March 16, 2026

Foster Kids - Olympic Angels

Foster Kids - Olympic Angels
Apple Podcasts podcast player iconSpotify podcast player iconSpreaker podcast player iconiHeartRadio podcast player iconAmazon Music podcast player iconCastbox podcast player iconPandora podcast player iconDeezer podcast player iconPodcast Addict podcast player iconPodchaser podcast player iconYoutube Music podcast player iconCastamatic podcast player iconCastro podcast player iconFountain podcast player iconRSS Feed podcast player iconGoodpods podcast player iconOvercast podcast player iconPocketCasts podcast player iconPodurama podcast player iconPodverse podcast player iconPodyssey podcast player icon
Apple Podcasts podcast player iconSpotify podcast player iconSpreaker podcast player iconiHeartRadio podcast player iconAmazon Music podcast player iconCastbox podcast player iconPandora podcast player iconDeezer podcast player iconPodcast Addict podcast player iconPodchaser podcast player iconYoutube Music podcast player iconCastamatic podcast player iconCastro podcast player iconFountain podcast player iconRSS Feed podcast player iconGoodpods podcast player iconOvercast podcast player iconPocketCasts podcast player iconPodurama podcast player iconPodverse podcast player iconPodyssey podcast player icon
Season 1

Foster care is a temporary living arrangement for children who cannot safely live with parents or other family for a period of time. They protect the child from abuse, neglect, abandonment, unsafe conditions, including addiction, violence and trauma. Courts and child protection are involved as a last resort. The goal is to keep children safe and cared for by providing a stable and loving home, while everyone works toward the best long-term plan for the child, including unification with family.

ASharpe Outlook is broadcast live Mondays at 8AM PT on K4HD Radio - Hollywood Talk Radio (www.k4hd.com) part of Talk 4 Radio (www.talk4radio.com) on the Talk 4 Media Network (www.talk4media.com). ASharpe Outlook TV Show is viewed on Talk 4 TV (www.talk4tv.com).

ASharpe Outlook Podcast is also available on Talk 4 Media (www.talk4media.com), Talk 4 Podcasting (www.talk4podcasting.com), iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, Pandora, Spotify, Audible, and over 100 other podcast outlets.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/asharpe-outlook--6643730/support.

WEBVTT

1
00:00:01.040 --> 00:00:04.639
This program is designed to provide general information with regards

2
00:00:04.639 --> 00:00:07.599
to the subject matters covered. This information is given with

3
00:00:07.679 --> 00:00:12.039
the understanding that neither the hosts, guests, sponsors or station

4
00:00:12.240 --> 00:00:19.120
are engaged in rendering any specific and personal medical, financial, legal, counseling,

5
00:00:19.320 --> 00:00:23.480
professional service, or any advice. You should seek the services

6
00:00:23.519 --> 00:00:28.079
of competent professionals before applying or trying any suggested ideas.

7
00:00:31.800 --> 00:00:34.640
Hello, and thank you for tuning in to a Sharp

8
00:00:34.679 --> 00:00:38.920
Outlook on pay for HD radio and Talk or TV.

9
00:00:39.719 --> 00:00:43.799
I am Angela Sharp, your host our arm chair discussions

10
00:00:43.840 --> 00:00:47.399
with industry experts will give you the steps, tools and

11
00:00:47.479 --> 00:00:51.600
information to be successful in business and to prepare you

12
00:00:51.679 --> 00:00:56.679
to be your best self. Hello, I'm Angela Sharp, and

13
00:00:56.719 --> 00:00:59.560
thank you for joining us here at a Sharp Outlook.

14
00:01:00.079 --> 00:01:03.759
Today we're going to talk about foster children and that

15
00:01:04.159 --> 00:01:09.920
they have an organization called Olympic Angels that are here

16
00:01:10.239 --> 00:01:15.840
in this country to give assistance to foster parents. Foster care,

17
00:01:15.920 --> 00:01:19.239
as you know, is a temporary living arrangement for children

18
00:01:19.400 --> 00:01:23.680
who cannot safely live with parents or other family guardians

19
00:01:23.719 --> 00:01:28.680
for a period of time. They protect the child from abuse, neglect, abandonment,

20
00:01:29.640 --> 00:01:35.200
unsafe conditions including addiction, violence, and trauma. Most of the time,

21
00:01:35.319 --> 00:01:40.439
courts and child protective agencies are involved as a last resort.

22
00:01:41.120 --> 00:01:44.480
The goal is to keep the children safe and cared

23
00:01:44.560 --> 00:01:49.079
for by providing a stable and loving home while everyone

24
00:01:49.439 --> 00:01:52.920
works toward the best long term plan for the child,

25
00:01:52.959 --> 00:01:58.239
including unification with the family when possible or another permanent plan.

26
00:01:58.959 --> 00:02:02.239
Foster parents take care of the daily needs such as

27
00:02:02.319 --> 00:02:07.439
food and school and health and emotional support and activities

28
00:02:07.799 --> 00:02:12.400
to keep the children safe and warm and feeling that

29
00:02:12.439 --> 00:02:17.680
they're being loved and feeling safe. Foster care doesn't end

30
00:02:17.719 --> 00:02:20.879
with just a roof over their heads, though, and food

31
00:02:20.919 --> 00:02:24.360
to eat. Both the children and the foster parents need

32
00:02:24.400 --> 00:02:27.800
a break and where can they go for wholesome and

33
00:02:27.919 --> 00:02:32.759
healthy reprieve My guest will share information on where foster

34
00:02:32.879 --> 00:02:37.000
parents can go to get the needed help. Today, I

35
00:02:37.039 --> 00:02:41.840
have Tasha Fitzgerald who is the executive director of Olympic

36
00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:45.360
Angels here in the state of Washington. I'd like to

37
00:02:45.360 --> 00:02:46.319
invite you to join me.

38
00:02:46.560 --> 00:02:52.840
Tasha, Hi, thank you, I appreciate having me on today.

39
00:02:53.439 --> 00:02:58.560
Oh I have been a foster parent of four beautiful

40
00:02:59.599 --> 00:03:04.800
teen teens and one child, and I'll tell you when

41
00:03:04.840 --> 00:03:09.120
I saw that this organization was there. I was like,

42
00:03:09.599 --> 00:03:14.039
I need to share this information with everyone because being

43
00:03:14.039 --> 00:03:19.280
a foster parent and going through sometimes just the overwhelming

44
00:03:19.439 --> 00:03:23.680
amount of work that is involved and needing a break,

45
00:03:23.800 --> 00:03:27.960
and the kids want a break from me too. They

46
00:03:28.080 --> 00:03:30.479
need to have a place to go, you know, that

47
00:03:30.639 --> 00:03:34.280
is safe. They can see other children, they can have activities,

48
00:03:34.319 --> 00:03:39.800
they can interact with someone younger than me, so they

49
00:03:39.879 --> 00:03:42.639
can have fun and at least all that energy. So

50
00:03:43.159 --> 00:03:47.199
I just feel, you know, just blessed to be able

51
00:03:47.599 --> 00:03:52.080
to have you here to share this with others that

52
00:03:52.120 --> 00:03:56.759
are listening. First off, I wanted to ask why was

53
00:03:56.759 --> 00:03:58.800
the Olympic Angels started.

54
00:04:00.599 --> 00:04:05.280
Thank you, Well, it's not just Olympic Angels. We actually

55
00:04:05.479 --> 00:04:09.479
are a national network and there are eighteen Angel chapters

56
00:04:09.520 --> 00:04:13.039
across the United States and the goal is to hit

57
00:04:13.120 --> 00:04:18.879
every metropolitan city by twenty fifty, which is honest around

58
00:04:18.920 --> 00:04:23.920
the corner. So Olympic Angels, though, is set in the

59
00:04:24.000 --> 00:04:27.720
Olympic Peninsula in Washington, and we are a rule chapter.

60
00:04:27.800 --> 00:04:31.360
We're a little bit different in the way that we

61
00:04:31.439 --> 00:04:37.240
don't have as much access or readily available resources as

62
00:04:37.279 --> 00:04:41.439
some of our bigger metropolitan cities, and so our founder

63
00:04:41.720 --> 00:04:45.639
Morgan Hannatt set out to say, you know, we know

64
00:04:45.879 --> 00:04:50.360
that foster care is everywhere. We know that trauma exists

65
00:04:50.399 --> 00:04:54.120
in foster care, either before and even just being removed

66
00:04:54.120 --> 00:04:59.279
from a home rather no matter the cause or the need,

67
00:05:00.560 --> 00:05:06.279
that's a traumatic experience in itself. So we we create

68
00:05:06.360 --> 00:05:12.920
some trauma in the system, and Olympic Angels really exist

69
00:05:13.360 --> 00:05:17.959
to connect people, to rebuild a village around our fostering

70
00:05:18.040 --> 00:05:22.759
families and youth and children experiencing foster care. And through

71
00:05:22.879 --> 00:05:26.759
that village, we're building these deep relationships that helps offset

72
00:05:26.839 --> 00:05:32.160
trauma and create protective factors and build resilience into not

73
00:05:32.639 --> 00:05:37.399
just our youth and children, but the caregivers, our volunteers,

74
00:05:37.439 --> 00:05:39.199
our community as a higher hole.

