Foster Parent Well is the go-to podcast for foster and adoptive parents who are navigating the complexities of parenting children with trauma while trying to stay sane in the process. Hosted by Nicole T Barlow, a foster and adoptive mom of six, parent trainer, and wellness coach, this podcast is where faith, resilience, and practical strategies come together. If you're feeling burnt out, overwhelmed, or just plain exhausted from the daily realities of foster care and adoption—you're not alon ...
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Breaking the Cycle: Parenting with Trauma Awareness with April Ficklin
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58:05What happens when the romanticized dream of adoption crashes into the complex realities of parenting children from trauma? April Ficklin knows this collision intimately. From a teenage mission trip where she first felt called to adoption, to the Good Friday when her family doubled overnight with the addition of two siblings from foster care, April'…
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God shows up in extraordinary ways for foster parents when we embrace the truth that we're participating in His holy work of restoration and redemption. • His grace is sufficient for our weakness, covering our doubts, fears, and mistakes • New mercies arrive each morning—only when we need them, not a moment sooner • Hard things are exactly what Jes…
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Beyond Behavior Management: The Parent's Journey to Felt Safety
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35:26The tension between fostering deep relationships and managing difficult behaviors sits at the heart of every foster and adoptive parent's journey. In this deeply personal exploration, we uncover why our focus often shifts from connection to control—and the surprising neurological reasons behind it. When behaviors are under control and there's order…
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What happens in that critical moment when your child's behavior pushes your buttons? That split second before you respond determines whether your correction will actually work or simply bounce off ineffectively. Foster and adoptive parents know the struggle all too well—the same behaviors repeating despite countless corrections. But what if the key…
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Can You Really Help a Child If You Haven't Healed?
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21:26We explore the critical importance of healing for foster and adoptive parents, emphasizing how past experiences shape our parenting. Understanding ourselves allows us to nurture our children effectively while providing the love they need. • Exploring the concept of healing and being a steady presence • The impact of past traumas on parenting styles…
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When We Aren't Enough- Navigating Out of Home Care with Anna Bernacki
1:05:49
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1:05:49We explore the complexities of foster care and adoption and the emotional toll trauma takes on families, emphasizing the importance of candid conversations about these challenges. Anna Bernacki shares her personal journey through adoption and how faith has guided her family. • The importance of discussing difficult topics within foster care • Diffe…
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The Things We Don't Say Out Loud in Foster Care and Adoption
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23:14The latest episode explores the multifaceted challenges of foster care and adoption, inviting listeners to engage with the often unspoken truths of this journey. By addressing hard topics with compassion, the episode emphasizes the importance of validating the experiences of caregivers and children alike while encouraging open conversations. • Vali…
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Spiritual Armor for Foster and Adoptive Families
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22:02This episode explores the spiritual warfare that foster parents face as they navigate their unique challenges. By emphasizing the importance of guarding our minds, nurturing relationships, prioritizing self-care, and cultivating gratitude, we equip ourselves to combat discouragement and support each other through this journey. • Understanding spiri…
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Overwhelming exhaustion is a challenge that many foster and adoptive parents experience, often without acknowledgment. This episode discusses burnout's signs, neurological impact, and practical steps toward healing and renewal. • Exploring the definition of burnout what it looks like in parents • Recognizing signs indicating a move in that directio…
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Fostering Compassion: The Heart of the Father
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17:31The episode dives deep into the challenges foster parents face, emphasizing the necessity of grace for both parents and children. It explores the importance of self-care amidst stress and the transformative power of faith through the story of the Prodigal Son. • Sharing personal struggles with stress and parenting • The vital need for self-care amo…
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Jonna Stein's "Untangling Hope" beautifully captures the intricate emotions of a foster child navigating trauma and the longing for belonging. In our discussion, we explore themes of empathy, understanding trauma, and the importance of fostering conversations about these experiences among parents, children, and their communities. • Exploring the jo…
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Fostering Connections: Using Food to Bridge Gaps and Empower Children with Chef Kibby
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35:38Chef Kibby shares how he uses food and hunger as a language of connection, drawing from 25 years of culinary expertise and 16 years as a foster and adoptive dad. Discover his unique perspective on how the simple act of cooking can bridge gaps and build lasting relationships. With personal anecdotes and biblical insights, we explore how food has bee…
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Every holiday season as a foster or adoptive parent is a rollercoaster of joy and chaos. I've been there, feeling the duality of laughter and meltdowns, and I'm here to share how embracing these mixed emotions can actually enrich our lives and families. In this episode, I reflect on the past year, celebrating the laughter, acknowledging the meltdow…
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Embracing Gratitude: Seeing the Blessings in Foster Care and Adoption
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20:39Could gratitude truly be the key to transforming the chaos of foster and adoptive parenting into moments of peace and resilience? Join me, Nicole T Barlow, as we challenge the conventional approach to parenting stress by embracing gratitude as a divine stress reliever. This episode explores how consciously choosing gratitude, even in the toughest s…
