Episode 18: Triggered in Foster Care: Moving From Confused to Connected

Shanelle has been listening deeply to parents, caregivers, youth, caseworkers, judges, and faith/community partners. The stories are hard: reports not read, workers demeaned, youth uninformed, and children disoriented by sudden moves. This episode names those triggers and charts a path toward being more connected so people aren’t navigating foster care alone. Shanelle also invites listeners to a 2026 preview of the SYNCing Child Welfare course (Simplifying Your Navigation and Confusion in Child Welfare).  What you’ll hear Why foster care...even when necessary, is inherently hard, and how system behavior can make it harder. Real stories: foster parent reports ignored; caseworkers shamed; older youth told to skip court; youth who don’t even know where they are. The “middle of the movie” effect: families and new workers thrown into complex culture and acronyms with no translation.  A better way: make help visible, define roles, and connect people to the right person in each system. You are personally invited to join an online session to learn more. Shanelle is hosting two online SYNCing Child Welfare preview sessions in early 2026: Wednesday, January 7 (9:00–9:45 a.m. CT) REGISTER HERE or Thursday, January 8 (4:00–4:45 p.m. CT) REGISTER HERE. Stay updated on the latest SYNCING Child Welfare updates by joining the newsletter HERE.