Creating A Family: Talk About Infertility, Adoption & Foster Care

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.What issues do you need to think about when using social media as an adoptive or foster parent? What issues do you need to consider for your teens and tweens as they engage in social media? We talk with Katie Biron, Director Fostering Connections for Families and Program Manager of the Family Connections Program; Laura Jean Beauvais, licensed professional counselor with New Wind Counseling; and Dawn Friedman, a licensed professional clinical counselor with supervisory designation at Building Family Counseling about handling social media with adopted, foster, and kinship children.In this episode,  we include:Some of the most popular social media platforms include: FacebookInstagramYouTubeTikTokSnapchatTwitterPinterestRedditSocial Media pre-adoptionKeep in mind that states have varying laws on matching online and advertising for an expectant parent. You need to know what is allowed.How much information can you or should you post after you have be

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.How can we prepare kids already in our home for the adoption of a sibling whether that new sibling is an infant or an older child. We will talk with Michelle Hoevker, a board-certified Clinical Social Work Supervisor and Program Director of Adoption and Foster Care at Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services with more than 20 years experience in child welfare; and Adam Crawford, a Licensed Master Social Worker and the Program Director of Adoption and Foster Care at Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services with more than 15 years of experience in child welfare.In this episode, we cover:Adopting an InfantHow to prepare children for the adoption of an infant?How to answer question from others.How to explain open adoption to kids already in the home?What if the child already in the home is adopted but with a different degree of openness with their birth family?Transracial AdoptionHow to prepare children for the adoption of an infant when it is

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.Is human fertility declining? What is the cause and what can we do about it. Our guest is Dr. Shanna Swan, an award-winning scientist based at Mount Sinai Medical Center and one of the world’s leading environmental and reproductive epidemiologists. She is the author of Count Down: How Our Modern World Is Threatening Sperm Counts, Altering Male and Female Reproductive Development, and Imperiling the Future of the Human Race.In this episode, we cover: Is sperm count in human males declining?  Is this decline seen worldwide or just in developed countries?Is sperm count the only measure of sperm health that is declining? Are we seeing a change in sperm motility or morphology also?Do we see a change in the average testosterone level in men worldwide?Do we know what is causing the decline in sperm count? Do we see a similar impact on women’s reproductive health?  And if so, how do we know?Could the decline in the fertility rate be, at least in part,

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.What issues should parents think about when adopting a relative (niece, cousin, sibling) from abroad. We talk with Mary Beth King, who has a Master of Science in Social Administration and is Frank Adoption Center’s Executive Director, and with Katie Schultz, an International Adoption Specialist with Madison Adoption Associates.In this episode, we cover,What level of genetic relationship is required to call it a kinship adoption as well as what circumstances make a child eligible for an international kinship adoption, especially in the eyes of USCIS.At what age is a child no longer eligible for international kinship adoption?Changing relationship for both adopter and child – to go from the “cool, exotic US visitor” to everyday caregiver.Relationship with bio family in home country.Helping children navigate (and choose) the language of family – will they continue to refer to you as “aunt” or will you be “mom,” etc.Blending children by birth and t

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.What are the 7 essential character traits that parents can teach their children to increase resiliency? In this episode we talk with Dr. Michelle Borba, an internationally renowned educational psychologist and author of Thrivers: The Surprising Reasons Why Some Kids Struggle and Others Shine.In this episode, we cover:You paint a picture in your book of tweens, teens and young adults who are stressed, anxious, depressed, and lonesome. Why are our kids experiencing this?Importance of play.Importance of sleep.7 essential character traits of a child who will thrive both in childhood and adolescence but also into adulthood.Self-ConfidenceWhat is the difference between self confidence and self-esteem?How does parental praise factor into teaching self-confidence?How do you teach self-confidence? EmpathyWhy is empathy so important to resilience?How do you teach empathy or at the very least encourage it?How does our modern technology impact empathy?Self

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.Call it co-parenting, shared parenting, or partnership parenting, the gist is the same: foster parents are expected to share the nurturing of a foster child with the birth parents to facilitate reunification whenever possible. Join us today to talk about shared parenting with Carrie Sgarlata, an educator, mom, foster mom, and foster parent trainer and recruiter; and Andrea Leaman, a social worker with the Foster Care Licensing and Placement Program with Children’s Wisconsin Community Services and trainer in partnership parenting. In this episode, we covered:1.     Why is shared parenting best for the child? (less divided loyalty, foster parents can be a role model, less time in foster care, better behavior, majority of kids will return home and co-parenting makes that easier)2.     Building a relationship that begins when someone’s child is removed is not easy. What are some of the emotions the birth parents are likely feeling when they first m

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.How does the endocrine system impacts fertility, what can go wrong, and what can be done about it. We talk today with Dr. Mark Trolice, the Director of Fertility CARE: The IVF Center in Orlando and Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine. He is double Board-certified in Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility and OB/GYN.In this episode, we include:·      What is the function of the endocrine system in human health?·      How does the thyroid gland function within the endocrine system?·      How is female fertility impacted by the endocrine system?·      How is male fertility impacted by the endocrine system?·      What is hypothyroidism?·      What is hyperthyroidism?·      How are dysfunctions in the endocrine system diagnosed?·      How are dysfunctions in the endocrine system treated?·      What dietary and lifestyle choices impact the health of the endocrine system and thyroid g