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Uniting Communities for Foster Care with Guest Rebecca Radicchi
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45:53Rebecca Radicchi joins us from Georgia Kids Belong to share her incredible journey and the transformative power of community in supporting foster care and adoption. As an adoptive mom and passionate advocate, Rebecca offers an inside look at Georgia Kids Belong, a chapter of America's Kids Belong, and their innovative I Belong project. This initiat…
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Lying is more than just a fib; it’s a complex dance of cognitive development and survival instincts, especially in children who have faced trauma. Join me, Nicole T Barlow, on Foster Parent Well as we unravel the nuanced reality of lying in children who have experienced trauma. This episode is a heartfelt exploration into how lying can be a natural…
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Imagine embarking on a journey that challenges every preconceived notion you had about family and faith. That's exactly the path Bruce and I found ourselves on, navigating the landscape of foster care and adoption. In this episode, we share our story of overcoming initial fears and uncertainties, and how our unique personalities helped us find a ha…
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Transforming Parenthood Through Holistic Wellness
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16:50What if the key to thriving as a foster or adoptive parent lies in how you care for yourself? Join me, Nicole T Barlow, as we shift the focus to self-care and wellness, an often overlooked yet crucial component of trauma-informed parenting. In our latest episode of Foster Parent Well, we explore how nurturing your body and spirit can empower you to…
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Navigating Ambiguous Loss: Grief as a Foster Parent
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21:56What happens when welcoming a new child into your home brings both immeasurable joy and profound heartbreak? Journey with me, Nicole T Barlow, as I recount my personal experience with the unpredictable waves of fostering and adoption. I open up about the bittersweet reality of forming new bonds and routines, only to face the heart-wrenching process…
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Secrets to Better Sleep for Parents and Children
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17:31What if you could transform your sleep quality and wake up feeling truly refreshed? Discover the secrets to healthy sleep habits and routines that can make this a reality. Nicole dives into the importance of sleep for foster and adoptive parents by creating routine like morning activities like walking outside and getting sunlight, as well as evenin…
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Building Resilience: Raquel McCloud’s Journey in Kinship Care and Adoption
1:02:04
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1:02:04Have you ever wondered what it takes to build resilience and hope amidst the complexities of the foster care and adoption system? Join us as we sit down with the inspiring Raquel McCloud, who opens up about her incredible journey from a child in kinship care to a kinship adoptive mom. Raquel’s story is a testament to the power of perseverance, heal…
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Supporting Biological Children in the Foster Care Journey
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38:41Have you ever wondered how fostering can transform a family's dynamics and individual lives? Join us on today's Foster Parent Well podcast as we welcome Daniela Coates, a licensed master social worker from Texas with a profoundly personal connection to the world of foster care. Daniela's unique upbringing in a foster family, inspired by her father'…
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Living Out Your Faith in Foster Care and Adoption
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10:36Living out your faith means that you are going to live differently. It means that our main purpose is to love God and love others well. So what does that look like in foster care and adoption? What are the ways that we can share hope and grace to people that are hurting? Today we discuss just that...we talk about practical ways that we take our bel…
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Building Healthy Relationships with Birth Families in Foster Care and Adoption
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14:34This episode uncovers the profound importance of fostering healthy relationships with birth families in foster and adoptive care. Through stories of my own struggles and experiences, we highlight the need for trust, genuine intentions, and respect in building positive dynamics. Inspired by Jonah's story, we explore how offering hope and love to bir…
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Foster Care Will Change You: A Journey of Restoration
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12:42What if the very challenges you face in foster care and adoption could transform you into a stronger, more compassionate person? This week, join me, Nicole T. Barlow, on the Foster Parent Well podcast. This episode is a heartfelt exploration of how upheavals in our routines can open up new paths for self-care and growth. Drawing on insights from a …
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Empowering Parents with Somatic Techniques
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40:22What if recognizing when you're living in survival mode could transform your parenting journey? Join us as we welcome Tatiana Szulc, LMHC a licensed trauma and somatic therapist, who shares how the body-oriented approach of somatic experiencing changed her life. Tatiana's personal story of overcoming burnout in 2020 serves as a powerful parallel to…
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Fostering Hope: Melissa Smallwood on Navigating Burnout in Foster Care and Adoption
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34:13Can fostering hope transform your life? Join us as we welcome the incredible Melissa Smallwood, a counselor, family coach, and former foster youth, who opens up about her powerful journey from middle school foster care to becoming a foster and adoptive mother. Discover essential strategies to combat and prevent burnout in foster and adoptive parent…
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Join me, Nicole T. Barlow, as I share some exciting news and give you a sneak peek into what to expect from the next season. Season 1 has been a rollercoaster of incredible stories and invaluable lessons on foster care, adoption, and dealing with trauma—thank you for being a part of it. As we gear up for Season 2, which kicks off on Tuesday, August…
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Equipping Foster and Adoptive Parents: The Power of Ongoing Training
