Fostering Change

"When good people get together, great things happen." – Jamie TrumanIn this Best of Fostering Change episode, Rob Scheer sits down with Jamie Truman of Truman Charities, an organization dedicated to helping both local and national charities — including Comfort Cases — by hosting multiple fundraising events each year. The best part? 100% of the funds raised go directly to the charities they support.Over the past 15 years, Jamie and her husband Jerry have helped raise more than $2 million for various causes. Jamie is also the author of Vanishing Fathers: The Ripple Effect on Tomorrow's Generation, a #1 Amazon Best New Release, with all proceeds benefiting charities supporting at-risk youth.In this inspiring conversation, we discuss:The power of giving back to your communityHow Truman Charities creates a meaningful impactThe vital role fathers play in shaping future generationsJamie also hosts The Truman Charities Podcast, available wherever you listen to podcasts.Learn more about Jamie & Truman Charities:📚 Order her book: Vanishing Fathers on Amazon🌐 Website: trumancharities.com📸 Instagram: @jamie_trumancharities📍 Facebook: trumancharities💼 LinkedIn: jamietruman✉️ Email: info@trumancharities.comIf you enjoyed this episode, please like, share, and subscribe! Have a guest suggestion or feedback? Email us at info@comfortcases.org. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to a special Best of Fostering Change episode!This week, we revisit a powerful conversation originally aired in March, featuring two changemakers in the world of child welfare and LGBTQ+ advocacy: Kate Trambitskaya, CEO of Spence-Chapin Services to Families and Children, and Brian Rosenberg, founder of GWK Academy Family Building.Join host Rob Scheer for an honest and urgent discussion about how federal cutbacks are impacting foster youth, LGBTQ+ families, and other vulnerable communities—and how you can help make a difference.🔍 Why This Episode Matters:💡 Kate Trambitskaya is a returning guest who continues to lead efforts that support expectant mothers, children in institutional care overseas, and adoptees here in the U.S.🌈 Brian Rosenberg introduces the future of GWK Academy—expanding from supporting gay and queer men to serving all LGBTQ+ individuals in their family-building journeys starting March 2025.🛠️ How You Can Help:🔥 Don’t just listen—take action.💬 Leave a comment or question below.❤️ Like, share, and subscribe to spread the message.📩 Contact us at: fosteringchange@comfortcases.org🌐 Learn more at: https://www.comfortcases.org📲 Connect with Our Guests:Spence-Chapin Services to Families and ChildrenFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/spencechapinInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/spencechapinsvc/Twitter/X: https://x.com/spencechapinsvcLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/71342/GWK Academy / Gays With KidsFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/GaysWithKidsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/gays_with_kidsInstagram (GWK Academy): https://www.instagram.com/gwkacademyYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GWKLinkedIn (Brian Rosenberg): https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianrrosenberg/🎧 Subscribe for more powerful conversations that lead to real, lasting chang Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy July and welcome back to a Best Of episode of Fostering Change! In this lively and heartwarming conversation, host Rob Scheer reconnects with fan-favorite Doogie Sandtiger, also known as The Croc King — a man with a passion for comfort and color who has collected over 3,000 pairs of Crocs.You may have seen Doogie on The Today Show or follow him on social media. But beyond the viral Croc fame, Doogie's story is deeply personal. Like Rob — and many youth in foster care — Doogie never learned how to tie his shoes as a child. That’s where Crocs became more than footwear — they became a symbol of independence and identity.This episode is not just fun (we promise it is!), but it also delves into the real-life challenges faced by youth in foster care and how individuals like Rob and Doogie are working to make a difference.👉 Know someone who should be a guest on Season 7 of Fostering Change?Email us at: info@comfortcases.org🔗 Follow Doogie “The Croc King” on Social Media:📘 Facebook: facebook.com/doogielicious📸 Instagram: instagram.com/doogielish🎵 TikTok: tiktok.com/@hardcroclife4me💙 Thank you for listening and supporting Fostering Change! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BEST OF SEASON 6 — As we close out Season 6 and gear up for Season 7 of Fostering Change, we’re highlighting some of our most powerful conversations from the past year. With over 220 episodes behind us, we’re grateful to every guest and listener who has helped us grow this platform into what it is today.In this featured episode, Rob Scheer is joined by guest co-host Rita Soronen, CEO of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, for an incredible conversation with Andrew Bridge — former foster youth, attorney, and author of The Child Catcher: A Fight for Justice & Truth.Andrew shares his story of surviving 11 years in Los Angeles County foster care, his rise to become a Harvard Law graduate and Fulbright Scholar, and his fight to protect children in broken systems. His new book, The Child Catcher, tells the true story of a legal battle to rescue youth trapped in a secretive and abusive institution in rural Alabama.