Aging Out of Foster Care: A Beautiful, Tough Story of Trauma & Resilience
Update: 2025-09-05
Description
"I have been to hell & back & now it's my time." And now in his inspiring voice!
Like a Phoenix Rising from the Ashes: The Antonio Levert Story.
Antonio Levert has a mission to educate and inspire advocacy for children & young adults in foster & adoptive care. His story is tough to digest but vital for conveying the gravity of need to protect & support our young people and the people who help them matriculate through life. Antonio bounced between over 10 placements including an adoptive home, numerous foster care settings, inpatient & residential stays and various levels of county and therapeutic interventions. He endured interpersonal disruptions, emotional and physical abuse, neglect & a scripted narrative that “he wasn’t good enough to be loved.” Even through these obstacles, glimmers of his value surfaced – he was a gifted & bright student, kindred & loving, eager, loyal, spiritual, strong willed & driven. But it would not be an easy path. At 30, he has evolved into a ‘phoenix rising from the ashes’: a rare & unique success story built on a shaky & sometimes cruel foundation. He teaches that what you learn to take away from your journey by having faith, addressing mental health, connecting with a community and finding grace and forgiveness will set you free and keep you ‘Rising!'
Chapters:
(00:00 ) Intro: Antonio Levert
(01:15 ) History of Placements & Story
(05:00 ) Statistically Unique
(05:56 ) Sullivan Deckard Scholarship
(07:20 ) Need for Community
(08:19 ) A Brother & Mrs. Cross
(10:43 ) Disrupting & Being Labeled
(12:21 ) Neglect, Abuse & Acting Out
(14:01 ) Generational Impact / BioMother’s Story
(17:16 ) Faith’s Impact & Chapters in Life
(19:10 ) ‘Mixed’ Families & Authenticity
(21:10 ) Trusting In Self After Being ‘Given Up’ & Judged
(24:15 ) Resilient Spirit v. Being a Victim
(25:35 ) Residential Treatment & Learning Self
(26:10 ) Mr. Lavelle: “You Can Make Something of Yourself”
(29:05 ) Ongoing Impact As Adult: Trauma, ADHD, Relationships
(31:05 ) Antowne Fisher Movie: Finding Value & Setting Boundaries
(33:00 ) Community of Hope / Open Table
(34:25 ) Chad Raymond & Family
(35:00 ) Forging Career & Medicine Pathways
(38:20 ) Challenges of Adulting w/o Parents
(40:56 ) Desires for Own Family
(41:45 ) Normalizing Making Mistakes (for anyone!) (42:27 ) Working through Trauma Ongoing
(44:15 ) Keeping His Hand on the Plow
(46:08 ) An Abuse Story & Lack of Oversight (Sensitive Content)
(56:00 ) Challenges of Foster Parenting
(57:51 ) Advocacy & Education
(01:01:30 ) Give Love a 2nd Try
(01:04:35 ) Resilience: A Phoenix Rising out of the Ashes
(01:05:31 ) Wrap Up
-------------------------------------------------------------
Foster Care Aging Out Support: The Sullivan-Deckard Scholarship Opportunity Program | Cleveland State University
https://www.csuohio.edu/prattcenter/sullivan-deckard-scholarship-opportunity-program
Academic Services | Foster Love
https://academics.fosterlove.com/
Youth in Transition (Aging Out) - The Annie E. Casey Foundation
https://www.aecf.org/topics/youth-in-transition?msclkid=58ab8852d41e1279e14de0e5c074cd0c&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Youth+in+Transition+-+Topics&utm_term=older+foster+kids&utm_content=Youth+in+Transition
Open Table Transforms into Community of Hope: Year 3 in Cleveland
https://cuyahogacounty.gov/cuyahoga-county-news-now/news-detail/cuyahoga-county-news-now/2019/01/28/open-table-transforms-into-community-of-hope-year-3-in-cleveland
Community of Hope
https://www.hopecle.org/programs
Foster or Adoptive Parent Resources:
Become a Foster Parent | Beech Brook | Cleveland, OH
https://www.beechbrook.org/become-a-foster-parent
Foster Care - Bellefaire JCB
https://www.bellefairejcb.org/FosterCare#why-you
Become a Foster Parent - Pressley Ridge
https://www.pressleyridge.org/become-a-foster-parent/
Thanks for listening! Therapist Caise
Find Me: caiserodemchale.com
Reach Me: therapistcaise@gmail.com
Follow Me: Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn & Youtube
"Capturing Stories & Inspiring Recovery!"
For Mental Health emergencies please go to your nearest Emergency Room or dial 911 or 988 on your phone. Mobile Crisis can also be helpful: Text 4hope to 741741.
Disclaimer: The Mental Health Spotlight Podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not meant to replace mental health or other professional health care services. Mental health treatment and recovery requires assessment by a mental health professional. Please consult with your care providers before engaging in new methods of care. The use of information provided in this podcast is at the user’s own risk.
