Afleveringen
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In this episode, I’m talking about shame in foster care and how powerful it is. Shame can stop people from getting help when they need it, and sometimes it keeps families quiet until a situation becomes an emergency. I share a moment from court that stuck with me, a grandmother in tears saying, “If I would’ve known, I would’ve done something.” That’s the thing about shame. People can be drowning and no one knows. I also talk about how mandated reporting fits into this, why two things can be true at the same time (reporting can save lives and reporting can also pull families into deeper system involvement than they actually needed), and what I believe we have to focus on instead: protecting families, connecting systems, and making the process simple enough that people can actually succeed.
If you’re a helper, a mandated reporter, or a leader in the family and child welfare system: is our process simple enough that someone new can understand it without feeling ashamed or lost? Click the link below and grab the child welfare confusion audit.
Newsletter signup with free gift- access the Child Welfare Confusion Audit HERE.
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Helpers need encouragement too. In this episode, I’m talking directly to the people who carry heavy things for a living: child welfare professionals, social services staff, foster care partners, advocates, and anyone doing complex work with families. I share a few reminders I’ve had to learn the hard way: rest has to be built in, reflection keeps you honest about your pace and your impact, and remembering matters because gratitude can be fuel. If you’re tired, questioning whether you can keep going, or feeling like the work is swallowing your life, this one is for you.
Newsletter signup with free gift- access the Child Welfare Confusion Audit HERE.
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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A few years ago I made a post about motherhood, the Proverbs 31 woman, and the truth we forget: she had help. That same principle applies in foster care. No one can do this work alone, and pretending we can is a fast track to burnout. In this episode, I share what I learned leading a region of 400+ employees across five counties, why staffing challenges become a predictable burnout cycle, and what it actually takes for people to stay: fair compensation, meaningful impact, and real support. I also talk about how mandated reporting works in practice, why poverty and neglect get blurred, and why the real fix is connection across the 10 systems in the family and child welfare ecosystem. This is the heart of what I teach through SYNCing Child Welfare: moving organizations from isolation to connected, and making joy part of the process again.
Register for SYNCing Child Welfare session on Thursday, May 7th, 2026 @ 11am CT : https://syncingchildwelfare.webinarninja.com/live-webinars/10808511/register
#burnout #isolation #connection #fostercare #childwelfare #mandatedreporter #proverbs31woman
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"One of the biggest threats to good outcomes in child welfare is not bad intentions…it is the broken or inconsistent communication between all the folks involved in a child's life." — Kellie Green
A true quote from our guest on the podcast today and it frames our discussion so well. In this episode of Navigating Child Welfare, I’m talking with colleague Kellie Green, who’s worked across child welfare, Medicaid, and behavioral health for over 20 years. We get real about why the child welfare system and foster care can feel so complicated, even for people who do this work for a living. And we focus on one of the biggest issues that quietly wrecks outcomes: broken and inconsistent communication. Then we talk solutions, specifically a coordination platform called Sunlight that’s built to connect everyone on a child’s team in one place. Solutions exist- we have to brave enough to keep looking.
#FosterCare #ChildWelfareSystem #ChildWelfare #FamilyAndChildWelfareSystem #CaseManagement #ParentRepresentation #CASA #Permanency #SystemsChange
Kellie & Sunlight contact info: www.getsunlight.org
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelliehansreid/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/sunlighthq/
Check out SYNCing Child Welfare: www.syncingchildwelfare.com
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Race has always mattered in America. The family and child welfare system is not exempt from history. In this episode of Navigating Child Welfare, I'm sharing what I've learned from creating Skin Deep and leading the Going Deep Together workshop, and why these discussions are essential for anyone serving families in the foster care and child welfare system and how to equip the next generation of family helpers through connection and humanity. Below are a few lessons I've learned:
Lesson #1: Sometimes organizations are not ready to discuss race, bias, and it impacts the families they are serving. Takeway- leaders can begin preparing staff to have uncomfortable discussions.
Lesson #2: The Going DEEP Together Workshop I lead is only facilitated in person. Takeaway- race is difficult to talk about and escapism is real!
Lesson #3: The Skin DEEP online course & webinar is accredited for Missouri and Kansas CEU’s and CLE’s. Takeaway- not only are you learning and applying, social workers and attorneys in Kansas and Missouri can also receive credit for their attendance!
Lesson #4: Connecting with people and their experiences is what keeps us grounded and connected to humanity. Takeaway- it matters what happened to families and communities and Skin DEEP provides a way for individuals and organizations to have a nuanced discussion that is helpful.