💥 Proceeds from The Child Catcher support CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) chapters nationwide. To support, visit AndrewBridgeAuthor.com and select your preferred chapter — 50% of pre-sale royalties will be donated directly.📩 Have questions, comments, or guest suggestions? Email us at info@comfortcases.org—📚 About Andrew BridgeSpent 11 years in foster careGraduated from Wesleyan University and Harvard Law SchoolLed efforts to shut down abusive institutionsFormer CEO of The Alliance for Children’s RightsCo-founder of National Adoption Day and New Village Girls AcademyNYT bestselling author of Hope’s BoyServes on the Arizona Foster Care Review Board📲 Follow Andrew:Facebook: facebook.com/andrew.bridge.9041Instagram: @andrewbridgejdTwitter/X: @AndrewBridgeJDThreads: @AndrewBridgeJD🔗 Learn More About The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption:Website: https://www.davethomasfoundation.org/Instagram: @dtfaFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaveThomasFoundationforAdoption/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the Season 6 FINALE of Fostering Change! 🎉What an incredible season it's been — filled with inspiring, motivating, and heartfelt stories. THANK YOU for being part of our journey, for tuning in each week, and for all your comments and reviews. We do this for YOU. 💙📅 Coming Soon:Starting June 17, join us for our "Best of" Summer Series — a special collection of our favorite episodes. Whether you’re re-listening or discovering them for the first time, we hope these powerful stories inspire you all over again.🔥 Mark your calendar:Season 7 premieres on September 2, and we’re returning to weekly episodes every Tuesday! More guests, more voices, and even more impact. Have a guest suggestion? Email us at: info@comfortcases.org🎙️ Today’s Season Finale Guest: Dr. Kisha DavisThere’s no better way to wrap this season than with the amazing Dr. Kisha Davis — family physician, public health leader, and a dear friend of Rob Scheer and the Comfort Cases family.Kisha shares the powerful legacy of her grandmother in her new biography:📖 “The Making of a Pearl” – Buy the book on AmazonIn this episode, you'll hear heartfelt stories of resilience, love, and history passed down over weekday breakfasts with her grandmother, Ida Pearl Green, who lived to be 106. Dr. Davis also discusses her work in the Quince Orchard community, her role as Montgomery County’s Chief Health Officer, and her involvement in the documentary Finding Fellowship — co-produced with her brother and previous Fostering Change guest, Jason Green.✨ Don’t miss this powerful conversation about family, legacy, and leadership.🔗 Connect with Dr. Kisha Davis:📘 Facebook: facebook.com/kisha.davis2📸 Instagram: @drkishadavis🐦 Twitter/X: @kishadavismd📱 Threads: @drkishadavis💼 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/daviskisha#ComfortCases #FosteringChange #FosterCareAwareness Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Fostering Change! Today marks the final installment of our special episodes for National Foster Care Awareness Month. We hope you've enjoyed the series—and, more importantly, learned something meaningful from each conversation. As always, we encourage you to share your thoughts in the comments and pass these episodes along to others.In today’s episode, we welcome back one of Rob’s favorite guests: Charell Star, who first joined us in Season 5. Charell gained national attention when she was featured in Humans of New York (link below), and she returns to discuss her powerful new book, Trash Bag Tales and Other Stories from an Accidentally Happy Life. The book offers readers a raw, heartfelt, and often humorous look at what it means to claim the joyful life you deserve.Charell is also the featured subject in the award-winning documentary Feeling Wanted, which chronicles her time in foster care and is now used as a training resource by child welfare organizations around the world.We absolutely loved this episode—and we’ve already invited Charell back for Season 7!📚 Want to read Charell’s book?Find it at your favorite bookstore or purchase it on Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Trash-Bag-Tales-Stories-Accidentally/dp/B0F24H8DXS📲 Connect with Charell:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charellstar/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charellstar/Read her “Humans of New York” story:https://www.instagram.com/p/CUK7yfSrFT3/?hl=en🎧 One more episode of Season 6 drops next week! After that, we’ll take a short break and share some “Best Of” episodes before returning with Season 7 this fall.💌 Got thoughts or guest suggestions? Email us at: info@comfortcases.orgThank you for being a GOOD HUMAN. 