Fostering Change

On this episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer is joined by Mordy Kurtz of The Boxery, a company that demonstrates how even behind-the-scenes business operations can play a meaningful role in supporting children in foster care.At Comfort Cases, partnerships are essential. The Boxery has been a valued partner, providing boxes and shipping materials that help deliver Comfort Cases to children across the country. While this support may not always be visible, it is critical to ensuring that essential items reach youth who need them.Mordy leads marketing and growth at The Boxery, bringing creativity and purpose to an industry often viewed as purely transactional. Through initiatives like Givebox, the company is demonstrating how businesses can integrate giving into their everyday operations and make a meaningful impact in their communities.This conversation explores how companies of any size or industry can align their operations with purpose and become active participants in supporting causes like foster care.Episode HighlightsThe role of operational partnerships in supporting nonprofit impactHow The Boxery contributes to Comfort Cases through logistics and infrastructureBringing creativity and brand voice to a traditional industryThe importance of customer-focused, solution-driven marketingHow initiatives like Givebox integrate giving into everyday business operationsAbout the GuestMordy Kurtz leads marketing and growth at The Boxery, where he focuses on creative branding, customer-first marketing, and building systems that help businesses operate more effectively. With more than 15 years of experience, including work with nonprofits, he brings a purpose-driven approach to business and is helping expand The Boxery’s impact through initiatives like Givebox.About the PartnershipThe Boxery supports Comfort Cases by providing essential packaging and shipping materials for nationwide distribution. This partnership highlights the importance of infrastructure and logistics in delivering resources to children experiencing foster care.Connect & Learn More🌐 Website: theboxery.com📘 Facebook: The Boxery📸 Instagram: @theboxery🐦 X (Twitter): @TheBoxery🧵 Threads: @theboxery🎵 TikTok: @theboxery🔗 LinkedIn: Mordy Kurtz | The Boxery📧 Email: [email protected]🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer is joined by leaders and advocates working directly with young people transitioning out of foster care: Sarah Baumgartner of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Brian Robinson of Kids’ Voice of Indiana, and Princess Martinez Casanova, a foster youth leader and member of the Youth Impact Board at Kids’ Voice.For Comfort Cases, partnerships have always been central to the mission. The organization’s first corporate Packing Parties began in Indiana with Elevance Health and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in 2008. Since then, Anthem has remained a longstanding partner, demonstrating an ongoing commitment to corporate responsibility and to supporting children and youth experiencing foster care.Today, that commitment continues through collaboration with Kids’ Voice of Indiana, working together to raise the voice of youth transitioning out of foster care by creating resources, providing transition support, and expanding opportunities for education and career advancement.As Foster Care Awareness Month approaches in May, this conversation highlights the importance of recognizing the needs of young people preparing to age out of the system — and the role partnerships play in helping them build strong, independent futures.Episode HighlightsThe importance of supporting youth as they transition out of foster careHow corporate partnerships can expand resources and opportunities for young peopleThe role of Kids’ Voice of Indiana in advocating for older youth and preparing them for independenceThe impact of mentorship, advocacy, and youth voice in shaping better outcomesReal-life success stories, including pathways to higher education and career developmentAbout the GuestsSarah Baumgartner is the Older Youth Case Manager on the Foster Care Team at Anthem Indiana Behavioral Health Services. She brings more than 20 years of experience in mental health, including residential treatment, school-based counseling, and private practice. Her work focuses on supporting older youth as they transition from foster care to adulthood.Brian Robinson is the Director of Older Youth Initiatives for Kids’ Voice of Indiana. With more than 25 years of experience working with children and families, including serving as a Guardian ad Litem since the early 1990s, he centers his work on preparing older youth in foster care for independence.Princess Martinez Casanova is a bilingual education advocate, foster youth leader, and member of the Youth Impact Board at Kids’ Voice of