If you're responsible for training staff or students in a child and family serving organization, this episode is for you. The history is worth understanding. What's happening now has happened before, and there is power in knowing that.
🎧 Listen: Going Deep Together: Race, History, and the Family and Child Welfare System
📲 Six months of Skin Deep access for $200- www.skindeepcw.com. Use the coupon code: CLECEU.
#ChildWelfare #FosterCare #FamilyAndChildWelfareSystem #RacialEquity #CulturalCompetency #SkinDeep #RaceAndLaw #FamiliesInAmerica #Leadership #SystemsChange
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On this episode of Navigating Child Welfare, I’m talking with Judge Karen Braxton and honestly… I loved this conversation. She describes judges as a catalyst for collaboration, and she actually shows up that way. We talk about the role a judge can play in reducing confusion in the family and child welfare system, why acronyms leave parents glassy-eyed, and what it looks like to lead a courtroom with dignity, humanity, and real clarity.
Moments you’ll remember:
The phrase that stayed with me: “catalyst for collaboration.”The reality check about court language and acronyms and how easy it is for families to leave confusedMy takeaway:
Court is already intimidating. When families don’t understand what’s happening, they can’t fully participate. What I heard in this conversation is that judges can reduce confusion and increase trust without giving up authority. They can lead like humans, and that leadership changes the whole tone of the child welfare system in the courtroom.
Be sure to share this episode, and check out www.syncingchildwelfare.com if you are looking to bring training, collaboration, and connection to your organization.
Follow Judge KB’s on any of the platforms below:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JudgeKBraxton/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judgekbraxton
IG: https://www.instagram.com/judgekbraxton/
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Episode summary
I want you to sit with a real question: when are you ever in the room with the people who impact your work and the environment is actually collaborative? Not a courtroom. Not a crisis case. Just a room where everyone is trying to understand each other and work better together.
In this episode, I talk about how easy it is for foster care and child welfare work to turn into assumptions and side conversations when there’s miscommunication. And honestly, I get it. When we don’t understand what another person does, it’s tempting to label them as incompetent or uncaring. But most of the time, we’re judging people we’ve never actually talked to.
I share what I learned as an attorney, then later as a social service administrator: relationships change outcomes. When we intentionally get court partners, attorneys, guardian ad litems, caseworkers, and community organizations in the room (outside of adversarial spaces), skepticism can turn into buy-in, and chaos can turn into clarity.
What I coverLeadership requires understanding how families are impacted
How frustration and miscommunication are often signals that connection is needed
Why the “big agency” can’t act like it does & knows everything
How inviting community orgs to share what they do changes everything
SYNCing Child Welfare is a solution and helps organizations see the 10 systems in the family and child welfare system and learn practical ways to connect across them
Key takeawaysIf there’s consistent frustration, there’s probably a missing relationship or missing understanding
If we don’t create a feedback loop, people end up “suffering in silence” while things stay absurdly unwell
The people who do well in this work are usually the ones who see the big picture and build connection on purpose
What’s next & call to actionIf you’re ready to bring more connection, collaboration, and real partnership into your foster care or child welfare work, reach out. My email is [email protected]. Reach out today!
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When you’re involved in foster care and the child welfare system, adding special education on top of everything else can send everybody into a spiral.
In this episode, I’m talking with Krystal from The Advocacy Circle (through Kay Altman Law Firm) about practical support for IEPs and 504 plans. We break down what these are, how parents and caregivers can get started, and how their virtual advocate tool can help you ask better questions, write better requests, and feel less lost in the process.
We cover: What the Advocacy Circle is and who its for (HINT: Parents, Caregivers, and people supporting children in special education- ESPECIALLY if you are new to the special education world)
Action Items:
1. Check out the Advocacy Circle website and information at: https://theadvocacycircle.com/
2. If you decide to sign up, listeners of the Navigating Child Welfare podcast can use the special code: DUPREETAC10 for 10% off their subscription, at any tier. This is a one-time use code.
3. If you have questions about special education for your child or child in foster care, start asking questions and get supported today- it can make a world of difference regarding their ability to truly learn in school.
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Reducing frustration in foster care starts with the stuff we don’t always name: trust, roles, and real partnership across the family and child welfare system.
In this episode, I share a story from a major project where we were stuck waiting on pieces outside our control. The shift was simple: I prepared everything I could control so we were ready the moment the missing pieces landed. That same mindset applies to foster care. There are so many moving parts, and sometimes you don’t even know what’s missing until the work slows down.
I’m talking about how to prepare for partnership using the 360º workshop so you have more clarity, balance, and trust internally and with external partners.
