orphan care

This podcast is something like day one, while at the same time seven years strong. In this trailer episode for Think Global, Brandon Stiver speaks to the heart of the podcast and the season that God is calling our community into. You’ll hear about some of the updates to the podcast as well as more ways to connect with us. Brandon also introduces Canopy International, a global community for convening, connecting and collaborating.

Please support the show (seriously, we don’t have backers anymore!) Here’s our freshly set-up Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/canopyinternational/

Please rate and review the show as we seek to reach more globally-minded disciples that are looking for community and meaningful content.

Theme Music : Standing in the Rain by Kirk Osamayo. Free Music Archive, CC BY License.

Phil and Brandon share how God has been working through the podcast throughout 2023 as well as throughout the history since Phil started the show nearly seven years ago. As we close out the year, we share the direction that God is leading us to take the podcast in 2024 and beyond. This is a heartfelt, earnest community conversation on the podcast today.

We're adjusting the scope, changing the name and stepping into the next phase of this podcast community. We're grateful to have you in this community and are looking forward to going deeper with you as he calls all of us to better serve vulnerable and marginalized communities. 

Support the podcast by joining our NEW Patreon community : Link 

In episode 237, we have a special on the ground episode to share how one organization's journey and commitment to family based care plays out through all the people in their organization. We're featuring voices through Selamta Family Project in Addis Ababa and invite you to join us in this conversation to celebrate the family care movement taking place in Ethiopia.

Show Notes

• Julia shares how she became involved in the sector (3:30) 
• Selamta's programs and striving for forever families (5:00) 
• Trust-based relational culture (10:00)
• Transforming children's welfare in Ethiopia (12:00)
• Tamrat shares about Selamta's model (18:30)
• The reality of aging out (21:32)
• Collaboration and partnership on the ground (23:30)
• Connecting with love and care (25:00)
• Providing consistent care (27:00)
• What family can provide (35:00)
• The difference that family makes (41:00)
• Hearing from older youth (48:00)

Resources and Links from the show

Selamta Family Project

On the Ground in Lesotho- The Power of Family Reunification

This week we have dedicated academic and researcher Dr. Lauren Pinkson. Lauren is the host of the Upwardly Dependent podcast and comes with a wealth of knowledge and expertise in human trafficking prevention and community development through social enterprise. She has a passion for exploring creative solutions to bridging cultures and investing in communities. Join us as we challenge preconceptions surrounding human trafficking, shifting perspectives in bridging cultures, and delving into the intersection of podcasting within this sector.

Podcast Sponsor

Sojourn Studio

Sojourn Studio empowers young women and moms on the Thailand-Myanmar border through dignified work as they handcraft beauty to rewrite stories and lift communities. Get shopping today and support families at the same time!

Resources and Links from the show

Slavery Footprint

Freedom Business Alliance

Kindred Exchange

Upwardly Dependent

Human Trafficking 101

Wisdom of Your Body by Hillary L. McBride

You Should be Grateful by Angela Tucker

Conversation Notes

• The intersection of trafficking and orphanage care settings (10:22)
• Promoting freedom business (17:00)
• How we define freedom and changing our framework (24:30)
• The power of story (31:00)
• Responding to what we know now about international adoption (38:00)
• Upwardly Dependent podcast (43:00)
• Foster care into trafficking (48:00)
• Lauren's favorite recommendations (53:00)

Elli Oswald is the Executive Director of the Faith to Action Initiative, a coalition of organizations seeking to promote best practices in global orphan care.  She has served as a missions pastor at Bethany Community Church in Seattle and as part of World Vision International’s Child Protection Technical Team, specializing in community-based care for children deprived of parental care.  She has a B.A. from Pepperdine University and a M.A. in Cross Cultural Studies and International Development from Fuller Theological Seminary.

Family-based care for orphans world-wide is the ultimate goal. This episode with host Sue Duffield, is both informative and entertaining, as she and Elli navigate the truth about orphan care, the desperate need for support to families and the evidence of success when communities understand the need.

www.sueduffield.com

www.faithtoaction.org

Mackynzie 'Mac' Archer comes with a deep love for the Haitian people and vulnerable populations. She is an anthropologist, researcher, consultant, and advocate. In this episode we dive into some of her findings in short-term missions, the orphanage system in Haiti, and her most recent doctoral research on the emotional labor of care-affected children.