Indiana. After immigrating from Mexico as a teenager and entering foster care at fourteen, she is now attending DePauw University on a full scholarship, studying Education Studies and Spanish, and advocating for foster youth and immigrant communities.About the WorkThe collaboration between Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Kids’ Voice focuses on:Transition support for youth aging out of foster careElevating youth voice and advocacyExpanding access to education and career pathwaysThese efforts reflect a shared commitment to helping young people move from foster care into adulthood with the tools, support, and opportunities they need to succeed.Connect & Learn MoreKids’ Voice of Indiana: https://kidsvoicein.org/Facebook: @AnthemMedicaidInstagram: @anthembcbsX (Twitter): @AnthemBCBSLinkedIn: Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield – Medicaid Health Plans🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer is joined by Karen Segal, founder of Photo Safe, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting what many children in foster care often miss: photographs and personal memories.For most families, childhood photos are a given. They capture milestones, friendships, and the small moments that help us understand who we are and where we come from. But for many children experiencing foster care, frequent moves and disrupted connections mean those memories are rarely preserved.Photo Safe was founded to close that gap. Through a network of volunteer photographers, the organization has provided more than 60,000 professionally taken and framed photographs to youth connected to foster care and their families.At the heart of Photo Safe’s work is a commitment to safety and confidentiality. Every image is securely archived and preserved so children can access their memories safely now and decades into the future.In this conversation, Rob and Karen explore why photographs matter for identity, how preserving childhood moments can help young people build a sense of belonging, and why something as simple as a picture can become a powerful anchor in a child’s life.Episode HighlightsWhy childhood photographs play a vital role in identity and emotional developmentThe often-overlooked reality is that many youth in foster care grow up without documented memoriesHow Photo Safe protects images through secure archival systems and strict confidentialityThe lasting emotional impact of framed photographs and preserved milestonesHow preserving memories helps youth maintain a connection to their own storyAbout the GuestKaren Segal is the founder of Photo Safe, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving childhood photographs for youth in foster care. After a 30-year career in financial technology with firms including Merrill Lynch, Citigroup, and Barclays, she now serves as a Quality Executive at Ernst & Young. Through Photo Safe’s volunteer network of photographers, the organization has provided more than 60,000 framed photographs to children and families connected to foster care while maintaining rigorous standards of privacy, security, and long-term archival preservation.Connect with Photo Safe🌐 Website: www.photosafe.org📘 Facebook: facebook.com/photosafe.org🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer is joined by his friend, Pedro Andrade, an Emmy Award–winning journalist, producer, and global storyteller whose work explores identity, culture, and what it truly means to be a family.Pedro is the host and producer of the HBO Max documentary series Somewhat Familiar, which follows Pedro and his husband as they adopt a baby and travel the world exploring how families are formed across cultures and communities.One episode of the series is especially meaningful to the Fostering Change community. Episode five featured Rob Scheer and the Scheer family, offering an honest look at foster care, adoption, and what permanency can look like in real life.In this conversation, Rob and Pedro revisit that experience and explore how storytelling can expand our understanding of family, bring visibility to foster care, and inspire more compassionate conversations about belonging.Episode HighlightsHow media and storytelling can redefine traditional ideas of familyWhy foster care stories deserve a place in global conversations about belongingPedro’s experience of becoming a parent and how it shaped his perspective on adoptionWhat the Scheer family story revealed about permanency and resilienceThe role of documentaries in shifting public understanding and reducing stigmaAbout the GuestPedro Andrade is an Emmy Award–winning journalist, producer, and global storyteller known for his work exploring culture, identity, and human connection. He is the host and producer of the HBO Max documentary series Somewhat Familiar, which follows Pedro and his husband as they navigate adoption while