The Call to Foster
by Missouri Department of Social Services
The Missouri Department of Social Services is proud to present The Call to Foster, a heartwarming new podcast series that features inspiring stories from foster parents across the state. Each episode will highlight their unique experiences and perspectives, how they overcame hesitations, and provide helpful advice for anyone considering becoming a foster parent. Prepare your heart as you hear first-hand from the compassionate families and individuals working together to make a difference for Missouri’s most vulnerable children.
Episodes
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The Missouri Foster Parent Portal
In this episode of the Missouri Foster Parent Portal Podcast, Ashton sits down with Lauren Masterson, Assistant Deputy Director over Adoption, Subsidy, Foster Care Licensing, and ICPC, to introduce the new Missouri Foster Parent Portal launching this July. They discuss how the portal will...
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“It’s Not Easy, But It Is Truly Worth It”: A Foster Mom Reveals the Truth Behind the Myths
In this powerful episode, hosts Shasta Miller, Jessica Fox, and Ashton Kever sit down with foster mom Michelle Ward to uncover the raw truth about foster parenting - the myths, the heartbreak, the healing, and the life‑changing rewards. Michelle opens up about how a mission trip first sparked her...
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"You've gotta be able to love them beyond the hurt."
In this heartfelt episode of The Call to Foster Podcast, hosts Shasta Miller, Jessica Huckstep, and Ashton Kever sit down with Yolanda, a kinship foster parent, and her 13-year-old nephew, Jeremiah, to share their inspiring story. Yolanda opens up about her own experience in foster care as a…
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"It's the home-cooked meals, honestly."
In this episode, Shasta, Jessica, and Ashton, talk with Makenzie Muse. Makenzie is an older youth in foster care with a passion for independence. She shares her story and encourages foster parents to just listen. She also speaks highly of her foster placement and highlights that foster parents...
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Finding Support as a Foster Care Provider in Missouri
In this episode, Ashton and Shasta welcome a few guests who are making a difference in the lives of foster parents and children across Missouri. Their guests are: Jennifer Adams from FosterAdopt Connect Riannon Franklin from the Central Missouri Foster Care and Adoption Association Kenya Willis...
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"Get into the arena."
Listen along as Shasta, Jessica, and Ashton chat with Becca Underwood about her experiences as a foster parent. Becca works with an organization called CarePortal, which helps families around the country meet needs that contribute to children entering the state welfare system. Through her work,...
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"You have to know it's not gonna be easy."
In this episode, Shasta, Jessica, and Ashton chat with Katie Tipton, a former foster youth who shares her experience and advice for current and future foster parents. Katie shares a lot of insight about the trauma a child coming into care might have and she encourages caregivers to remember that...
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"The biggest steps in life might be the scariest, but they are the most rewarding."
In this episode, hosts Shasta, Jessica, and Ashton speak with Barry and Hannah Cahill. These two foster parents are an incredible team with huge hearts. A biological family of five, the Cahills stay very busy providing the best care for all of the children in their home. When they started their...
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"Not all youth are delinquents."
In this episode, our hosts talk with an older youth with experience in the foster care system. Kurtis Dehart shares his story and provides hope to anyone considering fostering or worried about fostering teenagers. He's driven and responsible and shares the importance of helping teens, especially...
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"Embrace what's coming your way."
In this episode, Shasta, Jessica, and Ashton talk to DeeDee Button. DeeDee is a former foster parent, adoptive parent, licensed foster parent trainer, a college student seeking a degree in social work, a foster parent ambassador, and the creator and owner of a nonprofit called "The Chaos Closet."...
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"I would rather have loved and lost than to have never loved at all."
This month, our hosts have a conversation with Angel Williams, a former foster child who became a foster parent. Angel talks about her experience in the system, the challenges she's had in her journey to become a foster parent, and gives a raw and honest look at what it means to love the kids in...
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"Find some way to get involved."
In this episode, Shasta, Jessica, and Ashton speak with Tim Hite. Tim is the Executive Director of Divine Nest in Missouri. One piece of this nonprofit is the Sparrow House, a place for kids to go when they are removed from their homes for their safety and wellbeing while their case worker is in...