75
00:05:40.079 --> 00:05:42.639
Oh that's so wonderful. I love this the way you

76
00:05:42.680 --> 00:05:45.560
said a village, because it does take a village. It

77
00:05:45.600 --> 00:05:50.199
takes a community for children to grow, to grow up

78
00:05:50.439 --> 00:05:58.040
and have that homelistic, you know, lifestyle that encompasses so many,

79
00:05:58.399 --> 00:06:01.639
so many different things. And as like I said, being

80
00:06:01.680 --> 00:06:05.240
a foster parent, foster care is kind of a heavy

81
00:06:05.279 --> 00:06:10.879
burden to carry alone. I was alone as a foster parent,

82
00:06:11.240 --> 00:06:15.720
but then some foster families have their own children and

83
00:06:15.800 --> 00:06:19.800
so there's just you know, even more burden there. And

84
00:06:20.000 --> 00:06:23.399
you know, and you have to remember the kids didn't

85
00:06:23.560 --> 00:06:28.399
enter this care because they did something wrong. Caregivers are

86
00:06:28.439 --> 00:06:33.120
doing sacred hard work and often doing it isolated. And

87
00:06:33.240 --> 00:06:35.360
I want to say, from the bottom of my heart,

88
00:06:35.800 --> 00:06:40.040
all of you that have become foster parents, blessings to

89
00:06:40.120 --> 00:06:46.240
you that you would give so much love for someone

90
00:06:46.319 --> 00:06:50.759
who really needs it more than anyone. It's just so

91
00:06:50.959 --> 00:06:54.279
blessed of you to make that sacrifice, and I just

92
00:06:54.319 --> 00:06:57.759
want to say thank you, thank you, very very much.

93
00:06:58.680 --> 00:07:03.720
So well. Does Olympic Angels provide support.

94
00:07:05.199 --> 00:07:07.120
I'm so glad you asked that, and I really want

95
00:07:07.160 --> 00:07:09.279
to build on what you just said. You know, just

96
00:07:09.319 --> 00:07:12.839
talking about the village. When you were saying that, I

97
00:07:12.879 --> 00:07:16.600
thought it's good to know that on average, our youth

98
00:07:16.639 --> 00:07:21.519
and care change placements or change homes up to seven

99
00:07:21.600 --> 00:07:26.759
times within two years, and with each change can come

100
00:07:26.920 --> 00:07:32.519
a delayed development. And academics we see behavioral challenges social

101
00:07:32.560 --> 00:07:39.600
emotional challenges as well. And so I can remember one

102
00:07:39.680 --> 00:07:42.879
of our youth who were in care. They who was

103
00:07:42.920 --> 00:07:47.519
in care when he got his love box, and a

104
00:07:47.600 --> 00:07:50.759
love box here on the Olympic Peninsula is a group

105
00:07:50.800 --> 00:07:53.120
of people and other places. It may be one to

106
00:07:53.199 --> 00:07:57.560
two people who come together to support an entire household,

107
00:07:57.600 --> 00:08:02.160
so everyone that is under this roof, rather it be

108
00:08:02.199 --> 00:08:09.000
a kinship, caregiver, Grandma Auntie and other children in the home,

109
00:08:09.360 --> 00:08:12.959
so everyone, we want everyone to know they're they're seen,

110
00:08:13.399 --> 00:08:16.560
they're heard, and we're going to show up for them.

111
00:08:16.839 --> 00:08:18.600
And that can look a lot of different ways. It

112
00:08:18.639 --> 00:08:21.399
can look like dropping off a mill. It can look

113
00:08:21.560 --> 00:08:26.839
like taking a youth to their soccer practice or helping

114
00:08:26.920 --> 00:08:30.560
to get them involved in other sports or extracurriculars. And

115
00:08:30.720 --> 00:08:33.919
it can be going to the park, coming over for

116
00:08:33.960 --> 00:08:37.720
a game night. It can also be just calling up

117
00:08:37.720 --> 00:08:40.919
a caregiver and being a non judgmental listening ear just

118
00:08:41.039 --> 00:08:42.960
letting them say the things they need to say, because

119
00:08:42.960 --> 00:08:44.960
it is a lot, Angela, and you've spoken to that

120
00:08:45.039 --> 00:08:47.519
a little bit. It's a lot for a caregiver. So

121
00:08:47.600 --> 00:08:49.799
to just know that they say the things that need

122
00:08:49.840 --> 00:08:52.720
to be said and just let it go to somebody

123
00:08:53.519 --> 00:08:57.240
is quite amazing. Well, this one youth that we had

124
00:08:57.279 --> 00:09:02.159
in care, you did change face challenging behaviors in the

125
00:09:02.240 --> 00:09:06.799
school and after school care, you know, and a caregiver

126
00:09:06.960 --> 00:09:10.600
is getting a phone call every day or being suspended

127
00:09:10.679 --> 00:09:14.639
from after school care, which puts a bit of a

128
00:09:14.679 --> 00:09:19.240
hardship on our caregivers. And so once this youth had

129
00:09:19.480 --> 00:09:24.600
their love box around him, we started to see changes

130
00:09:24.679 --> 00:09:30.000
in all of that and he knows, now, wow, my

131
00:09:30.159 --> 00:09:33.440
community shows up for me. People care for me, and

132
00:09:33.799 --> 00:09:36.240
they are here to cheer me on and see me

133
00:09:36.320 --> 00:09:41.440
do well. And so a year later, this youth was

134
00:09:42.240 --> 00:09:45.720
the youth who is showing students around when they're new

135
00:09:45.759 --> 00:09:48.519
to a school. He gets to be their introductory coach,

136
00:09:48.600 --> 00:09:52.559
if you will, and is winning leadership awards from after

137
00:09:52.600 --> 00:09:56.519
school care. And that's amazing. That's just a complete turnaround,

138
00:09:56.600 --> 00:09:59.360
you know. And that is not only a relief for

139
00:09:59.399 --> 00:10:04.159
a caregiver, but it's changing this child's trajectory. He's seeing

140
00:10:04.279 --> 00:10:07.279
that people really do care. They're going to show up

141
00:10:07.320 --> 00:10:10.080
for me. And I can do this. I have the

142
00:10:10.120 --> 00:10:15.879
confidence and the ability to just be the amazing and

143
00:10:16.240 --> 00:10:18.440
child that I am and reach my fullest potential.

144
00:10:19.080 --> 00:10:24.240
Yes, and I can, you know, tell you more about

145
00:10:24.360 --> 00:10:27.559
some of the emotions that they have, because the children

146
00:10:27.960 --> 00:10:34.879
that I had, and they come in with their emotions crushed.

147
00:10:35.399 --> 00:10:42.360
They don't feel any value of themselves. They call themselves stupid.

148
00:10:42.440 --> 00:10:45.840
They do you know, I'm no good. I mean, they

149
00:10:45.919 --> 00:10:49.399
just have so many negative things that they now have

150
00:10:50.559 --> 00:10:54.159
attached to who they are. And so I was grandma

151
00:10:54.240 --> 00:10:57.799
because I'm an older woman, and so I said, you know,

152
00:10:59.320 --> 00:11:03.039
and I had these little signs peace, love, empowerment and

153
00:11:03.240 --> 00:11:05.039
all these little things, and I would point to them

154
00:11:05.080 --> 00:11:08.240
and said, these are the words we use in this household.

155
00:11:08.679 --> 00:11:11.440
We don't say we're stupid, because there's no such thing

156
00:11:11.480 --> 00:11:14.720
as being stupid. And I just would have to go

157
00:11:14.759 --> 00:11:18.080
on and on and on and change their language so

158
00:11:18.120 --> 00:11:21.919
they were actually speaking words that I can achieve, that

159
00:11:22.039 --> 00:11:25.759
I can do this. They were behind in their classes.

160
00:11:25.799 --> 00:11:28.720
They were like two years behind their classes. And I

161
00:11:28.759 --> 00:11:31.519
went to the school and I talked to the teachers.

162
00:11:31.919 --> 00:11:34.759
I said, these are bright kids, but they don't know it.