exploring family structures around the world. Through his work, Pedro highlights diverse stories of belonging and invites audiences to see family through a wider, more compassionate lens.Connect with Pedro📸 Instagram: @pedroandradeTV🎬 Series: Somewhat Familiar with Pedro Andrade on HBO Max🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Fostering Change Podcast, Rob Scheer is joined by Temple Lentz — nonprofit CEO, local elected official, and debut novelist — for a thoughtful conversation about what happens when the systems designed to protect vulnerable families don’t always work the way they’re supposed to.Temple is the author of the novel Not Quite Home, which explores the cracks in America’s social service safety net. While the book is fiction, its themes are grounded in real-world experience. Having worked both inside nonprofit leadership and as an elected official, Temple brings a rare systems-level perspective to the conversation.Together, Rob and Temple discuss the gap between policy and lived reality, how well-intentioned systems can sometimes cause unintended harm, and why storytelling may be one of the most powerful tools we have to illuminate the need for reform.Episode Highlights• Why systems meant to help families often fall short• The unintended consequences of well-intentioned policies• What people misunderstand about how social service systems actually function• Why fiction can humanize policy failures more effectively than reports and data• How civic engagement and storytelling can open doors to meaningful reformAbout the GuestTemple Lentz is a nonprofit CEO, local elected official, and debut novelist. She earned a BA from the University of Chicago and a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Claremont Lincoln University. Her writing has appeared in outlets including the Portland Mercury, Vancouver Business Journal, Live Wire! Radio, New City Chicago, and the Windy City Times.Her first novel, Not Quite Home, examines the human impact of systemic gaps within America’s social safety net.Connect with Temple🌐 Website: templelentzbooks.com📘 Facebook: Temple Lentz📸 Instagram: @gototemple🐦 X/Twitter: @gototemple🧵 Threads: @gototemple🔗 LinkedIn: Temple Lentz🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer sits down with Dr. Liz DeBetta — an award-winning writer, educator, and solo performance artist whose work explores adoption, trauma, identity, and healing through storytelling.Dr. Liz is the founder of Migrating Toward Wholeness, a trauma-informed, arts-based healing framework, and the author of Adult Adoptees and Writing to Heal. Her work centers on an often-overlooked truth: adoption isn’t a moment — it’s a lifelong identity journey.This conversation is especially meaningful for Rob, who reflects on his own experience adopting his son Alex, who joined the Scheer family at 18 and was formally adopted at 22 — a powerful reminder that belonging and permanency have no age limit.Together, Rob and Dr. Liz explore how adults navigate adoption-related grief and identity, why healing can unfold later in life, and how storytelling becomes a transformative tool for reclaiming voice and wholeness.Episode HighlightsLate and adult adoption as meaningful and transformativeHow writing and embodied storytelling support trauma integrationWhat “wholeness” means for identities shaped by early lossThe role adoptive families play in supporting adult adoptees over timeAbout the GuestDr. Liz DeBetta is an award-winning writer, educator, and solo performance artist whose work focuses on adoption, trauma, and identity through narrative expression. She is the founder of Migrating Toward Wholeness™, the author of Adult Adoptees and Writing to Heal, and the creator of the acclaimed one-woman show Un-M-Othered, which examines adoption and patriarchy through embodied storytelling. Holding a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies, she blends research, lived experience, and art to support healing and identity integration.Connect with Dr. Liz🌐 Website: www.lizdebetta.com📘 Facebook: Dr. Liz DeBetta📸 Instagram: @dr.liz.debetta🎵 TikTok: @dr.liz.debetta🔗 LinkedIn: Liz DeBetta, Ph.D.🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode of Fostering Change was originally scheduled to air in March — but after recording, Rob Scheer felt the conversation was too important to wait. He personally requested that it be released early so listeners could hear it as soon as possible.Rob is joined by Rachel Bruno, a Nashville-based author, speaker, and advocate whose deeply personal experience with the child welfare system ignited a powerful call for accountability and reform.After her children were unlawfully removed by child protective services, Rachel found herself confronting a system where parental rights, due process, and family integrity are often overlooked. Instead of staying silent, she fought back — ultimately securing a seven-figure civil rights settlement and emerging as a leading national voice for families facing similar injustices.Rachel is the author of Fractured Hope: A Mother’s Fight for Justice and founder of Giver of Light, an organization dedicated to supporting families navigating child welfare involvement. Together, Rob and Rachel discuss hope after trauma, the urgent need for accountability, and why lived experience must guide ethical, child-centered reform.Episode Highlights• How one mother’s fight sparked national conversations about reform• What families experience when due process is ignored• Accountability and justice within child welfare• How Giver of Light supports families in crisis• Why lived experience belongs at the center of policy change📘 Book RecommendationRob strongly recommends Rachel’s book:Fractured Hope: A Mother’s Fight for Justice — a powerful firsthand account that exposes the realities families face inside the child welfare system and why reform is urgently needed.👉 Get the book directly from Rachel:https://rachelbruno.com/book/Purchasing directly supports her advocacy and helps amplify voices too often unheard.About the GuestRachel Bruno is an author, speaker, and advocate for parental rights. Her lived experience navigating the child welfare system made her a national leader in reform. After securing a civil rights settlement for the unlawful removal of her children, she authored Fractured Hope and founded Giver of Light. She continues to serve in leadership and advisory roles, promoting family integrity, accountability, and ethical child welfare practices.Connect with Rachel & Giver of Light🌐 Website: www.thegiveroflight.org📘 Facebook: facebook.com/rachelbrunospeaks📸 Instagram: @rachelbrunospeaks🐦 X/Twitter: @bruno.rachel🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rachelbruno🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nonprofits exist to serve people — not paperwork.But too often, outdated financial systems slow growth, strain leadership, and pull focus away from mission-driven work.This week on Fostering Change, Rob Scheer sits down with Stephen Garten, Founder & CEO of Charity Charge, a Public Benefit Corporation built exclusively to support the financial needs of nonprofit organizations.Stephen launched Charity Charge in 2015 after recognizing a widespread problem: nonprofits were forced to rely on banking and financial tools never designed for how they actually operate. Today, Charity Charge serves more than 3,000 nonprofits nationwide, offering nonprofit-specific credit cards, bookkeeping and compliance tools, gift cards, and over $60 million in working capital — empowering leaders to focus on impact instead of infrastructure.Rob and Stephen also reflect on their recent crossover conversation, following Rob’s appearance on Stephen’s podcast, The Charity Charge Nonprofit Spotlight, where they continued discussing leadership, transparency, and sustainability in the social sector.🎧 Watch or listen to Rob’s interview here:https://www.charitycharge.com/nonprofit-resources/rob-scheer-comfort-cases/Episode Highlights• Why traditional banking often fails nonprofit organizations• How Charity Charge was built specifically for mission-driven leaders• The connection between financial transparency and donor trust• Lessons learned from supporting thousands of nonprofits nationwide• What it takes to build long-term sustainability without losing sight of missionAbout the GuestStephen Garten is the Founder and CEO of Charity Charge, a Public Benefit Corporation providing financial infrastructure built exclusively for nonprofits. Since launching in 2015, Charity Charge has supported more than 3,000 organizations, delivered over $60 million in working capital, and granted more than $1 million through the Charity Charge Foundation.His work has been featured by Forbes, Fast Company, and The Today Show, and he hosts The Charity Charge Nonprofit Spotlight, highlighting nonprofit and social impact leaders across the country.Connect with Charity Charge🌐 Website: www.charitycharge.com📘 Facebook: facebook.com/CharityCharge📸 Instagram: @charitycharge🐦 X/Twitter: @charitycharge🔗 LinkedIn: Charity Charge🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Fostering Change continues through Season 7, this episode dives into an urgent but often unseen issue: menstrual and postpartum poverty, and how it impacts girls in foster care and communities around the world.Rob Scheer sits down with Yvonne Esipila Patron, Co-Founder and CEO of the PATESI Foundation, an organization working globally to ensure women and girls have the dignity, resources, and education they deserve.In 2025, Comfort Cases and PATESI began a powerful partnership to make sure no girl entering foster care faces her first night without essential menstrual supplies. Through