Orphans No More - Radio Show

"Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me." Psalm 27:10   Welcome to The Adoption & Foster Care Journey—a podcast to encourage, educate and equip you to care for children in crisis through adoption, foster care and kinship care.   On this episode, host Sandra Flach, talks with Marina Carrier. Marina lived through early trauma as an illegitimate unwanted child. As a little girl she was sexually abused and left for dead. As an adult, she became a teacher, married, and adopted a child. Then, God called her back to the Church where she learned what it means to live in “spirit and in truth.”    Listen in as Marina shares how the suffering of her childhood became revealed and unraveled as she embraced her faith and allowed her heart to change. With greater understanding of the effects of trauma and PTSD, healing in faith brought compassion and a heart to bless and serve others who also bear the heavy burdens of lovelessness and shame.   Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a

"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you." -Isaiah 26:3   Welcome to The Adoption & Foster Care Journey—a podcast to encourage, educate and equip you to care for children in crisis through adoption, foster care and kinship care.   Throughout the month of June, we’re focusing on dads! This week we’re talking with foster and adoptive dad, Adam Southerland. Adam is the missions and ministry pastor at New Hope Community Church in Queensbury, NY. He grew unpin southeast Michigan, where he married his wife Hanna. Their oldest daughter was adopted as an infant in 2018, followed by two biological sons. Adam and Hannah are currently foster parents and lead their church’s foster and adoption ministry—including CarePortal.   Listen in as Adam shares his family’s “yes” to adoption and foster care.    Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media. Links mentioned in this episode: justicefororphansny.org justicefororphansny.org

"For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory." -1 Thessalonians 2:11-12   Welcome to The Adoption & Foster Care Journey—a podcast to encourage, educate and equip you to care for children in crisis through adoption, foster care and kinship care.   Throughout the month of June, we’re focusing on dads! This week we’re talking with our resident expert—and foster dad—Dr. Jerrod Brown.   Listen in as Dr. Brown unpacks neuro-parenting and how dads (and moms) can apply brain-based strategies to better connect with and support our kids from hard places.    Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media. Links mentioned in this episode: justicefororphansny.org justicefororphansny.org/hope-community     Email:  sandraflach@justicefororphansny.org SandraFlach.com

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." -Galatians 2:20   Welcome to The Adoption & Foster Care Journey—a podcast to encourage, educate and equip you to care for children in crisis through adoption, foster care and kinship care.   Throughout the month of June, we’re focusing on dads! To kick us off, this week host Sandra Flach talks with Joshua Legg. Joshua is passionate about helping men grow in Christ and seeing marriages healed. He understands the complexities of families parenting children with special needs and is well versed in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders—both professionally and as a brother of an adopted sibling with FAS.    Joshua pursues his passion for dads and families as a pastor, and through discipleship mentoring, and coaching. He and his wife Heather offer marriage intensives, drawing from their own journey and walking beside couples as the

"Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." 1 Corinthians 13:7   Welcome to The Adoption & Foster Care Journey—a podcast to encourage, educate and equip you to care for children in crisis through adoption, foster care and kinship care.   On this week’s episode host Sandra Flach talks with Todd and Kristin Evans about their new book, How to Build a Thriving Marriage as You Care for Children with Disabilities.   Listen in as the Evans’s share how the chronic stress of raising their children with disabilities affected their marriage and how they went from barely surviving to thriving.    Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media. Links mentioned in this episode: justicefororphansny.org justicefororphansny.org/hope-community     Email:  sandraflach@justicefororphansny.org SandraFlach.com disabilityparenting.com

"But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content, with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."  2 Corinthians 12:9-10   Welcome to The Adoption & Foster Care Journey—a podcast to encourage, educate and equip you to care for children in crisis through adoption, foster care and kinship care.   On this week’s episode host Sandra Flach talks with Jennifer Kritner, Vice President of Retail and Company Culture at Unclaimed Baggage. She also serves as the director of Unclaimed Baggage’s charitable foundation, Reclaimed For Good. Jennifer is passionate about the company’s purpose “to redeem the lost, unclaimed and rejected—for the glory of God.” She and her husband, Patrick, are also passionate about foster care and adoption and regularly welcome children int

