Foster Care, Adoption, and Beyond: Untold Stories

Send us Fan Mail Here, I discuss how organizations, schools, and government can promote the inclusion of individuals of a foster care, adoption, homeless youth background through policy and practice. To learn more about my research or consultation and guest speaking, visit zaydasorrellmedina.com Support the show About Me Dr. Zayda Sorrell Medina is a professor, social scientist, former foster and...

Send us Fan Mail Are you in foster care or a transitional foster age youth? In this episode, I share tips based on life experience to strengthen youth resilience while going through foster care and beyond.  Support the show About Me Dr. Zayda Sorrell Medina is a professor, social scientist, former foster and homeless youth, foster adoptive parent, author, and advocate.  Speaking  zsmresearchandedu...

Send us Fan Mail Drawing from the framework of synchronicity and a strengths-based perspective, I reflect on how our woes may be points of beauty concomitantly creating lifelong friendships and family.  Share this episode with someone you know who may benefit from this lesson.   Support the show About Me Dr. Zayda Sorrell Medina is a professor, social scientist, former foster and homeless youth, f...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I draw from research and personal experience to share three trauma-informed strategies for working with individuals of foster care and adoption background. Learn more about my research, guest speaking, and research collaboration by visiting zaydasorrellmedina.com. Support the show About Me Dr. Zayda Sorrell Medina is a professor, social scientist, former foster an...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I share 5 life lessons allowing for living life with more intention and purpose. Happy New Years to those listening to this in the New Year! To learn more about my advocacy and research visit zaydasorrellmedina.com OR for speaking and consulting zsmresearchandeducation.com.  Support the show About Me Dr. Zayda Sorrell Medina is a professor, social scientist, forme...

Send us Fan Mail Como puedo  apoyar a mis clientes, estudiantes, o amigos que son padres adoptivos o de cuidado de crianza? Escuche este episodio para aprender más.  Support the show About Me Dr. Zayda Sorrell Medina is a professor, social scientist, former foster and homeless youth, foster adoptive parent, author, and advocate.  Speaking  zsmresearchandeducation.com Support the Show https://www.b...

Send us Fan Mail Teachers, professors, and educators: Let’s get real about how we can increase access to the curriculum for all students, including foster/homeless youth, adoptees, and other vulnerable populations. In this episode, I share 5 practical techniques for enhancing equity in the classroom. Support the show About Me Dr. Zayda Sorrell Medina is a professor, social scientist, former foster...

Send us Fan Mail This episode highlights the vital role nonprofits play in addressing youth homelessness in Los Angeles. We’re joined by Guest Dexter O’Connell, Director of Youth Policy and Advocacy at Safe Place for Youth (SPY), who shares with us the impactful work that SPY is doing to address youth homelessness and the secret ingredient that makes their work effective.  About Safe Place for You...

Send us Fan Mail About the Episode This episode highlights the vital role nonprofits play in addressing youth homelessness in Los Angeles. We’re joined by Christian Quijano, Associate Director of Program Innovation and Impact at My Friend’s Place, and Chino Quinlan, a former participant of the organization and now a Coordinator at the LA LGBT Center. Together, they share powerful personal stories...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we have guests Kaili Farhat and Kathleen (Kate) Soto Gisler present their master’s thesis on foster parent training programs in Los Angeles County. As home to one of the largest child welfare systems in the United States, LA County offers a wide range of trainings for foster parents. However, notable gaps remain in the content and scope of these offerings. Kate and...

Send us Fan Mail What is freedom? This episode presents a profound critique of freedom drawing upon key concepts in Nichiren Buddism and the story of Tsunesaburō Makiguchi. Que es la libertad? Este episodio presenta una crítica profunda de la libertad por recurrir al Buddismo Nichiren y el cuento de Tsunesaburō Makiguchi.   Support the show About Me Dr. Zayda Sorrell Medina is a professor, social...

Send us Fan Mail Happy foster care awareness month! In this episode, child welfare workers and Maggie Reddington and Jasmine Mitchell  disseminate their research from their master's thesis, which examines the exclusionary requirements of the U.S. foster care licensing process. If you've ever wondered, what is the process to become a foster parent, this episode is a must listen, shedding...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever thought about becoming a foster parent? Save yourself a headache and tune in to these five things you need to know before becoming a foster parent.  Support the show About Me Dr. Zayda Sorrell Medina is a professor, social scientist, former foster and homeless youth, foster adoptive parent, author, and advocate.  Speaking  zsmresearchandeducation.com Support the Show...

