The Forgotten Podcast

A child’s foster care journey begins with loss, loss of what they know, who they love, and all that is familiar. Grief follows right behind and exhibits itself in various ways. As a foster parent, you and those close to you are also well-acquainted with loss and grief as the very nature of your role is to love and let go. This is true of today’s guest, Natalie Brenner, who shares the hope she clings to when life is dark.

Are you a foster parent, serving and loving kids in your home, but are unable to quiet the nudge in your heart to do more? Today you will hear Wendy Carlton’s journey of quiet prayer to foster care and then foster care advocacy.You will learn ways you are needed to make a difference in the lives of children, too!

Parenting is not for the faint of heart. Understanding how to best love, teach, and correct our children is something we are continually learning. Add to that, learning to parent kids who have experienced trauma, and things that may have worked for our biological children now seem to have the opposite effect on our kids. In today’s episode, Kristin Berry brings us practical insight and encouragement to help us parent our kids in a way that keep us connected.

ADHD, ODD, RAD—these letters represent mental health diagnoses that commonly label our children in foster care. But are they accurate diagnoses for your child? What role does trauma play in your child’s behaviors? Today’s episode is super practical and will leave you with the resources and help you need to understand your child better and walk with them towards healing.  

Teenagers, Brayden and Bristol, along with their mom, Selena Whitley, speak honestly to the joys and struggles of being raised in a family who does foster care. The journey of fostering has allowed Bristol and Brayden to mature as they learn to lean on God.

Can you imagine being the oldest of 5 biological children and having over 50 therapeutic foster siblings throughout your childhood? Rophe Mason tells her story of growing up in a fostering family; listen in as she vulnerably shares how they navigated these waters, established boundaries and shared God’s love with children who needed it the most.

Nicole Argo spent her childhood in the foster care system starting at the age of seven. She shares her story of neglect and despair in a life that was saved by God’s loving pursuit of her—even before she knew who He was. His still, small voice gave her hope to go on and led to a series of events that now gives her the opportunity to bring Him glory through her story.

Join us for this Encore Episode with Angie Grant as she shares the story of one of their children's reunification after two and a half years in their home. She will challenge you to want to make an indelible difference in the lives of vulnerable children! Angie Grant and her husband, Stan, have been foster parents for five years. Their third placement, a little girl, stayed in their home for two and a half years and then returned home. Although it was difficult to let their daughter go, Angie’s family cherishes the memories they made with her and believe that the time they had with her will make an indelible mark on her life for the good, because they did their best to love as Jesus loves: compassionately and with everything they had.

Jamie Finn started fostering because she wanted to “rescue kids who had terrible parents.” She was immediately humbled with her first placement when she realized that she wasn’t all that different than the biological parents of the child she was caring for—it was only the grace of God that separated her decisions from their decisions. God began to change her heart and her mission regarding foster care and biological parents. Listen in to learn how she works to support, love and go above and beyond for her kids’ biological parents!

Peter Greer and his family have opened their home to foster care for several years and have experienced the highs and lows of all foster care entails. After several hard situations, Peter admits to being reticent, even outright against, getting back into the foster care world. A greater sense of purpose and the support and encouragement of his children has ensured that, in spite of the pain, unpredictability and potential for hurt, their family will continue to say “yes” to foster care.