The Riverside Project Podcast

Do you know what the single most important factor in overcoming childhood adversity is? Research found that it is a long-term, nurturing relationship with a consistent and caring adult. Today, we are talking with Brandon Denton who has an impressive resume full of experiences and passion. Brandon was the Founding Executive Director of Friends of the Children Houston, an organization that is seekin...

May is National Foster Care Awareness Month! During this month, we’re not only raising awareness about foster care, but we are also celebrating the beautiful work of collaboration in this space. (Watch our new “As One” documentary series  here   for some incredible stories about the work happening in our city.) With this focus, we are revisiting the very first episode we shared on The Riverside Pr...

For young adults who faced significant challenges growing up, it can be very hard to successfully transition into the workforce.  They may not have the resources or self-confidence to strive for a fulfilling career. As a result, they may end up unemployed or stuck in a cycle of jobs that don’t offer upward mobility.  Today’s guest, Brian Meza, is tackling this problem with his Petra Cares program....

Adopting children who are of a different race than your own can be a beautiful thing. But many parents who do so make one crucial mistake—they try to disregard the topic of race altogether. They may feel uncomfortable addressing this subject or think that it’s better just to ignore it. But the truth is, in order to set children up for success, you need to understand the unique challenges they face...

Life as a foster parent is a constant learning process. You complete extensive training, but quickly realize that there's always more to learn. As you figure out the best ways to meet the needs of the children in your care, one thing continues to become clear—every child comes with their own unique needs. The best way to grow in how you're supporting the children in your care is to gain...

The foster care system’s primary goal is to serve the best interests of the families within it. Whenever possible, that means reuniting biological parents with their children. To help a family heal, birth parents need intentional support. But all too often, they aren’t given the resources they need to overcome their challenging life circumstances and set their family on a positive trajectory. In t...

It’s a joy to have Travis Hand, a Licensed Master Social Worker who currently serves as a Behavioral Health Specialist at Texas Children’s Hospital, on our latest episode of the podcast. Once a teen struggling to navigate the challenges of growing up in the foster care system, Travis gained a strong passion for social work in college. This conversation is full of perspective and encouragement for...

We are delighted to have the Deputy Regional Director at the Texas Department of Family Protective Services, Shaundricka Easley, on the podcast. She has been with the department for over 15 years and had various roles during that time as well as served all 13 counties across the Houston area. Shaundricka gives us unique insight from her vast experience, including some of the challenges she faces o...

“Who is with them long term?” This is the question that Jenni Lord started asking after her organization helped fund hundreds of adoptions. What she realized is that the breakdown of these adoptive families often stemmed from the parents not being equipped to handle the behaviors and challenges that came along with trauma. Today, Jenni Lord is a resolute advocate for fostering family healing throu...

DePelchin Children’s Center has existed for over 130 years and has continued to evolve to meet the needs of the community. Their mission is to strengthen the lives of children by enhancing their mental health and physical well-being in Houston and central Texas. Jesse Booher is the Senior Vice President and Chief Operations Officer of DePelchin Children’s Center, which provides foster care and ado...

It all started with a simple napkin exercise. Chandler James was asked to write his dream on a napkin. Initially, it seemed like a silly exercise but when he was finished his napkin read: creating safe spaces for the next generation. Chandler James is our Director of Church Mobilization here at The Riverside Project. He has worked in a number of local churches both as a Student Pastor and as a Nex...

Foster youth face many challenges, and education can be one of them. In fact, studies show that just 4% of children who have experienced foster care will go on to obtain a four-year college degree. Children who are involved within the foster care system also experience a higher number of school transitions, lower academic achievement, heightened experiences of exclusionary school discipline, highe...

Anytime there is news related to the border or a refugee crisis, we frequently hear this question:  “How does our city serve unaccompanied minors and refugees that come to our country without their parents? Does this affect the foster care community?” You may never have heard the term “international foster care” before, but this is a unique and important topic. You may be curious how the federal p...

This is not working. What do we do next? After several infertility treatments, Jennifer Clifford and her husband, Ryan, asked themselves this question. After a discussion and an informational meeting about foster care, they came to the conclusion that God was closing the door to biological children and opening the door to foster care, specifically for sibling groups. Foster care came with its own...

There's a place for everyone in supporting children and families here in Houston. That's something we believe firmly here at The Riverside Project. Today, we have the opportunity to share our conversation with Luevenia Chapman, co-founder and Program Director for Hearts with Hope Foundation, a local general residential operation (GRO) that provides treatment services for girls ages 7-23....

Healing happens in the context of relationship. As Dr. Bruce Perry says, “Relationships matter: the currency for systemic change is trust, and trust comes through forming healthy, working relationships. People, not programs, change people.” Programs and services for children in foster care are helpful, but when it comes to producing long term healing, the programs that help youth and families acce...

Extended relatives, such as grandparents, aunts/uncles, cousins, and even close friends (referred to as “fictive kin”) have always been a stabilizing force in the family system. These relationships have historically been, and are still today, a vital source of safety and permanency for children. In this episode, Dr. Valerie Jackson shares how Monarch Family Services got started as a child placing...

We know from ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) research that child abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction are linked to increased risk for poor social, emotional, and physical health outcomes. The Division of Public Health Pediatrics at Texas Children's Hospital was established in 2015 to prevent and mitigate childhood adversities and to provide care for our community’s most vulnerable...

"Hope is found near the ground, in close proximity to the struggle." In this episode, Nanette Lynch and Clint Wylie with Kingwood Methodist Church tell the story of how their church began serving kids and families involved with the foster care system, and how their ministry has evolved over time. We also discuss the joy of saying "yes" to hard things, and what motivates them to...

What could it look like to raise the standard of care from "better to nothing" to "excellence" for vulnerable children and families who are involved with the child welfare system? In this episode, Tara Grigg Green (founder and Executive Director of the Foster Care Advocacy Center) shares how FCAC is providing high-quality, multidisciplinary legal representation for youth and fa...

The Church is called to be in the place where the world is in pain. We often hear from church leaders that they recognize the need and deeply desire to support vulnerable families within their congregations and in their communities, but they just don't know where to start. In this episode, Toni Steere, Director of Legacy 68:5 at Houston's First Baptist Church, shares how their ministry i...

Just a few decades ago it was believed that children who experienced extreme abuse and neglect suffered damage to their brain that was irreparable. We now know that damage caused by traumatic experiences can be healed over time through the context of loving, stable, healthy relationships . In other words, trauma that happens in relationship must be healed in relationship . In this episode, we disc...

Why do so many youth in foster care struggle at school? How does trauma impact educational outcomes? What can we do as a community to improve educational outcomes for our youth? This episode features Crystal Coleman, the Foster Care Coordinator at Klein ISD, and Jackie McCoy, a Klein ISD Surrogate Parent. We discuss educational challenges, the impact of trauma, and opportunities to serve youth in...

Promise Rose is a nonprofit residential treatment center in Houston, TX serving youth in foster care. In this episode, Program Director, Donte Abram, and Executive Director, Nikia Johnson, share about their work, and the challenges faced by the youth they serve. We also discuss ways our community can support these youth as they transition into adulthood. Connect with Promise Rose RCH on Instagram:...

In this episode, we explore the inner world of the child welfare system in Houston, including challenges faced by caseworkers, needs of families impacted by the system, and what it will take for children and families to thrive in our city. Guests : C.J. Broussard-White, DFPS Region 6A Regional Director Leshia Fisher, DFPS Region 6B Regional Director Resources : The River (video) Upstream by Dan He...