Fostering Change

Children’s Action Network (CAN) uses the power of the entertainment community to increase awareness about children’s issues and make them a top priority in everyday life.   CAN is currently dedicated to raising awareness about and finding homes for the more than 100,000 children in foster care in the United States who are waiting for an adoptive family and improving outcomes for the more than...

Jess is the Director of Crisis Services at the National Runaway Safeline. In this role, she oversees the day-to-day operations of the Crisis Services Center and its associated data collection and reporting systems. She supervises all members of the crisis services team to ensure consistent and effective delivery of services offered to youth who have run away, are experiencing homelessness, and/or...

Johnny Agar, born with cerebral palsy and told he would never walk, overcame the odds to participate in long-distance endurance races with his dad pushing him, until the final mile when he walks across the finish line. Previously featured on ESPN and The Today Show, Johnny is making his highly-anticipated book debut this fall that is a testament to the power of extraordinary courage titled The Imp...

On this special episode of Fostering Change , we welcome Dr. Gail Saltz., M.D.  Rob Scheer, host of Fostering Change and founder of Comfort Cases, interviews Dr. Saltz about a very personal topic: R.A.D.  Reactive Attachment Disorder. Why is this personal?  One of Rob’s sons has been diagnosed with R.A.D. and he and his husband Reece have to deal with all of the issues regarding RAD...

Fostering Change Episode 107 |  Misty Parks After Misty completed her Bachelor Degree from Manchester University, she found her calling working in Child Welfare. This prompted her to complete her Masters in Social work from Indiana University. In the past 20 years, she has fed her passion to assist those in need and her desire for knowledge in a variety of settings, primarily focusing upon th...

A Regional Manager at a Social Mobility Charity, Ambassador for Comfort Cases UK, Panel Advisor, Coach & Mentor with lived experience of going through the foster care system. Rosie has experience in both the private and non-profit sectors, and she is an advocate for positive change in society. She has a bachelor's degree in Law, a Postgraduate Certificate in International Business Law. She has...

Although a product of the New Jersey foster care system, Laura Singer is a proud graduate from Syracuse University, Johns Hopkins University and most recently, Georgetown University Law Center. With a passion for advocating for children and foster care reform, Laura plans to dedicate her legal career to making substantial changes to the foster care system. Before law school, she served as a teache...

Pam and her husband have been married 33 years, raised 5 biological children (the youngest is 20). 8 years ago they became foster parents and began caring for children in their home. Pam led down a road of foster care and as a surprise to their life plan, 2 years ago, adoption of a set of seven siblings from the foster care system. They have a second chance at parenting, and they have a secon...

Amanda is a mother of four with two biological and two adopted children (from India). She advocates for adoptees as their voice is often unheard. She wrote and illustrated Finding Family in a Far-Away Land with her daughters' permission to share their story and memories in hopes of empowering other children and educating families. Story Notes: 🖐️Finding Family "Far Away Land" Book 🖐️Adopting Inter...

Rob Scheer interviews multi-award-winning author Jodi Meltzer who has written extensively about grief, parenting and divorce for various publications, including HuffPost , The Mighty , Scary Mommy , and Thrive Globa l.  She has just published the book, Goodnight Star, Whoever You Are .    A Boston native, she recently relocated to Tampa in search of more sunshine, literally and figu...

Charell Star is a Media Manager in the FinTech field, Online journalist, and Foster Care Advocate. Charell was recently featured on @HumansofNY where she shared her inspirational story to millions. As a storyteller, Charell Star has a passion for creating experiences that connect brands to people in a way that celebrates, inspires, entertains and empowers. She loves working across all mediums to t...

Joanna Johnson the co-creator, executive producer and showrunner of Freeform’s critically acclaimed series “Good Trouble.” She is also the creator, executive producer and director of Freeform’s limited series “Love in the Time of Corona,” the first scripted series shot entirely during the quarantine. Previously Johnson was an executive producer and showrunner on Freeform’s groundbreaking series “T...

On this episode we revisit our chat with Robert Selby and Glen Henry! This is our last episode before season 3 and EPISODE 100!!! You have to tune in next week! Robert Selby is a full time father of a CHD warrior named Chace Elijah. Together they shine light on the medical needs community to help bring awareness with a positive spin to the CHD and Gtube community via social media in hopes to let p...

