This week's broadcast is a discussion about the Coalition's 24 hour, 7 day a week, helpline that not only serves families on Long Island, but throughout New York State as well. In addition, we also have an updated orientation of the Long Island AGAPE post-adoption service. A very informative discussion about both the Helpline and AGAPE. Our co-hosts and guests this week are Coalition staff persons Chester Jackson, Helpline Coordinator, and Danielle Skelly an AGAPE Family Support Specialist.

After the Kids Move In

4/4 Broadcast

AFFCNY 24 Hour Helpline and an Orientation to the Long Island AGAPE post adoption program.

Tonight's broadcast shares information about an innovative new program that brings together all the people in a transracial adoptee's life to learn more about how to create an anti-racism support network for that young adopted person.  Both Angela Tucker, and a parent who experienced this two hour deep conversation and education, Kelly Merrick, talk about the program.

8/15 Broadcast

Cultivating an Anti-Racism Support Network for Transracial Adoptees w/ Angela Tucker

Rebecca Autumn and host Chester Jackson talk about the new documentary "Reckoning with the Primal Wound" which the Coalition will be screening Friday night November 5th at 7pm.  Check our events page for details.
This film shares the story of adopted person Rebecca Autumn and her birthmother Jill and break the sections of the movie up into the same sections as the renown book Primal Wound.  Rebecca shares a variety of interesting pieces of information about the making of this film.   This film might be the first to feature both the adopted person's and birth mother's story from the same adoption.

9/19 Broadcast

Reckoning with the Primal Wound Film with Rebecca Autumn Sansom

Listen to this broad discussion between host Chester Jackson and Guest Nancy Verrier about the Primal Wound with its author.    Chester and Nancy go over a variety of issues including the basics of what is the primal wound?   Nancy also talks about the documentary which will be screened here at the Coalition on Friday night November 5th at 7pm.

9/26 Broadcast

The Primal Wound - Author Nancy Verrier

This week's guest, Sixto Cancel, Founder and CEO of Think of Us, joined this week's broadcast to talk about his Guest Essay published in the New York Times on Thursday September 16th entitled "I Will Never Forget That I Could Have Lived With People Who Loved Me."    Sixto shares a variety of innovative perspectives on how to use research data to change the child welfare system.

10/3 Broadcast

Sixto Cancel on his NY Times Guest Essay "I Will Never Forget ...."

Listen to this broad discussion between host Chester Jackson and Guest Nancy Verrier about the Primal Wound with its author. Chester and Nancy go over a variety of issues including the basics of what is the primal wound? Nancy also talks about the documentary which will be screened here at the Coalition on Friday night November 5th at 7pm.

10/17 Broadcast

The Primal Wound with author Nancy Verrier

Therapist Courtney Yemiola and her husband wanted to move.  They lived in North Carolina.   They moved to the Northernmost community of the USA on the Arctic Ocean --- Barrow, Alaska.   Courtney speaks about moving into another culture to provide both mental health services to their citizens to adopt a teenager of a different race.  Barrow has 24 hours of daylight from May 12 - Aug 2 and 24 hours of darkness from Nov 18 - Jan 23.

11/8 Broadcast

Moving to Barrow Alaska with Courtney Yemiola

Our guest this evening is Ruth Spencer,  author of the book "The Thirteenth Overdose: Parenting My Son Through FASD and Addiction"  Ruth shares her wisdom about parenting an adopted son who needed her unconditional commitment through his addictions well into his early 40's.    Listen to this inspiring story where Ruth offer tips about how parents can cope through the most difficult times, including her son's Tim's 13 Overdoses.

4/3 Broadcast

Ruth Spencer - Parenting Your Adult Adopted Son with FASD

Dr. Stacey Patton, author of the book "Spare the Kids: Why Whupping Children Won't Save Black America" is our guest this evening.  Dr. Patton is unequivocal that hitting children is never acceptable.  Dr. Patton  challenges the myth that corporal punishment is something that is acceptable in raising black children.  Dr. Patton's extensive research suggests that corporal punishment is a crucial factor in explaining why black folks as subject to disproportionately higher rates of school suspensions and expulsions, criminal prosecutions, child abuse cases, and foster care placements.