163
00:11:35.039 --> 00:11:37.679
And I really need you to help me out, and

164
00:11:37.799 --> 00:11:40.799
I need you to give them the extra classes, the

165
00:11:40.840 --> 00:11:43.759
extra courses, whatever it takes, but I want them to

166
00:11:43.799 --> 00:11:47.240
graduate on time. And we worked hard for those two

167
00:11:47.320 --> 00:11:51.600
or three years, and my boy and my two girls

168
00:11:52.480 --> 00:11:55.759
they graduated. They wore their caps down.

169
00:11:57.080 --> 00:11:57.960
That's amazing.

170
00:11:58.480 --> 00:12:01.679
It was just so that the community that helped me

171
00:12:02.120 --> 00:12:05.440
that agreed that this was possible, and they worked with me,

172
00:12:05.799 --> 00:12:07.840
and it was every day they were giving me the

173
00:12:07.879 --> 00:12:12.159
assignments and everything, and those children, they worked really hard

174
00:12:12.200 --> 00:12:16.679
because they really did see that, wow, I'm not stupid,

175
00:12:16.919 --> 00:12:20.279
I can do this. And they got their grades and

176
00:12:20.320 --> 00:12:23.639
they graduated in the year they were supposed to. And

177
00:12:23.679 --> 00:12:27.639
it was just so amazing that those people would even

178
00:12:28.120 --> 00:12:31.480
put that energy in to help me push them through

179
00:12:32.799 --> 00:12:37.320
so that they can feel successful, be successful. So it

180
00:12:37.480 --> 00:12:40.799
really it takes people that care, and thank you for

181
00:12:40.960 --> 00:12:44.679
all of them, all those volunteers you get that actually

182
00:12:44.720 --> 00:12:48.360
care and want to see others have an ability to

183
00:12:48.399 --> 00:12:51.320
live their dreams. One of in fact, it was one

184
00:12:51.320 --> 00:12:55.200
of the girls. She wanted to work on cars. She

185
00:12:55.440 --> 00:12:59.559
ended up going to text school to learn how to

186
00:12:59.600 --> 00:13:04.759
fix cars. That was her dream. And I'm like, you

187
00:13:04.759 --> 00:13:07.080
don't want to be a nurse, No, no, I want

188
00:13:07.080 --> 00:13:10.279
to fix cars. I'm like, well, you go for it, girl,

189
00:13:10.399 --> 00:13:13.360
you just go for it. So it was just an

190
00:13:14.039 --> 00:13:17.919
amazing experience, you know, and then I.

191
00:13:19.679 --> 00:13:20.320
So much.

192
00:13:21.360 --> 00:13:27.240
Yeah, just the Olympic Angels is there to bring consistency

193
00:13:27.559 --> 00:13:34.639
and relational community and support, you know, and the thing

194
00:13:34.759 --> 00:13:39.519
is for all of those who don't understand the foster

195
00:13:39.600 --> 00:13:44.639
care system. It's not there to replace their normal life

196
00:13:44.720 --> 00:13:47.879
or anything. It's there to strengthen the families. It's there

197
00:13:47.960 --> 00:13:52.840
to strengthening the children while you as the parents who

198
00:13:52.879 --> 00:13:56.679
may have made some bad decisions or you're in a

199
00:13:56.759 --> 00:14:02.639
trauma and you have gone to you know, taking drugs

200
00:14:02.720 --> 00:14:06.000
or alcohol or different things to maybe you know dead

201
00:14:06.039 --> 00:14:09.679
in your pain. You can't have the children in that environment.

202
00:14:09.799 --> 00:14:14.600
So it's just temporary. Well, everybody is able to heal,

203
00:14:14.799 --> 00:14:18.519
So I want to make that clear. No one's trying

204
00:14:18.559 --> 00:14:25.279
to replace anyone. They're just here to maybe come in

205
00:14:25.879 --> 00:14:31.440
and show up and create a steady community for these kids.

206
00:14:31.879 --> 00:14:38.080
Why does all of that matter, Well.

207
00:14:39.960 --> 00:14:44.720
What when youth are in care, it is they have

208
00:14:44.759 --> 00:14:49.120
a higher likelihood and later in their adult lives of

209
00:14:49.440 --> 00:14:55.200
facing homelessness after aging out of extended foster care, or

210
00:14:56.960 --> 00:15:04.720
dealing with and cars duration, early pregnancy, there's and mental

211
00:15:04.720 --> 00:15:10.639
health challenges, and so all of this matters. Community matters,

212
00:15:10.639 --> 00:15:15.240
relational support matters because it completely changes the trajectory. And

213
00:15:15.279 --> 00:15:17.519
again I do want to emphasize that not every youth

214
00:15:17.679 --> 00:15:20.279
is going to face this, not every just like not

215
00:15:20.399 --> 00:15:24.639
every every other caregiver is going to face this as well. However,

216
00:15:25.320 --> 00:15:31.559
when we can really pull in people, a consistency of

217
00:15:31.600 --> 00:15:36.720
those people showing up changes the trajectory. So if we

218
00:15:36.840 --> 00:15:40.240
do have a youth and we have another program called

219
00:15:40.279 --> 00:15:42.480
the Dare to Dream program, which is a one to

220
00:15:42.519 --> 00:15:47.360
one mentorship, So a positive, healthy adult is connected with

221
00:15:47.440 --> 00:15:50.840
a child who chooses them and they choose the child,

222
00:15:51.440 --> 00:15:54.200
and or sorry, the child chooses them and they choose

223
00:15:54.200 --> 00:16:00.279
the child. And when they're connected through this mentorship, the

224
00:16:00.320 --> 00:16:02.960
mentor is an advocate for those things to happen, to

225
00:16:03.000 --> 00:16:06.120
help a child graduate on time, to become a cheerleader,

226
00:16:06.559 --> 00:16:11.159
to be in the backgrounds helping them to navigate life.

227
00:16:11.559 --> 00:16:17.200
And so that just changes at all because without that relationship,

228
00:16:17.879 --> 00:16:22.720
a youth could continue a path that you know, with

229
00:16:23.960 --> 00:16:28.279
hardship is not beneficial for them, the most beneficial for them.

230
00:16:28.480 --> 00:16:31.639
And so and the truth is we all need a cheerleader,

231
00:16:31.720 --> 00:16:34.559
we all need that mentor. And so when we put it,

232
00:16:34.679 --> 00:16:37.080
when we put someone with what our nation calls the

233
00:16:37.120 --> 00:16:43.960
most vulnerable population in the United States, we're doing everyone

234
00:16:43.559 --> 00:16:49.159
a We're just we're doing everyone a positive of making

235
00:16:49.159 --> 00:16:54.279
a positive change for everyone, including our volunteers. Because that voluntary,

236
00:16:54.600 --> 00:16:58.200
really taking the lessons that I have learned and being

237
00:16:58.200 --> 00:17:00.840
able to say to my mentor let me tell you

238
00:17:00.879 --> 00:17:02.840
all the things I did. I mean to teach you

239
00:17:03.000 --> 00:17:05.680
the things that I wish someone had told me to

240
00:17:05.680 --> 00:17:10.079
make my life easier. It's just such an amazing thing

241
00:17:10.160 --> 00:17:11.319
to have for everyone.

242
00:17:12.119 --> 00:17:18.920
Oh yeah, it really is. And you know, helping people understand.

243
00:17:19.039 --> 00:17:22.640
Without this help, like you said, they could end up

244
00:17:22.640 --> 00:17:28.200
facing homelessness, end up going from you know this home

245
00:17:28.319 --> 00:17:32.680
to being incarcerated nobody. I mean that just takes all

246
00:17:32.720 --> 00:17:37.319
of their hope away. And you know, yes, the removal

247
00:17:37.680 --> 00:17:41.599
is traumatic, and you hear it from the children. You know,

248
00:17:41.799 --> 00:17:46.119
you hear it the tears and the hunger to be

249
00:17:46.640 --> 00:17:49.519
with their parents and different things like that. In fact,

250
00:17:49.559 --> 00:17:52.480
to be honest, I did break some of the rules.

251
00:17:53.599 --> 00:18:00.680
Eye contacted the parents because I wanted to know just grandma.

252
00:18:02.000 --> 00:18:05.079
But you are mom and dad, and I really need

253
00:18:05.160 --> 00:18:09.519
you to straighten it up. I need you to clean

254
00:18:09.559 --> 00:18:14.480
it up. I need you to care enough to want

255
00:18:14.480 --> 00:18:18.960
them back, and you have to do some things to

256
00:18:19.160 --> 00:18:24.359
get that opportunity. They need you. No, no, no, they

257
00:18:24.400 --> 00:18:26.720
don't need me. Yes they do, and you better not

258
00:18:26.759 --> 00:18:28.640
say it again or I'm getting in a car and

259
00:18:28.680 --> 00:18:30.839
I'm coming down. We're gonna have a face to face talk.

