“When it comes to kids and families in our community, we don’t have to settle for not enough.” National estimates show that, in recent years, roughly 300,000–400,000 children have been involved in the child welfare system at any given time. Statistics like this, while helpful, can sometimes cause us to slip into a scarcity mentality. We may worry that we don’t have enough resources to address such a large need. Or, we might assume that if we’re not able to take up the role of a foster parent,...
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“When it comes to kids and families in our community, we don’t have to settle for not enough.” National estimates show that, in recent years, roughly 300,000–400,000 children have been involved in the child welfare system at any given time. Statistics like this, while helpful, can sometimes cause us to slip into a scarcity mentality. We may worry that we don’t have enough resources to address such a large need. Or, we might assume that if we’re not able to take up the role of a foster parent,...
“When it comes to kids and families in our community, we don’t have to settle for not enough.” National estimates show that, in recent years, roughly 300,000–400,000 children have been involved in the child welfare system at any given time. Statistics like this, while helpful, can sometimes cause us to slip into a scarcity mentality. We may worry that we don’t have enough resources to address such a large need. Or, we might assume that if we’re not able to take up the role of a foster parent,...
300,000. That is the estimated number of children in our city who sleep on the floor. That’s nearly 13% of Houston’s overall population. Having a soft place to lay your head at night is something many of us take for granted. But for the vulnerable children and families in our city, the gift of a bed can mean so much—providing dignity, worth, and security. Our guest for this conversation is passionate about imparting this dignity to the children of Houston by providing mattresses and other fur...
Neither foster care nor homelessness are isolated issues. They both intersect with numerous social issues—including each other. For example, homelessness is a contributing factor to why many children end up in the child welfare system, and it’s also a risk factor that can impact youth who are already involved in or aging out of foster care. Of the 173 youth and young adults currently on the Coalition for the Homeless’s list for Houston, approximately 25% of them have been involved in foster c...
It’s estimated that around 70% of all instances of kinship care are informal. This is significant because family members in these cases are caring for a child without official documentation. Caregivers providing informal kinship care do not receive assistance from the state, nor do they have official custody of the child. And in many cases, they cannot receive assistance from other organizations or local programs, as these resources often require official documentation of the placement. This ...
“Their healing begins with your hope.” Our guest ended our time together on this phrase, but we wanted to start with it. This is at the heart of what individuals, churches, nonprofits, and agency workers do all across Houston, and hopefully, it’s why you are here, now, listening to this conversation. Foster care is not an isolated issue. There are many factors at play, both upstream (before a family is impacted by the foster care system) and downstream (after a child or young adult has been i...
Biological children who grow up in a family that fosters or adopts can experience some intense and complicated emotions. While many children are supportive—and even protective—of their non-biological siblings, it’s important to recognize that some may struggle with feeling overlooked or invisible in the process. While their needs are just as important as their foster or adoptive siblings, biological children can sometimes feel as though they need to take up less of their parents’ attention, m...
We often use the analogy of the River to describe how each and every one of us has a unique role to play in supporting the vulnerable children and families of Houston. One of the reasons why we need hands both upstream and downstream, helping from all sides, is because the foster care system does not exist in isolation. It’s shaped by—and deeply connected to—a range of other social challenges. One such challenge is homelessness and the circumstances that lead to it. The Greater Houston area h...
The term “pro-life” can be a politically charged topic. While the most common understanding of being pro-life is in regard to protecting life before birth, we had the opportunity to talk with someone who has a broader understanding of what it means to take up the charge of the vulnerable and protect life at all ages. Our guest for this conversation is Julie Dumalet. She has led the Archdiocese Office of Pro-Life Activities here in Houston, Texas since 2016 in the position of Director. The Pro...
The Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) may be most commonly associated with the act of “taking children away” from unsafe home environments. Unfortunately, this small snapshot of what DFPS does is often portrayed in a negative light in media and movies. But while the removal of children—whether it be temporary or permanent—is one of the responsibilities of DFPS, there is so much more to what they do. Our latest guest is here to highlight a DFPS division that partners with ser...
When you first become a foster parent, you are likely to get a lot of advice. Some of it is extremely helpful, while some may not apply to your specific situation. When you combine the uncertainty of stepping into a new role with the fact that every child brings a completely different story to the table, it can be difficult to know exactly what to expect as a first-time foster parent. That's why I'm so thrilled that my guests today are here to offer valuable insight into what this experience ...