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36:32Ever wondered how continuous training can transform your journey as a foster or adoptive parent? Join us as we sit down with Katrina Campbell, the Director of Training at FaithBridgeU, to uncover the complexities of children's suffering and its profound impact on their behavior and emotional development. Katrina opens up about her personal journey …
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Transforming Challenges into Blessings in Foster Care
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14:43How does one nurture hope and resilience in children who have faced profound trauma? Join me on this heartfelt episode of the Foster Parent Well podcast as I share intimate and candid reflections on the emotional complexities of fostering and adopting traumatized children. Through personal stories from my own family, we confront the lingering effec…
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Calm in the Eye of the Storm: Strategies for Foster and Adoptive Parents
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23:02Navigating the stormy waters of foster and adoptive parenting with grace and strength is no small feat. Join me, Nicole T Barlow, as I share experience as a mother of six, the transformative power of maintaining calm and regulation in the face of our children's trauma-induced turmoil. I will give you seven key strategies to a way to keep a sense of…
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The #1 Rule of Foster Care- It's Not About You
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19:15It's not about you- and that's a good thing. As we observe National Foster Care Month, I delve deep into the heart of foster parenting and adoption, confronting the misconception that this path is a means to fill our voids, and instead, frame it as an opportunity to pour out our love for children in need, a true embodiment of selfless service. Thro…
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Letting Go of Control: Finding Strength and Security in Foster Care and Adoption
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14:46Struggling to steer through the unpredictable journey of foster care and adoption, I've often grappled with the need to keep a tight grip on every turn and decision. It's a road marked by both yearning and anxiety, where the desire for control often feels like the only seatbelt we have. Throughout our deeply personal conversation, I open up about h…
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The Art of Attachment with Trauma-Impacted Foster and Adopted Children
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20:41Every heart has the capacity for deep connections, but what happens when a child's early experiences have tarnished their ability to bond? Join me, Nicole T Barlow, as we navigate the tender journey of building bridges to attachment with foster children. In an exploration, we delve into the attachment cycle and how it paves the way for trust, safet…
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When We Face Trauma as Caregivers: Working on Wellness with Stefanie Armstrong
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39:58Discover the transformative power of nurturing both mind and body as Stefanie Armstrong, a respected mental health therapist and health coach, joins us to unravel the complex tapestry of parenting within the foster care and adoption. Together, we explore the profound ways in which wellness practices can anchor parents amidst the turbulent waters of…
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Strong Marriages for Parents in Foster Care and Adoption
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33:00Have you ever wondered how the strength of a marriage can be the bedrock for a nurturing family environment? Join me, Nicole T. Barlow, as I convene with the remarkable Jennifer Haines, who brings to the table a wealth of experience in blending biological and adoptive children into a harmonious family unit. We navigate the complexities of marriage …
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Tackling Stress in Foster Care & Adoption and Finding Time for Self Care
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30:04Struggling with stress is a familiar battle for many of us, but when you add the unique pressures of foster care and adoption into the mix, the weight can feel unbearable. That's why it's critical to prioritize self-care, not as an indulgence but as a vital necessity. Join me, Nicole T Barlow, as we unpack the reality of stress in the lives of fost…
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Embracing the Call: Faith's Role in Transforming Foster and Adoptive Parenthood
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33:01Embark on an extraordinary exploration of faith, resilience, and the transformative power of fostering and adoption with our special guest Mandie Summers. As a full-time missionary with the Jesus Film Project and a seasoned foster and adoptive parent, Mandie illuminates her journey and the pivotal role spirituality plays in navigating the complexit…
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Nicole T Barlow- My Foster Care and Adoption Story
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12:40Hey there, welcome to "Foster Parent Well," the podcast where I dive deep into the real, raw, and rewarding world of foster care and adoption and talk about taking care of ourselves as we go. This isn't just any show; it's a personal journey, a collection of stories, and a community for anyone who's navigated or is curious about the maze of fosteri…
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Opening Doors, Opening Hearts- The need for more foster homes affects us all
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21:57Hey there, Foster Parent Well family! It's Nicole T Barlow here, and in this heart-to-heart episode, we're diving into a topic that's close to my heart and, I believe, crucial for our community: the need for more Christian foster and adoptive homes. It's just you and me today, and I'm eager to share some thoughts, stories, and maybe a little bit of…
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The Unseen Journey: Shifting the Hero Narrative in Foster and Adoption
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27:28Welcome to another episode of Foster Parent Well with Nicole T. Barlow. Today, we're diving deep with our special guest, Jennifer Haines, into the often-misunderstood narrative of foster and adoptive parenting. This episode, titled "The Unseen Journey: Shifting the Hero Narrative in Foster and Adoption," challenges the notion that foster and adopti…
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Welcome to the Foster Parent Well Podcast Trailer with host, Nicole T Barlow– your gateway to a journey of endurance, resilience, and faith-filled parenting for foster and adoptive moms. Nicole invites you to delve into a series dedicated to empowering you to become the best version of yourself, enabling you to provide a loving and stable environme…
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