260
00:18:30.880 --> 00:18:34.920
And you're not gonna like it because I could hear

261
00:18:34.960 --> 00:18:39.079
the I could hear the hurting. They still love their parents.

262
00:18:39.160 --> 00:18:44.440
No matter what went on, those children still love their parents.

263
00:18:45.079 --> 00:18:49.039
And so one of the things would be great is

264
00:18:49.640 --> 00:18:53.000
while we're getting a community for those children, get a

265
00:18:53.039 --> 00:18:57.519
community for those parents. They probably have gone through trauma

266
00:18:57.960 --> 00:19:01.039
and they're just acting out what they the pain that

267
00:19:01.079 --> 00:19:05.839
they have and they need somebody to be honest and

268
00:19:05.960 --> 00:19:10.839
truthful and maybe even a little firm and say it's

269
00:19:10.880 --> 00:19:14.960
time for you to get it together and just to

270
00:19:15.000 --> 00:19:20.200
make the story the way it should be. Yes, I

271
00:19:20.400 --> 00:19:23.640
did contact them, Yes I was a little firm with them.

272
00:19:23.960 --> 00:19:28.160
But I want you to know those parents, they gave

273
00:19:28.279 --> 00:19:33.440
up the addiction, they got jobs, they got an apartment,

274
00:19:34.039 --> 00:19:38.720
and they were able to go and be with their

275
00:19:38.799 --> 00:19:43.319
parents when they left foster care. And I want you

276
00:19:43.400 --> 00:19:47.519
to know that's another road that we need to start

277
00:19:47.559 --> 00:19:51.279
considering someone who really feels that passion and understands that

278
00:19:51.559 --> 00:19:56.119
we need another nonprofit organization for the parents because they

279
00:19:56.160 --> 00:19:58.839
need healing too. I just have to throw that out there.

280
00:20:00.079 --> 00:20:03.400
Well, idea. I get it. I get it, and especially

281
00:20:03.839 --> 00:20:08.000
it's not uncommon that there are generational occurrences that lead

282
00:20:08.000 --> 00:20:12.759
to children in care, and so I always think, oh

283
00:20:12.920 --> 00:20:16.079
what if, what if community? What if there was a

284
00:20:16.160 --> 00:20:19.519
village around this family before it got there to this point.

285
00:20:19.799 --> 00:20:23.160
And so something that is unique about our Love Boxes

286
00:20:23.200 --> 00:20:26.920
and our Dare to Dream program is that once a

287
00:20:27.000 --> 00:20:29.599
match is made when a youth is in care, should

288
00:20:29.640 --> 00:20:35.920
reunification happen and should a parent prefer this? We do

289
00:20:36.079 --> 00:20:39.920
ask our volunteers to follow the youth into the home.

290
00:20:40.640 --> 00:20:43.400
And I think that that really is a helpful connection.

291
00:20:43.799 --> 00:20:44.759
It's it's.

292
00:20:46.319 --> 00:20:51.839
Right kids that love their parents, it doesn't matter the

293
00:20:51.839 --> 00:20:54.960
background that they came from. That was there, that was

294
00:20:54.960 --> 00:20:57.759
their normal. They didn't know anything other other than that.

295
00:20:58.160 --> 00:21:03.119
And so when they're you know, way by strangers so much,

296
00:21:03.160 --> 00:21:06.599
it happens. That's where that traumatic event comes in when

297
00:21:06.640 --> 00:21:11.440
it's in care, When children are in care, So when

298
00:21:11.559 --> 00:21:15.039
we have someone who has been consistent for twelve months

299
00:21:15.119 --> 00:21:17.880
or eighteen months showing up for a youth and it's

300
00:21:17.960 --> 00:21:21.759
time to go back home, a lot of times kids

301
00:21:21.799 --> 00:21:25.720
look to that volunteer or to that mentor just to

302
00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:29.000
help guide them and fulfelt safety, and so when they're

303
00:21:29.039 --> 00:21:33.880
allowed to be a part of this new household, I

304
00:21:33.920 --> 00:21:37.039
think that it's a really important view for the parents

305
00:21:37.079 --> 00:21:40.359
to have too, to say, oh, my goodness, community does exist.

306
00:21:40.400 --> 00:21:43.440
Community wants to see me successful and they want to

307
00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:49.880
my child successful. And so I really do think it's

308
00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:54.039
really important that it be a holistic approach and support.

309
00:21:54.680 --> 00:21:59.519
Yeah, so how often, I mean, how often can foster

310
00:21:59.640 --> 00:22:05.640
parents actually participate in the program. Is it something one

311
00:22:05.720 --> 00:22:07.839
time or I'm.

312
00:22:07.680 --> 00:22:10.240
So glad you're asking that. So we do ask for

313
00:22:10.279 --> 00:22:14.759
a twelve month commitment. We're very intentional about who we're

314
00:22:14.759 --> 00:22:19.400
matching together. We want there to be a shared capacity,

315
00:22:19.519 --> 00:22:24.599
shared interest, shared goals, and so we ask in our

316
00:22:24.640 --> 00:22:28.839
love box that people show up at least monthly and

317
00:22:28.960 --> 00:22:32.759
dare to dream this a month. However, it's not uncommon

318
00:22:32.839 --> 00:22:36.720
for people to be showing up each week, depending on

319
00:22:36.759 --> 00:22:43.200
a caregiver's capacity as well, you as can probably speak

320
00:22:43.240 --> 00:22:45.559
to people you had to talk to in a day

321
00:22:45.759 --> 00:22:48.839
and help organize to get your youth where they needed

322
00:22:48.880 --> 00:22:52.000
to be as far as whether it be academics or

323
00:22:52.480 --> 00:22:58.960
visiting a doctor, a dentist, a therapist. In addition to extracurriculars.

324
00:22:58.400 --> 00:23:06.680
So that's where a lot of caregivers either one more person.

325
00:23:07.079 --> 00:23:10.200
It can be a lot to talk, or it can

326
00:23:10.240 --> 00:23:12.880
be Okay, I have this person to call on and

327
00:23:13.240 --> 00:23:16.880
help me when I need it. And so it's really

328
00:23:16.920 --> 00:23:20.559
about that capacity, and it's just nice to know that

329
00:23:20.599 --> 00:23:23.000
you have someone waiting in the wings, or a group

330
00:23:23.039 --> 00:23:25.519
of people waiting in the wings, available and ready to

331
00:23:25.559 --> 00:23:30.079
help you with that. So again monthly for twelve months

332
00:23:30.119 --> 00:23:33.519
for the Love Box, and twice a month for a

333
00:23:33.640 --> 00:23:38.160
year in Dare to Dream. However, however, when I was

334
00:23:38.200 --> 00:23:41.519
talking about how intentional we are, the hope is that

335
00:23:42.720 --> 00:23:46.799
these matches stay so solid that even when we're not

336
00:23:46.880 --> 00:23:50.880
overseeing them in an official capacity, it's as if our

337
00:23:50.920 --> 00:23:54.559
volunteers became chosen family. Even when we're not in the picture.

338
00:23:54.759 --> 00:23:58.200
We want our families and youth to know that community

339
00:23:58.319 --> 00:24:00.960
still there. It's not just something sign up for and

340
00:24:01.000 --> 00:24:04.400
then when it's done, it's done. It's we're signing up

341
00:24:04.440 --> 00:24:07.240
for this relationship, and should we really kick it off,

342
00:24:08.480 --> 00:24:12.000
Let's let it be a lifetime occurrence. Let's let's grow

343
00:24:12.079 --> 00:24:15.920
up and continue to show up for these families and

344
00:24:15.960 --> 00:24:17.160
for our children and youth.

345
00:24:17.880 --> 00:24:21.759
Wow, that is that is incredible to be you know what,

346
00:24:22.160 --> 00:24:24.519
like I said, I wish I had that when I

347
00:24:24.680 --> 00:24:29.559
was a buster parent, because you know, they were teenagers

348
00:24:29.599 --> 00:24:32.759
and they wanted to do certain things, and you know,

349
00:24:33.480 --> 00:24:37.799
I'm working also while I'm you know, rearing these children,

350
00:24:38.359 --> 00:24:42.200
and so it was a heavy load, and I can,

351
00:24:42.400 --> 00:24:45.880
I can you know, empathize with some of the foster

352
00:24:45.960 --> 00:24:49.880
parents who are feeling that burned out or whatever, and

353
00:24:49.960 --> 00:24:55.759
so being able to have a resource where they can

354
00:24:56.240 --> 00:24:59.319
have a chance to rest, a chance to maybe do

355
00:24:59.440 --> 00:25:03.519
some personal things on their own. I think that is

356
00:25:03.880 --> 00:25:08.039
really exciting that you offer those two programs for them

357
00:25:08.119 --> 00:25:12.000
to just be able to just breathe a little bit,

358
00:25:12.880 --> 00:25:16.559
because you know, it may extend them wanting to be

359
00:25:16.680 --> 00:25:18.960
foster parents, because when you end up having such a

360
00:25:19.039 --> 00:25:22.359
rough time and so much you know, drain and you

361
00:25:22.480 --> 00:25:28.039
burn out, you drop from the program and every foster

362
00:25:28.160 --> 00:25:31.640
parent is needed because there's generally not enough foster parents,

363
00:25:31.640 --> 00:25:35.920
so one of them wanting to drop out don't want

364
00:25:35.920 --> 00:25:43.079
that happening. So you know, that's that's really super Yeah, definitely.

