12. Growing Up Adopted - Jeanette Jolley

Changing the way we care for orphaned children, getting kids back into families, and lifting up community….it all sounds great on paper, but is it actually possible? This is an important question because theory doesn’t necessarily mean it works. 
This is why we are talking with our friend, Phil Aspergren, who has been helping children’s homes from all over the world change their model of care…and it’s working!

In most of our minds, orphanages are viewed as a protector of vulnerable children. This can be true, but often an orphanage can be a deceptive place that is using it’s position and power to serve selfish interests and even harm the children it claims to protect. This is why is so important to understand the warning signs.
Our guest, Rebecca Nhep, is an expert in this field and has even been a part of closing down multiple nefarious orphanages. She is here to share her invaluable knowledge and wisdom and help us all understand the urgency behind reimagining the way we care for vulnerable children. 

All over the world there are people who felt clearly called by God to either fund a children's home, serve at one, or leave everything to start an orphanage. But now that we know that orphanages and children's homes are not the way we should be aiming to care for vulnerable children, how are we supposed to view that very real and clear calling? 

Travel with us to Maesot, Thailand to hear from the Thai Director of Global Child Advocates on what it looks like to run 4 children’s homes to closing them all down and finding safe family for each child. 

Are orphanages the best way to care for orphaned children? Is there actually a better way?

The answers to these questions could define the next generation of vulnerable children. Join us as we dig deeper into these complicated issues and the origins and motivations behind our recently released video series called Reimagine Orphan Care.

We spoke with Oleg and Andrey, two Ukrainian men working to help bring children to safety. They share about the realities of what is actually happening on the ground and how children living in orphanages are being impacted the most.

Visit Orphan Outreach to learn how you can support Together for Children in Ukraine.

If you're like most people, the war in Ukraine weighs heavy on your mind but you don't know what to do about it. Fortunately, Ronne Rock and Mike Douris have been working with vulnerable children in both Russia and Ukraine for years. Their wisdom, insight, and humility will help guide us toward ways that can make a difference during this unprecedented time.

Keri spent the first 20 years of her life surviving. She went into foster care at 3 days old and was adopted by age 5. This was supposed to be her happy ending but instead she endured abuse and more broken relationships. This pain and trauma could have defined Keri's life, but instead she chose to find healing.

Late one night in a Los Angeles hotel room, Brenna had her kids unexpectedly removed from her care and taken back to Michigan. Now, with COVID lockdown just starting, she found herself stuck, homeless, and hopeless. This could have crushed most people, but Brenna loved her children more than anything and would do whatever it took to get them back.