7/10 Broadcast

Dr. Stacey Patton - Spare the Kids - Why Hitting Children is NEVER the answer

Bianca Shaw is a Co-Executive Director of Rise Magazine, an organization that gives parents impacted by the child welfare system a voice.   Listen to Ms. Shaw talk about how Rise is making a difference in not only the impacted parents lives by sharing their stories with the world, but to also hear about how Rise is working to revolutionize the child "welfare" system here in NYC and the country.

7/24 Broadcast

Rise Magazine Co-Executive Director - Bianca Shaw

Jeanette Vega-Brown is a Co-Executive Director of Rise Magazine, an organization that gives parents impacted by the child welfare system a voice.  Jeanette shares her story about how she went from being a parent impacted by the child protection systems, to becoming a service recipient of parent advocacy services to recently being appointed as the Co-Executive Director of Rise Magazine, one of the leading organizations that serve parents impacted by the child welfare system.

7/31 Broadcast

Rise Magazine Co-Executive Director - Jeanette Vega-Brown

This hour long broadcast discusses the legal creation of the white race with the author of "Birth of a White Nation."   In our first half hour Dr. Battalora goes over the history of legal creation of "white" people and, in our second half hour, Dr. Battalora goes over the relevance of this information in regard to parenting all children today.

8/14 Broadcast

Dr. Jacqueline Battalora - Birth of a White Nation

A great discussion with seasoned adoptive parent, Kim Stevens, about why it is so important for adoptive, foster, and kinship families understand why it is so important to parent our children in a trauma responsive way.   Kim Stevens is keynoting a conference on this subject for the North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC) on November 9th, 2022.

9/25 Broadcast

Trauma Responsive Parenting Strategies with Kim Stevens

Listen to this broadcast to learn about Foster Care Unplugged, a very non-traditional way of doing therapy with adolescents who were touched, or are currently being touch, by the foster care system.   You will hear a variety of unique ways Foster Care Unplugged reach out to adolescents through creating Fashion Shows, Stage Plays, and documentaries with the youth.    All the programs have a 12 week component of therapy using psycho-drama and other innovative ways of reaching out to the youth.

10/16 Broadcast

Foster Care Unplugged with Melody Joanne Centeno

Entered foster at age 5 and aged out of care as an older teen, Jamerika put herself through college earning a BA in Communications from Washington State University.  She then went on to a career in Journalism,  non-profit communications specialist, and a young adult case manager.   She is formerly USA Ambassador Ms. 2021 through the USA Ambassador Pageant.   Listen to her inspiring story in this evening's interview.

7/30 Broadcast

A conversation with Jamerika Haynes-Lewis

Michelle Seymore, an Alumni of the Minority Professional Leadership Development program (MPLD), talks about the concept of her project she came to call "Moral Injury."    Ms. Seymore works in an area where the pay is good, the benefits are good, the caseloads are reasonable, but staff would be leaving the job nonetheless.  She submits for our consideration that it is not just stress or burnout, but also to consider that moral injury - the pervasive feeling what one is doing is violating ones moral code.

9/10 Broadcast

Moral Injury - with Michelle Seymore

How is it even possible to charge poverty stricken parents who did not agree to have their children removed in the first place, be charged for the days their child spent in the foster care system?   Listen to researcher Dr. Jill D. Berrick share information on this subject many of us knew nothing about.  Also hear about how charging families for their kids stay Keeps them  in care longer,  and also hear about how it cost the State of New York three times more to try to collect these funds than what they receive in return.