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.In this episode we interview Sarah Sentilles, author of a newly released book by Random House titled Stranger Care. "Stranger Care" is a beautifully written book that captures the promise and often the failure of foster care. And it is a beautiful portrait of love with no promise of a future.In this episode, we cover:Beautifully written book that captures the promise and often the failure of foster care. And a beautiful portrait of love with no promise of a future.·      How did you come to the decision to become foster parents? And did you come to that decision or were you really trying to become an adoptive parent?·     Discussion of “ethically cleaner”.·      I appreciated how you showed Evelyn, the birth mom, to be human and to love her child. You did a good job of showing the nuances, which are hard to do, especially when you are the one losing the child. I very much enjoyed seeing how that relationship grew. What helped change i

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.Have you ever considered adopting after you had children by birth? Or thought about trying to get pregnant after you adopted? Is it a good idea to combine kids by birth and adoption. In this episode, we talk with Rebecca Ricardo, an LCSW who has worked in the field of adoption since 1991. She currently serves as the Executive Director for a licensed, child-placing agency that provides both placement and support services. She is an adoptee and a birth mom. The son she placed for adoption was raised as the only adopted child between two children born to his adoptive parents.In this episode, we cover:•       What are the typical reasons why families have both adopted and non-adopted kids?•       What does the research show on how children and families adjust when there are children by both adoption and infertility?•       Do parents have a tendency to favor their biological children? Kin Selection Theory based on evolutionary psychology.•       Do

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.Do you sometimes feel that self-care is an impossible goal when you are parenting kids who have experienced trauma. There isn't enough time in the day to do it all, much less take care of yourself. Or is there? Join us to talk about how to find time to take care of yourself. We will talk with Angelica Jones, MSW, Program Director of Intercountry Services and the Intensive Service Foster Care Recruiter and Trainer at Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services.In this episode, we cover:·      “Selfcare” or “take care of yourself” are overused but still vitally important terms for  foster, adoptive, and kinship parents.·      Why do all parents but especially parents of kids who’ve experienced trauma need to practice self-care?·      What is secondary trauma?·      Why are kids who’ve experience neglect, abuse and other childhood traumas harder to  parent?·      The busyness of foster and adoptive parenting.·      What are some of the barriers t

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.Do you worry that the over the counter medications you take for a headache or allergies could impact your fertility? What about CBD or melatonin? We talk with Dr. Kathleen Tucker, a scientific director for various IVF labs; and with K.E. Tucker Consulting, and Dr. Angie Beltos, CEO and Chief Medical Officer of Vios Fertility Institute.In this episode, we include:Research has found three reasons why the impact of OTC medication on fertility has become an increasing issue.We are taking more medications now that people in the past. People are waiting longer to start a family and age is associated with greater medication use.People are experiencing more chronic disease at earlier ages.Taken together, these factors have increased the number of prescribed and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs being taken by women and men attempting to get pregnant with or without fertility treatment.As always, talk to your doctor about any concerns you have regarding both

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.How should you talk with young children, toddlers, and preschoolers about adoption. How do you talk about birth mothers and birth fathers? In this episode we talk with Jenna Howard, a LMSW who has worked in the adoption field since 1994 in both domestic and international adoption. In addition, she is an adoptee and an adoptive mom.In this episode, we cover:Why is it important to start talking about adoption and birth parents with kids when they are very young?When should you begin talking about adoption with children if they are adopted at birth or a very young age?How to talk with infants about adoption.What do young children understand about the concept of adoption?What name should be used when referring to birth parents?How to talk with toddlers and preschoolers about adoption. (They are accepting of what parents say and the attitude it was said.)Adoption is cool stage.Oversharing details. Distinction between secret and private.Oversharing a

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.How do you discipline kids who have experienced trauma? We provide 5 tips and then discuss 5 challenging parenting situations. Our expert is Karen Doyle Buckwalter, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Registered Play Therapist and Supervisor, and co-author of "Raising the Challenging Child".In this episode, we cover:1.     The Relationship Bank Account Spend effort building your relationship with your child so that you have banked “good will” for when you need to say no or set a firm rule. Ideas for making quick and easy deposits:Praise efforts, successes, helpfulness, their unique essence—big and small.Let the child choose whenever possible. Look for compromises.Make more deposits than withdrawals.Magic “rule” 5 positive comments to every 1 negative.Difference between making a deposit and spoiling your child.Sideswipe instead of confront. 2.     Respond to What is Beneath the Behavior Behavior is a reflection of a need. It’s a symptom

