Dr. John DeGarmo is a leading authority on foster care, an international consultant to legal agencies, and founder of The Foster Care Institute. He has taken in more than 60 foster children and turned two decades of experience into books, talks, and training for families and professionals. He shares the realities behind America’s foster care system, addressing trauma, abuse, neglect, and the urgent need for reform. Listeners learn what it truly takes to be a foster parent, why support systems matter, and how anyone can make a difference for children in crisis.



In this episode of Marketer of the Day, Dr. DeGarmo explains how he turned personal tragedy into purpose after witnessing child neglect and human trafficking in his community. He describes the emotional and logistical challenges of fostering, the gaps in the system, and why compassion fatigue is real for both parents and caseworkers. Most importantly, he offers simple, practical ways that anyone can help, from donating supplies to mentoring local youth. This conversation is a call to awareness, empathy, and action for the next generation.



Quotes:



“Foster parenting is the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but it’s also the most rewarding.”



“Within a mile of where each of us lives, there’s probably a child crying out for help.”



“Not everyone can be a foster parent, but everyone can help a child in some way.”



“I can’t change the world, and you can’t change the world, but for those children we help, their world has changed.”



Resources:




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