365
00:25:44.200 --> 00:25:50.000
You know, on average, fifty of license foster homes quit

366
00:25:50.039 --> 00:25:53.880
within the first year. And I do think that it

367
00:25:53.920 --> 00:25:55.960
is because it's it is a lot to take on,

368
00:25:56.240 --> 00:25:58.240
and we once we're in it, we don't know it

369
00:25:58.319 --> 00:26:01.279
until what we're living in, and so once we're in it,

370
00:26:01.519 --> 00:26:04.200
we see the load and especially like you mentioned, working

371
00:26:04.240 --> 00:26:04.839
full time.

372
00:26:05.559 --> 00:26:06.079
Wow.

373
00:26:06.920 --> 00:26:11.440
Wow. So when we can help as a community come

374
00:26:11.519 --> 00:26:15.480
in and through our programs wanting to build not just

375
00:26:15.559 --> 00:26:20.599
that relational permanence, but the placement stability. When we know

376
00:26:20.920 --> 00:26:24.279
that because we're showing up and we're here for a family,

377
00:26:24.720 --> 00:26:27.759
they're going to continue to keep their license and continue

378
00:26:27.839 --> 00:26:33.680
to open their youth and children. Gosh, what a difference

379
00:26:33.759 --> 00:26:36.759
that makes and what a way to work together and

380
00:26:36.799 --> 00:26:37.839
support one another.

381
00:26:38.640 --> 00:26:43.000
Yeah, definitely, Like I said, it's definitely something that I

382
00:26:43.039 --> 00:26:47.839
can understand and relate with. And remember it was a

383
00:26:47.880 --> 00:26:53.400
few years back. It was two thousand and seven and

384
00:26:53.480 --> 00:26:58.920
I had them for like two three years. Yeah, it

385
00:26:59.559 --> 00:27:05.400
was a long journey, a very long journey. And there

386
00:27:05.440 --> 00:27:08.160
are good days, there are bad days. You know that

387
00:27:09.240 --> 00:27:11.400
they've already gone through trauma, and then they go to

388
00:27:11.440 --> 00:27:14.119
school and they have to deal with bullying, and then

389
00:27:14.119 --> 00:27:17.240
they're coming home and you're going to go back through

390
00:27:17.279 --> 00:27:20.160
the whole cycle of trying to get them to you know,

391
00:27:20.359 --> 00:27:23.079
feel good about themselves. And so I mean I had

392
00:27:23.119 --> 00:27:25.400
to go to the school and say this behavior that

393
00:27:25.440 --> 00:27:28.160
you're permitting going on in the school, it's not going

394
00:27:28.240 --> 00:27:31.400
to be tolerated. I'm going to contact, you know, someone

395
00:27:31.559 --> 00:27:35.400
national to make sure that you're upholding your responsibility of

396
00:27:35.480 --> 00:27:38.799
protecting children. So you make this stop, or I'm going

397
00:27:38.880 --> 00:27:41.440
to I'm going to be a real problem for you

398
00:27:41.519 --> 00:27:43.000
here at the school because I'm not going to have

399
00:27:43.039 --> 00:27:46.640
my children bullied. They've been through enough. And you know what,

400
00:27:48.039 --> 00:27:50.119
by the time I got home, I heard that the

401
00:27:50.160 --> 00:27:54.279
principal had gotten on the speaker and said we're getting

402
00:27:54.319 --> 00:27:58.000
ready to have an assembly and he said, these are

403
00:27:58.039 --> 00:28:00.559
things we're not going to tolerate here at the school. So,

404
00:28:01.279 --> 00:28:04.000
like I said, I really appreciate all of them understanding

405
00:28:04.960 --> 00:28:07.759
what we're dealing with and what's going on and being

406
00:28:08.359 --> 00:28:11.720
you know, willing to do their best to make sure

407
00:28:11.799 --> 00:28:16.559
that the children were safe. And then they succeeded and

408
00:28:17.319 --> 00:28:22.519
you know, different things like that. So when when the

409
00:28:22.519 --> 00:28:28.720
community shows up, like you're showing up, the foster parents

410
00:28:28.720 --> 00:28:32.079
are showing up, and other you know, resources are showing up.

411
00:28:33.799 --> 00:28:38.759
What statistics you know, find a word on that are

412
00:28:38.799 --> 00:28:41.880
you seeing that there's more success with the foster children

413
00:28:41.920 --> 00:28:44.200
when they have that support.

414
00:28:44.079 --> 00:28:49.000
Or absolutely absolutely so, we do have. We run a

415
00:28:49.039 --> 00:28:52.920
survey every year and I am excited to say that

416
00:28:53.119 --> 00:28:57.519
we have really positive outcomes, not just here at Olympic Angels,

417
00:28:57.559 --> 00:29:03.119
the nationwide in our caregiver saying yes, this has helped

418
00:29:03.160 --> 00:29:06.440
me be more stable in this placement, keep this youth

419
00:29:06.440 --> 00:29:12.359
in my home longer, or to help me just overcome

420
00:29:12.480 --> 00:29:16.359
even my own secondary trauma, knowing that I have someone

421
00:29:16.400 --> 00:29:19.200
in my corner, because again it is about the caregiver

422
00:29:19.319 --> 00:29:24.559
as well, and so and we have you know, even

423
00:29:24.599 --> 00:29:28.359
our volunteers in the community that is coming alongside these

424
00:29:28.400 --> 00:29:35.200
families have said, oh, I didn't realize what what foster

425
00:29:35.279 --> 00:29:38.119
care really fully was, and so now I have a

426
00:29:38.200 --> 00:29:41.839
deeper understanding of how it affects our youth, how it

427
00:29:41.839 --> 00:29:45.400
affects our entire community. And I definitely want to be

428
00:29:45.440 --> 00:29:49.440
a part of that change and show up for a

429
00:29:49.480 --> 00:29:52.960
person and really be their advocate, and really be that

430
00:29:53.000 --> 00:29:58.960
person who says you're valuable, you are worthy, and I

431
00:29:59.039 --> 00:30:02.839
want to walk along side you in this life and

432
00:30:03.480 --> 00:30:05.640
guide you and let you guide me, because it's never

433
00:30:05.640 --> 00:30:06.799
a one way street.

434
00:30:06.559 --> 00:30:09.160
Is it. Absolutely certain.

435
00:30:10.519 --> 00:30:13.359
I'm certain you've you've carried some lessons out of out

436
00:30:13.359 --> 00:30:14.920
of your experience as well.

437
00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:21.119
Yeah. Absolutely. And the one thing no one ever talks

438
00:30:21.160 --> 00:30:25.759
about is the emotions that the foster parent goes through

439
00:30:26.880 --> 00:30:30.720
feeling inadequate, because, like you said, you don't know what's

440
00:30:30.799 --> 00:30:34.559
going to happen until they show up, and then you know,

441
00:30:35.279 --> 00:30:39.599
you you've kind of analyze, oh, yes, I'll be doing this, this, this,

442
00:30:39.599 --> 00:30:43.359
this and this, and then you you end up with

443
00:30:43.880 --> 00:30:48.640
maybe a lot more trauma, a lot more acting out,

444
00:30:48.759 --> 00:30:53.119
a lot more difficulty than what you ever anticipated. And

445
00:30:53.160 --> 00:30:59.839
then you began going through emotional feelings and things like that,

446
00:31:00.519 --> 00:31:04.200
feeling down and feeling like you're inadequate. Oh no, I'm

447
00:31:04.240 --> 00:31:07.079
not competent enough to do this. Oh you know, all

448
00:31:07.119 --> 00:31:10.559
of these self doubts that you have because a lot

449
00:31:10.599 --> 00:31:13.319
of times it's because you're tired and you need to

450
00:31:13.440 --> 00:31:16.279
rest or, you know, or maybe just be able to

451
00:31:16.319 --> 00:31:19.440
talk it out with someone who can give you some advice,

452
00:31:20.200 --> 00:31:24.319
you know, and encourage you. You're doing fine. It's just

453
00:31:24.720 --> 00:31:27.720
it's a slow walk. It's not a run, it's not

454
00:31:27.839 --> 00:31:31.200
a race. It's a very very slow walk that starts

455
00:31:31.200 --> 00:31:34.000
with a crawl. And you have to be aware of that.