Podcast Sponsor

Sojourn Studio

Sojourn Studio empowers young women and moms on the Thailand-Myanmar border through dignified work as they handcraft beauty to rewrite stories and lift communities. Get shopping today and support families at the same time!

Resources and Links from the show

Most Children In Haitian Orphanages Aren’t Orphans — But US Missionaries Take Them Away From Their Families

Disquieting Gifts: Humanitarianism in New Delhi

Travesty in Haiti: A true account of Christian missions, orphanages, fraud, food aid, and drug trafficking

The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics

Conversation Notes

• How Mackenzie got to Haiti (6:00)
• The reality on the ground at an orphanage (7:30)
• Interviewing children in orphanage systems (10:30)
• Let’s talk about life in Haiti right now (12:00)
• The impact of instability on orphanages (15:00)
• An increase in malnutrition (21:00)
• Most organizations unable to meet basic needs (23:00)
• Sustaining poor child welfare practices (26:00)
• Good intentions (27:00)
• One story from a short-term missions volunteer (31:00)
• Accountable empathy (38:00)
• Are we willing to receiving from other cultures? (41:00)
• The emotional labor we see at orphanages (47:00)
• Wiping the eyes of children between groups of visitors (52:00)
• Emotional labor in family reunification (57:00)
• Building relationships instead of structures (1:12:00)

In this Conversation episode, we're joined by nonprofit leaders Leslie Beasley (Miracle Foundation), Dave LeVan (Lifewater International), and Paige Shope (Yoked Partners). We'll delve into how non-profit organizations are increasingly adopting for-profit strategies, blurring the lines between the two sectors. Our discussion will venture into valuable leadership insights from experienced leaders, strategies to creating an effective team and organizational culture, and how to lead in uncertain times.

Podcast Sponsor

Sojourn Studio

Sojourn Studio empowers young women and moms on the Thailand-Myanmar border through dignified work as they handcraft beauty to rewrite stories and lift communities. Get shopping today and support families at the same time!

Resources and Links from the show

Missions Based Management by Peter Brinkerhoff

Think Orphan Episode 219: The Uncharitable Truth about Nonprofits with Lindsey Hadley

Engine of Impact: Essentials of Strategic Leadership in the Nonprofit Sector

The Advantage by Patrick Lencioni

Uncharitable Movie

Conversation Notes

• The differences between business and non-profit (14:58)
• More organizations operating like for-profit entities (19:00)
• Importance of clarity on impact (23:00)
• Lessons learned leading (32:00)
• Identifying where people will be most effective (42:00)
• Staying focused on your strengths as an organization (57:00)
• Best leadership advice (1:05:00)

In this conversation episode, we bring together leaders within different denominations to talk about care reform and the role the American church can play. Joining ust today are from Kristen Lowry from Shelter Yetu and Send Relief (Southern Baptist Convention), Laura Horvath from Helping Children Worldwide and the United Methodist Church, and Pastor Jacob Lierz from LifeMission Church. We discuss what motivates American churches to engage in global orphan care? How do we encourage them to move towards better practice? Can the church lead the movement for care reform?

Podcast Sponsor

Sojourn Studio

Sojourn Studio empowers young women and moms on the Thailand-Myanmar border through dignified work as they handcraft beauty to rewrite stories and lift communities. Get shopping today and support families at the same time!

Resources and Links from the show

1MILLIONHOME Church Resources

Love Wisely course

Short-Term Missions Manual by Faith to Action

Barna Research Study

Send Relief consultant advocates orphan care reform

From the Field: How can your church help orphans?

Freeing Congregational Mission

Breaking Bread Series

Conversation Notes

• What brought our guests into reforming orphan care (6:00)

• Advising churches on best practice (13:00)

• Helping the church ask questions (16:30)

• Bringing change in missions (21:00)

• Why are churches and donors reluctant to change? (31:00)

• Should we stop supporting orphanages? (35:00)

• Stories of change (42:00)

• Short-term mission vs. long-term missions (49:00)

• Improving child protection in missions (58:00)

• Start with education and ask the hard questions (1:05:00)

In this episode, Brian Fikkert and Gabriel Walder join the show to tackle critical topics such as helping the church rediscover its identity, divisions within the American church regarding poverty, and the intricate relationship between economic empowerment and family well-being. Additionally, they delve into cross-cultural missions, the significance of community and relationships, and discuss ACE's collaboration with Chalmers Center. Tune in for insightful perspectives on poverty alleviation and community building.

