Foster Parent Well

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Foster Parent Well

Nicole T Barlow

62 episodes

4 days ago

Send us a text Fear loves to whisper what if, especially to foster and adoptive parents who carry heavy stories and real responsibilities. We open up about the moments when panic tries to take over- late-night spirals, hard court dates, and those small behaviors that feel like previews of a grim future- and we share the better way: a posture rooted in grace, curiosity, and steady faith. Nicole unpacks how 2 Timothy 1:7 offers more than comfort; it gives a blueprint for parenting with power, l...

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Religion & Spirituality,

Health & Fitness

All content for Foster Parent Well is the property of Nicole T Barlow and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

Send us a text Fear loves to whisper what if, especially to foster and adoptive parents who carry heavy stories and real responsibilities. We open up about the moments when panic tries to take over- late-night spirals, hard court dates, and those small behaviors that feel like previews of a grim future- and we share the better way: a posture rooted in grace, curiosity, and steady faith. Nicole unpacks how 2 Timothy 1:7 offers more than comfort; it gives a blueprint for parenting with power, l...

Show more...

Religion & Spirituality,

Health & Fitness

Episodes (20/62)

Foster Parent Well

Fear, Faith, And Foster Parenting

Send us a text Fear loves to whisper what if, especially to foster and adoptive parents who carry heavy stories and real responsibilities. We open up about the moments when panic tries to take over- late-night spirals, hard court dates, and those small behaviors that feel like previews of a grim future- and we share the better way: a posture rooted in grace, curiosity, and steady faith. Nicole unpacks how 2 Timothy 1:7 offers more than comfort; it gives a blueprint for parenting with power, l...

4 days ago

14 minutes

Foster Parent Well

God's Faithfulness in Foster Care and Adoption

Send us a text Some days the unknowns feel louder than our confidence. So we’re naming the five big seasons of foster care- the call, the waiting, the daily work, the transitions, and the surprises- and getting honest about where fear shows up, where systems fall short, and where hope quietly grows. I share the moments that recalibrated my own heart: a gas‑station “sign” that nudged a family forward, the paper airplane that carried a thank‑you down our laundry chute, and a room full of profes...

2 weeks ago

24 minutes

Foster Parent Well

Faith, Trauma, and the Tools That Help Families Heal with Kristin Orphan

What if trauma-informed parenting isn’t a departure from biblical wisdom but a practical expression of it? That question drives a heartfelt conversation with guest Kristin Orphan, cofounder of Finally Home, a national nonprofit equipping foster, adoptive, and kinship families with education, encouragement, and community. We dig into what trauma actually does in the brain, why “traditional” parenting often assumes preexisting trust, and how compassion and clear values can peacefully coexist. T...

1 month ago

53 minutes

Foster Parent Well

Navigating Bedtime with Trauma-Informed Care with Allison Ezell

Every foster and adoptive parent has found themselves desperately searching for sleep solutions at 2 AM, wondering why traditional methods aren't working and if they're somehow failing their child. Sleep consultant Allison Ezell brings a revolutionary perspective to this universal struggle, explaining why children from hard places face unique challenges around bedtime and offering trauma-informed solutions that actually work. Drawing from both professional expertise and personal experience a...

1 month ago

45 minutes

Foster Parent Well

Seeing God's Fingerprints in Foster Care with Jessica Mathisen

Ever feel like your heart is being pulled in a thousand directions as a foster parent? Like you're supposed to be everything to everyone while somehow finding time to breathe? You're not alone. In this soul-nourishing conversation, Jessica Matheson (author of "No Matter When I Go") shares her foster care journey and the freedom she found when she stopped trying to be her children's savior. With refreshing candor, she reflects on starting as a foster parent before having biological children, ...

1 month ago

38 minutes

Foster Parent Well

Understanding FASD in Foster Care & Adoption with Sandra Flach

Sandra Flach shares her family's journey with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and provides essential knowledge for foster and adoptive parents raising children with prenatal alcohol exposure. • FASD affects 1 in 20 children in the United States—more prevalent than autism • Only 10% of children with FASD display the facial features needed for diagnosis • Prenatal alcohol exposure permanently alters brain structure and function • There is no safe amount of alcohol during pregnancy and no safe ...

2 months ago

54 minutes

Foster Parent Well

Mobilizing the Church for Foster Care with Dr. John DeGarmo

Dr. John DeGarmo, founder of the Foster Care Institute and foster parent to over 60 children, takes us on a powerful journey into the heart of foster care ministry. Having witnessed firsthand the transformative impact of faith communities on vulnerable children, Dr. John makes a compelling case for why foster care represents "the next great mission field" for today's churches. The statistics are sobering – millions of children experience domestic violence daily, and the foster care system is...

2 months ago

38 minutes

Foster Parent Well

REWIND: When The Journey Gets Hard, Faith Is Your Lifeline

Struggling to find the strength to keep going in your foster care journey? This powerful conversation with missionary and adoptive mom Mandie Summers reveals how faith becomes the essential foundation when the system feels broken and the burden feels too heavy. Mandy never imagined herself as a foster parent until a casual dinner conversation with a social worker friend opened her eyes to the crisis within the foster care system. What began as complete naivety about trauma and fostering evol...

3 months ago

33 minutes

Foster Parent Well

REWIND: The Unspoken Side of Foster Care & Adoption- When Home Isn't Safe Anymore

What happens when love isn't enough? When trauma runs so deep that having your child live at home becomes unsafe for everyone involved? This raw, vulnerable conversation with Anna Bernacki pulls back the curtain on one of foster care and adoption's most painful realities – the moment when residential treatment becomes necessary. Anna brings a uniquely powerful perspective as both an adoptee herself and an adoptive mother to four children through foster care. She shares the heartbreaking jour...

