Like this podcast? Please rate it on iTunes and become a $1+ patron on Patreon! Click here to learn more.
Special Thanks to my Patron for supporting A Fostered Life!
Episode 18
When most people think of foster parenting, we think children who are experiencing neglect or abuse being removed from their parents and placed with someone else—either a foster parent or a relative caregiver. But there is another type of foster care that many people don’t know about.
Every day, over 40,000 families around the world are forced to flee their homes due to community violence, war, famine, natural disasters, and persecution. Unfortunately, many children become separated from their parents or primary caregivers due to death, illness, or imprisonment, and find themselves living in refugee camps, sometimes for years.
For refugee minors, the U.S. State Department identifies children overseas who are eligible for resettlement in the U.S., but do not have a parent or a relative available and committed to providing for their long-term care. Upon arrival in the U.S., these refugee children are placed into the Unaccompanied Refugee Minors (URM) program and receive refugee foster care services and benefits.
My guest in today’s episode is Barbara Tantrum, who is a trauma and attachment therapist as well as a refugee foster parent. I invited her on the podcast to share about this unique form of foster care and to give some insights to folks who might feel called to provide safe and loving long-term homes for children who are currently living in refugee resettlement camps overseas. If you are interested in learning more about this program, I’m including links in the show notes for this episode to the U.S. Administraion for Children and Famililes web site, where you can search refugee foster care to learn more.
Barbara also has a new book coming out this fall called The Adoptive Parents' Handbook: A Guide to Healing Trauma and Thriving with Your Foster or Adopted Child. The book will be released September 1, and you can pre-order your copy using this affiliate link or by going to afosteredlife.com/resources.
Barbara was our guest on a recent Flourishing Foster Parent Coaching Call in which the focus was on Helping Our Kids and Ourselves Process Grief. If you are interested in downloading that audio resource, it is part of The Flourishing Foster Parent Online Resource Library available for $10/month (cancel anytime).
I am so grateful for Barbara’s willingness to join me today, I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.
Be sure to subscribe to A Fostered Life podcast so you don’t miss a single episode. For more information and resources for foster parents, please visit afosteredlife.com, where you’ll find blog posts, recommended reading, youtube videos, and social media links all designed to help foster parents feel more equipped for their foster care journey.
It’s my prayer that no foster parent ever feels like they’re going at it alone. If you’re a foster parent who is feeling like you’re out there on your own, consider joining The Flourishig Foster Parent, a community designed to encourage, equip and connect foster parents.
If you’re enjoying this podcast, please take a moment to rate A Fostered Life on iTunes. It would help me out so much.
Thanks for listening and thanks for caring about foster care.
*Let's Socialize*
PATREON: http://www.patreon.com/afosteredlife
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/afosteredlife
INSTAGRAM: http://www.instagram.com/afosteredlife
WEBSITE: http://www.afosteredlife.com
YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/afosteredlife
Ep 25: Natalie Vecchione on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)
Ep 24: Dr. Samantha Coleman and Sandria Washington Take Us "Black to the Beginning"
Ep 23: Whitney King - Supporting Families in Crisis Before They Become Families in Crisis
Ep 22: Jason Johnson on the Unique Role of the Foster Father
Ep 21: Marvin Charles on Reuniting Fathers With Their Children
Ep 20: Rena Konomis of Project Search and Reunion
Ep 19 Virtual Visits in Quarantine
Ep 17: From Cuddler to CASA
A Listener’s Feedback on Episode 10
Ep 16: Author & Entrepreneur MaLisa Riley
Ep 15: Blogger, Child Abuse Survivor, and FFY Cherie Renee
Happy New Year! Announcing This Month's Giveaway Winners!
Ep 13: Advocate and Author Jillana Goble
Ep 12: Three Strands—A Church-Based Approach to Supporting Reunification and Family Preservation: My Conversation with Tonya Foulkrod, Part 2
Ep 11: From Foster Parent to Family Preservation Advocate: My Conversation With Tonya Foulkrod, Part 1
Ep 10: Foster Parenting Victims of Childhood Sexual Abuse: A Conversation with Kevin
Ep. 9: When Foster Parents Fight for Reunification: A Conversation with Lauren
Ep. 8: It's Never Too Late to Choose Love: A Conversation with Bryan Post
Ep 7: Foster Parenting & Flexibility: A Conversation with Melissa Smallwood
Join Podbean Ads Marketplace and connect with engaged listeners.
Advertise Today
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Dr. Laura Call of the Day
Focus on the Family Broadcast
Calm Parenting Podcast
The Art of War
The Count of Monte Cristo
Good Inside with Dr. Becky
Raising Boys & Girls