456
00:31:34.960 --> 00:31:38.359
But just having that encouragement that you're doing fine, it's

457
00:31:38.440 --> 00:31:43.000
going to be okay for the foster parents is really

458
00:31:43.039 --> 00:31:46.720
great that you're there to do that to encourage them,

459
00:31:46.880 --> 00:31:50.240
you know, because with a fifty percent turnover, and I

460
00:31:50.240 --> 00:31:52.640
can relate. I can hear it because we used to

461
00:31:52.720 --> 00:31:58.200
have the foster parent meetings and we would hear, you know,

462
00:31:58.400 --> 00:32:01.279
just the devastating things that we're going on and how

463
00:32:01.319 --> 00:32:04.039
the foster parent was like, I just can't do this,

464
00:32:04.200 --> 00:32:07.640
I just can't do this, and then imagine, oh, now

465
00:32:07.680 --> 00:32:10.799
this child has to be moved again. So that's going

466
00:32:10.880 --> 00:32:15.720
to throw more self doubt on them because the foster parent,

467
00:32:16.440 --> 00:32:19.680
you know, it's gonna you know, couldn't handle it and

468
00:32:19.720 --> 00:32:24.359
things like that. And so having you guys there, thank you,

469
00:32:24.680 --> 00:32:30.000
angels to hell a lot.

470
00:32:31.319 --> 00:32:34.039
I'm really glad that you are sharing that because the

471
00:32:34.920 --> 00:32:39.720
caregiver side of the truth, their truth is that they

472
00:32:39.960 --> 00:32:45.480
often feel invisible. And that makes sense, right because who

473
00:32:45.559 --> 00:32:48.680
is alongside them and saying, how can I help you?

474
00:32:49.599 --> 00:32:51.759
What is your brand of milk? Can I I'm at

475
00:32:51.799 --> 00:32:54.000
the store. Can I please just grab your favorite brand

476
00:32:54.000 --> 00:32:56.400
of milk or your favorite paper tiles and drop them

477
00:32:56.400 --> 00:33:00.279
off on your porch. I'm going to show up for

478
00:33:00.319 --> 00:33:05.839
them in that way and be seen is so life changing.

479
00:33:07.480 --> 00:33:10.839
We do carry that secondary trauma. There is a high

480
00:33:11.039 --> 00:33:14.240
emotional load, like you're referring to. You know, you have

481
00:33:14.400 --> 00:33:16.720
youth coming into their home, your home that may have

482
00:33:16.799 --> 00:33:21.240
big behaviors or you know, they're they're working out some

483
00:33:21.319 --> 00:33:26.119
of their social emotional situations and that's a lot. That's

484
00:33:26.160 --> 00:33:29.680
a lot for a child and uh and to be

485
00:33:29.799 --> 00:33:33.240
working with them. And I think what I hear a

486
00:33:33.319 --> 00:33:37.400
lot too from caregivers is that it's isolating. It's an

487
00:33:37.400 --> 00:33:43.920
isolating experience. And so would you have someone who is

488
00:33:45.119 --> 00:33:48.519
like you mentioned in the beginning, we have them background checked,

489
00:33:48.799 --> 00:33:53.480
They're they're completely background checked, fingerprinted, ready to go. We

490
00:33:53.720 --> 00:33:59.240
have them training in trust based relational intervention and on

491
00:33:59.319 --> 00:34:02.240
the science of hope. So when we have people who

492
00:34:02.319 --> 00:34:09.800
are coming in knowledgeable, yes, I just wow, and bringing

493
00:34:09.840 --> 00:34:16.079
their own experiences into their own life trajectories, coming in

494
00:34:16.119 --> 00:34:18.960
and saying, hey, do you know what I had when

495
00:34:19.000 --> 00:34:21.480
I was a youth that really helped me? Or hey

496
00:34:21.599 --> 00:34:23.559
do you know this lesson I learned when I was

497
00:34:23.599 --> 00:34:28.599
a kid. Can I share this with you it is.

498
00:34:28.840 --> 00:34:33.800
It is changing again, not just for the the youth,

499
00:34:33.880 --> 00:34:36.639
but for the caregivers. And it's not uncommon in our

500
00:34:36.679 --> 00:34:41.719
groups we see former caregivers being party saying you know,

501
00:34:41.760 --> 00:34:44.199
maybe that wasn't but this is and this is what

502
00:34:44.280 --> 00:34:46.480
I know, and this is how I can support the community.

503
00:34:46.920 --> 00:34:51.000
Yes, absolutely, you know, I've just you know, said, my

504
00:34:51.039 --> 00:34:55.679
mind is going back to those days. I'm not sure

505
00:34:55.719 --> 00:34:59.519
how my name got out, but whenever a foster parent

506
00:35:00.000 --> 00:35:04.480
he needed a break, their children always got dropped off

507
00:35:04.480 --> 00:35:08.920
at my house. So I had a lot of groups

508
00:35:08.920 --> 00:35:12.920
of children that showed up and then I ended up

509
00:35:12.960 --> 00:35:19.440
somehow being considered a therapeutic foster parent. And my last

510
00:35:19.719 --> 00:35:26.840
foster child had multiple personalities. I mean to point, the

511
00:35:27.239 --> 00:35:35.039
voice changed, his demeanor would change. That was probably the

512
00:35:35.039 --> 00:35:38.079
most challenging thing I've ever experienced in my life with

513
00:35:38.159 --> 00:35:41.400
a child. And he had been passed around so many

514
00:35:41.480 --> 00:35:47.320
times because you know, some of the personalities that he had,

515
00:35:48.159 --> 00:35:52.280
you know, were dangerous. The way he would speak. And

516
00:35:53.079 --> 00:35:56.119
I'm talking about a child that's like eight years old,

517
00:35:56.599 --> 00:36:03.440
not a teenager, this tiny little child, and so you know,

518
00:36:03.559 --> 00:36:05.639
I would kind of talk with him and I'd say,

519
00:36:06.239 --> 00:36:10.440
you know, Grandma's house isn't big enough for all of

520
00:36:10.480 --> 00:36:12.639
your friends to come, so you're going to have to

521
00:36:12.760 --> 00:36:16.599
leave your friends outside. And that's how I kept the

522
00:36:16.719 --> 00:36:23.280
other personalities from showing up and acting out. I respected

523
00:36:23.360 --> 00:36:28.199
and recognized that they were there, but I said, they're

524
00:36:28.280 --> 00:36:30.519
not allowed to come in the house, and they're not

525
00:36:30.599 --> 00:36:34.079
allowed to talk here in this house. So if you're

526
00:36:34.079 --> 00:36:35.880
going to talk with your friends, you have to talk

527
00:36:35.920 --> 00:36:39.519
with them outside, but you can't talk with them in here, because,

528
00:36:39.599 --> 00:36:42.000
like I said, some of them had threatened the other

529
00:36:42.119 --> 00:36:47.119
foster parents. And so he ended up in my home.

530
00:36:47.800 --> 00:36:53.960
But I ended up not being able to handle him

531
00:36:55.320 --> 00:36:58.480
for a long period of time, and I had to

532
00:36:59.239 --> 00:37:02.360
take him back to the foster care center. He cried

533
00:37:02.480 --> 00:37:05.639
so so much, Grandma, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry,

534
00:37:06.320 --> 00:37:12.719
but he had been he had been brutalized, and so

535
00:37:13.719 --> 00:37:17.559
he probably took on all these personalities just to survive.

536
00:37:19.320 --> 00:37:22.480
But I had to take him back, and he had been,

537
00:37:23.920 --> 00:37:29.000
you know, in so many foster homes. The children's homes

538
00:37:29.039 --> 00:37:32.960
said that would I would be their last, his last

539
00:37:33.360 --> 00:37:37.159
time out, and I feel so sad about that, but

540
00:37:38.000 --> 00:37:40.719
I felt inadequate. I didn't have anyone to help me,

541
00:37:41.400 --> 00:37:46.800
and I couldn't handle him. I couldn't, you know, change

542
00:37:46.840 --> 00:37:49.920
the behavior because it was something that needed more than

543
00:37:50.039 --> 00:37:53.639
just my love and my attention. And I accept that,

544
00:37:54.480 --> 00:37:56.920
but it still breaks my heart because I didn't know

545
00:37:56.960 --> 00:37:58.639
he would not be able to get out until he

546
00:37:58.679 --> 00:38:04.360
aged out. I feel badly about that. But sometimes we

547
00:38:04.559 --> 00:38:06.960
just can't solve all the problems and we have to

548
00:38:07.360 --> 00:38:12.519
recognize that and ask for help and trying to get

549
00:38:12.559 --> 00:38:16.840
that help. And like I said, if someone was there

550
00:38:16.960 --> 00:38:19.599
even just for me to talk it out and say

551
00:38:19.679 --> 00:38:23.039
this is what's happening, it's too much, you know, having

552
00:38:23.039 --> 00:38:25.360
a picking because he's out there kicking and you know,

553
00:38:25.440 --> 00:38:28.119
acting out, and me having pick him up and carry him.

