Fostering Futures℠

In this closing episode of the Fostering Futures Foster Youth  series, Athena Cordero sits down with Dr. Amy Young , Chief of Forensic Pediatrics at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital, to bring deeper understanding to the realities of childhood trauma, abuse, and healing. Dr. Young explains the role of forensic pediatrics and how medical professionals evaluate, diagnose, and support childre...

In this episode, Athena Cordero sits down with Aubrey Carballo , Service Specialist at Desert Mountain Children’s Center and a former foster youth, to share her powerful and deeply personal story. Aubrey reflects on entering the foster care system at a young age, navigating multiple placements, and adapting to constantly changing environments, beliefs, and family dynamics. She shares what it was l...

In this episode of Fostering Futures with CAHELP, Athena Cordero sits down with Mark Todhunter , Behavioral Health Counselor Supervisor at Desert Mountain Children’s Center, to explore the mental health realities of foster youth. Mark shares his decades of experience working with children in foster care, offering powerful insight into how removal, placement changes, and ongoing uncertainty deeply...

In this episode of Fostering Futures with CAHELP, Athena Cordero sits down with Renee Castillo , Director of Child Welfare and Attendance at Apple Valley Unified School District, to explore how attendance, stability, and student well‑being are deeply connected. Renee shares her experience across nearly three decades in education, including lessons learned from her time in Vermont and how those ins...

In this episode, Pam Bender fills in as host and is joined by Iván Campos , Program Specialist at CAHELP, for an in‑depth conversation about speech and language services from an educational lens. Iván brings his experience as a bilingual speech‑language pathologist and early intervention specialist to break down how families can navigate speech and language supports across systems. The conversatio...

In this episode of Fostering Futures with CAHELP , Athena Cordero speaks with Tawnie Rice , Administrator at On the Rise Foster Agency in Barstow, California. Tawnie shares her unique perspective as both a former foster youth and a social work professional who has worked her way up through nearly every role within the agency. Tawnie walks listeners through what foster family agencies do, how they...

In this episode , Athena Cordero sits down with Paul Durham, Program Coordinator for the Children Deserve Success Team at San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools (SBCSS), to explore what it truly takes to support foster youth through education, stability, and connection. Paul shares his dual perspective as both a system leader and someone who personally experienced foster care, offering po...

In this episode , Athena Cordero sits down with Jennifer Cork, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Doctor of Social Work, author, and keynote speaker who is also as autistic. Jennifer brings both professional expertise and lived experience to a powerful conversation about neurodiversity, mental health, and what autistic individuals truly need to thrive, especially during life transitions. Jennifer...

In this episode of Fostering Futures, host Athena Cordero welcomes Jennifer Rountree, a Program Specialist, and Melissa de Silva, an Intervention Specialist, both from the California Association of Health and Education Linked and Professions (CAHELP). With over two decades of combined experience in Special Education (SPED), Jennifer and Melissa dive into the complexities of Autism Spectrum Disorde...

In this episode , Athena Cordero sits down with Derrik Delton, former Superintendent of the Oro Grande School District, to discuss the unique intersection of educational leadership and foster parenting. With 30 years of experience in education, ranging from a Special Education (SPED) teacher to an administrator across all grade levels, Derrik shares how his professional background informed his per...

In this episode , Athena Cordero sits down with Maria Bamba, a foster parent whose journey began through a family crisis and evolved into a lifelong calling. What started as stepping in to care for her nieces during an emergency became a five‑year journey of fostering teen girls, navigating trauma, building structure, and creating a home rooted in faith, love, and accountability. Maria shares the...

In this episode , Athena Cordero welcomes mediator, law professor, and conflict‑resolution expert David Dowling for a thoughtful conversation about Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and how families and schools can navigate conflict in special education more constructively. Drawing on his professional expertise and his personal experience as a parent of a child on a 504 plan, David breaks down...

In this episode , Amanda Gingerich and Maurica Manibusan welcome Maria Guzman, a foster parent whose journey began overnight when she was asked to take in six young girls ranging in age from newborn to eleven years old. What started as a call to help family quickly became a life‑changing experience for Maria, her husband, and their teenage son, transforming a household of three into a household of...