Action Items
- Take the 360º Assessment - it takes about 5 minutes to complete and it can be found at https://syncingchildwelfare.com/360o-assessment/.
- Email [email protected] to schedule a time to discuss a 360º workshop for your team today.
- Join the Newsletter to stay updated on the SYNCing Child Welfare Program: HERE
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Beauty and harm can coexist in our history, and healing starts with honest reflection and shared action.
This episode focuses centers on healing from racial trauma and why honest history is essential to repair. She traces how race has shaped American law and memory, then connects that history to daily practice in the family and child welfare system. From the Declaration and Constitution to the Civil Rights Amendments, from birthright citizenship to repatriation and guest worker policies, and from post-emancipation child taking to the work of the Freedmen’s Bureau, Shanelle names patterns of othering and invites listeners to build systems that protect dignity and equity. You are invited to check out Skin Deep, the History of Child Welfare by Race, and Going Deep Together for organizations that want structured conversations that lead to change at www.skindeepcw.com.
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Sometimes our help looks good on paper but doesn’t help in practice. In this episode, Shanelle names “fake help,” shows how to co-create real solutions with the people affected, and explains where 360° Family and Child Welfare Workshops solves a specific problem by strengthening partnerships and prepares a community for service in the family and child welfare system.
You will learn:
What “fake help” is and how to stop creating extra work for families and staff.Three common blockers: fixing problems without the people affected, over-engineering solutions, and over-automating connection.The 360º Workshop unlocks progress within family and child welfare agencies to solve a concrete cross-agency issue, rebuild working relationships, or to prepare partners for new responsibilities or projects.Take the SYNCing Child Welfare 360º Assessment today to partner effectively: www.syncingchildwelfare.com & follow up with a workshop for your organization!
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Shanelle and guest Steve Gonyea wrap up their conversation by digging into why many agency-run “support groups” have good intentions, but miss the mark, especially when supervisors or case managers are in the room. Caregivers, parents, and youth will not share real concerns when the people who evaluate them are listening, so the space is not actually supportive. The conversation covers what new and veteran caregivers really need, which are: timely answers, plain language guidance, and safe places to learn how to navigate court, school, medication questions, and after-hours crises.
Shanelle also shares monthly webinar plans, the idea of training after the train wreck, and invites listeners to the 360º Assessment for partners in the family and child welfare system.
Key takeaways
Support groups must be peer-led or community-hosted with psychological safety, otherwise honest feedback will not surface.Practical help beats platitudes, even a fast “no” is better than silence when a caregiver is in crisis.Make court understandable and accessible for youth and caregivers, name what to wear, how to address the judge, and how to share information.Partner across the ecosystem, families need timely answers, workers need realistic roles, volunteers need clear rules.Take the SYNCing Child Welfare 360º Assessment today to partner effectively: www.syncingchildwelfare.com!
Steve Gonyea, Co Host, Finding Common Ground
Podcast website: https://www.fcgadvocacy.org/about-steve-gonyea
Sensor Barn solution: A vibrant, calming haven for kids and adults with sensory needs (Spectrum News).
Email: [email protected]
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Shanelle sits down with advocate and long-time therapeutic foster parent Steve Goneya to talk about what is not working and what communities can build right now. Steve has welcomed 178 children through respite and high-needs care, fought for supports for high health needs children, and learned the hard truth about bureaucracy, turnover, and waitlists. Instead of waiting, he built solutions: an Autism Barn that became a community hub and an Ability Bus model that partners with veterans to get youth and adults with disabilities to appointments and life-giving activities when agencies do not run nights or weekends. This is part one of the conversation. Links to Steve’s projects and Shanelle’s 360º Assessment are in the show notes.
You will hear
How years in family care and therapeutic foster care shaped Steve’s approach to high-needs placementsWhy adoption decisions must consider lifelong supports and eligibility, and how delays and paperwork keep youth waiting.Community solutions that work now: a private Autism Barn that became a regional resource and an Ability Bus run with veterans that agencies could not replicate due to after-hours gaps.Why Steve is organizing storytellers and aged-out youth, meeting legislators, and developing a national transportation initiative with a film partner to seed similar models in other states.Key takeaways
Build the environment you wish existed. Small, concrete projects can scale when partners see them working.Accountability and support are both true. Families need timely decisions and workers need realistic caseloads and clear roles.Community partners can move faster than bureaucracy. Veterans, faith groups, and local donors can fill critical gaps.Steve Gonyea, Co‑Host, Finding Common Ground
Podcast website: https://www.fcgadvocacy.org/about-steve-gonyea
Sensor Barn solution: A vibrant, calming haven for kids and adults with sensory needs (Spectrum News).