Like a Phoenix Rising from the Ashes: The Antonio Levert Story.
Antonio Levert has a mission to educate and inspire advocacy for children & young adults in foster & adoptive care. His story is tough to digest but vital for conveying the gravity of need to protect & support our young people and the people who help them matriculate through life. Antonio bounced between over 10 placements including an adoptive home, numerous foster care settings, inpatient & residential stays and various levels of county and therapeutic interventions. He endured interpersonal disruptions, emotional and physical abuse, neglect & a scripted narrative that “he wasn’t good enough to be loved.” Even through these obstacles, glimmers of his value surfaced – he was a gifted & bright student, kindred & loving, eager, loyal, spiritual, strong willed & driven. But it would not be an easy path. At 30, he has evolved into a ‘phoenix rising from the ashes’: a rare & unique success story built on a shaky & sometimes cruel foundation. He teaches that what you learn to take away from your journey by having faith, addressing mental health, connecting with a community and finding grace and forgiveness will set you free and keep you ‘Rising!'
Chapters:
(00:00 ) Intro: Antonio Levert
(01:15 ) History of Placements & Story
(05:00 ) Statistically Unique
(05:56 ) Sullivan Deckard Scholarship
(07:20 ) Need for Community
(08:19 ) A Brother & Mrs. Cross
(10:43 ) Disrupting & Being Labeled
(12:21 ) Neglect, Abuse & Acting Out
(14:01 ) Generational Impact / BioMother’s Story
(17:16 ) Faith’s Impact & Chapters in Life
(19:10 ) ‘Mixed’ Families & Authenticity
(21:10 ) Trusting In Self After Being ‘Given Up’ & Judged
(24:15 ) Resilient Spirit v. Being a Victim
(25:35 ) Residential Treatment & Learning Self
(26:10 ) Mr. Lavelle: “You Can Make Something of Yourself”
(29:05 ) Ongoing Impact As Adult: Trauma, ADHD, Relationships
(31:05 ) Antowne Fisher Movie: Finding Value & Setting Boundaries
(33:00 ) Community of Hope / Open Table
(34:25 ) Chad Raymond & Family
(35:00 ) Forging Career & Medicine Pathways
(38:20 ) Challenges of Adulting w/o Parents
(40:56 ) Desires for Own Family
(41:45 ) Normalizing Making Mistakes (for anyone!) (42:27 ) Working through Trauma Ongoing
(44:15 ) Keeping His Hand on the Plow
(46:08 ) An Abuse Story & Lack of Oversight (Sensitive Content)
(56:00 ) Challenges of Foster Parenting
(57:51 ) Advocacy & Education
(01:01:30 ) Give Love a 2nd Try
(01:04:35 ) Resilience: A Phoenix Rising out of the Ashes
(01:05:31 ) Wrap Up
-------------------------------------------------------------
Foster Care Aging Out Support: The Sullivan-Deckard Scholarship Opportunity Program | Cleveland State University
https://www.csuohio.edu/prattcenter/sullivan-deckard-scholarship-opportunity-program
Academic Services | Foster Love
https://academics.fosterlove.com/
Youth in Transition (Aging Out) - The Annie E. Casey Foundation
https://www.aecf.org/topics/youth-in-transition?msclkid=58ab8852d41e1279e14de0e5c074cd0c&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Youth+in+Transition+-+Topics&utm_term=older+foster+kids&utm_content=Youth+in+Transition
Open Table Transforms into Community of Hope: Year 3 in Cleveland
https://cuyahogacounty.gov/cuyahoga-county-news-now/news-detail/cuyahoga-county-news-now/2019/01/28/open-table-transforms-into-community-of-hope-year-3-in-cleveland
Community of Hope
https://www.hopecle.org/programs
Foster or Adoptive Parent Resources:
Become a Foster Parent | Beech Brook | Cleveland, OH
https://www.beechbrook.org/become-a-foster-parent
Foster Care - Bellefaire JCB
https://www.bellefairejcb.org/FosterCare#why-you
Become a Foster Parent - Pressley Ridge
https://www.pressleyridge.org/become-a-foster-parent/
Thanks for listening! Therapist Caise
Find Me: caiserodemchale.com
Reach Me: therapistcaise@gmail.com
Follow Me: Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn & Youtube
"Capturing Stories & Inspiring Recovery!"
For Mental Health emergencies please go to your nearest Emergency Room or dial 911 or 988 on your phone. Mobile Crisis can also be helpful: Text 4hope to 741741.
Disclaimer: The Mental Health Spotlight Podcast is for general informational purposes only and is not meant to replace mental health or other professional health care services. Mental health treatment and recovery requires assessment by a mental health professional. Please consult with your care providers before engaging in new methods of care. The use of information provided in this podcast is at the user’s own risk.
Comments
In Channel
Download from Google Play
Download from App Store
United States00:00
00:00
x
