Raising Other People's Kids Podcast | Insights And Interviews That Encourage And Empower With Your Host Charles Brown

Kristi Cundiff and I discuss, “Foster-Care Advocacy”. Kristi Cundiff is the founder and administrator of The Indiana Foster and Adoptive Parents Facebook Support Group, aka IFAAP. IFAAP boast over 7,000 members. During this episode, Kristi will discuss the top issues that affect foster parents, she’ll talk about the Foster Parent Bill of Rights, and Kristi will offer suggestions on how NOT to burn-out as a foster parent. The Indiana Foster and Adoptive Parents Resource and Advocacy Group, Inc. (IFAAP), originated as a closed Facebook Group. Kristi Cundiff, Administrator and CEO, wanted a place where foster and adoptive parents in the State of Indiana could network and get support.  Kristi and her husband, Brian, live in a small town in central Indiana. Together they have fostered many children, adopted eight special needs children, and continue to foster youth aged 18-21 for the Collaborative Care Program through the Indiana Department of Child Services. They also are proud parents of four biological daughter

Jennifer Tackitt-Dorfmeyer and I discuss, “Teamwork Makes the Dream Work”. Jennifer Tackitt-Dorfmeyer is the Executive Director of Choices Coordinated Care Solutions. During this episode, Jennifer will define “wrap-around services” & “cross systems of care", she’ll talk about what it means to be “strength-based”, and Jennifer will discuss the challenges and successes of effective teams. Jennifer is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker by trade and has had the following experiences largely in the field of child protection and welfare. Jennifer received her training as a social worker at the University of Indianapolis and then for her graduate degree at IUPUI School of Social work. Jennifer began her career with The Salvation Army working with those that have substance use disorders, then moved to the Indiana Department of Child Services. Her career there lasted 10 years, where Jennifer moved through the ranks beginning as Family Case Manager, Supervisor, Practice Consultant, Regional Manager, and finally Sout

Chris Paulsen and I discuss, “Working with LGBTQ+ Youth” Chris Paulsen is the Executive Director of Indiana Youth Group. During this episode, Chris will define LGBTQ+ and gender identity, she’ll talk about some of the common misconceptions of gay youth, and Chris will offer ways to best support LGBTQ youth in the coming out process.  Chris Paulsen is the Executive Director of Indiana Youth Group (IYG). Indiana Youth Group serves LGBTQ+ youth and their straight allies, ages 12-20. IYG provides tutoring, clothing, food, education, suicide prevention programming and a safe space for youth. IYG also runs the Gender Sexuality Alliance in Indiana for youth in over 90 schools statewide. Chris has a been an active member of the LGBTQ+ movement as a board member and President of Indiana Equality Action, a founding board member of Freedom Indiana during the marriage amendment fight, and as a member of the capital campaign committee of Indiana Youth Group.    Chris has an undergraduate degree from Hanover College and a

Adrienne Reed and I discuss, “Child Advocates: Guardian Ad Litem's, & CASA’s” Adrienne Reed is the Chief Recruitment and Outreach Officer for Child Advocates, Inc. During this episode, Adrienne will discuss the difference between Guardian Ad Litems & CASA’s, the mediation process that comes before the termination of parental rights, and how you can become a volunteer CASA. Adrienne Reed is the Chief Recruitment and Outreach Officer at Child Advocates, Inc. She earned her Bachelors’ Degrees in Psychology and Sociology at Purdue University and later earned her Master’s Degree in Social Work from IUPUI.  Adrienne started her professional career as a therapeutic foster care social worker at The Villages, then moved into the role of licensing and training therapeutic foster parents. Her work included doing home studies for adoptive parents and foster parents. Adrienne left the Villages after eight years and worked as a high school social worker and as a medical social worker part-time at Johnson Memorial H