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.What's it like to have your world turned upside down when you become the parent to your grandchild, niece, or nephew? What are the hidden joys and challenges. In this podcast episode, we have a frank and open talk with a panel of kinship caregivers about their experience.In this episode, we cover: What has been one of the greatest joys you’ve experienced as a kinship caregiver?What has been one of the greatest challenges you’ve had in raising your grandchild or niece or nephew?How has your age played into your parenting experience with this child?How has caring for your grandchild affects your friendships and activities?How do you handle the dual roles of being a mom to your grandchild and a mom to your grandchild’s parent? How has kinship caregiving impacted your role as parent to your child? Have you had to set boundaries with your child to protect your grandchild?How have you handle if your grandchild’s parent has another child? Would y

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.How old is too young for a phone? Is gaming harmful to our kids? How much technology is too much. We talk with Dr. Jay Berk, a licensed psychologist and an expert in working with children and families. He is the author of two books: “A Parent’s Quick Guide to Electronic Addiction” and “Codeswitching: Social Skills in the Screen-Age”.In this episode, we cover:Parents from time immemorial have worried about the impact of the “new technology” and this goes back to our great great great grandparents worrying about the influence of novels to parents of the 50’s worry about too much time on the phone, to parents of the 80s worrying about too much TV, and on to the present where we worry about screen time, texting, and gaming. We parents are digital “immigrants” while our kids are digital natives. How does this dynamic present challenges?How to keep up with what our kids are doing?What are the general best practices for elementary aged kids using digi

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.Have you ever wondered if your struggle to conceive could be caused by your genes? Today we're going to answer that question and more about genetics and fertility by talking with two certified genetic counselors with CooperGenomics: Sharyn Lincoln and Sheila Johal.In this episode, we cover:Infertility is a disease affecting nearly 7% of all couples. It is a highly heterogeneous pathology with a complex etiology that includes both environmental and genetic factors. In this episode we will be focusing on the genetics. What percentage of infertility can be attributed to our genes? Genetics and Female Infertility47,XXX (trisomy X; Triple X)⁃       What is trisomy X?⁃       How common is 47,XXX?⁃       What are the symptoms of Triple X syndrome?⁃       How common is infertility in women with Triple X?⁃       Will the children conceived also have this chromosomal abnormality?Turner syndrome (monosomy X)⁃       What is Turner Syndrome?⁃       How

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.Bringing foster children into your family may impact the kids already in your home—both in positive and potentially negative ways. We will provide suggestions on how to integrate new foster children into your home as seamlessly as possible. Our guest expert is Dr. Eshele Williams, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, who brings her professional expertise with counseling foster families as well as her personal experience as being a biological child in a family that fostered many children in her childhood.In this episode, we cover:Positive benefits of fostering on children already in the family.Possible challenging issues children in the family might face when foster children join the family.Benefits of preparing children in the family for the realities of fostering.This podcast is produced  by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the profe

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.What do we mean by attachment and what can parents do to help their child attach. What can parents do if they are struggling with attaching to their child. We talk with Dr. Casey Call, the Assistant Director of Education at the Institute of Child Development at TCU. She is a researcher and trainer for Trust-Based Relational Intervention.In this episode, we cover:What is attachment and why is it so important to a child’s development?How does attachment develop in children who are raised from infancy in a healthy functioning family? What does healthy attachment look like?What events can interrupt the normal development of healthy attachment? (e.g. multiple caregivers, abuse, neglect) What about a primary care giver with mental illness? What about long term hospitalization?When we have a child placed in our homes for either adoption or fostering, what are some signs that this child may have attachment issues?Attachment issues fall along a spectrum

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.What do adoptive and foster parents need to know about the impacts of prenatal exposure to opioids, Suboxone, and Methadone. What are the risks to a baby born with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome or Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS)? We talk with Dr. Julian Davies, a pediatrician at the University of Washington’s Center for Adoption Medicine and their FASD and Prenatal Exposure Clinic.In this episode, we cover:What are opiates or opioids? What are the most common opiates that are being used during pregnancy? What are the most common non-opiate drugs that are being used by pregnant women? What are the common treatment medication/drugs given to those struggling with addiction who are trying to get off opioids? Methadone, Suboxone, and Subutex Are Methadone, Suboxone, and Subutex safe to use during pregnancy? What are the short- and long-term impacts on infants exposed to opiates? What are the short- and long-term impacts of infants exposed

Click here to send us a topic idea or question for Weekend Wisdom.Have you or someone you care about experienced a miscarriage or stillbirth? We talk about coping with pregnancy loss with Dr. Poonum Sharma, a Licensed Psychologist specializing in reproductive issues. She is a long term member of the Mental Health Provider Professional Group at the American Society of Reproductive Medicine.In this episode, we cover:Miscarriage and Stillbirth StatisticsDistinction between a miscarriage and stillbirth. A stillbirth is the death of a baby before or during delivery. Both miscarriage and stillbirth describe pregnancy loss, but they differ according to when the loss occurs. In the United States, a miscarriage is usually defined as loss of a baby before the 20th week of pregnancy, and a stillbirth is loss of a baby at 20 weeks of pregnancy and later.About 1 pregnancy in 100 (1%) end in stillbirth, and each year about 24,000 babies are stillborn in the United States.For women who know they’re pregnant, about 10 to 15