Where brave voices reveal resilience, truth, and hope.
Welcome to Foster Features Podcast
Join social worker and former foster youth, Pauline Goldsmith-Johnson as she explores and navigates the complex layers and impact of the foster care system on our youth, families, culture, and society.
Season 2
Foster Care & Mental Health Awareness Month with Sofia Dee, New York Immigration and Family Court Attorney
This first episode of Season 2 features Sofia Dee, a New York Immigration and Family Court Attorney who is also a close friend. In this episode we dive into the intersectionality of the immigrant population, migrant children, foster care, and mental health. Sofia is a seasoned attorney and advocate for migrant children and human rights. Her personal and professional journey highlights the need for awareness of an issue often convoluted and polarized by politics and the media.
Links: Immigration Nation
Child Protection Reform with Richard Wexler
In today’s episode, we discuss child welfare and protection reform with Richard Wexler, the Executive Director of the National Coalition for Child Protection Reform (NCCPR). Richard has been advocating for child welfare and protection reform for over 40 years. He is also a journalist and author of the book Wounded Innocence, and writer of countless articles that draw attention to issues around the framework, practices, policies, and history of the child welfare system. Richard’s incredible depth of knowledge and dedicated passion for this work is foundational to understanding both the historical and political influences on our current foster care system. During this very policy-oriented conversation, we also talk about the intersectionality of racism, classism, politics, and the profit-generating aspect of foster care.
As always, thank you for listening. Keep being brave your voices. Take care everyone.
Links:
NCCPR website; NCCPR blog ; NPR Article; The Marshall Project Article ; Wounded Innocence By Richard Wexler
Joanne Goldsmith-Johnson
A special thank you to my sister, who taught me how to be kind and is the embodiment of compassion and empathy. Our sisterhood saved us and made us survivors. Thank you for letting me share our story.