For many young adults, turning 18 is an exciting milestone—a step toward independence while still having the support of family. But for children in foster care, this birthday marks the date you age out of the system.Sometimes, these individuals don’t feel fully prepared to navigate the adult world. Often, an 18-year-old aging out of foster care has to face life decisions most people wouldn’t expect to tackle until their mid-20s. It’s a daunting situation that can feel impossible to face alone...
During the holiday season, the concept of hospitality is at the front of our minds. However, hospitality can mean so much more than inviting family and friends to your dinner table to share a nice meal once a year. Biblical hospitality can be practiced every day of our lives—and it can be extended to our neighbors who we may not know personally.Helping us lead a discussion about the Lord’s call for us to open our homes through hospitality is Fr. Drew Knowles. He is the Rector of Oak Forest An...
We are passionate about not only transforming the foster care system in and around Houston but about helping others find their place along The River. This means providing key trainings, rallying community members together, and bringing awareness to how we can all be better equipped to make Houston a place where families heal and children thrive.For this episode, we have two of our staff members, Kathleen Cowie and Caitlin Simpson, joining us.Kathleen is the Director of Agency Partnerships at ...
Transracial adoption is not a new topic to The Riverside Project Podcast. We had the honor of speaking with Isaac Etter in a past episode on this topic and today we are talking with his adoptive mother, Julie.Julie Etter is an adoptive mom along with her husband. They have five children—two through adoption and three biologically. Julie is a beloved speaker on this topic of transracial adoption and the ups and downs her family has experienced. As a history teacher by trade, Julie loves to rea...
You may have heard of the term Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI) or trauma-informed care before, but you may not know what it is or how it can help transform how we care for children in foster care.To help us dive deeper into this topic is Mitzi McBride. Mitzi is not only well-versed in TBRI® but is also a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years of experience guiding children and families through their journey to emotional healing. She has an extensive background in foste...
“Despite all the bad circumstances that I dealt with and navigated, there were people who were meeting my belonging needs in a way that allowed me to continue to grow, learn, and thrive in spite of the things I was experiencing.”Children in foster care are often deeply longing for connection, intimacy, and relationships. How can we offer children the support necessary to help them flourish and shift from surviving to actively living? How does their need for belonging affect the decisions we m...
This episode of The Riverside Project Podcast is hosted by Chandler James, our Director of Church Mobilization. We are so excited to have him in this seat today!Collaboration is a big part of what we do at The Riverside Project. It’s how we connect, share resources, communicate about the needs of families and children in foster care, and more. For this episode, we are taking an inside look at how one person’s passion has led to a vibrant foster care and adoptive ministry at their church, all ...
Do you know what the single most important factor in overcoming childhood adversity is? Research found that it is a long-term, nurturing relationship with a consistent and caring adult.Today, we are talking with Brandon Denton who has an impressive resume full of experiences and passion. Brandon was the Founding Executive Director of Friends of the Children Houston, an organization that is seeking to create generational change by pairing youth facing some of life’s greatest obstacles with a p...
May is National Foster Care Awareness Month! During this month, we’re not only raising awareness about foster care, but we are also celebrating the beautiful work of collaboration in this space. (Watch our new “As One” documentary series here for some incredible stories about the work happening in our city.) With this focus, we are revisiting the very first episode we shared on The Riverside Project Podcast.In this conversation, Jason Johnson joined us to break down the parable of t...
For young adults who faced significant challenges growing up, it can be very hard to successfully transition into the workforce. They may not have the resources or self-confidence to strive for a fulfilling career. As a result, they may end up unemployed or stuck in a cycle of jobs that don’t offer upward mobility. Today’s guest, Brian Meza, is tackling this problem with his Petra Cares program. We are so excited to spread the word about this inspiring resource, as we believe it’s t...
“When it comes to kids and families in our community, we don’t have to settle for not enough.” National estimates show that, in recent years, roughly 300,000–400,000 children have been involved in the child welfare system at any given time. Statistics like this, while helpful, can sometimes cause us to slip into a scarcity mentality. We may worry that we don’t have enough resources to address such a large need. Or, we might assume that if we’re not able to take up the role of a foster parent,...