this collaboration, PATESI donates up to 10,000 emergency menstrual kits each year, included in Comfort Cases® backpacks for girls ages eight and up — providing dignity, protection, and confidence during moments of deep transition.Together, Rob and Yvonne unpack why menstrual poverty remains invisible, why postpartum poverty continues long after childbirth, and why involving men and boys is key to ending stigma and driving real change.Episode Highlights• The global impact of menstrual poverty and why it’s rarely discussed• How entering foster care can make menstruation even more stressful for young girls• What the Comfort Cases × PATESI partnership delivers each year• Why postpartum poverty deserves national attention• How male allyship strengthens long-term solutionsAbout the GuestYvonne Esipila Patron is the Co-Founder and CEO of the PATESI Foundation, a global nonprofit dedicated to ending menstrual and postpartum poverty. With a background in public health and sustainable development, she has spent her career advancing reproductive health equity, youth empowerment, and community-driven solutions.Connect with PATESI🌐 Website: www.patesifoundation.org📘 Facebook: facebook.com/patesifoundation📸 Instagram: @patesifoundation🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Fostering Change continues into the new year, this episode tackles one of the most urgent issues facing child welfare today: the national shortage of foster parents and what it means for children who need safe, stable homes.Rob Scheer is joined by Kelsey Davis, National Director of Foster Parent Recruitment, and Stacy Brindley, National Treatment Director at StepStone Family & Youth Services. Together, they explore why fewer families are stepping forward, how misconceptions about fostering hinder progress, and why supporting foster parents is essential to better outcomes for children.With more than 343,000 children in foster care and fewer than 200,000 licensed foster homes nationwide, this conversation goes beyond the numbers. Kelsey and Stacy share how StepStone approaches recruitment differently, centers trauma-informed care, and treats the entire family as part of the healing process.Episode HighlightsThis episode explores why the foster parent shortage continues to grow and how it directly impacts children who need consistency and belonging. The discussion challenges common myths about fostering, explains why recruitment messaging must change, and emphasizes that strong outcomes depend on strong support for foster parents.Listeners also hear why trauma-informed care must include the whole family, not just the child, and how communities can get involved with StepStone through volunteering, respite support, and national initiatives beyond fostering.As Rob notes, “We must get more qualified families to support our youth in foster care.” And as Kelsey reminds us, fostering works best when families know they are not doing it alone.About the GuestsKelsey Davis is the National Director of Foster Parent Recruitment at StepStone Family & Youth Services. A former Title I educator with an MBA in Marketing, she leads national strategies to recruit, train, and retain foster families through people-centered, community-driven outreach.Stacy Brindley is StepStone’s National Treatment Director and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with nearly 30 years of experience. She has worked across residential treatment, therapeutic foster care, independent living, and in-home services, and now leads trauma-informed and evidence-based practices nationwide.Learn MoreWebsite: https://www.stepstoneyouth.com/🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this powerful episode, Rob Scheer sits down with Lindsay Lendyak, South Carolina State Director for Isaiah 117 House, to talk about one of the most overlooked moments in foster care: Removal Day.Instead of children waiting for hours in government offices, Isaiah 117 House creates a warm, home-like space where kids can exhale, eat a meal, change into clean clothes, and feel safe while caseworkers find placement. Lindsay shares why this model is a true game changer for children, foster families, and social workers alike, and how South Carolina is rapidly expanding its footprint.What You Will Hear in This Episode* What Removal Day really looks like, and why so many youth remember it as the hardest day of their lives* How Isaiah 117 House replaces a cold, adult-centered setting with comfort, dignity, and stability* The heart of the model: trauma-informed volunteers providing steady, calm presence during a chaotic moment* How community support builds a stronger system around children and the professionals serving them* South Carolina growth updates, including York County and new houses coming soonQuotes to Highlight* Lindsay on why this matters: “Nearly all of them recount removal day as the worst day of their lives.”