💙 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode of Fostering Change, we continue our special acknowledgment that May is National Foster Care Awareness Month. We hope you have taken some moments to reflect on what you can do to support those in the foster care system: donate, volunteer your time, mentor, or even consider taking steps to be a CASA or foster parent. Thank you for all you do!If you’d like a simple way to support Comfort Cases, here’s an idea: You can participate in the Hundred X program. Click on the following link, and you’ll be guided to complete surveys about brands and companies you are familiar with. Comfort Cases will receive $1.60 for every survey you fill out (and it only takes 2 minutes max for each!) https://programs.hundredx.com/givewithoutspendingNow, on to today’s episode: For 8 years, we have worked with the team at Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield in Indiana, and have expanded that partnership throughout the country, literally giving away THOUSANDS of our Comfort Cases backpacks to social service agencies and youth experiencing foster care.Today, we speak with Aimee Christian, a Fostering Connections Case Manager with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield. Aimee and Rob Scheer have a lively discussion that focuses on the positive changes that can be made to improve the foster care system.Some of the points they cover include changing our vocabulary so we’re not labeling these youth, changing the focus from just on the child to the entire family, and building and improving relationships with the birth family and the foster family.Aimee and Rob will certainly motivate you to—at minimum—give new thoughts to the foster care system and—at best—possibly motivate you to consider becoming a foster parent yourself!We know you’ll enjoy this interview. Thank you again to Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield for being such a valuable and supportive partner to Comfort Cases all these years! ​​The partnership between Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Comfort Cases has grown since 2018. Since the expansion, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s affiliated health plans have hosted dozens of packing parties across 16 states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico, providing thousands of Comfort Cases and XL duffel bags to youth in foster care nationwide.For more information about the foster care system or how you can support Comfort Cases, please visit our website: www.comfortcases.org. If you have any questions, comments, or guest suggestions, please reach out to us at info@comfortcases.org. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s episode of the Comfort Cases Podcast, Rob Scheer sits down with Amy Vale, foster parent and founder of For the Cubs, a purpose-driven brand creating sensory tools to support emotional regulation in children and adults alike.Amy shares how her own foster care journey inspired a mission: to design products that provide real comfort, like Percy, a weighted plush bear that mimics the feeling of a hug. Their conversation explores:✅ The power of pairing entrepreneurship with advocacy✅ How sensory tools support those facing trauma, ADHD, anxiety, and more✅ The lack of comforting resources for children entering care✅ What empathetic corporate responsibility really looks likeThis powerful episode is part of our ongoing spotlight series for National Foster Care Awareness Month. Don’t miss this heartfelt discussion about healing, innovation, and how we can all do better for youth in care.🔗 Learn more about For the Cubs: www.forthecubs.com📅 New episodes every Tuesday in May💙 Learn more about Comfort Cases: www.comfortcases.org📧 Contact: info@comfortcases.org🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Google Podcasts—wherever you tune in. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

May is National Foster Care Awareness Month, and we’re kicking it off with one of our most powerful episodes yet.This week on Fostering Change, host Rob Scheer is joined by special guest co-host Jennifer Perry, Executive Director of the Children’s Action Network and Co-Founder of FosterMore. Jennifer’s tireless advocacy has brought national attention to the urgent needs of the 108,000+ children in U.S. foster care currently waiting for adoptive families.Together, they sit down with Lara Love Hardin, author of The Many Lives of Mama Love—a 2024 Oprah Book Club selection and New York Times bestseller. In this profoundly moving conversation, Lara shares her remarkable journey through opioid addiction, incarceration, the devastating loss of her children, and how she fought her way back to rebuild her life.This episode is a raw and inspiring look at:The transformative power of storytellingThe realities of addiction, incarceration, and recoveryThe broken pieces of the foster care system—and how we can fix themThe power of second chances and redemption🎧 Listen, share, and comment on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts—or wherever you get your podcasts!📅 New episodes air every Tuesday throughout May in honor of National Foster Care Awareness Month. Remember to subscribe so you don’t miss a single story.