Shows
Let's Have a ConversationEpisode 21 - Tristian SmithIn this episode, Bob Friend and Mike Mertz interview Tristian Smith, author of Against All Odds and foster youth advocate. Tristian Smith is a retired Army officer, author, and advocate for foster youth whose life embodies resilience and hope. Raised in the foster care system, he moved through more than 25 homes and 13 schools across four cities, transforming instability into purpose. A former Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Defense officer, he brings a powerful perspective on overcoming adversity. In his memoir, Against All Odds, he shares a raw, inspiring journey through loss, abuse, and uncertainty, and how he...
2026-02-0347 minLet's Have a ConversationEpisode 20 - Solano County Child Welfare ServicesThe 20th episode of Let’s Have a Conversation showcases the work of Solano County Child Welfare Services and their Race, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI) program.The conversation details the culture-changing work that Solano County has done to create an environment that promotes justice and healing for families served. This work is also creating opportunity and safety for staff and leaders to inquire, learn, and challenge approaches that may be furthering agency-centered business as usual practices which have led to injustice and traumatization. We believe this to be one of the more innovative and groundbreaking approaches in c...
2026-01-081h 11Let's Have a ConversationEpisode 19 - Fathers Matter at Star View TEAMMATESThe 19th episode of Let’s Have a Conversation features Tina Binda, MA, LMFT, Star View TEAMMATES Administrator, Mr. Kelley, MPSS, Star View TEAMMATES Parent/Peer Director, and Pedro (Peter) Tafolla, Star View TEAMMATES Parent Partner and Fathers Matter Facilitator. Star View TEAMMATES is a part of Stars Behavioral Health Group (SBHG). SBHG serves more than 30,000 children, youth, and families annually throughout the state at more than two dozen program sites. SBHG has more than 45 locations and offer over 50 specialized public mental health programs and a wide array of community-based support services in 10 counties throughout California. ...
2025-11-081h 07Let's Have a ConversationEpisode 18 - Public Children Services Association of Ohio (PCSAO) Shared Practice ModelDesigned with a vision of equity, Ohio’s new shared practice model is PACT — Practice in Action Together. PACT has been developed for (and by) public children services agencies: caseworkers, supervisors, and agency leaders working alongside families, former foster youth, academics, and other experts.
In this 18th episode of “Let’s Have a Conversation,” Bob Friend is joined by Mike, Ashley, and Summer, who speak of the development of the Practice in Action Together (PACT) effort in Ohio. It’s a story of healing by a parent and social worker via the Public Children Services Association of Ohio (PCSAO...
2024-08-221h 09Let's Have a ConversationEpisode 17 - Upfront Family Finding Los Angeles County DCFSNumbers can reveal profound narratives and the story of Upfront Family Finding in Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) is inspiring. In the space of two years, LA County DCFS has seen a remarkable increase in the percentage of children initially placed in out-of-home care with kin, from 11% in 2021 to 43% in 2023. DCFS began its Upfront Family Finding journey in 2016 with two pilot offices, gradually expanding the program and implementing it countywide in 2023. Since its inception, the program has benefited 6,004 children, locating 42,429 maternal relatives, 28,591 paternal relatives, and 5,225 non-relative extended family members (data as of March 13, 2024).
In this c...
2024-05-091h 02
Let's Have a ConversationEpisode 16 - Allambi Care: Implementing Family Centered Practice (Part 2)Allambi Care is a multi-disciplined and recognised leader in the human services field working across Newcastle, the Hunter, the NSW Central Coast and Victoria. We are committed to supporting our community’s most vulnerable people through tailored services and programs.
We include a family finding case study experience regarding a young Aboriginal young person living in Allambi’s residential care, with connection back with family and culture.
Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
2022-04-2940 minLet's Have a ConversationEpisode 15 - Allambi Care: Implementing Family Centered Practice (Part 1)Allambi Care is a multi-disciplined and recognised leader in the human services field working across Newcastle, the Hunter, the NSW Central Coast and Victoria. We are committed to supporting our community’s most vulnerable people through tailored services and programs.
We include a family finding case study experience regarding a young Aboriginal person living in Allambi’s residential care with connection back with family and culture.
Music by Lesfm from Pixabay
2022-04-2933 minLet's Have a ConversationEpisode 14- Todo Por Mi Familia- A Story of Healing for Families Separated at the BorderSeneca Family of Agencies, a non-profit mental health agency, is leading Todo Por Mi Familia, a nationwide effort to connect impacted families with mental health assessments and treatment. Over the last two years, Seneca supported the class action lawsuit as a pro bono expert witness and consultant. Seneca is coordinating referrals to local mental health providers for interested families who were impacted by the Government’s policy. All services will be free, confidential, and conducted in the families’ preferred language.
To connect with Todo Por Mi Familia instagram, Facebook, Website and Email click links for...
2021-01-1256 minLet's Have a ConversationEpisode 13- Forging System Alignment in Public Child WelfareThis is the third and final segment of our conversation with Outagamie County Child Welfare, to discuss their journey to install and implement family finding since 2014. In this episode the remaining staff share more success stories, further discuss the importance of alignment, and identify some of the necessary system changes to sustain the practice.