Send us Fan Mail This story is for children as much as it is for adults, inviting the listener to tap into their inner child to cultivate imagination. Alas para volar means wings to fly in Spanish. This is a special episode release to recognize International Multilingual Day on March 27th. I practice multilingual parenting, and this story that I share with you is one that I created for my trilingu...

Send us Fan Mail This story is for children as much as it is for adults, inviting the listener to tap into their inner child to cultivate imagination. Alas para volar means wings to fly in Spanish. This is a special episode release to recognize International Multilingual Day on March 27th. I practice multilingual parenting, and this story that I share with you is one that I created for my trilingu...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever wondered: What is DEI? There is a lot of misinformation about what it is and what it is not. In this episode, I present a basic definition of DEI in lay terms. Stay tuned for the special episode release on March 27th in recognition of International Multi-lingual Day! I will be sharing a cuento infantil, or child story. Support the show About Me Dr. Zayda Sorrell Medi...

Send us Fan Mail This podcast is an official announcement regarding the podcast's name change, from "The Voice" to "Foster Care, Adoption and Beyond: Untold Stories", also revealing in more detail what this podcast is about and what you can expect. Support the show About Me Dr. Zayda Sorrell Medina is a professor, social scientist, former foster and homeless youth, foster...

Send us Fan Mail How can I love myself? What is self-love? This episode provides a basic definition of self-love and strategies to embark on a life long journey of self-love.   Support the show About Me Dr. Zayda Sorrell Medina is a professor, social scientist, former foster and homeless youth, foster adoptive parent, author, and advocate.  Speaking  zsmresearchandeducation.com Support the Show ht...

Send us Fan Mail This episode presents a poem and song dedicated to all birth mothers, and especially birth mothers who had their child taken away. This episode is inspired by my experience as a former foster and homeless youth, adoptive parent, and professor of social work. Share this episode with someone who you believe can resonate. Support the show About Me Dr. Zayda Sorrell Medina is a profes...

Send us Fan Mail This episode sheds light on the role of caring adults in paving the way for first generation college students and tips for success for first gen college students.  Support the show About Me Dr. Zayda Sorrell Medina is a professor, social scientist, former foster and homeless youth, foster adoptive parent, author, and advocate.  Speaking  zsmresearchandeducation.com Support the Sho...

Send us Fan Mail The foster-adopt community experience a heap of invasive and rude questions. Have you ever wondered what this is called? It's called a foster-adoption micro-aggression. This episode draws on research and personal experience to discuss this concept in more depth. Support the show About Me Dr. Zayda Sorrell Medina is a professor, social scientist, former foster and homeless you...

Send us Fan Mail  In this episode, I draw upon my personal story to shed light on overcoming stigma, shame and secrecy as a former foster and homeless youth and other intersecting identities. Support the show About Me Dr. Zayda Sorrell Medina is a professor, social scientist, former foster and homeless youth, foster adoptive parent, author, and advocate.  Speaking  zsmresearchandeducation.com Supp...

Send us Fan Mail This episode is a call to action for educators, clinicians, parents, advocates and individuals working with individuals of foster care, adoption, and homeless youth backgrounds to optimize their support by recognizing their invisible experiences of oppression. Support the show About Me Dr. Zayda Sorrell Medina is a professor, social scientist, former foster and homeless youth, fos...

Send us Fan Mail This episode reveals the beauty and hiccups of having an unconventional family. I reflect upon my own unconventional family living  with my Puerto Rican Jewish mom and Chinese siblings as a high school teenager. I conclude with tips and words of encouragement on how we can better understand our unconventional family from a strengths based approach. Support the show About Me Dr. Za...

Send us Fan Mail This episode invites listeners to foster gratitude and positive energy despite prevailing life challenges. As a former homeless youth, I tried to see the glass half full, which kept me going towards my master plan of going to college despite my adversity. This episode draws from tender moments during my homeless adventures to illustrate this point. Support the show About Me Dr. Za...