Brendan Mahan and I discuss, “ADHD” Brendan Mahan is an internationally recognized ADHD expert and the host of the ADHD Essentials podcast. Brendan will explain executive function, he’ll discuss some of the positives of having ADHD and explore some of the best ways to treat and manage ADHD.  Brendan Mahan, MEd., MS, is a dynamic ADHD/Executive Function consultant, coach, and speaker. As a veteran educator, he is skilled at teaching people how to effectively manage the challenges they face. He loves to help people affected by ADHD troubleshoot, and redesign their lives in order to lessen the impact of the disorder. An internationally recognized expert, highly engaging speaker, and host of the ADHD Essentials podcast, Brendan helps individuals, families and institutions address the emotional, academic and lifestyle impacts ADHD has on them. He gets ADHD because he has ADHD. (As well as a heck of a lot of experience and schooling!) When meeting individually with clients, Brendan is caring, and understanding of t

Pastor Bryan Hudson and I discuss, “Helping Kids Discover their Destiny”. Bryan Hudson operates a multimedia firm, Vision Communications and he’ll define and contrast fate vs destiny, share ways that kids can turn interests and talents into professions and careers, and he’ll explore how trauma can distract kids from discovering their destiny.  Rev. Bryan Hudson, (Th.B.,B.S.,M.S.) is a pastor, author, adjunct professor, and ministry technology consultant. He is the founding pastor of New Covenant Church & Ministries in Indianapolis, Indiana where he has served for 34 years. Bryan operates a multimedia firm, Vision Communications, that equips people, ministries, and organizations with life-changing media and digital media solutions, including regional/national television broadcasts. He has more than 36 years experience in media production, training and consulting. Bryan Hudson has earned degrees in Bachelor of Theology (Rehoboth Christian College), Bachelor of Science in Media Arts & Science (Indiana U

David Scotton and I discuss his journey to meet his birth parents, how he navigates his relationship with both his birth & adopted families and his current advocacy for adoption. Adopted at birth and raised in Louisiana, David Scotton is on a journey to Indiana to meet the birth parents he’s never known.  His tattooed birth mother, Melissa, and reserved birth father, Brian, anxiously wait for him, concerned David will reject them for decisions they made before he was born.   I Lived on Parker Avenue is a short documentary about a mother’s agony in choosing what’s best, the joy of a couple starting a family, and young man’s search for where his life began.

Mandy Majors and I discuss pornography, popular apps and programs that kids use, and how to establish open communication with your child to ensure their online safety. Mandy’s parents divorced when she was three. After overcoming many bad teenage decisions, she graduated from Indiana University with a BA in political science and criminal justice and a minor in psychology. Mandy has now been happily married to her husband, Matt, for 18 years, and they’re raising two kids (ages 13 and 10) in a quaint little Texas community. Mandy has worked in the legal field for more than 20 years. For the past 12 years, Mandy has also volunteered at her home church. This whole nextTalk adventure started in 2013 when Mandy’s older child—then 9 years old—asked a highly sexualized question. She didn’t know “this” existed until college. Mandy discovered that another fourth grade child had watched a pornographic video on his own phone and shared specific details with her daughter. This was a lightbulb moment because her daughter d

During this episode, Sue Badeau and I discuss: ways to build a positive relationship with birth families, how to work with difficult bio families and how to prepare our kids for reunification.  Susan Badeau (Sue) writes and speaks extensively on topics related to children, particularly those with special needs and is a frequent and passionate keynote speaker and workshop leader at state, regional and national conferences.  Sue and her husband, Hector, are the lifetime parents of twenty-two children, two by birth and twenty adopted (three, with terminal illnesses, are now deceased).  They have also served as foster parents for more than 50 children in three states, and as a host family for refugee youth from Sudan, Kosovo and Guatemala.  Recently, their 35th grandchild and fourth great-grandchild were born.  They have won numerous awards for their work, including being recognized by President Clinton with an ?Adoption Excellence? award, and receiving an ?Angels in Adoption? award from Congress ? both of these

