Episodes
142
Latest episode
Jun 2026
Language
EN-US
Information about adoption and foster care in Minnesota
In this episode, your co-hosts Bridget and Kris interview each other about what they love (and don’t love) about hosting the podcast, favorite episodes, what’s they’ve learned along the way, and what they are looking forward to for the future of the Let’s Talk podcast. (27 mins) June 17, 2026 The post Our 150th Episode: Looking Back, Looking Forward appeared first on Foster Adopt Minnesota.
Olivia Allery shares the historical and systemic factors contributing to violence in Indigenous communities. By exploring the impacts of colonial history, intergenerational trauma, and legal frameworks, we look at why certain cycles persist and what changes are necessary for progress. This episode is eligible for a Certificate of Completion. (27 mins) June 2, 2026 Resources from Olivia Allery The post Understanding Violence in Indigenous Communities appeared first on Foster Adopt Minnesota.
Hear from child welfare professionals, Brianna and Stephanie Coleman, about their years of experience working with children, adolescents, and adults with marginalized identities. They share the various types of safe care supports available in our communities and you will leave feeling encouraged to open your heart and home to LGBTQ+ youth. Next up is Mariah Rooney. Mariah will share how to bring more compassion and connection into our relationships through understanding complex inner worlds of young people and ourselves. We will also learn more about Mariah’s inner world and revisit her earlier webinar, “Parts of You, Parts of Me…” Brianna Coleman, MSW, LICSW (she/her) received her MSW from the University of Minnesota in 2018 and currently holds a LICSW. Brianna works as a licensed psychotherapist and provides educational trainings to a variety of different agencies and organizations. Brianna is the founder of Curiosity Counseling & Consultation and provides therapy through Lyn Lake Psychotherapy & Wellness. Throughout her career and personal life, she has expanded on her knowledge and experience providing a safe and welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ clients, particularly those who hold gender expansive identities, to explore themselves and navigate the unique challenges they face due to their identity. Brianna has grown passionate about working with children, adolescents, and adults who hold marginalized identities. Brianna operates through a trauma-informed lens with a particular focus on attachment, development and identity. Stephanie Coleman, MSW, LICSW, works as the Director of Social Work for Children’s Home Society and Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota where she oversees Foster Care Adoption, Domestic Infant Adoption, Pregnancy Services, and Education programs. She came to this role with experience directly working with youth in foster care seeking permanency, supporting adoptive families by providing attachment-focused and trauma-informed strategies, and providing education to adults considering adoption. Stephanie earned her Masters of Social Work from the University of Minnesota in 2018 and is currently licensed as an Independent Clinical Social Worker. Stephanie completed the Permanency and Adoption Competency Certificate through the University of Minnesota’s Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare in 2019. Mariah Rooney, MSW, LICSW is a psychotherapist who has practiced in outpatient, community, hospital and specialty care settings; an adjunct faculty member in the graduate School of Social Work at Winona State University; a past consultant for the NCTSN’s Center for the Treatment of Developmental Trauma Disorders; and was previously a fellow at the Trauma Center at the Justice Resource Institute. She has extensive experience in clinical work with children and adults treating the complex challenges that arise as a result of traumatic stress, attachment trauma, intergenerational trauma, and dissociation. Additionally, her research, consultation, and writing has focused on areas such as gender-related violence, military trauma, trauma-informed embodiment practices, developmental trauma, and systems-level interventions to prevent and address the impacts of trauma. Additionally, Mariah is a consultant with the American Institutes for Research. Her primary responsibilities include supporting capacity-building to prevent and address the effects of violence and trauma within individual agencies and schools, national and state agencies, state-wide coalitions, and multi-agency collaboratives. Additionally, she is the Co-Founder of Trauma Informed Weight Lifting, a program of the Center for Trauma and Embodiment. (49 mins) March 1, 2023 The post Compassion, Support and Connecting Communities appeared first on Foster Adopt Minnesota.
Whether you’re a parent, foster or adoptive caregiver, or a professional supporting families, this conversation invites you to pause, reflect, and walk away with a deeper understanding of how culture, connection, and care come together in everyday parenting. Dr. Siek and Rawand Amedi bring their expertise in child development and mental health, while sharing insights rooted in cultural awareness, advocacy, and community experience. We’ll also hear how they created a 3-part series on Cultural Considerations When Parenting, The Importance of Parenting from a Culturally Competent Lens, and The Mind-Body Connection and Interventions from a Culturally Competent Lens, coming soon to the web library, www.fosteradoptmn.org/education/webinar-library/ (29 mins) May 6, 2026 This podcast is eligible for a Certificate of Completion if you complete a Post Podcast Test Test The post Where Culture Meets Care appeared first on Foster Adopt Minnesota.