Email: [email protected]
Take the 360º Assessment today to partner effectively: www.syncingchildwelfare.com
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What does partnership and collaboration look like in your organization? Often times we focus solely on our role and job- but in the family and child welfare system all the systems matter.
The 360º Assessment is HERE! Take it today to understand…
-Recognize where you fit on the 360º family and child welfare map-Determine how you work with other partners-Gauge how supported or overwhelmed you feel-Access your organization’s readiness to partner and build trust with families
Listeners learn why beginning at the beginning matters, how influence extends beyond agencies that work on cases 90 percent of the time, and how better partnership reduces harm and restores continuity for families.
Who this helps
Caseworkers, supervisors, attorneys, CASA and GAL, foster and kin caregivers, school and healthcare partners, faith and community leaders, mandated reporters, and anyone who influences decisions in the family and child welfare system.
Action Items
- Take the 360º Assessment - it takes about 5 minutes to complete and it can be found at https://syncingchildwelfare.com/360o-assessment/.
- Join the Newsletter to stay updated on the SYNCing Child Welfare Program: HERE
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Episode summary
A caseworker’s anonymous post about hard relationships with foster parents sparks a real conversation about communication, role clarity, and burnout. Shanelle explains why case workers (& no one!) cannot hold everything at once, how conflicting goals show up, and what it takes to align teams so families move forward. She also introduces the SYNCing Child Welfare approach, including a free 360 assessment, a 360 workshop that maps ten connected systems, and monthly 360 webinars, all designed to help staff, caregivers, and volunteers reclaim time and peace of mind in the family and child welfare system.
You will learn:
Why delayed responses and unclear roles strain foster parent relationships, and how to reset expectations early.How to plan for partnership and also plan for pushback, since disagreement is guaranteed.Ways to keep the team aligned when the goal is reunification, including how to surface real safety concerns without drowning in noise.What the 360 assessment, 360 workshop, and 360 webinars cover, and how they support retention, partnership, and trust with families.Program invite
You are personally invited to join an online session to learn more. Shanelle is hosting two online SYNCing Child Welfare preview sessions in early 2026: Wednesday, January 7 (9:00–9:45 a.m. CT) REGISTER HERE or Thursday, January 8 (4:00–4:45 p.m. CT) REGISTER HERE.
Stay updated on the latest SYNCING Child Welfare updates by joining the newsletter HERE.
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Families need information fast, in plain language, and backed by real partnerships. In this episode of Navigating Child Welfare Shanelle shares what is coming in 2026 and how SYNCing Child Welfare will help parents, foster and kinship caregivers, and partners move through the family and child welfare system with less confusion and more confidence.
She discusses prevention services that keep families out of foster care, parent education that clarifies court and case plans, and cross-system collaboration that makes case management sustainable. She also discusses the upcoming 360º workshop for workers and volunteers and the 360º webinar series for parents and partners.
Highlights and takeaways
Information creates transformation, then families can take the next step toward reunification or another stable plan
Programs built in isolation stall, partnerships move cases forward
Plan for conflict in collaborations and use shared values plus clear responsibilities to stay aligned
Equity is daily work and should be baked into decisions, timelines, and access
🎧 Listen now🗓️ Join a SYNC info session in January 2026.
You are personally invited to join an online session to learn more. Shanelle is hosting two online SYNCing Child Welfare preview sessions in early 2026: Wednesday, January 7 (9:00–9:45 a.m. CT) REGISTER HERE or Thursday, January 8 (4:00–4:45 p.m. CT) REGISTER HERE.
Stay updated on the latest SYNCING Child Welfare updates by joining the newsletter HERE.
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Episode summary
Hair isn’t “extra.” For many youth in foster care, it’s identity, culture, memory and a daily signal of dignity. Shanelle talks with Aisha Walker, founder of The Walker Foundation, about why a lack of hair care can trigger bullying, low self-esteem, “hair depression” and how culturally competent care helps children feel connected and confident. You’ll hear concrete tips for foster/kin caregivers, how bonding happens in everyday routines, and the Walker Foundation’s programs from free Hair Fairs to school curricula and in-home support. Shanelle also invites listeners to early-2026 preview sessions for SYNCing Child Welfare.
