The Foster Care Dilemma: What Every Community Must Do (And Avoid) to support our most vulnerable community members

We dive into important conversations around the Foster Care System, trauma, and the support that families and children need during difficult times. We view the issues through the lens of the Commonwealth State of Virginia with a focus on Virginia Beach (our home base city for the podcast).  Disclaimer: today’s conversation will touch on sensitive topics such as trauma, but I believe it’s crucial to have these conversations, especially for those looking to support foster families and displaced children. Joining us today is Dr. Katlin Knodel, a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with extensive experience at the CHKD Child Advocacy Center, where she’s worked with children and families who have experienced trauma Resource Links: https://www.vakidsbelong.org/ https://tidewaterffc.org/ https://www.connectwithawish.org/  Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction and disclaimer  1:55 Dr. Katlin Knodels' journey to Virginia Beach 3:00 Studying psychology and finding passion in serving children 5:30 Studying abroad and serving children across the globe 9:30 Psychologist's lens of the way we view and understand trauma  10:55 How to empower our local community to tackle trauma and support families and children in need 11:30 Average day in Child Advocacy Center and what is it? 18:25 Informed perspectives and not casting blame, but offering support  22:45 How to support families and children of displaced families  24:25 Creating a community of support that goes beyond the “system”2 25:30 Practical Application and resources (how to get involved) 26:50 How to help prevent children from going into Foster Care in the first place 29:15 How to become and Foster Parent and the role that they play  31:00 It’s okay NOT to become a Foster Parent (there’s many ways to help) 31:45 Burnout rate of Foster Parents is HIGH  33:30 How to get involved RIGHT NOW Who should we interview next? Support the show Discover Virginia Beach Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206204  Discover Virginia Beach Fb Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/discovervirginiabeach