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"I don't know that anyone really feels totally ready for it."
Join Shasta, Jessica, and Ashton as they talk with Hillary Lammert. Hillary was adopted as a child and talks about her experience growing and learning as a foster/adoptive parent. She shares advice for working with biological parents, and practical information about taking care of yourself while...
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"If we don't take care of ourselves, how are we going to take care of our kids?"
This month's guest, Micah Smiley, shares her experience as a "medical home." Micah is currently a respite only foster home, but she started as a full foster home! Micah even moved to a new home to get closer to medical care for a child in her home. This episode is full of great information for...
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"Love can fix a lot..."
Our hosts, Shasta, Jessica, and Ashton talk to a very special guest this month - Shasta's husband, Chris Miller. Chris grew up in foster care, experiencing 6 or 7 placements before finally aging out of the system. While his story was not always positive, Chris does his best to share that even...
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"Get attached."
This month, Shasta, Jessica, and Ashton talk with Tori Ward. Tori was introduced to foster parenting at a young age when her parents became licensed. She saw, first-hand, the impact foster parents have in the lives of children. As soon as she could, she became a foster parent and is a mentor and...
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Safe Haven Baby Boxes
Listen in on a conversation with the Founder and current CEO of Safe Haven Baby Boxes, Monica Kelsey. Safe Haven Baby Boxes' (SHBB) mission is to prevent the illegal abandonment of newborns through education, raising awareness of the safe haven law, and offering the only anonymous option, the…
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"Every kid needs a family history."
This month, Shasta, Jessica, and Ashton sit down with Deborah Stukey. Deborah is a retired school teacher and principal and is a resourceful learner. Her natural educating talents, as well as the training she received as an educator and to become a foster parent, has been extremely valuable in…
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"They deserve help just as much as anyone else."
This month we had a wonderful call with the Kueblers! Alexus Kuebler, a former foster child, is passionate about being a safe home for Missouri's foster children. She knew she wanted to be a foster and adoptive parent since she was taken into care. The Kueblers are excited to work with families…
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SOUND OF HOPE: The Story of Possum Trot
The fight for children starts July 4, 2024. In this episode of the Call to Foster, our hosts are joined by Darrell Missey, the Director of Children's Division, and Rebekah Weigel, Writer and Producer of "SOUND OF HOPE: The Story of Possum Trot". Hear from the writer of this incredible film about...
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"101 Considerations for Foster Parents"
In this episode, our hosts speak with author, youth pastor, and foster parent, David Wermuth. David has over 11 years of experience as a foster parent to older teen boys with a goal of independence. He used his experience as a foster parent to share stories of encouragement and helpful tips in…
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"If they go home and you're not a little sad, you didn't do your job."
Listen along as Jessica and Shasta talk with Jason Seter, a foster parent and co-trainer in Missouri for over 10 years. Jason admits that they started fostering to adopt, but then quickly fell in love with fostering and realized the great need for foster homes. Having cared for children from one...
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"The whole system isn't made up of that horrible news headline."
Shasta, Jessica, and Ashton talk with Missouri Foster Parent Pauline Roberts in this episode. Pauline shares a lot of practical advice and wisdom with for future and current foster parents. She stresses the importance of remembering that foster parents are coming into this family's story at one…
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“It's gonna be the most amazing thing you ever do.”
In this episode, Shasta, Jessica, and Ashton talk with a very impressive foster parent, Ali Keck, who at the time of recording was 25 years old! After only 3 months of foster parenting, Ali has a lot of practical advice and experience to share with young, new, or even seasoned foster parents. She...
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“You get to be a lifelong part of their family.”
In this episode, Shasta, Jessica and Ashton spoke with Jared Baker, a current foster parent in Missouri. Jared and his wife are ambassadors, advocates, and trainers for future foster parents and are passionate about the cause. If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a foster parent,...
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"I always try to put myself in their shoes."
Shasta, Jessica and Ashton chat with Abby Pancoast about her foster parenting journey. Abby admits that they became foster parents with the intention to adopt and discusses the heartbreak that can come with reunification. She also shares some insight into what it might look like to be a foster...
