Fostering Change

This episode kicks off National Foster Care Awareness Month — a time not just to reflect, but to act.On today’s Fostering Change, Rob Scheer welcomes back Laura, The Foster Parent Partner, a therapeutic foster parent, mentor, and now author of First-Time Fostering, releasing May 12.This conversation focuses on a question many people ask, but far fewer answer: what does it actually take to become a foster parent?Not the idea of it — the reality.Laura brings practical, real-world insight into what fostering looks like day to day, what new foster parents need to understand, and how to move from thinking about it to stepping into it. As a returning guest, she builds on her previous conversation with Rob to go deeper into the emotional, logistical, and human side of fostering.As we begin National Foster Care Awareness Month, this episode serves as a starting point for those considering how they can be part of the solution.Episode HighlightsWhy National Foster Care Awareness Month should lead to action, not just recognitionThe gap between thinking about fostering and actually saying yesWhat foster parenting really looks like day to dayCommon fears and misconceptions that hold people backHow support, mentorship, and community make fostering possibleAbout LauraKnown as The Foster Parent Partner, Laura is a therapeutic foster parent, content creator, and mentor who supports individuals navigating the foster care journey. Through her platform, she helps new foster parents move through the licensing process and prepare for their first placement with confidence.Her new book, First-Time Fostering, is a practical, honest guide designed to equip future foster parents with the tools, expectations, and clarity needed to take that first step.Key Questions from This EpisodeWhat inspired you to write First-Time Fostering — and who is it for?What makes this book different from others about foster care?Why does Foster Care Awareness Month matter, and how should people respond?What are the biggest fears that stop people from fostering?What does fostering really look like on a daily basis?What role does community play in helping foster parents succeed?What should someone do if they’re on the fence right now?Closing ThoughtAwareness is only the beginning. What matters is what comes next.Foster care doesn’t need more observers — it needs more people willing to step in, show up, and say yes.

On this episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer is joined by Jennifer Griffith, author of Both Sides of Then: Finding Love After Abandonment and host of the About Your Mother podcast.This conversation centers on a deeply personal and universal question: how much of who we become is shaped by the relationship we have—or don’t have—with our mother?Jennifer’s memoir explores abandonment, generational trauma, and the search for understanding and connection. While her story is not rooted in foster care, the themes resonate deeply. Many children in foster care experience separation from their biological parents, particularly their mothers, making this conversation especially relevant to identity, belonging, and emotional development.Together, Rob and Jennifer explore how early relationships shape us, how patterns are passed down, and how telling the truth about our stories can open the door to healing and transformation.Episode HighlightsHow maternal relationships influence identity and self-worthThe lasting emotional impact of abandonment and separationUnderstanding and breaking cycles of generational traumaWhy storytelling can be a powerful tool for healingHow these themes connect to the experiences of youth in foster careAbout the GuestJennifer Griffith is an author, speaker, and host of the About Your Mother podcast, where she explores the stories that shape identity and relationships. Her debut memoir, Both Sides of Then: Finding Love After Abandonment, examines generational trauma, resilience, and the lasting influence of family history. Through her work, she encourages others to better understand their past and find meaning in the connections that define them.Key Questions from This EpisodeWhat did writing your story teach you about understanding where we come from?Why is the “mother story” such a powerful lens for identity?What does healing look like when relationships are complicated or absent?How do early experiences of separation shape a child’s sense of self?Where does healing begin for someone carrying a difficult family story?Connect with Jennifer🌐 Website: https://byjennifergriffith.com/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/byjennifergriffith/🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/byjennifergriffith/Closing ThoughtUnderstanding where we come from doesn’t always give us easy answers — but it can give us clarity. And sometimes, that clarity is the first step toward healing, growth, and a different path forward.