Since the end of World War II, over 500,000 children have been adopted from abroad by U.S. citizen parents with the promise of a secure life. Yet, for many, that promise was broken by a legal oversight that denied them automatic citizenship. Amanda Cho and Rachel Koelzer will share how this loophole started, the impacts and why it persists today. We will take an inside look at the Protect Adoptees and American Families (PAAF) Act and learn how you can take action at Adoptees For Justice. Amanda Cho is the Policy Manager for Adoptees for Justice (A4J) & the Alliance for Adoptees and Families (AAF). Rachel Koelzer is the Communications Director for the National Korean American Service and Education Consortium (NAKASEC) and its project, Adoptees For Justice (A4J). (40 mins) April 22, 2026 This podcast is eligible for a Certificate of Completion if you complete a Post Podcast Test Test The post The Call to Action for Intercountry Adoptee Justice appeared first on Foster Adopt Minnesota.
Youth self–harm is an increasing mental health challenge. Foster youth are especially susceptible to engaging in self–harm. Charley Joyce, MSW, joins us to discuss the different forms of self–harm, why foster youth self–harm and some considerations in how foster parents might respond to a youth that is self–harming. (40 mins) April 8, 2026 This podcast is eligible for a Certificate of Completion if you complete a Post Podcast Test Test The post Responding to Self-Harm appeared first on Foster Adopt Minnesota.
In this episode, we are joined by Heather Van Brunt, Permanency Services Director at Foster Adopt Minnesota. She answers all of our burning questions about the HELP program and shares why it’s such a vital service to families in the adoption, kinship, and foster care community. (30 mins) March 25, 2026 This podcast is eligible for a Certificate of Completion if you complete a Post Podcast Test Test The post What the HELP? appeared first on Foster Adopt Minnesota.
Pat Monson, JD & Charley Joyce, MSW are here to talk about the importance of preventative and attentive health care. This March, during National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, Pat shares the tragic story of her daughter Rachel Ellingson. At age 33, Rachel was living her best life; yet for some time, she was suffering from bowel symptoms. Several doctors said she was too young for colorectal cancer. Rachel tragically lost her fight with cancer on January 6, 2019. In this episode, learn about young-onset colorectal cancer from Rachel’s mom and the important work from the nonprofit, Live Like Rach (livelikerach.org). Pat discusses current information regarding colorectal cancer especially as it applies to young people and Charley Joyce addresses the importance of attentive and preventative health care as it applies to foster youth. (52 mins) March 11, 2026 This podcast is eligible for a Certificate of Completion if you complete a Post Podcast Test Test The post It Can Be a Matter of Life and Death appeared first on Foster Adopt Minnesota.
Growing Together At Every Stage Part 6 – Ages 16 – 25: Guiding Them Toward Their True Selves In this six-part series, we are joined by family therapist and author Meg Flynn, who brings us a wealth of knowledge from her work with families and kids for over three decades. In this era of high-pressure parenting and busy family life, Meg reminds us of how we can slow down, find the joy in each stage, and focus on what really matters–safety, connection, and growth. Part 6 dives into guiding older teens and young adults through asking guiding questions and building stronger connections through curiosity. (42 mins) February 25, 2026 This podcast is eligible for a Certificate of Completion if you complete a Post Podcast Test Test The post Growing Together at Every Stage Part 6 – Ages 16 – 25: Guiding Them Toward Their True Selves appeared first on Foster Adopt Minnesota.
Growing Together At Every Stage Part 5-4th to 9th Grade: Sense of Belonging and Healthy Community In this six-part series, we are joined by family therapist and author Meg Flynn, who brings us a wealth of knowledge from her work with families and kids for over three decades. In this era of high-pressure parenting and busy family life, Meg reminds us of how we can slow down, find the joy in each stage, and focus on what really matters–safety, connection, and growth. Part 5 addresses peer rejection, tackling homework, and building belonging and self-acceptance. (36 mins) February 11, 2026 This podcast is eligible for a Certificate of Completion if you complete a Post Podcast Test Test The post Growing Together at Every Stage: Part 5 – 4th to 9th Grade: Sense of Belonging and Healthy Community appeared first on Foster Adopt Minnesota.
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