The Riverside Project Podcast

During the holiday season, the concept of hospitality is at the front of our minds. However, hospitality can mean so much more than inviting family and friends to your dinner table to share a nice meal once a year. Biblical hospitality can be practiced every day of our lives—and it can be extended to our neighbors who we may not know personally.Helping us lead a discussion about the Lord’s call for us to open our homes through hospitality is Fr. Drew Knowles. He is the Rector of Oak Forest Anglican Church in Houston, Texas, the co-author of Hospitality: The Convivial Mission of God, and the husband to our Founder & Executive Director, Amber.In this episode, Drew shows us how hospitality is extended to us through Christ, the ways we might extend hospitality to others in our community, how foster care is one of the purest forms of hospitality, and much more.Find the show notes and links to anything we discussed here: riversideproject.org/drew-knowles-32Connect with us!Website: https://riversideproject.orgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.riverside.projectFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/riversideproject.htx

We are passionate about not only transforming the foster care system in and around Houston but about helping others find their place along The River. This means providing key trainings, rallying community members together, and bringing awareness to how we can all be better equipped to make Houston a place where families heal and children thrive.For this episode, we have two of our staff members, Kathleen Cowie and Caitlin Simpson, joining us.Kathleen is the Director of Agency Partnerships at The Riverside Project and previously served as a research assistant focusing on child welfare, a direct care provider at an emergency shelter for children and youth in foster care, and a Therapeutic Case Manager for the homeless population.Caitlin is the Director of Community Resources at The Riverside Project and previously served with international nonprofits in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia addressing humanitarian aid, poverty, and human trafficking.In this episode, they share more about what they do behind the scenes, lessons they have learned as social workers, the inner workings of the Response Network, who can benefit from Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI®) trainings, and more. Find the show notes and links to anything we discussed here: riversideproject.org/kathleen-caitlin-31Connect with us!Website: https://riversideproject.orgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.riverside.projectFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/riversideproject.htx

Transracial adoption is not a new topic to The Riverside Project Podcast. We had the honor of speaking with Isaac Etter in a past episode on this topic and today we are talking with his adoptive mother, Julie.Julie Etter is an adoptive mom along with her husband. They have five children—two through adoption and three biologically. Julie is a beloved speaker on this topic of transracial adoption and the ups and downs her family has experienced. As a history teacher by trade, Julie loves to read and finds anything about history riveting. Her favorite way to spend her time is with her family and although she isn’t supposed to have favorites, her grandchild holds a special place in her heart.In this episode, we continue the conversation on transracial adoption, the importance of mentors who can support you, some of the struggles parents and children may go through, key resources you should be aware of, and much more.Find the show notes and links to anything we discussed here: https://riversideproject.org/julie-etter-30Connect with us!Website: https://riversideproject.orgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.riverside.projectFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/riversideproject.htx

You may have heard of the term Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI) or trauma-informed care before, but you may not know what it is or how it can help transform how we care for children in foster care.To help us dive deeper into this topic is Mitzi McBride. Mitzi is not only well-versed in TBRI® but is also a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years of experience guiding children and families through their journey to emotional healing. She has an extensive background in foster care, community mental health, school-based counseling, and years of international orphan care in Zambia, Africa.Mitzi currently runs her own practice called Soul Care Magnolia in the north part of Houston. She is also a dedicated wife and mother to seven children, both biological and adoptive.In this episode, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of TBRI®, why it’s important to shift from traditional parenting methods, the impact of being attuned to a child’s needs, and much more.Find the show notes and links to anything we discussed here: riversideproject.org/mitzi-mcbride-29Connect with us on our Website, Instagram, or Facebook!

“Despite all the bad circumstances that I dealt with and navigated, there were people who were meeting my belonging needs in a way that allowed me to continue to grow, learn, and thrive in spite of the things I was experiencing.”Children in foster care are often deeply longing for connection, intimacy, and relationships. How can we offer children the support necessary to help them flourish and shift from surviving to actively living? How does their need for belonging affect the decisions we make in showing up for them?Our guest today has experienced this personally. Gaelin Elmore is a dynamic and nationally sought-after keynote speaker, trainer, and thought leader. Motivated by his own traumatic childhood and lack of belonging after over 10 years in the foster care system, he now works with organizations and people to become “belonging-informed” in order to help children overcome trauma and unleash their potential.In this episode, you’ll hear the difference belonging made in Gaelin’s life, his personal story of finding hope in impossible circumstances, walking away from a professional career in the NFL, and why belonging is a crucial consideration for every decision when supporting children in foster care.Find the show notes and links to anything we discussed here: https://riversideproject.org/gaelin-elmore-28Connect with us!Website: https://riversideproject.orgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.riverside.projectFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/riversideproject.htx