"In You, LORD my God, I put my trust.” -Psalm 25:1   Welcome to The Adoption & Foster Care Journey—a podcast to encourage, educate and equip you to care for children in crisis through adoption, foster care and kinship care.   On this week’s episode host Sandra Flach talks with adoptive mom, Dr. Melody Aguayo. Dr Aguayo is a parent consultant for overwhelmed parents who are looking for support and solutions to navigate their parenting journey. She has a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy and a PhD in Psychology. Melody is also professionally trained in Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI), but it is her own journey as a parent that has been her greatest teacher.   Listen in as Sandra and Melody discuss who to keep showing up for our kids even when our cup is empty.   Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media. Links mentioned in this episode: justicefororphansny.org justicefororphansny.org/hope-community     Email:  sandraflach@justicefororphans

“Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: Many women have done excellently, but YOU surpass them all.” -Proverbs 31:28-29   Welcome to The Adoption & Foster Care Journey—a podcast to encourage, educate and equip you to care for children in crisis through adoption, foster care and kinship care.   On this week’s episode host Sandra Flach shares a Mother’s Day message of encouragement for foster and adoptive moms. Mother’s Day can be triggering for our kids and hard for moms on many levels.    Listen in as Sandra acknowledges the messiness of second motherhood, offers encouragement, and prays for listeners as you navigate your unique parenting journey.   Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media. Links mentioned in this episode: justicefororphansny.org justicefororphansny.org/hope-community     Email:  sandraflach@justicefororphansny.org SandraFlach.com

"Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people." -Ephesians 6:13-18 Welcome to The Adoption & Foster Care Journey—a podcast to encourage, educate and equip you to care for children in crisis through adoption, foster care and kinship care.   On this week’s episode host Sandra Flach shares her experience as an adoptive parent of a child wit

"Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!" -Psalm 127:3-5a   Welcome to The Adoption & Foster Care Journey—a podcast to encourage, educate and equip you to care for children in crisis through adoption, foster care and kinship care.   On this episode host Sandra Flach talks with returning guest and resident expert, Dr. Jerrod Brown. Dr. Brown is a professor, trainer, researcher, consultant with multiple years of experience in teaching at the college level. He is the founder and CEO of the American Institute for the Advancement of Forensic Studies. Jerrod has provided consultation services to caregivers, professionals, and organizations on the topics of autism spectrum disorder, fetal alcohol disorder, confabulation, suggestibility, trauma, another life adversities—including alexithymia, executive dysfunction, criminal recidivism, traumatic brain inju

"We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name.May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you." -Psalm 33:20-22   Welcome to The Adoption & Foster Care Journey—a podcast to encourage, educate and equip you to care for children in crisis through adoption, foster care and kinship care.   On this episode host Sandra Flach talks with Debbie Raymond, an adoptive mom and co-leader of the Hope for the FASD Journey Support Community. Debbie’s passion lies in being an FASD and brain-based-difference educator, parent advocate, and in supporting other families with individuals prenatally exposed to alcohol, and neurodiversity. She is a trained facilitator of the FASCETS neurobehavioral model, facilitates an adult support group for individuals with an FASD, and is a moderator in Jeff Nobel’s international FASD caregiver group.   Listen in as Sandra and Debbie discuss why education and support are crucial aspects of paren

"Cast all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7   Welcome to The Adoption & Foster Care Journey—a podcast to encourage, educate and equip you to care for children in crisis through adoption, foster care and kinship care.   On this episode host Sandra Flach talks with foster mom and author, Autumn McKay. Autumn is an author and early childhood educator. She has written a series of early childhood educational books along with a Gratitude Journal for moms. Autumn and her husband are parents to 3 kids and are also foster parents.   Listen in as Sandra and Autumn discuss lessons they’ve learned on their parenting journeys.    Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media. Links mentioned in this episode: sandraflach.com justicefororphansny.org sandraflach@justicefororphansny.org Focus on the Family FASD Resource https://renewretreat.org/ BestMomIdeas.com

"Now all glory to God,who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think." Ephisians 3:20   Welcome to The Adoption & Foster Care Journey—a podcast to encourage, educate and equip you to care for children in crisis through adoption, foster care and kinship care.   On this episode host Sandra Flach talks with returning guest, Jessica Hurlbut.  Jessica is a wife, pastor, writer, podcaster, and mom of five—two autistic, two adopted, and one typical teen boy. She and her husband, Greg, are lead pastors of New Testament Church in Upstate New York. Jessica and her husband also host a weekly podcast, Full Spectrum Parent, the only faith-based autism parenting podcast. And her first book, Unlimited Motherhood:  Overcome 12 Limits That Overwhelm & Conflict Our Hearts has just hit the shelves!   Listen in as Jessica shares how she navigates her parenting journey and her faith.    Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share

"Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?" Romans 2:4   Welcome to The Adoption & Foster Care Journey—a podcast to encourage, educate and equip you to care for children in crisis through adoption, foster care and kinship care.   On this episode host Sandra Flach talks with returning guest, Dr. Jerrod Brown, PhD.    Listen in as Dr. Brown unpacks how prenatal and childhood trauma affect attachment and the importance of Attachment-Informed Parenting.    Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media. Links mentioned in this episode: sandraflach.com justicefororphansny.org sandraflach@justicefororphansny.org Focus on the Family FASD Resource https://renewretreat.org/

"For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” Ephesians 3:16-17   Welcome to The Adoption & Foster Care Journey—a podcast to encourage, educate and equip you to care for children in crisis through adoption, foster care and kinship care.   On this episode host Sandra Flach talks with Laura Bedard. Laura and her husband are parents of an adopted son with FASD. She’s part of the FASD United Family Navigator team and author of the children’s books, My Adopted Feelings and My FASD Feelings.   Listen in as Laura shares her family’s adoption story, how she began her FASD journey, and why she’s passionate about helping other families navigate FASD.   Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media. Links mentioned in this epi

“A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families…” Psalm 68:5-6   Welcome to The Adoption & Foster Care Journey—a podcast to encourage, educate and equip you to care for children in crisis through adoption, foster care and kinship care.   On this episode host Sandra Flach talks with adoptive mom, Kelly Henderson. A special educator by profession, Kelly is a former public school teacher of students with emotional and behavioral disorders, and has worked in national and federal special education policy and research settings. Kelly’s family is formed in part through foster care and adoption. Her teen and young adult children have a range of learning, behavioral, medical and cognitive disabilities.   Kelly is also Executive Director of Formed Families Forward, a Virginia based nonprofit dedicated to supporting foster, kinship, and adoptive families of children and youth with disabilities and other special needs, including FASD.   Listen in as Sand

"From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD his God. He said: In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry." Jonah 2:1-2   Welcome to The Adoption & Foster Care Journey—a podcast to encourage, educate and equip you to care for children in crisis through adoption, foster care and kinship care.   On this episode host Sandra Flach talks with adoptive mom, Pam Willis. After fostering for six years, Pam and her husband Gary adopted a sibling set of seven children through foster care.    Listen in as Pam shares her incredible second chance adoption story.   Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media. Links mentioned in this episode: sandraflach.com justicefororphansny.org sandraflach@justicefororphansny.org Focus on the Family FASD Resource Pam Willis @second.chance.7

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20   Welcome to The Adoption & Foster Care Journey—a podcast to encourage, educate and equip you to care for children in crisis through adoption, foster care and kinship care.   On this episode host Sandra Flach talks with Dr. Jerrod Brown about what foster and adoptive parents need to know about Gut-Brain Health Axis Dysfunction.   Listen in as Dr. Brown unpacks this vitally important topic.   Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media. Links mentioned in this episode: sandraflach.com justicefororphansny.org sandraflach@justicefororphansny.org Focus on the Family FASD Resource Email Dr. Jerrod Brown

“We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering—before our God & Father—your works of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” Thessalonians 1:2-3   Welcome to The Adoption & Foster Care Journey—a podcast to encourage, educate and equip you to care for children in crisis through adoption, foster care and kinship care.   On this episode host Sandra Flach shares a message about the trials and challenges of parenting children with trauma and prenatal exposure to alcohol and other drugs.   Listen in as Sandra encourages caregivers to plug in to Jesus for the power they need to navigate the journey.   Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media. Links mentioned in this episode: sandraflach.com justicefororphansny.org sandraflach@justicefororphansny.org Focus on the Family FASD Resource

“But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it, while Aaron & Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So, his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.” Exodus 17:12   Welcome to The Adoption & Foster Care Journey—a podcast to encourage, educate and equip you to care for children in crisis through adoption, foster care and kinship care.   On this episode host Sandra Flach speaks with adoptive mom and FASD Family Navigator, Kristen Eriksen.   Kristen is mom to teenage twins with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. She’s also a Family Navigator with FASD United and works with family’s in Massachusetts through massFAS.   Listen in to Sandra and Kristen’s conversation and be encouraged for your parenting journey.   Please be sure to subscribe to the podcast, leave a review, and share it on your social media. Links mentioned in this episode: sandraflach.com justicefororphansny.org sandraflach@justicefororphansny.org Focus on