* Lindsay on the mission: “We can fix how foster care begins for our kids.”* Lindsay on what kids experience at Isaiah 117 House: “It’s a yes… For a kid who’s lived a life of nos, that is a game changer.”* Lindsay on why the system needs community: “Every single person should help a child in foster care. Full stop.”South Carolina Updates* York County opened September 2025* Greenville County expected to open early spring 2026* Horry County fundraising begins February 2026* Lexington County kickoff coming early 2026Why This Episode MattersThis conversation is a reminder that children enter foster care because of choices other people made, and that the first hours of care should not add trauma. Isaiah 117 House proves that a better beginning is possible, and it starts with community saying yes to dignity.Links and Ways to ConnectMain Website: https://isaiah117house.com/York County Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/isaiah117houseyorkcoscYork County Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isaiah117houseyorkcoscLinkTrees:York County: https://linktr.ee/isaiah117houseyorkcoscGreenville County: https://linktr.ee/isaiah117housegreenvillescHorry County: https://linktr.ee/isaiah117househorrycosc🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Fostering Change continues into the new year, this episode tackles one of the most urgent — and evolving — challenges facing young people today: staying safe, informed, and supported in a digital world.Rob Scheer is joined by Jenny Coleman, a nationally recognized expert in child welfare and abuse prevention, and a former foster parent whose work is grounded in both professional expertise and lived experience.Jenny serves as Director of Stop It Now!, a national organization focused on preventing child sexual abuse through education and early intervention. She also leads What’s OK?, a first-of-its-kind online platform and free helpline where teens and young adults can anonymously ask questions about relationships, boundaries, sexting, consent, and online behavior — without fear or shame.In this conversation, Jenny helps parents, caregivers, and educators better understand how to talk with young people about tough topics — especially as AI-generated and non-consensual images become an increasing form of peer-driven harm.Episode HighlightsYouth Safety in the Digital AgeHow sexting, cyberbullying, and online exploitation are changing — and what adults need to know.New & Alarming TrendsWhy recent data shows a sharp rise in AI-generated inappropriate images targeting teens, most often created and shared by peers.What’s OK?How this research-backed platform empowers youth ages 14–21 to ask honest questions and get reliable guidance.What Caregivers Can DoPractical steps for parents and caregivers, including how to respond, stay connected, and support youth without judgment.A Foster Care PerspectiveWhy trauma-informed, prevention-focused conversations are especially critical for foster and adopted youth.About Jenny ColemanJenny Coleman, MA, LMHC, has spent more than 30 years working in child welfare as a clinician, educator, and prevention advocate. She is the Director of Stop It Now! and leads What’s OK?, an innovative online resource for youth navigating questions about sexual behavior, consent, and boundaries. A former foster parent and longtime foster care trainer, Jenny brings a compassionate, prevention-centered approach to keeping young people safe.ResourcesStop It Now!: www.stopitnow.orgWhat’s OK?: www.whatsok.org✨ Why This Episode MattersThis episode is a reminder that prevention starts with conversation. When young people have access to trustworthy information — and adults willing to listen without judgment — safety and resilience follow.🎧 Fostering Change continues next week with another powerful conversation.Thank you for being part of a community committed to protecting, educating, and supporting young people — especially when the topics are hard, but the stakes are high.🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we continue an exciting new year of Fostering Change, this episode centers on possibility — what happens when lived experience, research, and belief in young people come together to rewrite outcomes.This week, Rob Scheer is joined by Dr. (Candidate) Shanté Elliott, a learning scientist, social innovator, and founder of TasselTurn — an organization reimagining how children in foster care and students experiencing housing insecurity move through school, graduation, and the transition to adulthood.Having experienced foster care herself, Shanté brings rare and powerful insight to her work. She blends academic research, technology, and deep empathy to help children in foster care not only stay in school, but truly see themselves as capable, worthy, and supported.What began in 2020 with a $300 grant has grown into a nationally recognized platform connecting young people with coaching, mentorship, and meaningful incentives tied to educational milestones.Now a PhD candidate at Northwestern University, Shanté has been recognized as a Forbes Changemaker, L’Oréal Paris Woman of Worth, and Echoing Green Fellow, with her work featured in Forbes, The Imprint, and Reader’s Digest. In this conversation, she shares how education — when paired with trust and opportunity — can become a powerful pathway to stability, confidence, and economic mobility for children in foster care.