This episode of The Riverside Project Podcast is hosted by Chandler James, our Director of Church Mobilization. We are so excited to have him in this seat today!Collaboration is a big part of what we do at The Riverside Project. It’s how we connect, share resources, communicate about the needs of families and children in foster care, and more. For this episode, we are taking an inside look at how one person’s passion has led to a vibrant foster care and adoptive ministry at their church, all through collaboration.Chandler is joined by Mireya Scholes. She is a former foster youth, a mom, and leads a ministry to help support adoptive families, foster and kinship families, and families that are at-risk in and around Houston. Mireya is a native Houstonian and has attended her home church, Atascocita Community Church, for over 20 years, which is where she leads the foster care and adoptive support ministry.In this episode, Mireya shares her own story of being in foster care from the age of thirteen, the power of your personal passion, how to connect those with resources with those who have a need, and much more.Find the show notes and links to anything we discussed here: https://riversideproject.org/mireya-scholes-27Connect with us!Website: https://riversideproject.orgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.riverside.projectFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/riversideproject.htx

Do you know what the single most important factor in overcoming childhood adversity is? Research found that it is a long-term, nurturing relationship with a consistent and caring adult.Today, we are talking with Brandon Denton who has an impressive resume full of experiences and passion. Brandon was the Founding Executive Director of Friends of the Children Houston, an organization that is seeking to create generational change by pairing youth facing some of life’s greatest obstacles with a professional mentor for twelve years. Prior to this role, he spent seven years as a public administrator in various roles and departments in the city of Houston.In this episode, Brandon shares with us why relationships are the key to future success, the role building trust has over time, some stories of hope, and much more!Find the show notes and links to anything we discussed here: https://riversideproject.org/brandon-denton-26Connect with us!Website: https://riversideproject.orgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.riverside.projectFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/riversideproject.htx

May is National Foster Care Awareness Month! During this month, we’re not only raising awareness about foster care, but we are also celebrating the beautiful work of collaboration in this space. (Watch our new “As One” documentary series here for some incredible stories about the work happening in our city.) With this focus, we are revisiting the very first episode we shared on The Riverside Project Podcast.In this conversation, Jason Johnson joined us to break down the parable of the River and how it relates to issues facing Houston’s child and family welfare system. Foster care isn’t an isolated problem but is connected to many other social issues affecting our city. How does this reality change the way we work together to transform foster care in our communities? We also discussed the power (and the challenge) of collaboration, the role of the Church in caring for vulnerable families, and how you can find your place along the River.Jason is a speaker, writer, former pastor, church planter, and foster parent. He is also the Director of Church Mobilization and Engagement with Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO).Find the show notes and links to anything we discussed here: https://riversideproject.org/jason-johnson-25Connect with us!Website: https://riversideproject.orgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.riverside.projectFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/riversideproject.htx

For young adults who faced significant challenges growing up, it can be very hard to successfully transition into the workforce. They may not have the resources or self-confidence to strive for a fulfilling career. As a result, they may end up unemployed or stuck in a cycle of jobs that don’t offer upward mobility. Today’s guest, Brian Meza, is tackling this problem with his Petra Cares program. We are so excited to spread the word about this inspiring resource, as we believe it’s truly an invaluable asset to our community. As the Executive Director of Petra Cares, Brian partners with Lone Star College to provide automotive industry training for vulnerable young adults, such as those who are aging out of foster care. Brian also helps program graduates find fulfilling job placements.In this episode, Brian shares how his team goes the extra mile to remove any obstacles that could get in the way of their students’ educations, how they have adapted the Petra Cares program over the years to encourage more successful graduations, what putting himself in the shoes of people with challenging backgrounds has taught him about empathy, and so much more. Find the show notes and links to anything we discussed here: https://riversideproject.org/brian-meza-24Connect with us!Website: https://riversideproject.orgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.riverside.projectFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/riversideproject.htx