During this episode, Brian Carter and I discuss what a good dad looks, acts and talks like. We explore the role of a dad in his daughter’s life, and the epidemic of absent fathers in both the urban and suburban communities.  Brian Carter is the Director of Dads Inc.  a support program for men and their families. Brian has directed Dads Inc. , a subsidiary of The Villages of Indiana of which he has been employed in various supervisory roles for 24 years. Brian also serves as Educator for Prevent Child Abuse Indiana. Brian is a board member of The Indiana Fatherhood Coalition, Healthy Families Indianapolis and The Indianapolis Black Men’s Group. He facilitates All Pro Dad events throughout the Indianapolis area as well as Nurturing Father classes in the prison system. Brian holds a bachelor degree of Social Work from IU. Brian has a history of work in Juvenile Probation, detention and church youth administration. Brian is a motivational speaker and private contractor. He has taught parenting classes for 12 year

During this episode, Kareem Hines and I discuss "Thug Life" and ways to reach this type of kid. We look at Kareem's journey from the streets of Harlem, New York to his current working with boys here in Indianapolis.  Kareem says, "My connection to inner-city & at-risk youth stems from being a product of Harlem, NYC in the 70’s & 80’s. Families were torn apart by the heroin & crack academic. The only reason I'm alive and not in prison was because of various people in my life (non-family members) who took a vested interest in me and saw something in myself that I didn’t. Regardless of the programs I was involved in, it was the relationships that motivated me to “want more” out of life and empowered me with the vision to see & dream beyond the streets of Harlem." Currently, Kareem is C.E.O. of New Bread of Youth, Inc., aka NEW B.O.Y. and works with some of the most vulnerable and challenging boys in Indianapolis. His kids are often on probation, expelled and have lost hope, however Mr. Hines' abi

During this episode, we discuss how to share your faith with your foster kids. And my special guest Dr. John DeGarmo shares with us the challenges of foster care in America, the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, and grief and guilt when our foster kids move placements. Born in 1969, leading international foster care expert and consultant Dr. John DeGarmo has worn many hats throughout his life. Singing and dancing while touring around the world in the international super group, Up With People, serving as a D.J. at four different radio stations on two different continents, working in the professional wrestling industry, teaching English and Drama at the high school level, working as a media specialist,  director of The Foster Care Institute, and founder and national development director of Never Too Late, a residential group home for boys in foster care.  Dr. DeGarmo has had a variety of experiences. Dr. DeGarmo has a B.A. in History, a Masters in Media Technology, a Masters in Educational Leadership, and

During this episode, Dr. Robin Kohli explains to us the benefits of conducting a psychological assessment, defines the difference between psychology and psychiatry, and she explains IQ. Dr. Robin Kohli brings an extensive amount of knowledge and experience to this discussion. She's worked in several treatment facilities such as, Pendleton Juvenile Correctional Facility, Youth Opportunity Center and Lutherwood Residential Treatment Center. Currently, Dr. Kohli has her own private practice, Kohli Psychological Services, and she contracts with Choices, DCS and she works extensively with the courts. 

During this episode we discuss and answer common questions about adoptions. Adoption Attorney Grant Kirsh explains the difference between an open and closed adoption, the TPR process, and how to maximize your adoption subsidies.  Growing up as the son of an adoption attorney, Grant Kirsh has been surrounded by adoption his entire life.  As a second generation adoption attorney, he enjoys continuing his family’s legacy in Indiana. Grant grew up in Carmel, Indiana, graduating from Carmel High School, Indiana University for his Bachelor’s Degree, and Indiana University School of Law for law school.  He is married to Emley, whom he has known since high school, and they have two lovely children:  Anna & Brogan. Grant loves his family very much and enjoys spending the weekends with them on the lake, walking on the Monon and playing in the yard.  Grant, Emley and Anna have 3 dogs – Daisy, India, & Jake.  

During this episode we discuss Special Education. My guest, Dr. Mary Jo Dare explains the case conference process, helps us understand an IEP, defines a 504 and shows us how to navigating through a manifest. Dr. Mary Jo Dare empowers us with her many years of experience. She's the former Special Education Director for IPS (Indianapolis Public Schools), former Assistant Superintendent of Academic Affairs and currently an Educational Liaison for Child Advocates, giving support to children in foster care.