🎧 Episode HighlightsEducation & Foster CareThe real barriers children in foster care face in completing high school and navigating what comes next — and why traditional systems often fall short.The TasselTurn ModelHow personalized coaching, milestone-based incentives, and digital tools keep children in foster care engaged and supported.Tech for GoodUsing technology to track progress, close equity gaps, and create accountability that centers student success.Lived Experience as LeadershipHow Shanté’s own foster care journey informs her research, innovation, and belief in changing — not “beating” — the odds.Why It MattersThe long-term impact of investing in education as a tool to disrupt cycles of poverty and instability for children in foster care.Shanté Elliott is a learning scientist, social entrepreneur, and founder of TasselTurn — a national platform supporting children in foster care and students experiencing housing insecurity through key educational milestones. A former child in foster care and first-generation college graduate, she is currently a PhD candidate at Northwestern University, where her research focuses on educational identity and narrative.Since launching TasselTurn in 2020 with just $300, Shanté has built a nationally recognized organization rooted in the belief that young people deserve more than survival — they deserve systems designed for their success.🔗 Connect with Shanté & TasselTurnWebsite: www.tasselturn.orgInstagram: @tasselturnLinkedIn: TasselTurn✨ Why This Episode MattersThis conversation is a powerful reminder that when we stop asking children in foster care to overcome broken systems — and instead commit to changing those systems — futures shift. Shanté Elliott isn’t just turning tassels; she’s helping young people step into adulthood with confidence, support, and real opportunity.🎧 Fostering Change continues next week with another powerful conversation as Season 7 unfolds. Thank you for listening, believing, and being part of a community that shows up for children in foster care — not just in words, but in action.If you have questions or a guest suggestion, please reach out to our producer at [email protected].🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy New Year from all of us at Fostering Change! We hope you had a joyful holiday season filled with rest, connection, and moments that centered what matters most. As we step into 2026 together, we’re excited to continue bringing you meaningful conversations that uplift, educate, and inspire. Season 7 is already shaping up to be one of our most impactful yet — and we’re thrilled to kick off the year with today’s guest.🎙 Introduction This week, Rob Scheer is joined by Dr. Brandi Kelly, an award-winning educator, licensed clinical social worker, leadership coach, and founder of Spark HOPE Edu. For more than 20 years, Dr. Kelly has served children and families as a school social worker, principal, and superintendent, always guided by her belief in the transformative power of H.O.P.E. — Habits, Optimistic Outlook, Purpose, and Excellence.Her approach blends emotional wellness, compassionate leadership, and practical tools that empower students — especially those experiencing trauma, foster care, or instability — to build resilience and recognize their inherent worth. Through Spark HOPE Edu and her coaching programs, Dr. Kelly now equips caregivers, educators, and community leaders to create environments where every child feels safe, supported, and capable of thriving.Her message is the perfect way to begin a new year: intentional, uplifting, and rooted in the belief that we can all lead with hope.Main Topic / ThemeHow Dr. Kelly’s H.O.P.E. framework cultivates resilience, emotional wellness, and confidence in children — particularly those who have experienced trauma — by equipping the adults who support them to lead with compassion, clarity, and purpose.Key Discussion PointsResilience Through H.O.P.E. How Habits, Optimistic Outlook, Purpose, and Excellence help youth overcome adversity and build self-worth.Education + Healing Why collaboration between educators, caregivers, and social workers is essential for children in foster or kinship care.Leadership for Youth Helping children see themselves as leaders regardless of their