Adopting children who are of a different race than your own can be a beautiful thing. But many parents who do so make one crucial mistake—they try to disregard the topic of race altogether. They may feel uncomfortable addressing this subject or think that it’s better just to ignore it. But the truth is, in order to set children up for success, you need to understand the unique challenges they face and communicate with them about those challenges. Otherwise, they may feel alone, unsure of their identity, and unequipped to deal with the realities of racial discrimination.Today’s guest, Isaac Etter, was transracially adopted at the age of two. His experiences inspired him to found Identity—a startup focused on helping adoptive and foster families thrive.In this episode, Isaac shares insights on subjects like why it’s important to teach your children about racial issues before they go out into the world, how to show children that they’re loved for the entirety of who they are—not just the fact that they are your adopted child, how to give your child opportunities to connect with diverse communities and individuals who they feel represented by, and so much more. Find the show notes and links to anything we discussed here: https://riversideproject.org/isaac-etter-23Connect with us!Website: https://riversideproject.orgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.riverside.projectFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/riversideproject.htx

Life as a foster parent is a constant learning process.You complete extensive training, but quickly realize that there's always more to learn. As you figure out the best ways to meet the needs of the children in your care, one thing continues to become clear—every child comes with their own unique needs.The best way to grow in how you're supporting the children in your care is to gain experience, and that’s why I’m so grateful to have sat down with Chelsea Floro. Chelsea is an adoptive, foster, and biological mom to eight children. She’s also the founder of The Moses Closet of The Woodlands and the face behind the Real Life Foster Mom blog.In this episode, Chelsea talks about her nine-year journey supporting children and families in foster care, her experiences in learning how to provide the best support for children with special needs, how she’s learned to let go of life’s “what ifs," and so much more.Find the show notes and links to anything we discussed here: https://riversideproject.org/chelsea-floro-22Connect with us!Website: https://riversideproject.orgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.riverside.projectFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/riversideproject.htx

The foster care system’s primary goal is to serve the best interests of the families within it. Whenever possible, that means reuniting biological parents with their children.To help a family heal, birth parents need intentional support. But all too often, they aren’t given the resources they need to overcome their challenging life circumstances and set their family on a positive trajectory.In this episode, I am joined by two incredible women from Decatur, Texas: Catherine Vannatta and Tiffany Maggret. Catherine currently serves as a CASA advocate, while Tiffany is the Founder and Executive Director of One Hope Village, an organization that helps deteriorating families recover by equipping them with robust community resources.Catherine and Tiffany share with us what it’s like to advocate for a child’s rights when they are struggling in the foster care system, how God’s grace inspires them to create safe spaces where birth parents feel comfortable asking for help, how they give families the resources they need to heal and reconnect, and so much more.Find the show notes and links to anything we discussed here: https://riversideproject.org/catherine-tiffany-21Connect with us!Website: https://riversideproject.orgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.riverside.projectFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/riversideproject.htx

It’s a joy to have Travis Hand, a Licensed Master Social Worker who currently serves as a Behavioral Health Specialist at Texas Children’s Hospital, on our latest episode of the podcast. Once a teen struggling to navigate the challenges of growing up in the foster care system, Travis gained a strong passion for social work in college.This conversation is full of perspective and encouragement for each of us as we find our place along the River! Find the show notes and links to anything we discussed here: https://riversideproject.org/travis-hand-20Connect with us!Website: https://riversideproject.orgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.riverside.projectFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/riversideproject.htx

We are delighted to have the Deputy Regional Director at the Texas Department of Family Protective Services, Shaundricka Easley, on the podcast. She has been with the department for over 15 years and had various roles during that time as well as served all 13 counties across the Houston area.Shaundricka gives us unique insight from her vast experience, including some of the challenges she faces on a daily basis, how to support the children within the system, what can happen when we work together, and so much more!Find the show notes and links to anything we discussed here: https://riversideproject.org/shaundricka-easley-19Connect with us!Website: https://riversideproject.orgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.riverside.projectFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/riversideproject.htx

“Who is with them long term?”This is the question that Jenni Lord started asking after her organization helped fund hundreds of adoptions. What she realized is that the breakdown of these adoptive families often stemmed from the parents not being equipped to handle the behaviors and challenges that came along with trauma.Today, Jenni Lord is a resolute advocate for fostering family healing through the power of genuine connection. Her journey blends personal experiences with a visionary commitment to transforming the child welfare landscape. In 2008, she established Chosen, a trailblazing nonprofit dedicated to nurturing children’s recovery from trauma by empowering their families.In this episode, Jenni shares her firsthand experience with trauma through her adoptive brother, why many parents and caregivers are ill-equipped to handle trauma behaviors on their own, new initiatives to meet practical needs in the system, and more!Find the show notes and links to anything we discussed here: https://riversideproject.org/jenni-lord-18Connect with us!Website: https://riversideproject.orgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.riverside.projectFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/riversideproject.htx

