Ep. 13 - From Neglect to New Beginning: "Adoption Changed My Life" (feat. Stephanie Hanna)

We have a very special guest joining us in the studio today- Jessica's daughter, Stephanie Hanna!Stephanie was adopted into the Hanna family after a short stint as a temporary foster placement. Stephanie shares with us what it was like to grow up in a home that, while filled with love, did not have the basics for living- like running water or heat. While she was not a victim of physical abuse, now one of the requirements for removal under HB1227, she certainly did feel the effect of neglect. She shared with us that she often wondered why her neighbors didn’t say anything or do anything or why her social workers would come and go and leave her there and in her words, why nobody “rescued” her earlier. After temporarily being placed with the Hanna family and feeling a connection with Jessica (and Jessica feeling the same), she was able to advocate for herself to her social worker for a long-term placement that eventually led to adoption. Now, she is a mother of her own and working on her nursing degree while also advocating for other children in foster care that are not able to advocate for themselves.Thanks to social workers that were able to make a difference, legislation that allowed change and a new start, and a foster family that was invested in their foster child and their birth family, Stephanie was able to have a bright and healthy future. That is what we want for every child in foster care in Washington State and beyond.Thank you, Stephanie, for sharing your story!……………………………..Want to know more about Fostering Change WA? Visit our website: https://fosteringchangewa.org/Our mission is to make a real change in Washington state for those most vulnerable. Through this channel, we aim to give a voice to the voiceless, share the stories of those who often go unseen, and inspire people to make a difference. We want views and comments to become action that will save lives. To follow us and the work we are doing, check out our social media channels: Instagram: ‪@fosteringchangewa‬ TikTok: @fosteringchangewa Facebook: Fostering Change WAWant to catch up on the story? All our 'Change The Story' episodes are available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart Podcasts, and on our YouTube channel.Thank you so much for wanting to support us and joining us in this fight for a better tomorrow for our kids.#fostercare #adoption #washingtonstate