3 months ago

1 hour 6 minutes

Foster Parent Well

REWIND- When Your Tank Runs Empty

The emotional toll of fostering and adopting can leave even the most dedicated parents running on empty. In this powerful conversation, Nicole T. Barlow welcomes Melissa Smallwood, a counselor and family coach whose perspective is uniquely informed by her experience on both sides of the foster care equation – first as a foster youth who entered the system in middle school, and later as an adoptive mother of five. Melissa candidly shares how burnout creeps into foster and adoptive parenting w...

3 months ago

34 minutes

Foster Parent Well

REWIND- Building Community Around Foster Families

What if your entire city rallied around foster families? Rebecca from Georgia Kids Belong reveals how that vision is becoming reality through the Foster Friendly initiative, a movement transforming how communities support foster care. Rebecca shares the powerful work of their I Belong Project, which creates advocacy videos for children waiting for adoption. These videos don't just share statistics- they amplify children's voices and help them find forever families. But the heart of our conve...

3 months ago

46 minutes

Foster Parent Well

REWIND: Supporting Biological Kids in the Foster Care and Adoption Journey

What happens to the children who were already in the home when foster kids arrive? Daniela Coats offers a perspective rarely heard in foster care conversations- that of the birth child. Growing up as the oldest of three biological siblings in a family that began fostering when she was seven, Daniela experienced firsthand the complex emotions that come with sharing your parents, your space, and your family identity. From the jealousy she felt when a foster child called her father "Dad" ...

4 months ago

39 minutes

Foster Parent Well

REWIND: Lessons in Resilience with Raquel McCloud

Raquel McLeod shares her powerful journey as a birth mother, child of kinship care, and kinship adoptive mom, illustrating how resilience can be cultivated through intentional practices and consistent support. • The nine elements that build resilience include having one stable adult, cultivating self-worth, and prioritizing physical wellness • Physical health dramatically impacts mental wellbeing—Raquel shares how fitness transformed her life during her darkest period • Practicing gratitude ...

4 months ago

1 hour 2 minutes

Foster Parent Well

REWIND: Being a Learner as a Foster or Adoptive Parent

Ever felt like the gap between what you know about trauma and how you respond to it is impossibly wide? In this soul-nourishing conversation with Katrina Campbell, Director of Training at FaithBridgeU, we explore how continuous learning transforms not just our parenting but our spiritual lives. "Suffering moved in with me," Katrina shares, capturing the profound reality of what happens when foster children enter our homes. The theoretical suddenly becomes intensely personal, challenging us a...

4 months ago

37 minutes

Foster Parent Well

REWIND: The Marriage Behind the Mission- Navigating Foster Care as a Couple

Parenting children from hard places requires an extraordinary partnership between spouses. In this candid conversation, Nicole interviews her husband Bruce about how they've navigated the challenges and joys of foster parenting as a team. When Nicole first felt called to foster care, Bruce's immediate response was a firm "no." His journey from reluctance to acceptance reveals how important it is for both partners to independently hear God's calling rather than one spouse feeling coerced. Thr...

4 months ago

30 minutes

Foster Parent Well

REWIND: Staying Calm in Chaos: Tools for Foster & Adoptive Parents

Ever found yourself triggered by your child's meltdown, wondering how to break the cycle of dysregulation? This summer rewind episode tackles one of the most challenging aspects of foster and adoptive parenting: staying calm when everything around you is chaos. Drawing from personal experience as both a certified parent trainer and adoptive mom to five siblings from foster care, I share seven practical strategies that can transform how you respond in moments of intense dysregulation. Beyond ...

5 months ago

23 minutes

Foster Parent Well

Finding Justice in a Broken Foster Care System

We confront the reality of injustice in foster care and explore how to effectively advocate for change without burning out or losing sight of our purpose. From recognizing that not every battle is ours to fight, to making strategic relationships within the system, these seven practical tips help foster parents navigate the broken parts of the system with wisdom and grace. • Not every injustice is your battle to fight—ask God for discernment about which assignments are yours • Get educated be...

5 months ago

25 minutes

Foster Parent Well

Foundations for the Foster Care Journey

The foundations you build before welcoming foster children into your home will determine whether you merely survive or truly thrive in this challenging calling. Drawing from both professional expertise and personal experience, this episode walks you through four essential preparations every prospective foster parent needs to prioritize. How are you preparing your foundation? Your investment in these four areas will determine not just your longevity as a foster parent but your effectiveness i...

5 months ago

32 minutes

Foster Parent Well

Seeing and Filling Gaps in Foster Care with Amanda Preston

What happens when your foster care journey leads you to places you never imagined? Amanda Preston knows this path intimately - from young newlyweds dreaming of "opening an orphanage" to becoming adoptive parents of eight children, veteran foster parents of 16 years, and eventually establishing a mental health clinic supporting neurodivergent families navigating the complexities of adoption and foster care. During Foster Care Awareness Month, this powerful conversation pulls back the curtain ...

6 months ago

48 minutes

Foster Parent Well

Beyond the Buzzwords: Why Trauma Knowledge Transforms Parenting with Melissa Pemberton

Stepping into foster care or adoption without understanding trauma is like trying to navigate unfamiliar terrain without a map. That's why this conversation with Melissa Pemberton, a trauma-aware licensed therapist and parent coach with over 20 years of experience in child welfare, is absolutely essential listening for anyone caring for children from hard places. Melissa shares her personal journey from being a teen mom with her own childhood trauma to becoming a powerful advocate for trauma...

6 months ago

43 minutes