DePelchin Children’s Center has existed for over 130 years and has continued to evolve to meet the needs of the community. Their mission is to strengthen the lives of children by enhancing their mental health and physical well-being in Houston and central Texas.Jesse Booher is the Senior Vice President and Chief Operations Officer of DePelchin Children’s Center, which provides foster care and adoption services in Texas communities. As COO, Jesse oversees a diverse array of programs ranging from child abuse prevention to foster care to residential services to adoption.In this episode, Jesse shares how he started out working in child welfare, the differing perspectives that typically come with each role, and the value of community-based care.Find the show notes and links to anything we discussed here: https://riversideproject.org/jesse-booher-17Connect with us!Website: https://riversideproject.orgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.riverside.projectFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/riversideproject.htx

It all started with a simple napkin exercise. Chandler James was asked to write his dream on a napkin. Initially, it seemed like a silly exercise but when he was finished his napkin read: creating safe spaces for the next generation.Chandler James is our Director of Church Mobilization here at The Riverside Project. He has worked in a number of local churches both as a Student Pastor and as a Next Gen Pastor. Chandler and his wife, Caitlin, are licensed foster parents of a few teenagers. He is passionate about investing in the next generation through foster care and in the church.In this episode, Chandler shares how churches can be mindful of the opportunities right in front of them, how to invest in the next generation, and his own experience as a foster parent. Listen in!Find the show notes and links to anything we discussed here: https://riversideproject.org/chandler-james-16Connect with us!Website: https://riversideproject.orgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.riverside.projectFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/riversideproject.htx

Foster youth face many challenges, and education can be one of them. In fact, studies show that just 4% of children who have experienced foster care will go on to obtain a four-year college degree.Children who are involved within the foster care system also experience a higher number of school transitions, lower academic achievement, heightened experiences of exclusionary school discipline, higher drop out rates, and decreased access to postsecondary education. Accessible resources and healthy relationships are needed to help youth build a strong educational foundation that will guide them into adulthood.In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Danisha Keating. She is an author, CEO, business leader, and holds a Ph.D. in Psychology.As a former foster youth, she has learned the importance of furthering her education and building a network around her. Since 2009, Danisha has helped students understand the value of education and the importance of striving to define success by what that means to each individual. Ever since Danisha can remember, she has been passionate about education and helping others achieve success.This is one you don't want to miss!Find the show notes and links to anything we discussed here: https://riversideproject.org/danisha-keating-15Connect with us!Website: https://riversideproject.orgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.riverside.projectFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/riversideproject.htx

Anytime there is news related to the border or a refugee crisis, we frequently hear this question: “How does our city serve unaccompanied minors and refugees that come to our country without their parents? Does this affect the foster care community?”You may never have heard the term “international foster care” before, but this is a unique and important topic. You may be curious how the federal programs are run, how people can get involved, and how it’s different from domestic foster care.This is why we’re really glad to have Krista Kesseler here to shed some light on the topic of serving youth through international foster care. Krista is the Community Outreach Specialist for the St. Jerome Emiliani Foster Care Program. In this episode, we dive deep into how international foster care works, how many children are served through international foster care in Houston, who it serves, and some practical ways we can get involved today.Find the show notes and links to anything we discussed here: https://riversideproject.org/krista-kesseler-14Connect with us!Website: https://riversideproject.orgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.riverside.projectFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/riversideproject.htx

This is not working. What do we do next? After several infertility treatments, Jennifer Clifford and her husband, Ryan, asked themselves this question. After a discussion and an informational meeting about foster care, they came to the conclusion that God was closing the door to biological children and opening the door to foster care, specifically for sibling groups.Foster care came with its own ups and downs as they learned how to navigate the licensing process and the reality of emotions that came with temporary placements. As they reflected on their first placement, they had to ask the question if they were willing to continue to foster in spite of the heartache they knew was a part of this journey.In this episode, Jennifer shares her journey becoming a foster parent and the lessons she learned, the realities of reunification, and how they transitioned to becoming adoptive parents.We’re really grateful to share Jennifer’s story of stepping into foster care and then adoption. Many people reach out to The Riverside Project to find out more about becoming foster parents, and we hope this episode can be a resource to those still considering if foster care is the place they are being called to along the River.Find the show notes and links to anything we discussed here: riversideproject.org/2023/08/07/jennifer-clifford-13Connect with us!Website: https://riversideproject.orgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.riverside.projectFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/riversideproject.htxMany thanks to Nathan Cadis Media for the production of this podcast!https://www.nathancadismedia.com