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The Forgotten Adoption Option
In this episode of The Call to Foster, Ashton sits down with Angie Swarnes, Deputy Director of Children's Division over Permanency, and Marcy Bursac, local author and founder of the Forgotten Adoption Option. We were honored to get to hear Marcy's story firsthand. The impact Marcy is making with...
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"There are no kids too far gone."
In honor of National Adoption Month, we spoke to adoptive parent and Southwest Regional Director for the Children's Division, Pam Alston. Pam brings a unique perspective to our podcast as an employee of the Children's Division. Her story is a perfect example of how children might find you and…
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"Don't think your age counts you out."
We had the privilege of speaking with Dave and Patty Hedrick this month about their journey with foster care. They stress how important it is to pour into the kids and find common interests. Eager to care for more kids, the Hedricks want potential foster parents to know that age doesn't count you...
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"This isn't gonna be our forever."
In this episode, hosts Shasta Miller, Jessica Huckstep, and Ashton Kever, had the privilege of talking with Miss Black Missouri, USA, Eugenia Doreen. Eugenia was previously a foster youth in Missouri and shares her experience in the foster system. Now, a successful college graduate working at a…
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"If you have all the love in the world to give to someone, this is what you need to do."
Join Shasta and Jessica as they talk with Mary Bailey, an experienced foster parent in Missouri. Mary touches on a lot of great topics, but one thing she is clear about in this discussion is the importance of knowing your boundaries. As a potential foster parent, it is okay for you to have a...
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"I found out I was adopted after my father died."
Brandon and Liz Matthews share their moving story of their journey into foster parenting and many inspiring stories of their experiences. This pair is full of passion and we are proud to have them as Foster Parent Ambassadors for the State of Missouri. If this heartwarming story inspires you to...
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"It was scary to leave my newborn son with a stranger."
Listen as Amanda Kane, a foster parent, and Colleen Mulhollan, a biological mother, share their story of reunification. Their relationship went from strangers to sisters over the span of the case. Now, like sisters, they spend time together regularly and share holidays as one big family unit.
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"My husband and I were in and out of the system as kids."
In celebration of National Foster Care Month, The Call to Foster invited special guests, Darrell Missey, Director of the Missouri Children's Division, and Lauren Masterson, Permanency and Foster Care Licensing Manager, to join Shasta in interviewing Missouri foster parent, Rebecca Kadlez. Rebecca...
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"If you have compassion for the human race, participate."
In this episode, Shasta and Jessica chat with Elliot and Mandy Nohr. This couple is passionate and dedicated to making a difference in the lives of the children AND families in their care. They cover big topics like staying in contact with some of the children who've moved on from their home…
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"I got into foster care for my heart to be broken."
In this episode, Jessica and Shasta talk to Stephanie Reese, a passionate single parent fostering in Missouri. Stephanie confronts the issue of attachment, reunification, and debunks the myth that foster parents have to be married or stay at home parents. As a full time employee herself…
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"We'll love them while we've got them."
In this episode of "The Call to Foster," Jessica and Shasta talk with Mickey and Amanda Goodwin. The Goodwin's share stories from their foster family journey covering topics like attachment, common misconceptions about foster care, and ways Children's Division can better support their foster...
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"They're just like an extended part of our family."
Join Jessica Huckstep and Shasta Miller as they interview Norma Hahn about her experience as a foster parent. Hear first-hand about what it is like to be a foster parent and listen as Norma shares her experiences.
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The Call to Foster Podcast Trailer
The Missouri Department of Social Services is proud to present The Call to Foster, a heartwarming new podcast series that features inspiring stories from foster parents across the state. Each episode will highlight their unique experiences and perspectives, how they overcame hesitations, and...
About this show
The Missouri Department of Social Services is proud to present The Call to Foster, a heartwarming new podcast series that features inspiring stories from foster parents across the state. Each episode will highlight their unique experiences and perspectives, how they overcame hesitations, and provide helpful advice for anyone considering becoming a foster parent. Prepare your heart as you hear first-hand from the compassionate families and individuals working together to make a difference for Missouri’s most vulnerable children.
Hosted by
Missouri Department of Social Services