During this episode, Dr. Preston T. Adams III discusses youth violence, mentoring, and how the church can be more effective in working with and Raising Other People's Kids. The Reverend Dr. Preston T. Adams, III, pastor, Certified Pastoral Leadership Coach, and human development expert, was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois.  He is the oldest of four sons born to Priestley T. and Myrtis L. Adams, both of whom are deceased. Dr. Adams, a lifelong learner, has three earned university/seminary degrees. Dr. Adams earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration/Computer Science from Central State University, Wilberforce, Ohio (1982), and Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry Degrees from Christian Theological Seminary, (Indianapolis, IN., 1996 and 2005 respectively).  Dr. Adams completed his Doctor of Ministry Degree with a 3.9 GPA and in a record two year timeframe! Dr. Adams is the founding and senior pastor of Amazing Grace Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).  Amazing Grace launched in

During this episode, we discuss the strong-willed child. We explore some practical ways to successfully engage this type of child. Joining in on this discussion is our guest, Bwana Clements: Bwana Clements is an Indianapolis native and graduate of the famed Arsenal Tech High School. Raised in the home of a pastor, Bwana grew up in minstry. After working in the ranks for community agencies such as: Indianapolis Housing Agency and Citizens Health Center, Bwana went on to create his own agency. Urban Ministry was incorporated in 2002 with the sole purpose of reaching the most troubled and hard to reach youth of our community. His personable approach and keep it real approach to building relationships with youth makes him an instant favorite of youth in schools, churches and community agencies throughout the state of Indiana.  Mr. Clements knows youth and families. He has build a well established brand throughout the community as a dynamic public speaker, school culture leader and therapist. He is especially moti

During this episode, we discuss children who have been diagnosed as being sexually maladaptive. We'll talk about signs to look for and methods for treatment. And practical things you can do, if you're raising or working with a sexually maladaptive child. Joining in on this conversation is our guest, Romunda Valentine: Romunda started working in a residential treatment facility shortly after she graduated with her BS in Psychology and a minor in Child Development in 1995. She stayed in residential for many years, doing individual and behavioral management. Later, Romunda left residential to work in various other settings (school based, community services, foster care/adoption, contractual work, etc.). In between jobs, Romunda went back to school and obtained her MSW in 2002, while later receiving her LCSW. Romunda obtained certifications to work with sexually abusive youth in 2007 (CSAYC) and later youth who have experienced trauma (TF-CBT). Currently, Romunda manages an agency, Family and Community Partners L

During this episode, we'll explore the challenges of working with kids who have experienced trauma. We'll also discuss some practical methods in dealing with these kids. Joining in on this discussion, is our guest, Tina Parham-Araujo:  Tina Parham-Araujo was born and raised in Indianapolis. She has two daughters, Dawn and Joy, and is the proud grandmother of Calvin Peter. She is a graduate of North Central High School (1972), Tennessee State University (1983) and received her masters in Consulting and Counseling Psychology from Harvard University in 1984. She is currently a home-based therapist for families in the Indianapolis area and is an LCSW and CSAYC. Tina is a member of Eastern Star Church and loves to watch Serena Williams play tennis in her spare time.

The Honorable Geoffrey A. Gaither is the Senior Magistrate at the Marion County Juvenile Court in Indianapolis, Indiana.  He has served there since 1995.  His jurisdiction has included delinquencies, child welfare issues, paternities, guardianships, adoption-related matters, child support and custody cases. Community involvement is extremely important to Judge Gaither.  He is a past and present adjunct professor at IUPUI and Martin University, youth mentor, motivational speaker, Marion County Juvenile Court representative at the Undoing Racismworkshops, created the “Is Indianapolis Another Ferguson?” forum and radio, TV, print and podcast legal analyst.  He has been recognized many times locally and nationally for his community service and dedication to children and families.  Judge Gaither developed a much-needed program entitled The Young Women’s Empowerment Conference Series benefiting young women on probation or otherwise involved in the juvenile justice system.  He also created the Male Mentoring Confere