Podcast Sponsor

Replanted Conference

The Replanted Conference provides a time away for caregivers to be refreshed, equipped, and inspired! Join us October 12-14, 2023 in Chicago or at a simulcast location near you. Registration now open! Use code '1MH10' to get your Think Orphan discount!

Resources and Links from the show

When Helping Hurts Vulnerable Children

How Soccer Explains Leadership with Graham Daniels

Becoming Whole by Brian Fikkert and Kelly Kapic

Life We're Looking For: Reclaiming Relationship in a Technological World by Andy Crouch

Chalmers Center

Alliance for Children Everywhere

Conversation Notes

• What does human flourishing look like? (7:30)
• Helping the church to rediscover who we are (9:00)
• Supporting organizations to transition to family care (16:00)
• The division of the American church on why people are poor (22:00)
• The problems with economic empowerment (24:00)
• The Graduation Approach of economic empowerment (34:00)
• Family as the solution and greatest community asset (37:00)
• Approaching families with humility (41:00)
• Working cross-culturally in missions (43:00)
• The imperative of community and relationship (48:00)
• ACE’s collaboration with Chalmers Center (1:04)

In this thought-provoking podcast episode, we delve into the intriguing concept of "The Gift of Disillusionment" as explored in a recent book co-authored by our guest, Peter Greer. Peter is president and CEO of HOPE International, a global Christ-centered micro-enterprise development organization serving throughout Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. Don't miss this captivating conversation that explores the profound perspective that disillusionment can be seen as a gift rather than a setback.

Podcast Sponsor

Replanted Conference

The Replanted Conference provides a time away for caregivers to be refreshed, equipped, and inspired! Join us October 12-14, 2023 in Chicago or at a simulcast location near you. Registration now open! Use code '1MH10' to get your Think Orphan discount!

Resources and Links from the show

The Gift of Disillusionment

Peter Greer's Website

Free Hope International Downloads

Rooting for Rivals

The Intentional Father by Jon Tyson

Where the Light Fell by Phillip Yancey

Conversation Notes

• The work of Hope International (7:00)
• Biggest lessons learned from the last 20 years (12:00)
• The impact COVID-19 had on impoverished communities (18:00)
• The impact of war on Hope's extensive work in Ukraine (24:00)
• Peter shares about the Gift of Disillusionment (32:00)
• Hope in a world full of cynicism (43:00)
• Being fully present with others (55:00)

In this Conversation episode, we are bringing together leaders to talk about care reform and transition support services. We have Elli Oswald from Faith to Action, Jonathan Dowell from Weza Care Solutions, and Hannah Won from ACCI. These leaders come with many years experience from providing direct services in an orphanage to leading organizations committed to supporting orphanages to transition their models.

In addition to the audio podcast, you can check out the video podcast on 1MILLIONHOME's YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@1MILLIONHOMEofficial

Podcast Sponsor

Christian Alliance for Orphans Summit

CAFO2023 is a gathering of more than 2,000 Christian orphan care leaders, parents and practitioners coming together from over 50 countries to worship and learn together. The event is September 20th-22nd in Oklahoma City. Register today!

Resources and Links from the show

Think Orphan Episode 162: The Global Church Pledge with Elli Oswald and Karen Springs

Better Care Network: Phases of Transition

Changing Mindsets and Practice from ACCI

Transitioning Support Survey by Faith to Action

1MILLIONHOME's Youtube channel

Conversation Notes

• Hannah shares about her experience with transition (6:00)
• Jonathan's background in corporate to Agape (9:00)
• Systems of protection and care are in reform (14:30)
• External pressure towards reform (23:00)
• Keeping donors engaged through transition (35:00)
• Care reform in Kenya (37:00)
• Giving local communities the resources they need (41:00)
• Being strategic and thoughtful with all stakeholders (58:00)
• Why do we need to look at policy and frameworks of organizations? (1:00:00)
• Restoring relationships (1:05:02)
• Resources, tools, people (1:09:00)
• First step advice (1:17:50)

This week we have the co-author of Freeing Congregational Mission, Dr. Hunter Farrell. He served as a long-term missionary in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Peru and now works as the Director of the World Mission Initiative at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Dr. Farrell brings a wealth of first hand and research knowledge about Christian Mission. After 35 years in intercultural missions, he is calling for a reframing of missions. What would it look like to approach missions with a learning posture? How can we create spaces of connection for shared learning across cultures?