2020-10-1945 minLet's Have a ConversationEpisode 12- Frontloading Family Finding in a Public Child Welfare AgencyThis is the second of our three segments with Outagamie County Child Welfare to review the last 5 years of their work to install and implement family finding. We dive into the importance of front loading the family finding intervention to prevent isolation and loneliness of young people from the very beginning and the discussion also references the critical importance of how families are engaged so that they can be involved in the matters that impact them. Finally, the conversation addresses the training and support Outagamie has created to cultivate the values necessary to support family finding.
2020-10-1940 minLet's Have a ConversationEpisode 11- The Leadership Journey to Install and Implement Family FindingBack 2014 NIPFC was contracted to train across the state of Wisconsin in 5 regionalized county sites to assist with the phase implementation of their family finding practices statewide. One of the counties was Outagamie, Director Bob Friend checked in with division manager Melissa Blum and family finding supervisors Jennifer Sailor to find out about their results, key discoveries, and remaining challenges along the way. This conversation is broken down into three separate episodes. This is the first episode, the group discusses their journey to install and implement family finding, the key moments and opportunities that impacted their course, their efforts...
2020-10-1945 minLet's Have a ConversationEpisode 10- Sustaining Family InvolvementIn our 10th episode of our "Let's Have a Conversation" podcast series Director Bob Friend connects with Kelli DeCook and Renaux Swancutt of Family Service Rochester, as well as Laurie Tochiki from Epic `Ohana. They converse how they've maintained 20 years of quality practice in family conferences.
Let us know how we're doing. Rate our episodes and leave us comments!
Show Links:
Family Service Rochester
County of Olmsted Child and Family Services
Epic 'Ohana, Inc.
2020-01-1726 minLet's Have a ConversationEpisode 9- Iron Sharpens IronIn our 9th episode of our "Let's Have a Conversation" podcast series, Director Bob Friend connects with Joey Cordero to hear his story as a parent in the child welfare system, and how the successful resolution of the matter and subsequent reunification with his young daughter led to a life and career change that has evolved to helping other fathers successfully navigate the child welfare system experience.
Learn more about Joey Cordero's work and impact through the following links:
Video: Engaging Fathers: Joey
Website: San Francisco Fatherhood Initiative
As Joey shared in...
2019-09-0440 minLet's Have a ConversationEpisode 8- What about Dad?In our 8th episode of our "Let's Have a Conversation" podcast series, Director Bob Friend converses with attorney and fellow NIPFC trainer, Kelly Beck, and Martin Henderson, founder of Fatherhood Matters, Inc. in San Antonio, Texas. The discussion delves into their work to include fathers in Juvenile Dependency Court in child custody proceedings.
2019-03-2048 minLet's Have a ConversationEpisode 7-Listening to and Learning from Lived ExperienceWe're excited to release another episode of our podcast “Listening to and Learning from lived Experience.” Program manager at NACAC Kim Stevens directs efforts to expand post-adoption services throughout the United States and Canada, providing training and support to parent and youth leaders. She sits down with Bob and discusses how her work with those who living in/or have lived experience in foster care continues to shape and sharpen her perspectives, advocacy, consultation and program management.
2019-02-2148 minLet's Have a ConversationEpisode 6 - A Story of PartnershipWe're excited to release another episode of our podcast. Melanie Sheetz, Executive Director of the Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition in Missouri, and Mike Kenney, co-founder and Executive Director of Kinnect in Ohio, share their common story to install and implement the 30 Days to Family model in 9 Ohio counties to address the impact of the opioid epidemic on families in Ohio facing child welfare system involvement
2019-02-2147 minLet's Have a ConversationEpisode 5 - Family Finding Practice AbroadWe're excited to release another episode of our podcast. Kevin Campbell describes his international travel experiences to NIPFC's Mike Mertz, comparing the approaches in social work amongst different cultures and communities.
2019-02-2114 minLet's Have a ConversationEpisode 4 - Convergence of 21st Century Science with the Wisdom of the AgesWe're excited to release the final episode of our four part podcast series with Kevin Campbell. NIPFC director, Bob Friend, sits with Kevin while he describes the shift of justifying family finding to it being understood as a human right.
2019-02-2109 minLet's Have a ConversationEpisode 3 - The Impact of "Casework as Usual" on Innovative PracticeWe're excited to release the third of our four part podcast series with Kevin Campbell. NIPFC director, Bob Friend, sits with Kevin as he looks back on his experiences and the combined effort that went into the passing of the Fostering and Connections Act of 2008, and the impact on current practice.
2019-02-2127 minLet's Have a ConversationEpisode 2- Restoring HopeIn part two of four, NIPFC director, Bob Friend, chats with Kevin Campbell about the experiences he has had witnessing the impact of the connection of loved ones with youth who have been in and out of the foster care and child protection system.
2019-02-2110 minLet's Have a ConversationEpisode 1 - The History of Family FindingNIPFC director, Bob Friend, sits down with Kevin Campbell about the origin, evolution, and future of Family Finding.
In Part 1 of 4, Kevin explains to Bob what inspired him to develop the Family Finding Model.
2019-02-2124 min