🌐 Learn More & Support:Comfort Cases – https://www.comfortcases.org📧 Contact: info@comfortcases.org🔗 Featured Organizations:Children’s Action NetworkWebsite: https://www.childrensactionnetwork.orgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/childrensactionnetworkTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/childrensactionFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChildrensActionNetworkFosterMoreWebsite: https://fostermore.orgInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/foster_moreTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/fostermoreFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/FosterMore📚 About Lara Love Hardin:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laralovehardinInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/laralovehardin📖 Buy The Many Lives of Mama Love: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-many-lives-of-mama-love-a-memoir-of-lying-stealing-writing-and-healing-lara-love-hardin/19897569 or wherever you buy books Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When people think of fostering or adopting, the image that often comes to mind is a cute little baby. But what’s often forgotten are the older children—pre-teens and teens—who are just as in need of love, support, and a forever family.On this episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer welcomes Randi Thompson, co-founder of Kidsave—a remarkable nonprofit helping youth ages 9–17 in foster care and orphanages find meaningful, lasting connections and permanent homes. Randi is truly one of the “Good Humans” we’re honored to feature!Kidsave offers several incredible programs, including their flagship Weekend Miracles initiative, which connects older youth with families who are considering fostering or adoption. As Kidsave says:“When a child feels like they have someone in their corner, the world opens up to them, and they thrive.”🎉 Upcoming Kidsave Miracle Galas:📍 Washington, DC – May 29📍 Los Angeles – June 7📍 Houston – June 21💙 May is National Foster Care Awareness Month!Comfort Cases is celebrating with events, fundraisers, and new weekly episodes every Tuesday in May. The Season 6 finale airs June 3!💡 Have guest ideas for Season 7 (coming this Fall)? Reach out to our producer:📧 dthalberg@comfortcases.org | info@comfortcases.org🔗 Learn more about Kidsave and connect with them here:📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KidsaveInternational📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kidsave/🧵 Threads: https://www.threads.net/@kidsave🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kidsave💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kidsave/🌐 Website: https://www.kidsave.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today’s episode of Fostering Change, Rob Scheer sits down with another incredible “Good Human” — Tristian Smith. After losing his mother at the age of seven, Tristian entered the foster care system, where he experienced over 25 placements and attended 13 different schools. Despite these hardships, he never let his circumstances define him.Tristian shares the powerful story behind his memoir, Against All Odds, which chronicles his journey through the challenges of foster care and his path to becoming a voice for change.Now a retired U.S. Army Officer, Tristian continues to serve as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), a Foster Care Review Board Member, and a mentor to youth aging out of the system. His commitment to advocacy, mentorship, and reform is genuinely inspiring.📘 Get Tristian’s book, Against All Odds, available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.🔗 Connect with Tristian: Instagram: @undeterred_anomalyLinkedIn: Tristian Smith📩 Have questions or guest suggestions? Please email us at info@comfortcases.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Don’t you just love a really good person? On today’s episode of Fostering Change you’re about to meet one. Shawn Henss is truly the definition of what we call a “Good Human.” A nice guy, with a HUGE heart. Shawn is the founder of Giving Sole, a non-profit organization that gives new shoes to youth in foster care. Technically, Shawn’s son came up with the idea for Giving Sole at the age of 10! Since founding Giving Sole in 2018, they have given away more than 3,000 new, brand-name shoes and sneakers to youth in foster care throughout Arizona, and are looking to share this generosity throughout the US.We can go on longer here, but we’d rather you listen to Shawn’s story directly from him in this beautiful interview with our host, Rob Scheer.To find out more information about Giving Sole, including how to donate, please visit: www.givingsole.org.You can also follow them on various social media channels:Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/givingsole/Instagram@giving_soleTwitter/X@givingsoleThreadshttps://www.threads.net/@giving_soleLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/giving-sole#fostercare #givingsole #adoption Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s always special when we can welcome both a returning guest and a first-time guest who are making a real difference. Join our host, Rob Scheer, as he sits down with Kate Trambitskaya and Brian Rosenberg for an urgent and eye-opening discussion about how federal cutbacks are impacting youth in foster care, LGBTQ+ youth, and other vulnerable communities.Why This Episode Matters:Kate, who last joined us in May 2022, is a passionate advocate for children, women, and families. As CEO of Spence-Chapin Services to Families and Childre,, she has expanded programs supporting expectant women facing adversity, children in institutional care overseas, and adoptees and their families here in the U.S.Brian is the founder and executive director of GWK Academy Family Building, a non-profit spin-off of the beloved Gays With Kids community. Originally focused on supporting gay and queer men in their journey to parenthood, Brian is excited to announce that starting in March 2025, GWK Academy will support ALL family-building paths for ALL LGBTQ+ individuals!