of Ohio Start, and Laurel Ridenour, its brand new Family Peer Mentor Technical Assistance Consultant, sit down to talk about what it took to build a state level position dedicated to peer work. They talk about livable...

A year after submitting a poem and painting to a national journal, Onita found herself keynoting a conference of hundreds of professionals. In part two of our conversation, she talks about saying yes despite the imposter syndrome, stepping into a classroom as a college professor, and the fictional daughter she wrote for Paul Lawrence Dunbar as a way to honor two writers who came before her. She cl...

When Onita took in her granddaughter Skylah nearly two and a half years ago, they were two people who barely knew each other. What they have built since is not a rescue story. It is an adjustment story. In part one of this two-part conversation, Onita talks about the invisible grief that kinship caregivers carry, the decisions to chase and not chase the people we love, and how creativity became th...

Tammy and Frank thought they were about to adopt the two little girls they had raised since infancy. Tessa walked into court that same day to bring her granddaughters home. Both women were blindsided. Both were grieving. And what could have ended in silence became one of the most unlikely sisterhoods you will ever hear about. In this episode, Tammy and Tessa share the story of a Bob Evans coffee m...

When Kayden was 13, he stood outside a church and told his mom this would be the last time. Nine years later, he's a 23-year-old homeowner and mail carrier, and Jessica is a family peer mentor pouring everything she learned back into her community. In this honest conversation, the two share what it took to rebuild their relationship after years of addiction, prison, and living apart, including the...

Teri was a young mom battling addiction. Haley was the daughter who never stopped believing in her. In this tender conversation with Ashley, the two share what it took to break the cycle, not just from substances, but from old patterns of silence, blame, and false hope. They talk honestly about the hard years, the power of boundaries, and the day-to-day work of learning to communicate as mother an...

Mike and Ashley are back for Season 3 of the 3,000 Good Things podcast! Get ready for another inspiring season of the GOOD things happening in Child Protection across Ohio. This episode features Bonnie and Norm sharing their inspiring journey of recovery, breaking cycles, and building a blended family rooted in honesty, trust, and love. They discuss overcoming addiction, redefining identity, and c...

In this episode of 3,000 Good Things, Mike and Ashley are joined by Catrina, Amanda, and Ike three family ambassadors serving in Local Advisory Group in three cohort one counties. The group reflects on the power of using your voice, reflections from the PCSAO conference, and hopes and dreams for the future of child welfare. Learn more about PACT here: ⁠⁠https://www.pcsao.org/programs-events/pact/⁠...

In this conversation, Mike and Ashley are joined by Jacqui Fletcher, the executive director of Cuyahoga CountyDivision of Children and Family Services. Jacqui shares her journey and connection to Cleveland, discusses the importance of community, teamwork, and leadership in child welfare. She emphasizes the importance of critical thinking, understanding the impact of poverty, and creating a safe en...

In this episode Mike and Ashley have the opportunity to talk with Kara Wente, Director of the Ohio Department of Children and Youth and Angela Sausser, Executive Director of the Public Children Services Association of Ohio. We discuss their method of nurturing hope and celebrating wins, their approach to engaging individuals with lived experience, and the advice they would give their younger selve...

We’re back! Mike and Ashley are joined by Tori and Mariah, two members of a PACT Local Advisory group committed and on fire for cultural change. This conversation delves into the experiences and insights of individuals involved in the PACT initiative, focusing on their personal journeys, challenges faced in child welfare, and the importance of empathy and understanding in building relationships wi...

In this conversation, Mike and Ashley are joined by Tammy Osborne-Smith, Director of Jackson County JFS, to continuetheir series on leadership. They discuss the importance of investing in staff and organizational culture, and the significant challenges that come with leadership roles. They also highlight the necessity of nurturing hope within teams, and explore how to create a supportive environme...

In this insightful episode, Mike and Ashley sit down with Amy Frame, the dynamic Director of Perry County JFS and President of the PCSAO Board of Trustees. Amy shares her journey of leading with heart through significant organizational change, offering a unique perspective on bridging past, present, and future initiatives. Discoverhow Amy's collaborative approach and commitment to growth have...

This week Mike and Ashley are joined by Lara, an integral contributor the to PACT. They discuss the role of huddles in fostering collaboration and understanding among teams, explores the dynamics of venting and its impact on team culture, as well as the necessity of effective supervision frameworks to enhance relationships and outcomes for families. The discussion emphasizes the need for cross-col...

Mike and Ashley are back, along with Civonna, Misty, and a new voice to the conversation: Amanda, a PACT Technical Assistant with decades of experience in supporting young adults transitioning out of foster care. This week's episode highlights the vital role of support systems and the significance of advocacy. They also emphasize the importance of connection and the need to prepare youth for i...

In this episode, Ashley continues the conversation with Civonna and her dad and introduces Misty, a long-time foster parent, adoptive parent, and kinship provider. The group discusses navigating the complexities of family dynamics with an emphasis on how foster parents can partner with biological families to aid in the healing process. Guests share their lived experiences, emphasizing the importan...

NEW MINI-SERIES! In this conversation, Civonna shares her journey of navigating life with her father and son under one roof, emphasizing the importance of family bonds, caregiving, and personal values.   She reflects on her upbringing, being in foster care, the challenges she faced, including a life-threatening incident, and how these experiences shaped her approach to parenting and relationships....

In this episode, Mike and Ashley pick up in the third episode of the Rising To Change mini-series with Marla, a Technical Assistant with the Ohio START program, and Amanda, a mother of two who shares her inspiring story of recovery and healing. Amanda shares self-care and growth tactics and discusses why she chooses to recover out loud and combat stigma. Amanda's story will inspire you to step out...

In this episode, Mike and Ashley pick up with the second episode of the Rising To Change mini-series with Kathi, a Technical Assistant with the Ohio START program, and Amanda, a mother of two who shares her inspiring story of recovery and healing. Amanda's journey emphasizes hope, bravery, and the transformative power of change! If you missed episode 1 of the Rising to Change mini-series, list...

In this episode, Mike and Ashley welcome Fawn Gadel, Director of Ohio START, to discuss her experience with implementation science. Fawn shares her journey, the evolution of Ohio START, and key lessons learned in implementing change. The conversation emphasizes the significance of building strong teams, challenging stigmas, and the role of implementation science in achieving positive outcomes for...

In this episode, Mike and Ashley join Jamie and Maria to learn about their healing journey and incredible work together because of their willingness to repair a formerly strainedrelationship. Mike and Ashley also talk with Chip, a director of a major metro, to discuss the need for collaboration, the impact of stigma, and the significance of equity and psychological safety in creating effective sup...

Mike and Ashley welcome back Neil, Stephanie, and Whitney to continue their discussion on the transformative power of Letting Go. In the second episode of this series, Mike, Ashley, and guests dive into the complexities of guilt, emphasizing the importance of recognizing one's own worthiness and letting go of past burdens to make room for growth and healing. PACT PROFILE : Reflecting     Learn mor...

Welcome to Season 2 of 3,000 Good Things! Mike and Ashley are rolling out a brand-new format taking listeners on a journey through a mini-series on “Letting Go” within the context of child welfare. In our first episode of season 2, Mike and Ashley welcome five inspiring guests - Whitney, Amber, Stephanie, Neil, and Neil’s son, Favor to talk about their transformative process of letting go. Learn m...