10/1 Broadcast

Charging Poverty Stricken Parents for their Child's Stay in Foster Care w. Dr. Jill Berrick

This evenings guest is Angela Tucker talking about her first book "You Should Be Grateful." Angela talks about why she wrote this book and why she picked the name of the book. She shared with us that this book was written from an Adoptee Centric perspective. Angela shares with us some new concepts including what she means by a person's "sonderspehere" a concept Angela created. A very interesting discussion you do not want to miss, and an exceptional book you will either want to read or listen to.

11/19 Broadcast

You Should Be Grateful with Angela Tucker

Tonight we chat with the three authors of "Adoption Unfiltered": Adopted Person - Sara Easterly; Birthparent - Kelsey Van Vliet Ranyard; Adoptive Parent - Lori Holden.   Adoption Unfiltered is a book that shares revelations from Adoptees, Birth Parents, Adoptive Parents, as well as Allies.   Together with Spence Chapin, AFFCNY is sponsoring a soft East Coast Book Launch will on Monday evening February 26th at Spence's office located at 120 E.16th Street in Manhattan.  Come and meet the 3 authors.

1/21 Broadcast

Adoption Unfiltered - A New Book Featuring all members of Adoption Constellation

Our special guest this evening is Dr. Loretta Ross who conducted the amazing TedTalk entitled "Don't Call People Out, Call them In." www.ted.com/talks/loretta_j_ros…le_out_call_them_in  Dr. Ross starts our interview sharing some amazing information about her personal history and why she did not relinquish her son for adoption when she had him at 14 years old. This is an amazing conversation and worth a listen.

1/28 Broadcast

Dr. Loretta Ross - Don't Call People Out - Call Them In

Anthropologist, Dr. Valerie Joseph, talks about why she wrote her first children's book.  "This is What Maisie Believes" is a book that features the voice of Maisie, a thoughtful, energetic, happy, and deeply spiritual little girl. Maisie is infused with love, joy, and acceptance for who she is, who God is, and for her African heritage.  This children's book may be purchased for $15 from Amazon.com.

2/4 Broadcast

This is What Maisie Believes by Dr. Valerie Joseph

WGBB Radio

2/11 Broadcast

We interviewed author of the new book being released on February 27th Entitled "Relinquished: The Politics of Adoption and the Privilege of American Motherhood."   Gretchen Sisson will be the keynote speaker on Friday morning May 10th at the Coalition's 35th Annual Foster and Adoption Conference in Hyde Park New York.

2/18 Broadcast

Relinquished with Gretchen Sisson

Tonight's guest is Dr. Liz DeBetta, who has created the one person play entitled Un-M-Othered.  Dr. Liz believes in the art of storytelling for Social Change.  "Un-M-Othered" won the "Best Autobiographical Show" from United Solo - 2022.   This play provides some unique insight's into the trauma  of adoption from the inside out and the story is beautifully told through both words and movement.     Dr. Liz will be delivering her live one person performance on Thursday evening May 9th at the Coalition's 35th Annual Foster Care and Adoption Conference at the Culinarary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York.

2/25 Broadcast

Un-M-Othered - A One Person Play by Dr. Liz DeBetta

Listen to this broadcast that is AGAPE's new orientation because it now includes kinship families including families that have custody and informal arrangements.   Also, this broadcast is heard in many parts of Queens and some parts of Brooklyn, so we let this audience know we are now serving Queens and Brooklyn families as well, though this broadcast itself, will continue to target Long Island families.

3/3 Broadcast

New Orientation - Includes Kinship Families as well as post adoption and guardianship

3/10/2024

3/10 Broadcast

3/17 Broadcast

3/24 Broadcast

3/31 Broadcast

This is a great interview about how the foster care system almost accidentally did the right thing to support a grandmother who loved her grandson but was not sure if she could raise him on the day they knocked on her door.   A foster family gave her the time she needed to figure out that she could raise her grandson with their support, and this grandma, Schrounda Selivanoff,  was able to raise her grandson.