On this episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer welcomes back Jodi Grinwald, founder of Today is the Day, co-founder of Applaud Our Kids Foundation, and author of the new book Today is the Day: LIVE IT!.Jodi is a returning guest to the podcast, and we’re excited to continue this important conversation around opportunity, connection, and impact.Jodi’s work is grounded in a simple but powerful idea: if the table doesn’t exist, build it — and make sure others have a seat.Her new book, Today is the Day: LIVE IT!, expands on that philosophy, encouraging readers to take action, lead with purpose, and create meaningful impact in their own lives and communities.👉 Learn more and purchase the book: https://todayisthedayliveit.com/live-itThis episode also builds on a recent crossover conversation — Rob was a guest on Jodi’s podcast, Today is the Day Changemakers.🎧 Watch Rob’s episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1rN8EtfTJM&t=501sThrough Applaud Our Kids, Jodi is helping children gain access to music, dance, and acting programs that might otherwise be out of reach. While her work is not exclusively focused on foster care, the connection is clear. Children experiencing instability or hardship often miss out on opportunities that build confidence, identity, and a sense of belonging.This conversation explores what it means to create those opportunities — and why access, connection, and creative expression can change the trajectory of a child’s life.Episode HighlightsWhat it means to “build the table” and create opportunities for othersWhy access to the arts can be transformational for childrenThe role of connection in building confidence and long-term impactHow purpose can drive action, even when the path is unclearWhy opportunity and exposure matter for youth facing hardshipAbout the GuestJodi Grinwald is a leadership and connection strategist, speaker, and founder of Today is the Day Changemakers—a global platform and podcast that reaches listeners in more than 135 countries. She helps organizations strengthen the connections that power performance, shape culture, and accelerate growth.She is also the co-founder and CEO of the Applaud Our Kids Foundation, expanding access to performing arts education for children ages 7–18.Jodi is the author of Today is the Day: LIVE IT! along with 30 other leadership voices. The book is a powerful reflection on courage, leadership, resilience, and connection—calling individuals to step into purpose, create opportunity, and lead with intention.Key Questions from This EpisodeWhat does “build the table” mean, and how can people apply it in their own lives?Why is access to the arts so important for children and youth?How can programs like Applaud Our Kids support children experiencing instability?What role does creative expression play in identity and confidence?How can someone take the first step toward making a difference?About Applaud Our Kids FoundationThe Applaud Our Kids Foundation provides access to performing arts education for children ages 7–18, helping them build confidence, discipline, and a sense of identity through creative expression.Connect with Jodi🌐 Websites:TodayistheDayLiveIt.comApplaudOurKids.org📸 Instagram:@todayisthedayliveit@applaudourkids🔗 LinkedIn:Jodi Grinwald📘 Facebook:Today is the Day Live ItApplaud Our KidsClosing ThoughtCreating change doesn’t always require building something new — sometimes it means opening a door that should have been open all along. This episode is a reminder that when we create space for young people to explore who they are, we help shape who they can become.

On this episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer is joined by Katy Encalade, President and CEO of Egg Donor & Surrogate Solutions, who has spent more than two decades helping to create and support families.Katy brings a unique and deeply personal perspective to this conversation. She has been a foster parent, an egg donor, and a surrogate — offering a rare view across multiple paths of supporting children and building families. Her experience as a foster mom serves as a meaningful bridge, grounding this conversation in the realities of child welfare while expanding the lens to include other ways people can step in to help.While Fostering Change often focuses on foster care, adoption, and permanency, this episode broadens that perspective. Katy encourages listeners to consider that there are many ways to support children and families — whether by opening your home, helping someone become a parent by choosing to be a surrogate or egg donor, or finding other ways to show up with compassion and responsibility.Episode HighlightsHow foster care, surrogacy, and egg donation connect through a shared purpose of supporting children and familiesThe importance of lived experience, including Katy’s time as a foster parentWhy stability, care, and belonging remain central across all family-building pathsThe role of ethics, transparency, and trust in family-building workEncouraging people to explore different ways they can help support children and familiesAbout the GuestKaty Encalade is the President and CEO of Egg Donor & Surrogate Solutions, an organization that has helped create more than 2,000 families worldwide. A former foster parent, egg donor, and surrogate, she brings both personal experience and professional expertise to her work. Katy has spent more than two decades advocating for ethical, transparent, and relationship-driven approaches to family-building, previously served as Board Chair of the Society for Ethics in Egg Donation and Surrogacy, and now serves as Board Chair of Families Out Loud.Connect with Katy🌐 Website: www.CreateAHappyFamily.com📘 Facebook: Egg Donor & Surrogate Solutions📸 Instagram: @createahappyfamily🎵 TikTok: @createahappyfamily🔗 LinkedIn: Katy Encalade

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: marketing@theboxery.com

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