Understanding the Child Welfare Experience from the Birth Parent's Perspective
Creating a Family: Talk about Adoption, Foster & Kinship Care
06/10/26
•38m
About
Comments
Transcript
Featured In
Drop us some Fan Mail. Thanks!
We talk a lot about the child’s experience in foster care, but what is this experience like for the child’s birth parents? You may be surprised! Join our conversation with Dr. Darcey Merritt, a professor at the University of Chicago School of Social Work who researches this topic.
In this episode, we discuss:
- What is a typical scenario, if there is such a thing, of how a parent finds themselves connecting with the child welfare system?
- What rights do birth parents have within the system?
- What are some of the challenges families face before the child is taken into custody?
- What are some of the challenges that they face once the child is in foster care?
- How can you become an ally to the child’s parents?
- How does poverty factor in?
- Who most commonly reports birth parents to child welfare?
- How does race factor in?
- Research in the area of working memory on parental decision-making.
Please leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them.
Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content:
- Weekly podcasts
- Weekly articles/blog posts
- Resource pages on all aspects of family building
Previous Episode
Drop us some Fan Mail. Thanks!
Question: We’re new foster parents and have noticed that our child is hiding food in their backpack, closet, and even under the bed. We make sure there’s always plenty to eat, so we’re confused and a little concerned. Is this something we should be worried about? Why might they be doing this, and how should we respond in a way that helps them feel safe?
Resources:
- Practical Solutions to Typical Food Issues with Adopted, Foster, & Kinship Kids
- Physical and Emotional Health Issues Common with Foster Kids
- Panel of Parents Adopting Older Kids: Surviving That 1st Year
Please leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them.
Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content:
- Weekly podcasts
- Weekly articles/blog posts
- Resource pages on all aspects of family building
Next Episode
Drop us some Fan Mail. Thanks!
Question: Our daughter is 11 months old and was adopted through an open adoption. We have a relationship with her birth mother, but don't yet feel it's the right moment to ask about family history, and her birth father is completely unknown to us. We do know that both birth parents are Hispanic, but beyond that, we have no additional information about her heritage or background. We want her to grow up with as rich a sense of her identity and heritage as possible. What guidance do adoption professionals offer around using genetic testing like 23andMe or AncestryDNA for adoptees? Is there an age-appropriate time to do this, or is it better to wait and let her decide for herself when she's older? Are there any other considerations unique to the adoptee experience we should keep in mind?
Resources:
- Genetic Testing for Adoptees: Key Considerations and Benefits
- Genetic Testing for Adoptees - Is It Worth It?
- Genetic Testing and Genealogy for Adoptees
Listen here to learn more about our Executive Director, Linda Fiore
Please leave us a rating or review. This podcast is produced by www.CreatingaFamily.org. We are a national non-profit with the mission to strengthen and inspire adoptive, foster & kinship parents and the professionals who support them.
Creating a Family brings you the following trauma-informed, expert-based content:
- Weekly podcasts
- Weekly articles/blog posts
- Resource pages on all aspects of family building
If you like this episode you’ll love
Promoted