On this episode in preparation for season 3 launch, we recap a chat we had with Caroline Boudreaux! Caroline Boudreaux is a social entrepreneur and founder of the Miracle Foundation, an INGO that supports orphans to have a better quality of life while bringing about sustainable change that reduces the need for orphanages. For the past 20 years, Miracle Foundation has improved the lives of more tha...

On this season 2 recap we chat with Dr. Bruce Perry! Dr. Perry is the Principal of the  Neurosequential Network , Senior Fellow of  The ChildTrauma Academy  and a Professor (Adjunct) in the Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago and the School of Allied Health, College of Science, Health and Engineer...

We're recapping 4 episodes in preparation for both a launch of season 3 AND dour 100th episode! Here's one of our favorites from season 2 with Rita Soronen For more than 30 years, Rita Soronen has worked on behalf of abused, neglected and vulnerable children, providing leadership for local, state and national efforts working to improve the juvenile justice and child welfare systems, while striving...

On this episode of Fostering Change we sit down with Sharane Calister! Sharane Calister is an American singer with soulful sounds and a songwriter. A 28 year old native of Des Moines, Iowa. Sharane used music as an outlet and began playing the violin in third grade. Her passion to sing continued throughout high school while singing in multiple choirs including Bridges to Harmony Gospel Choir who p...

On this episode of Fostering Change we sit down with Dr. Suzie Friedman! Suzie is a licensed psychologist in private practice in Washington DC. She works with adult and older teen clients on a variety of concerns from anxiety to eating disorders to trauma. She is especially passionate about the work of helping clients heal from complex trauma and attachment injury, and to support them as they...

On this episode of Fostering Change we sit down with Ángela Quijada-Banks! Ángela Quijada-Banks is a NAACP Image Award Nominated, American author of the best-selling book, The Black Foster Youth Handbook , Founder and C.E.O of Soulful Liberation ( a Book publishing company and podcast; where she aims to empower foster youth by day and break generational curses by night). She is the Founder and pro...

On this week's episode of Fostering Change we have a great conversation with Kimberly Raff! Kimberly Raff experienced the foster care system after falling through the cracks and experiencing a very difficult childhood. At the age of 17, she emancipated from the system after graduating high school. Alone, scared, and not knowing what to do, she went back to live with her biological mother and step-...

On this episode of Fostering Change we talk with Dr. John DeGarmo. Born in 1969, leading international foster care expert, consultant, and TED Talk speaker Dr. John DeGarmo has worn many hats throughout his life. Singing and dancing while touring around the world in the international super group, Up With People, serving as a D.J. at four different radio stations on two different continents, workin...

On this episode of Fostering Change we sit down with Sensei Dave Armstrong Motivational Speaker Life Coach Mentor Unlimited Potential Network Academy Sensei Dave Armstrong, Motivational Speaker, Life Coach and at-risk youth expert! He grew up as a product of a broken family, foster care, youth correction facilities all while dealing with his only parent (his mother) dying when he was 13 years old....

On this episode of Fostering Change we chat with Cody Mayo about his experience in the foster care system. Cody Mayo is from Saginaw, TX. He began his acting career when he was 12 performing in several theatre productions. He received a scholarship to attend the University of Oklahoma School of Drama to continue working on his craft. Cody resides in Los Angeles, CA and works as an Actor. He has pr...

On this week's episode of Fostering Change we get to have a sweet chat with Jay Rosenthal, Founder & Owner of Cupcakes with a purpose. About Jay: I have fond memories of baking cookies and cheesecakes with my mom, and as I got older I became interested in cupcakes; they're delicious and they allow for so much creativity. I've decided to combine my passion for baking and desire to help others i...

On this episode of Fostering Change we chat with Garon Wade! Garon Wade was adopted from Sri Lanka and raised in South Africa, Hawaii, The Gambia, Jamaica, Louisiana, and Jordan. He came to the United States in 2004 and earned his degree in political science and English literature at the University of Texas at Austin. He is also a graduate of the US Aeronautical Academy.   Garon has been an a...