Episode 185: Walking Through Grief After Foster Care (w/ Melissa Smallwood)
The Forgotten Podcast
The Forgotten Initiative
4.9 • 532 Ratings
🗓️ 29 May 2023
⏱️ 36 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Since May is National Foster Care Awareness Month, I will be bringing you stories every week from the various perspectives of the foster care community—agency workers, foster parents, vulnerable adults, and children.
Did you know that 30% of children who enter into foster care are teens? The shift into foster care is a lifelong challenge for children of any age, but uniquely so for teens. That grief journey is deep and complex, as it also often involves giving up a role in life that they are used to fulfilling.
Melissa Smallwood found herself in the foster care system as a teenager and, along with the trauma she had experienced, her foster care experience had a lasting impact on her life. She moved from being a primary caregiver to her two brothers to the role of a foster child. Through her journey, she has found healing and pursued a career as a therapist who works primarily with children and teens who have been or are in the foster care system.
Melissa is now a wife and mom of seven, several of which joined her family through adoption and foster care, as well as “Mimi” to five. I hope you find encouragement and support through her story!
(Remember: Only until the end of May, applications are still open for YOU to become a TFI Advocate, bridging the gap between foster care agencies and churches right in your local community. This only happens twice a year, so learn more and apply here.)
Show Notes: https://theforgotteninitiative.org/melissa-smallwood-185/
Get 10% off BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/tfi
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Sharing the stories of the foster care community. |
| 0:03.6 | This is The Forgotten podcast. |
| 0:06.8 | You know, like I was just so bitter and hard-hearted and full of hate, which we don't realize is toxic. |
| 0:14.8 | Toxic to our physical health. |
| 0:16.9 | It's toxic for our mental health. |
| 0:18.3 | And it's toxic to our mental health, and it's toxic to our spiritual health. |
| 0:28.6 | Hello and welcome back to the Forgotten Podcast. I'm your host, Jamie Cave, and I am very excited to have you with me here today. |
| 0:33.6 | May is National Foster Care Month, so every week this month, we will be highlighting |
| 0:39.0 | stories from each perspective of the foster care community. That's agency workers, foster |
| 0:45.5 | parents, vulnerable adults, and children. Every member of the foster care community matters, |
| 0:51.9 | and everyone has a story to tell. Here at TFI, we equip |
| 0:57.0 | churches across the country to make the foster care community known. One of the main ways we do this |
| 1:04.5 | is by helping you launch and lead a thriving foster care ministry right where you live. These ministries connect churches and agencies |
| 1:13.3 | so that the church can help meet physical, relational, and spiritual needs in the foster care |
| 1:19.2 | community. And the foster care community can give perspective and opportunities to serve to the church. |
| 1:33.3 | We need each other. And I would love for you to join us on this mission. Right now, during the month of May, applications to become a TFI advocate are open. |
| 1:40.3 | Now, this only happens twice a year, and there are only a few spots available. |
| 1:46.5 | So if you want to encourage your local foster care agencies and help churches become more aware of foster care, then you should apply. |
| 1:54.6 | It's completely free, and we are here to help you every step of the way. |
| 2:00.3 | Now, until June 1st, you can learn more and apply at |
| 2:03.6 | tfiadvocate.org. We can't wait to meet you. If you enjoy this podcast, please be sure to leave a |
| 2:11.1 | review, subscribe, and share it with a friend. Thank you again for joining me, and let's now go to today's episode. |
... |
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