In this episode , Athena sits down with Daysi Silvas Ramirez and Zach Perez, two peer support associates with San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools (SBCSS) who use their lived experience in foster care and homelessness to inspire and guide youth across the county. At only 21 and 24 years old, they already serve as powerful advocates, mentors, and truth-tellers. Bringing authenticity, vul...

In this powerful new series, we take an honest, unfiltered look into the foster care system and its challenges, its heart, and the people who make a difference every day. Through real conversations with foster youth, foster parents, and the dedicated professionals who support them, this series reveals what life in the system truly looks like. From stories of resilience and healing to the unseen st...

In this episode, Athena Cordero sits down with Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Behavioral Health Counselor Supervisor, Lina Myrvold, to unpack what infant mental health really means and why it matters far earlier than most people realize. Lina breaks down core misconceptions about babies (“they won’t remember,” “quiet means fine”), explains how attachment forms from birth, and describes...

In this episode , Iván Campos and Monica Rodriguez return to Fostering Futures but this time, they lead the conversation. Both longtime parents of children with unique learning needs, they open up about the day‑to‑day realities behind IEPs: watching their kids struggle, discover strengths, hit milestones, and learn coping strategies that ultimately shaped who they are today. Through their personal...

In this episode , Athena Cordero sits down with Monica Rodriguez and Iván Campos to unpack the realities of navigating the IEP (Individualized Education Program) process as parents and professionals. They share candid stories about early signs, assessments, and the emotional journey from suspicion to diagnosis. The conversation explores what an IEP really is, why collaboration matters, and how fam...

In this episode, Iván sits down with Dr. Karina Quezada to unpack what dyslexia is and what it isn’t. They walk through how the brain learns to read, the early signs families and educators can watch for, and why early, explicit instruction matters so much. Dr. Quezada explains California’s new dyslexia-related laws, the difference between screening and full evaluation, and how the “science of read...

In this insightful and practical episode, host Athena Cordero welcomes Tarron Riley , longtime supervisor and clinician at Desert Mountain Children’s Center (DMCC), for a deep dive into emotional intelligence (EI). What it is, why it matters, and how to use it in real life. Drawing on two decades of clinical work with adolescents, anger management, and family systems, Tarron demystifies EI as a se...

In this candid and uplifting conversation, host Athena Cordero sits down with Manny Marquez , Superintendent of Bear Valley Unified School District , to explore what servant leadership looks like in a close-knit mountain community. From his start as a paraeducator to 25 years of growing alongside the district he loves, Manny shares how sincerity, accessibility, and emotional intelligence shape eve...

In this candid, practical episode, host Athena Cordero sits down with Dr. Kent McIntosh (University of Oregon; Co-Director, National Center on PBIS) and Angie Mgbeke (Project Manager, Prevention & Intervention at CAHELP) to talk about what it really takes to help schools thrive right now. They cut through post-COVID noise, staff turnover, community tensions, initiative overload and focus on a...

In this inspiring, people-first episode, host Athena Cordero welcomes Jesse Nájera , Superintendent of Silver Valley Unified School District , for an open, practical conversation about leading a small, military-connected district with heart. Together they unpack how relationships, recognition, and student wellness —not just programs or test scores—drive real outcomes for kids. Jesse traces his pat...

In this insightful and heartfelt episode, host Athena Cordero is joined by Crystal Kudrle , Occupational Therapist at Desert Mountain SELPA, for an open and practical conversation about a surprisingly overlooked topic in education — bathroom breaks, pelvic health, and student well-being . Together, they shine a light on how something as simple as restroom routines can profoundly impact focus, beha...

In this powerful episode host Athena Cordero is joined by Naomi Hill, Intervention Specialist at Desert Mountain Children’s Center, for an open and moving conversation about the mental health needs of youth athletes. Through humor, heart, and real-life stories, they shine a light on what student athletes are really carrying on and off the field. Naomi shares her journey from group homes to classro...