554
00:38:28.119 --> 00:38:30.199
Like I said, I was I was older at the time,

555
00:38:30.320 --> 00:38:32.320
and having to pick him up and carry him up

556
00:38:32.360 --> 00:38:35.599
the steps and different things. It's like, oh, this is

557
00:38:35.960 --> 00:38:39.159
physically not going to be healthy for me, and so

558
00:38:39.239 --> 00:38:41.360
I had to I had to do that. And I

559
00:38:41.559 --> 00:38:43.480
think about him and I hope he's well, and I

560
00:38:43.519 --> 00:38:49.320
hope he got healed and they resolved, you know, the schizophrenia,

561
00:38:50.079 --> 00:38:56.559
and but yeah, I definitely need that loving care and

562
00:38:56.920 --> 00:39:00.840
so do the Boster parents. And so it's like you say,

563
00:39:01.119 --> 00:39:05.719
not all children, but you know there they can use

564
00:39:05.840 --> 00:39:11.199
volunteers that can Some of you are therapists, you would

565
00:39:11.239 --> 00:39:16.360
probably be great, you know, volunteers and situations like that

566
00:39:16.519 --> 00:39:21.480
because you understand what's going on. So I'm going to

567
00:39:21.559 --> 00:39:23.960
say it, we need you to volunteer, We need you

568
00:39:24.079 --> 00:39:26.519
to take some time. We need you to be one

569
00:39:26.559 --> 00:39:29.760
of those angels that can step in and work with

570
00:39:29.800 --> 00:39:33.599
a child that actually really needs you, you know, something

571
00:39:34.400 --> 00:39:41.079
that can can make this whole community work even better.

572
00:39:43.719 --> 00:39:46.639
You will hear a lot of us say that not

573
00:39:46.760 --> 00:39:50.519
everyone is called to foster adopts, but everyone can play

574
00:39:50.559 --> 00:39:54.239
a part foster community. And that's exactly it, you know,

575
00:39:54.320 --> 00:39:58.079
whether it's joining a love box team, or mentoring a youth,

576
00:39:58.360 --> 00:40:03.559
investing in the mission, or just advocacy. And that's really important,

577
00:40:03.679 --> 00:40:07.360
getting the word out, spreading awareness to the community that

578
00:40:08.800 --> 00:40:13.519
you know, foster care exist and that can look a

579
00:40:13.559 --> 00:40:16.920
lot of different ways. And here's how we can come

580
00:40:16.960 --> 00:40:20.880
alongside one another as a group or as community and

581
00:40:21.360 --> 00:40:22.400
really show support.

582
00:40:24.239 --> 00:40:27.639
Right And like you said, everybody may not be able

583
00:40:27.679 --> 00:40:30.599
to be a foster parent, but I like the fact

584
00:40:30.679 --> 00:40:35.239
you have that love box you can join as volunteers,

585
00:40:35.800 --> 00:40:39.800
you know, maybe used to be a softball coach and

586
00:40:39.920 --> 00:40:43.320
you can go out these children now to play softball

587
00:40:43.440 --> 00:40:46.639
or just different things. You know, some of us old

588
00:40:46.719 --> 00:40:49.880
gray hairs, we don't have to sit at home watch

589
00:40:49.880 --> 00:40:52.280
TV all the time. You can go out and still

590
00:40:52.440 --> 00:40:55.880
be productive and change lives and do things. Come on,

591
00:40:56.559 --> 00:40:57.840
let's make this happen.

592
00:41:00.199 --> 00:41:03.480
I truly believe that everyone has a talent that they

593
00:41:03.519 --> 00:41:07.920
can lend to our organization. And maybe some people don't

594
00:41:09.440 --> 00:41:13.039
don't feel comfortable in working directly with children, and that's okay.

595
00:41:13.079 --> 00:41:16.000
I say that's okay too, because I remember back in

596
00:41:16.079 --> 00:41:18.599
November I was looking for a calligrapher. So there is

597
00:41:18.639 --> 00:41:22.960
something for everyone, and I absolutely believe in that you

598
00:41:23.119 --> 00:41:28.159
can volunteer with this organization in some capacity, whether it

599
00:41:28.320 --> 00:41:31.599
is to working directly with children, or being that person

600
00:41:31.760 --> 00:41:35.440
that is dedicated to a caregiver, or even working in

601
00:41:35.480 --> 00:41:41.920
the background helping me address envelopes for whatever need is

602
00:41:41.960 --> 00:41:45.719
that day. There really is a place for everyone. And

603
00:41:46.159 --> 00:41:49.440
what a relief that is, because when we are showing

604
00:41:49.519 --> 00:41:53.639
up for one another internally, I think that it shows

605
00:41:53.639 --> 00:41:57.079
externally as a whole as across a.

606
00:41:59.719 --> 00:42:05.159
Yeah. Yeah, absolutely, mentoring a youth, I mean right now.

607
00:42:05.199 --> 00:42:10.719
We could really use some mentors that have that capacity

608
00:42:11.280 --> 00:42:15.880
to work with our youth and mentor our youth and

609
00:42:16.440 --> 00:42:20.760
help mold and shape them to be able to say,

610
00:42:20.880 --> 00:42:23.440
you've got dreams, Let's see how we can help you

611
00:42:23.559 --> 00:42:26.599
reach those dreams. There's so much we could be doing.

612
00:42:28.280 --> 00:42:30.199
And I don't want to get on a soapbox, but

613
00:42:30.639 --> 00:42:32.880
some of the stuff we're going in, the energies we're

614
00:42:32.880 --> 00:42:37.400
putting out, they're not positive, and they are not you know,

615
00:42:37.599 --> 00:42:42.519
something that benefits anyone. But take that energy. Since you've

616
00:42:42.559 --> 00:42:45.440
got energy that you want to have a whole lot

617
00:42:45.480 --> 00:42:49.679
to say, then have something positive to say and mentor

618
00:42:49.760 --> 00:42:54.320
some youth, mentor someone who has gone through some trauma.

619
00:42:54.800 --> 00:43:00.000
You'd be surprised how much joy it brings to you

620
00:43:00.760 --> 00:43:06.320
to give to someone other than yourself. There's just nothing more.

621
00:43:07.320 --> 00:43:12.159
I mean, I'll tell you it's the most wonderful feeling, Tasha,

622
00:43:12.239 --> 00:43:16.320
to see the smiles on their faces, to see the

623
00:43:16.519 --> 00:43:20.800
happiness and the laughter, and to see them succeed. We

624
00:43:20.960 --> 00:43:23.760
all want to succeed. Some of us start at a

625
00:43:23.840 --> 00:43:29.840
different starting gait in this race called life, but it

626
00:43:29.880 --> 00:43:32.920
doesn't mean we can't go and help pull them forward.

627
00:43:33.039 --> 00:43:37.400
So they can meet that dream. Oh yes, mentor youth

628
00:43:37.559 --> 00:43:41.840
or by the way, since you got money, you're spending

629
00:43:42.639 --> 00:43:47.320
on things, yeah, that you probably don't even need and

630
00:43:47.360 --> 00:43:51.760
you probably don't even use. Think about investing it in

631
00:43:52.920 --> 00:43:58.599
a mission like this that changes lives, that fixes things.

632
00:43:58.920 --> 00:44:03.199
You know, give some money, I know you have some

633
00:44:03.280 --> 00:44:08.599
of that. You don't have the energy, I know you

634
00:44:08.679 --> 00:44:12.800
got some money. Help help these organizations so that they

635
00:44:12.840 --> 00:44:15.800
can do even more and they can expand even to

636
00:44:15.880 --> 00:44:20.280
more places, because, believe me, if there are children, there

637
00:44:20.320 --> 00:44:24.320
are some that do not have families, and so let's

638
00:44:24.400 --> 00:44:28.639
make things possible for them. I just have to say that, Okay.

639
00:44:28.440 --> 00:44:32.280
Oh, thank you, I appreciate it. You know, just like

640
00:44:32.360 --> 00:44:37.199
you were saying in volunteering gives so much back to yourself.