Doing Kinship with Foster Care Right with Schrounda Selivanoff

Let's Talk Race - A beginners Guide to Conversations About Race.  This radio broadcast is beginning a discussion that will continue at our 35 Annual Conference on Friday May 3rd about white folks, teaching other while folks, how to talk to even other white folks about Race.   This is a powerful discussion with Shelley and David Park the co-creators of a five week curriculum that educates and encourages white Christians to engage in the ministry of reconciliation and justice.   They have a lot to teach people of all faiths, and no faiths at all, about how to do this.  Worth a listen and attending their workshop at the virtual part of the Coalition's conference on May 3rd at noon.

4/14 Broadcast

Let's Talk Race - with Shelley and David Park

How does it feel to enter the foster care for the very first time and move in with a family you previously did not know.  This Children's Book helps foster parents have conversations with their new young household member about school, toys, pets, bedtime, food, and family members.   This book can be ordered here:  https://fosterblessingsefc.org/#books

AFter the Kids Move In

4/21 Broadcast

How About You? A Book for Children Entering Foster Care - by Angela Paganelli

Today's Broadcast is an orientation about the Long Island Adoption & Guardianship Assistance Program for Everyone (AGAPE.)  The purpose of this broadcast is to encourage Long Island families who might be having challenges in their families to give AGAPE a call at 631-598-1983.  Host Pat O'Brien's guests include Long Island AGAPE's two Family Support Specialists Andrea Marinelli and Danielle Skelly, as well as AGAPE's Long Island Interim Director Maris Blechner.

Orientation to Long Island AGAPE

Pastor Janice Barlow has raised 16 children, 8 she adopted, 4 she has provided guardianship to, and others that she raised while they were children in the foster care system.   Pastor Barlow is the Pastor of Highway & Hedges Church in East New York Brooklyn.  When Pastor Barlow moved to Nassau County from Brooklyn she was not aware of the services on Long Island.  She heard about us on the radio one evening and gave us a call and joined the Long Island AGAPE program.  Here her story.

8/23 Broadcast

Pastor Janice Barlow Talks About Being a Parent and Asking for Help

25 years ago there were 50,000 children in NYC's foster care system.  10 years ago there were 17,000 children in it's care.   Today there are less than 8,000 children in the foster care of NYC.   This is in spite of the fact that the national average of children in foster care is going up.  Dr. Martin, the Deputy Commissioner for Preventive Services and Julie Farber, the Deputy Commission for Permanency Services. share with us what NYC is doing to bring their census down.

12/27 Broadcast

Julie Farber and Dr. Jackie Martin talk about why NYC's foster care census is dropping.

Weekly radio show produced by the Adoptive and Foster Family Coalition of New York, broadcasting live Sunday evenings at 6:30pm EST on Long Island's AM1240-WGBB discussing topics related to #adoption and #fostercare.

The Adoptive and Foster Family Coalition of New York provides support, information and advocacy for foster, kinship and adoptive families and related professionals in New York State.

Incorporated in 1975, we provide services to help support parents, children and youth. We educate the public, legislators and government leaders about the needs and realities of foster, kinship and adoptive families. Finally, we collaborate with child welfare agencies and other groups to ensure that families are best able to support and parent the children in their homes.

We represent the families’ viewpoint and work to improve and expand the services available to children and families.

Our Mission:
The Coalition unites foster, adoptive and kinship care families, giving them a voice and providing support, information and advocacy. By fostering communication and collaboration between families, agencies and concerned citizens, we seek to ensure the stability, well-being and permanency of all children touched by the child welfare system.

Our Vision:
No foster, adoptive or kinship care family in New York State will feel alone or unsupported and that all such families will have the tools, support and community they need to nurture their children and be role models for others.

Our Goals:
Educate and support foster, kinship and adoptive parents and the professionals who serve them through information-sharing, services, peer support and referral.
Improve services available to children and families.
Increase citizen involvement in local service planning and delivery.
Educate leaders and stakeholders about the realities, challenges and rewards of foster, kinship and adoptive parenting.
Advocate for greater support of foster, kinship and adoptive families by federal, state and local agencies.

FOR MORE VISIT AFFCNY.ORG

After the Kids Move In

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