Fostering Resilience is a two-pronged initiative to support and enhance the effectiveness of foster parents in New Mexico. This project has grown out of an enduring desire to contribute to the foster system after my retirement from fostering in 2018. My wife and I served as foster parents for 10 years (2008 to 2018) and fostered 90 children over that period.
Beyond the Book — Originally, my desire was simply to write a book that might give new foster parents a leg-up in their learning process. Then the idea of starting a podcast took shape as I contemplated approaching a publisher. The scope of the project grew as I explored the challenges and logistics of running a podcast. An excellent podcast would require the contributions of several dedicated and talented individuals.
Dual Podcasts — It may be that the podcasts could be more impactful than the book. They offer a new communication channel for foster parents, and to prospective foster parents. Further thought resulted in the proposal for a dual-podcast program.
Foster families tend to be isolated from one another, with few opportunities to share their stories and learn from each other. The Fostering Diaries podcast could be a means to overcome this isolation in a fashion not yet attempted before. As a foster parent, I was occasionally able to attend foster family events. But this was rare. I observed the difficulties most foster families had to attend such events. Well-produced podcasts (taking care to preserve confidentiality) can bridge this connection challenge in a way that accommodates all foster family schedules.
Support Logistics — Properly supporting the podcasts has pointed to the need for collaboration with a non-profit foundation to help provide financial, legal, and professional resources. Long-term, an independent foundation may be necessary. But to start, I would seek support from an existing New Mexico non-profit foundation. Operating under their umbrella would relieve some of the distractions of fundraising, etc. as the project gets off the ground.
The pages linked below are the beginnings of additional details to this project.
Fostering Resilience - Podcast
Fostering Resilience - Foundation
The map below gives an overview of the major components of the project.