641
00:44:37.719 --> 00:44:41.159
I mean, and it really does science behind it. And

642
00:44:41.920 --> 00:44:44.079
if you don't have the time, then maybe that is

643
00:44:44.079 --> 00:44:47.639
how you can help help fund the mission, help help

644
00:44:47.760 --> 00:44:50.760
keep this going. And I think that that gives a

645
00:44:50.800 --> 00:44:54.199
lot of meaning to the money that we are earning,

646
00:44:54.280 --> 00:44:58.599
and meaning for our legacies as well and what we're

647
00:44:58.599 --> 00:45:03.079
standing behind. And so and I'm always for standing behind

648
00:45:03.119 --> 00:45:07.679
a better, more positive community. Absolutely.

649
00:45:08.760 --> 00:45:12.199
Yeah. Yeah, And as I was thinking about that, and

650
00:45:12.280 --> 00:45:15.280
you were talking about giving. You know, some of you

651
00:45:15.639 --> 00:45:22.280
are directors in organizations, you're CEOs in corporations, and sometimes

652
00:45:22.280 --> 00:45:27.800
you have like these fundraisers or money is given from

653
00:45:27.800 --> 00:45:31.920
the employees. Well, this is a very good cause to

654
00:45:32.199 --> 00:45:38.800
actually help society and change the trajectory of the lives

655
00:45:38.840 --> 00:45:43.440
of people who started out in it way behind the eball.

656
00:45:44.840 --> 00:45:48.920
Think about that when you're thinking, when you're picking a nonprofit,

657
00:45:48.960 --> 00:45:51.679
you're thinking about a mission that you would like to support,

658
00:45:52.079 --> 00:45:56.239
think about the lives you would change, and consider that

659
00:45:56.360 --> 00:46:00.400
being one of the donations that you that take in

660
00:46:00.400 --> 00:46:05.440
your organization. So one of the things I have learned

661
00:46:05.559 --> 00:46:11.960
that no foster family should walk alone. They should have

662
00:46:12.000 --> 00:46:12.800
your organization.

663
00:46:15.280 --> 00:46:19.199
Absolutely, absolutely, they should have our and the neighbors my

664
00:46:19.280 --> 00:46:25.239
book club, you know, are our other family members or

665
00:46:25.280 --> 00:46:29.960
a church family coming together and just being in this ticket,

666
00:46:30.159 --> 00:46:31.440
this work together.

667
00:46:31.800 --> 00:46:38.159
Truly, Yes, yes, I absolutely agree. Yeah, because we're better together, right,

668
00:46:39.000 --> 00:46:41.840
We're all better to get And just knowing that that's

669
00:46:41.880 --> 00:46:44.639
not only happening on the Olympic Peninsula, that it is

670
00:46:44.679 --> 00:46:49.519
happening in various places across our nation is so just

671
00:46:49.639 --> 00:46:52.000
it gives me a lot of hope. It really does.

672
00:46:52.079 --> 00:46:53.880
It adds a little pep of my stuff and gives

673
00:46:53.880 --> 00:46:56.639
me the spark in my eye to think, Wow, people

674
00:46:56.760 --> 00:46:59.000
are really out there. They really do want to learn

675
00:46:59.039 --> 00:47:01.840
about adverse child good effects. They want to learn about

676
00:47:02.239 --> 00:47:06.199
how to build resilience into others and themselves along the way,

677
00:47:06.880 --> 00:47:12.079
and and just help this entire community as and when

678
00:47:12.079 --> 00:47:13.760
I say community in this way, I mean as an

679
00:47:13.920 --> 00:47:14.480
entire nation.

680
00:47:14.840 --> 00:47:20.559
Wow, Yes, that's everything. Like I said, I mean just

681
00:47:20.679 --> 00:47:26.239
building the community and and and changing lifestyles and changing

682
00:47:26.440 --> 00:47:31.840
attitudes and everything. It's a winner. I mean, this is

683
00:47:31.880 --> 00:47:35.559
one of those win win. You get self satisfaction, but

684
00:47:35.760 --> 00:47:42.519
you also change the world with just volunteering or you know,

685
00:47:42.800 --> 00:47:48.119
giving to this mission that's out there. So Tasha tell

686
00:47:48.159 --> 00:47:53.199
our audience how to get in touch with Olympic Angels.

687
00:47:53.960 --> 00:47:56.360
If they're in the Pacific Northwest.

688
00:47:56.880 --> 00:48:00.480
Absolutely well. You can reach us directly by going to

689
00:48:00.519 --> 00:48:06.719
our website at Olympicangels dot org. Again that's Olympicangels dot

690
00:48:06.719 --> 00:48:10.960
o RG. Or you can call three six zero two

691
00:48:11.119 --> 00:48:15.360
zero seven for sixty six one. You'll reach me directly

692
00:48:15.519 --> 00:48:17.719
and I will get to you wherever you need to be.

693
00:48:19.559 --> 00:48:22.400
And would love to talk more, would love for people

694
00:48:22.440 --> 00:48:26.000
to explore our website, really dig into the program, see

695
00:48:26.000 --> 00:48:28.400
the work that we're doing and the changes that we're making.

696
00:48:31.519 --> 00:48:35.559
Absolutely please get in contact in it. It's life changing.

697
00:48:36.159 --> 00:48:39.119
And if you're on the Olympic Peninsula and you're listening

698
00:48:39.199 --> 00:48:42.199
to this and you know a family, your neighbor, maybe

699
00:48:43.079 --> 00:48:47.599
took in their grandchild recently, please please get them connected

700
00:48:47.639 --> 00:48:50.599
to us. And that is we want. We want to

701
00:48:50.679 --> 00:48:52.719
make that as verrier free as possible. So if it's

702
00:48:52.760 --> 00:48:54.920
a phone call, let it be a phone call. We're

703
00:48:54.960 --> 00:48:55.440
here for that.

704
00:48:56.119 --> 00:49:00.440
Absolutely, absolutely, So you know I'm going to put that

705
00:49:00.519 --> 00:49:05.079
out as something that my audience. You need to share

706
00:49:05.119 --> 00:49:09.320
this information with people that you know. We will be

707
00:49:09.400 --> 00:49:12.760
also sending out information so you can share it with

708
00:49:12.920 --> 00:49:18.599
others who can watch this live show and let people know.

709
00:49:19.679 --> 00:49:21.760
You don't have to be at home saying that you're

710
00:49:21.800 --> 00:49:24.559
bored or I don't have anything to do. There is

711
00:49:24.599 --> 00:49:28.039
a whole world of people out there that are meeting you.

712
00:49:28.239 --> 00:49:31.679
And since we are all here living together, we all

713
00:49:31.719 --> 00:49:35.079
should be caring about one another. And this is a

714
00:49:35.119 --> 00:49:39.800
way to care. And I love positive organizations like this.

715
00:49:39.960 --> 00:49:43.039
I love to see things that have the capacity of

716
00:49:43.159 --> 00:49:47.519
changing the world and changing lives, and especially people that

717
00:49:47.559 --> 00:49:52.719
are hurting. You have to understand when you're hurting, it's

718
00:49:52.800 --> 00:49:56.679
hard to get past that without a helping hand. And

719
00:49:56.760 --> 00:50:01.679
these angels here, a limping angels, are helping hands that

720
00:50:01.840 --> 00:50:05.320
help you get over the bridge and help and so

721
00:50:05.400 --> 00:50:09.599
that you can make it to the other side. So

722
00:50:09.760 --> 00:50:14.480
I'm saying, oh, please, please help. Thank you Tasha for

723
00:50:14.519 --> 00:50:18.440
being here. I have really enjoyed this conversation and I

724
00:50:18.559 --> 00:50:23.000
know our viewers and our listeners are ready to write

725
00:50:23.000 --> 00:50:28.320
this checks today. Thank you, Thank you for tuning in

726
00:50:28.639 --> 00:50:33.599
a Sharp Outlook. We're here every Monday at eleven am

727
00:50:33.679 --> 00:50:37.960
Eastern time and eight am Pacific time. We're here with

728
00:50:38.079 --> 00:50:42.440
information for you to have more knowledge to make great

729
00:50:42.480 --> 00:50:52.119
decisions and whatever you do, stay informed. I want to

730
00:50:52.159 --> 00:50:55.239
thank you for joining us on a Sharp Outlook. We

731
00:50:55.360 --> 00:50:58.519
have been informed and energized to take the next steps.

732
00:50:59.039 --> 00:51:02.559
We have posted thanks to websites and videos to learn

733
00:51:02.639 --> 00:51:06.280
more on today's topic. Please join us again next week

734
00:51:06.599 --> 00:51:10.719
for another thought provoking conversation right here on k for

735
00:51:11.199 --> 00:51:15.719
HD radio and Talk for TV. Listen to the podcast

736
00:51:15.880 --> 00:51:21.360
on all the podcast apps, and until next week, stay informed.