🔥 Don’t just listen—take action! 🔥🎧 Tune in now and get informed.💬 Join the conversation—leave a comment or question!❤️ Like, share, and help us spread the word! The more people who hear Fostering Change, the faster we can create real, lasting impact.📩 Have thoughts or questions? Reach out at fosteringchange@comfortcases.org or visit www.comfortcases.org—we’d love to hear from you!#FosteringChange #Podcast #LGBTQFamilies #FosterCare #Adoption #MakeAChangeTo find more about each organization:Spence-ChapinFacebookhttps://www.facebook.com/spencechapinInstagramhttps://www.instagram.com/spencechapinsvc/Twitter/Xhttps://x.com/spencechapinsvcLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/71342/GWK Academy/Gays With KidsFacebookhttps://www.facebook.com/GaysWithKidsInstagram@gays_with_kids; @gwkacademyTwitter/Xhttps://www.youtube.com/@GWKLinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/brianrrosenberg/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you feel when you receive a hand-written note? Not an email, not a form letter. But an actual note that someone took the time to sit down and write out with a good old-fashioned pen or pencil? Pretty special right?On today’s episode of Fostering Change we welcome Jeremy Su, co-founder of “Cards for Cubs”, an organization that demonstrates how a simple handmade card can profoundly impact a child’s life by offering hope and comfort during difficult times.Since being founded in 2020, Cards for Cubs have collected and distributed more than 200,000 cards and over 400 foster care related organizations.In 2024, Cards for Cubs collected 70,000 cards. The 2025 Card Drive ends March 31. To send in cards, please visit https://cardsforcubs.org/.We’re so happy to call Jeremy a friend, and know that you’ll love hearing why he’s doing this and what’s to come!TO CONTACT & DONATE, PLEASE VISIT:Website https://cardsforcubs.org/Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/thecardsforcubsFacebookhttps://www.facebook.com/CardsForCubs/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of difficult subject matter, including child abuse and the tragic death/murder of a young child. Listener discretion is strongly advised. If these topics may be triggering or upsetting, we encourage you to prioritize your well-being and consider this before listening to this episode.Welcome back for the second part of our special 2-episode series of Fostering Change, featuring the story of the horrific murder of 5-year-old Harmony Montgomery.On our last episode, we spoke with Judge Carol Erskine, author of the book A Cruel Injustice, which documents how our judicial system failed young Harmony, who was taken out of foster care and placed with her birth father - who rather than nurturing her, murdered her.Today, we speak with Blair & Johnathan Bobbit-Miller, adoptive fathers of two sons before becoming the father of a 3rd son, Jamison, Harmony’s brother.These amazing and sensitive humans discuss with Rob how the system continues to fail those who need it most—the children. They explain what they are doing, along with help from other Good Humans like Judge Erskine and Rob Scheer, to fix what many consider to be unfixable.This powerful episode of Fostering Change will make you want to activate yours. At the sentencing of Adam Montgomery (Harmony’s father), Jamison read a victim-impact-statement. Part of the statement:"Tell everyone my name is Jamison. I'm 7 years old. My sister is Harmony. I love Harmony, I miss her," Bobbitt-Miller read. "I hope I get to see her again."He spoke of a broken Elmo toy Harmony had given him that was hers that he has kept ever since. He said he has a Minnie Mouse pillow and new Elmo he planned to give to her."I keep it in my closet for her," Bobbitt-Miller read. "I am really sad she is an angel. I miss her. She was my best friend. I hope she can see me playing basketball and being silly with my brothers and I wish I could bring Harmony to my school to meet my friends and teacher."To learn more about the Bobbit-Miller Family:Twitter: @BlairMillerTV @BobbitMiller Instagram: @johnathanb @blairmillertv “A Cruel Injustice” can be found anywhere you purchase books, including Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Cruel-Injustic...If you have any comments or questions regarding this episode or the foster care system, please send them to info@comfortcases.org. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.