Ep. 23 - Barbara Sabido: How To Blend An Unconventional Family

On this week’s episode of the Step Stories podcast, host Robin Breuner introduces Barbara Sabido, a married mother of four who fostered 17 children over 17 years, mainly newborns to age six, describing how she started after meeting a veteran foster mom, how her sons were interviewed during licensing, and how placements ranged from 24 hours to a year. Barbara shares the emotional challenge of saying goodbye, her retired police-officer husband’s role and boundaries, and lessons about avoiding judgment of biological families while keeping children’s needs first, including limited ongoing contact depending on reunified or adoptive families’ wishes. She also discusses serving as executive director of Marin Foster Care and the heavy caseloads social workers face. Barbara explains founding the nonprofit Apparent Love to provide “a parent’s love” and chosen family for LGBTQ+ adults through dinners, gatherings, and outings, urging openness to broader definitions of family. Barbara Sabido:Website: apParent LoveFacebook:        @bsabidoLinkedin :        Barbara Sabido Robin Breuner Email:  [email protected]:  www.robinbreuner.comInstagram: stepstoriespodcastIGFacebook: stepstoriespodcastFBLinkedin:  RobinBreunerLinkINPodcast:  StepStories PodcastThreads:  @robinbreunerYouTube: StepStories Podcast YouTubeTikTok:    www.tiktok.com/@stepstoriespodcast/video/7569378260706938126 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.