You’ll hear about
Why hair care is part of basic hygiene, identity, and culture, not a luxury. Common pain points: No appropriate products, daily washing myths, texture confusion, bullying, and confidence hits. Bonding through care: Routines, and conversations that build trust and belonging. Walker Foundation programs: Free hair services “Hair Fairs,” Hair Talk Academy (12-week curriculum), Crown Kings (barber mentoring), hospital services, custom wigs, and monthly memberships (including in-home stylists).Quick tips for caregivers (any skill level)
Learn the basics first: proper wash cadence, detangling, and products by texture; styles can come later. Don’t assume a child “just needs a hairstyle.” Ask: “What would help you feel confident and cared for today?” Advocate at school/activities for culturally responsive grooming policies and protective styles. Make it bonding time: consistent routines build trust and a sense of being known.Resource spotlight
The Walker Foundation contact information: Facebook & Instagram- TheWalkerFoundationKC and Website- www.thewalkerfoundation.org Email: [email protected]Program invite
You are personally invited to join an online session to learn more. Shanelle is hosting two online SYNCing Child Welfare preview sessions in early 2026: Wednesday, January 7 (9:00–9:45 a.m. CT) REGISTER HERE or Thursday, January 8 (4:00–4:45 p.m. CT) REGISTER HERE.• • Stay updated on the latest SYNCING Child Welfare updates by joining the newsletter HERE.
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Episode summaryWe often describe foster care and CPS as broken—and then we work like nothing can change. In this episode, Shanelle challenges that reflex and asks a harder question: Do you even think better is possible? Drawing on a college-days story (learning to do things differently) and real child welfare dynamics, she outlines what families, volunteers, workers, and mandated reporters actually need: clarity, connection, and a network of support. She introduces SYNCing Child Welfare, a national program built to simplify navigation, reduce confusion, and strengthen cross-system partnerships.
You’ll hear about
Why calling foster care/CPS “broken” can lock us into the same trainings, same process, same results.
How belief → behavior: if we believe change is possible, we move differently.
What families need (clarity), volunteers need (connection), and workers need (support)—and how blame & shame undercut all three.
The role of mandated reporters and partners in reducing confusion and building trust with families.
SYNCing Child Welfare: a 360° framework with tools for conflict navigation, partnership building, and monthly Q&A to surface real questions.
You are personally invited to join an online session to learn more. Shanelle is hosting two online SYNCing Child Welfare preview sessions in early 2026: Wednesday, January 7 (9:00–9:45 a.m. CT) REGISTER HERE or Thursday, January 8 (4:00–4:45 p.m. CT) REGISTER HERE.
Stay updated on the latest SYNCING Child Welfare updates by joining the newsletter HERE.
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Shanelle has been listening deeply to parents, caregivers, youth, caseworkers, judges, and faith/community partners. The stories are hard: reports not read, workers demeaned, youth uninformed, and children disoriented by sudden moves. This episode names those triggers and charts a path toward being more connected so people aren’t navigating foster care alone. Shanelle also invites listeners to a 2026 preview of the SYNCing Child Welfare course (Simplifying Your Navigation and Confusion in Child Welfare).
What you’ll hear
Why foster care...even when necessary, is inherently hard, and how system behavior can make it harder.
Real stories: foster parent reports ignored; caseworkers shamed; older youth told to skip court; youth who don’t even know where they are.
The “middle of the movie” effect: families and new workers thrown into complex culture and acronyms with no translation.
A better way: make help visible, define roles, and connect people to the right person in each system.
You are personally invited to join an online session to learn more. Shanelle is hosting two online SYNCing Child Welfare preview sessions in early 2026: Wednesday, January 7 (9:00–9:45 a.m. CT) REGISTER HERE or Thursday, January 8 (4:00–4:45 p.m. CT) REGISTER HERE.
Stay updated on the latest SYNCING Child Welfare updates by joining the newsletter HERE.
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Faith + Foster CareChild welfare can feel complicated and confusing—but families should never be asked to navigate it alone.
In this episode of Navigating Child Welfare, I share how faith, prevention, and community supports surround families before, during, and after system involvement. We talk about opening our eyes (2 Kings 6) to the help already around us, reducing shame, and building natural supports that last when paid services end.
We cover:
Why “do it by yourself” is unsafe for families and for anyone.
Prevention + support: the often-missed pillars that keep families stable.
How churches and communities act as real-world prevention and long-term support.
Practical next step: list 3–5 natural supports and make a warm connection this week.
Visit our website to learn more and be sure to sign up for the upcoming SYNCing Child Welfare launch in 2026! https://syncingchildwelfare.com/
#ChildWelfare #FosterCare #SocialWork #FaithInAction #Prevention #Kinship #CommunityCare #SystemsChange
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