circumstances.Coaching for Connection Dr. Kelly’s January 2026 six-week cohort designed to help adults strengthen resilience and relational skills using the H.O.P.E. model.Guest BioDr. Brandi Kelly is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, award-winning educator, and founder of Spark HOPE Edu. Over her two-decade career, she has served as a school social worker, principal, and superintendent — earning multiple leadership awards. Her H.O.P.E. framework (Habits, Optimistic Outlook, Purpose, Excellence) provides a roadmap for helping youth—and the adults who guide them—build resilience and belonging. She is the author of Lead with H.O.P.E. and host of the Lead with HOPE podcast.Connect with Dr. KellyWebsite: www.sparkhopeedu.com Facebook: @LTW24 Instagram: @leadwithhope.23 LinkedIn: Dr. Brandi Kelly✨ A New Year Note from Fostering ChangeAs we launch into 2026, we want to thank you — our listeners — for being part of this powerful community. We hope your holiday season was restful and meaningful, and that this new year brings purpose, possibility, and renewed hope.We’re excited to continue this incredible Season 7 journey with you. Fostering Change returns next Tuesday with another inspiring conversation as we work together to support children, families, and caregivers across the country.Here’s to a year of compassion, courage, and making a difference — one story, one act, and one child at a time.Happy New Year, and thank you for being GOOD HUMANS. 🎉🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As we close out an extraordinary year of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer welcomes Becky Santoro, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Foster Village Charlotte — a nonprofit reshaping foster care by focusing on the people raising and supporting children every day: foster, kinship, and birth families.A former educator and foster parent herself, Becky witnessed firsthand how overwhelmed and isolated caregivers can feel. She also saw something powerful: children thrive when the adults caring for them are supported, equipped, and connected. That realization led her to co-found Foster Village Charlotte in 2018 — a community-driven model that has since expanded nationwide through a growing network of Foster Village affiliates.Today, Becky and her team not only serve families across the Charlotte region, but also coach and mentor emerging affiliates across the U.S., helping communities build their own “village” of wraparound care. From practical resources to emotional connection to dignified, trauma-informed visitation spaces, Foster Village is reimagining what it means to care for children by caring for the caregivers who love them.🎙️ In This Episode, Rob and Becky Discuss:• Why Foster Village exists and how it bridges gaps between foster, kinship, and birth families• The powerful connection between caregiver support and positive child outcomes• The Connection Cottage — a trauma-informed, dignified visitation center helping families reconnect• How Foster Village Charlotte coaches and mentors new affiliates nationwide• The Foster the Movement year-end funding campaign supporting urgent needs into 2026• What resilience, compassion, and community look like in action — and what gives Becky hope for the futureThis uplifting conversation is the perfect way to wrap up 2025 — rooted in gratitude, connection, and the reminder that we build stronger futures when we build them together.👤 Guest BioBecky Santoro is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Foster Village Charlotte, an organization providing holistic support for foster, kinship, and birth families. Since 2018, Becky has grown Foster Village Charlotte into a cornerstone of community care while mentoring new Foster Village affiliates across the country. Her work strengthens families, builds community, and empowers children to thrive.🔗 Connect with Foster Village Charlotte🌐 Website: https://www.fostervillagecharlotte.org💙 Foster the Movement Year-End Campaign:https://www.fostervillagecharlotte.org/foster-the-movement-2025📘 Facebook: Foster Village Charlotte📸 Instagram: @fostervillagecharlotte💼 LinkedIn: Foster Village Charlotte🎄 From Our Family to Yours — Happy New Year!As we celebrate this holiday season, we wish you a New Year filled with hope, compassion, and community.Thank you for listening, sharing, and helping raise awareness for children and families impacted by foster care.✨ Fostering Change returns next Tuesday as we continue an incredible Season 7.More powerful conversations. More inspiring leaders. More reminders of the change we can create together.Until then — thank you for being GOOD HUMANS.🎥 Watch the full video episodes on YouTube!Head over to Comfort Cases on YouTube to catch every inspiring conversation:👉 youtube.com/@comfortcases Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.