Let's Talk About Reunification: A Candid Conversation about the Challenges and Joys of Reunification

🎙️ Fatherhood Matters: Supporting Dads on the Road to ReunificationIn this episode, we sit down with Reginald Colston and Matthew Hockenberry, Fatherhood Support Specialists with Heartland for Children’s Fatherhood Engagement Program. They share their passion for walking alongside fathers in the child welfare system—helping them reconnect with their children, overcome barriers, and build stronger, healthier families.As the state of Florida puts a growing emphasis on the importance of engaging fathers, this program is working to ensure more successful reunifications and long-term family stability. Because dads need support too—and when they thrive, children thrive.🎧 Tune in for real talk, inspiring stories, and a deeper look at how fatherhood programs are changing lives.🔗 Learn more about resources for dads: heartlandforchildren.org/fatherhood

une is National Reunification Month and in this special episode of Let's Talk About It, we connect with Reba, Brooke and Allie, three moms who faced the struggles of addiction, navigated the child welfare system and successfully reunified with their children. These incredible moms now serve on Heartland for Children's Parent Advisory Council to help improve the foster care system and be a message of hope to other parents within the system. In this conversation, they breakdown the topic of parent guilt and what it looks like to walk through healing and rebuild trust with their children post-reunification. To learn more about Heartland for Children's Let's Talk About It Podcast, visit heartlandforchildren.org/podcast

In the month of June, we celebrate Father's Day! So, in this special episode of Let's Talk About It, we connect with Raymond Clay, Fatherhood Coach with Healthy Start Coalition of Hardee, Highlands and Polk Counties. Ray shares the staggering statistics of the impacts of fathers, the importance of a dad's role in the lives of their children, and the support that the TEAM Dad program provides. To learn more about Healthy Start's TEAM Dad Program, visit https://www.healthystarthhp.org/team-dad/. Connect with Ray: [email protected] or call 863-512-5702 To learn more about Foster Care or Adoption, visit ⁠https://heartlandforchildren.org/foster ⁠⁠https://heartlandforchildren.org/adopt⁠ You can find "Let's Talk About It" on: ⁠https://heartlandforchildren.org/podcast

May is National Foster Care Month and we're back with a very special episode of Let's Talk About It. Our guests Emabella Bryant, Miss Florida Hometown USA Teen, and her adoptive mom, Amanda Bryant, share their journeys of using their own lived experience to "Return Hope" and give back to children and families in the community. To learn more about Foster Care or Adoption, visit https://heartlandforchildren.org/foster https://heartlandforchildren.org/adopt You can find "Let's Talk About It" on: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Anchor: https://anchor.fm/heartlandforchildren Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3idQlxL... or https://heartlandforchildren.org/podcast

October is Foster Youth Voice Month and in this episode of Let's Talk About It, Kadian, interviews Heartland for Children's TAYS Peer Mentors, Maria Gutierrez and Davonte Smith. Both Maria and Davonte share from a unique perspective, having lived experience in the foster care system and now mentoring youth in foster care. They both have a heart to give back and share why it's important to elevate the voices of our youth in care and the services and resources that are available to them. To contact our Transition Age Youth Services (TAYS) Department, email [email protected]⁠ or call 863-519-8900 x 238. To learn more about our TAYS Program, visit https://heartlandforchildren.org/youth

In this episode of "Let's Talk About It", our host, Kadian Parchment, interviews Heartland for Children's Transition Age Youth Services Program Manager, Marquina Butts-Fisher, dive into the services and resources that are made available to youth transitioning out of foster care to help prepare them for adulthood. These include free college tuition at a Florida school/university, housing, life skills, rental assistance and our Transition Age Youth Mentors. To contact Marquina, email [email protected]⁠ or call (863) 519-8900 x 238. To learn more about our TAYS Program, visit https://heartlandforchildren.org/youth You can find "Let's Talk About It" on: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Anchor: https://anchor.fm/heartlandforchildren Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3idQlxL... or https://heartlandforchildren.org/podcast

In this episode of "Let's Talk About It", we discuss with Cherie Perryn, Heartland for Children's Education Specialist, the crucial role of advocacy for children in foster care within the education system. This conversation highlights the unique challenges these children face and what efforts are being made to reduce frequent placement changes, disruptions in their education, as well as providing support and resources to ensure they receive a quality education. Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of the impact of advocacy and how they can get involved in supporting these vulnerable students. To contact Cherie Perryn, Education Specialist, you can email her at [email protected] or call (863) 519-8900 x 292. You can learn more about Heartland for Children at https://heartlandforchildren.org

Listen to this interview with Heartland for Children's CEO, Kim Daugherty, and foster parent, Cindy Glover, recently participated in this interview with Lakeland Vision's Trinity Laurino about the need for foster families in our community.

In this episode of "Let's Talk About It", we talk with Heather Monteath, Executive Director of Neighbor to Family's Bartow Office to learn about their mission, services and resources provided to support families and protect children. Neighbor to Family is one of Heartland for Children's partner organizations. Their mission is to preserve and strengthen families who are at-risk of entering the child welfare system. During this interview, Heather shares about the new Fatherhood Initiative and the new positions created to help support fathers in our community. To learn more about Neighbor to Family, email [email protected] or visit https://www.neighbortofamily.org/

June is National Reunification Month, and in this special episode, we're excited to have Heartland for Children's CEO, Kim Daugherty host a discussion with 3 members of our Parent Advisory Council. These mothers candidly share their experiences of what lead to the removal of their children and what helped get them to the place of being successfully reunified with their kids. Learn more about ⁠Heartland for Children⁠ and how you can ⁠get involved⁠ at https://heartlandforchildren.org You can find "Let's Talk About It" on Apple Podcasts, Anchor, Spotify or at https://heartlandforchildren.org/podcast