Podcast Sponsor

Christian Alliance for Orphans Summit

CAFO2023 is a gathering of more than 2,000 Christian orphan care leaders, parents and practitioners coming together from over 50 countries to worship and learn together. The event is September 20th-22nd in Oklahoma City. Register today!

Resources and Links from the show

Freeing Congregational Mission

Village Reach

Quiet

The Power of Introverts

Conversation Notes

• Hunter brought back to faith in Congo (4:50)
• Defining missions (10:00)
• The three stones framework (15:00)
• Cultural humility and learning posture (20:00)
• Problematic attitude of giving without receiving (24:00)
• Creating spaces of connection and horizontal learning (40:00)
• Unintended consequences of child sponsorship (42:00)
• Redeeming short-term missions (51:00)
• Key differences in cultures (57:00)

In this Conversation episode, we're joined by four child welfare leaders to dive into the nuances, challenges and triumphs of pioneering foster care throughout the world. On the show is Ian Forber-Pratt from Children's Emergency Relief International, Tara Garcia from Identity Mission, Sebilu Bodja from Bethany Christian Services, and Martus Greyvenstein from Kin Culture. We'll dive into all the nitty-gritty of foster care including questions like "Is foster-to-adopt bad?" "How do you promote something that is completely foreign in many contexts?" and "What role does foster care play in getting kids out of orphanages?"

In addition to the audio podcast, you can check out the video podcast on 1MILLIONHOME's new YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@1MILLIONHOMEofficial

Podcast Sponsors

Christian Alliance for Orphans Summit

CAFO2023 is a gathering of more than 2,000 Christian orphan care leaders, parents and practitioners coming together from over 50 countries to worship and learn together. The event is September 20th-22nd in Oklahoma City. Register today!

Resources and Links from the show

Think Orphan Episode 181: Driving Innovation in Child Welfare with Ian Forber-Pratt

Think Orphan Episode 30: Revolutionizing Orphan Care in India with Ian Forber-Pratt

1MILLIONHOME's new Youtube channel

Conversation Notes

• Foster care across cultural contexts (14:00)
• Building awareness for foster care (17:00)
• Partnering with the local church in foster care (20:00)
• The importance of defining terms (27:00)
• Using what’s working culturally (43:00)
• Recruiting families who root for the biological family (47:00)
• Pioneering care reform in Honduras (54:00)
• Collaboration between governments and organizations (59:00)
• The role of the local church (1:10:00)

In our second Conversations episode, we're joined by Anna Jackson from Montaña  de Luz in Honduras, Brent Phillips from Cherish Uganda, and Dan Stoehr from Reach Ministries in the US, to discuss HIV/AIDS today. What is the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the world today? What are the challenges care providers face? Find out how these leaders are working to overcome stigma and other obstacles.

Also, you can check out the video conversation on 1MILLIONHOME's new YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@1MILLIONHOMEofficial

Podcast Sponsor

Attachment and Trauma Focused Therapy by Deborah Gray

The ATFT course will prepare you to treat attachment, trauma, and loss issues in children; families. The course teaches approaches for prenatal exposure, executive dysfunction, and family maltreatment.

Resources and Links from the show

Global HIV & AIDS statistics — Fact sheet

Christianity Today: When Politics Saved 25 Million Lives

Think Orphan Episode 190: HIV/AIDS, Child Sponsorships and Fundraising Excellence with Brent Phillips

Conversation Notes

• Current HIV/AIDS data across the globe (4:00)
• The prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Uganda and sub-Saharan Africa (6:00)
• Stigma remains one of the greatest hurdles across countries (10:30)
• Medicine the constant reminder (16:00)
• How COVID-19 impacted HIV treatment (19:00)
• Mother to child transmission in the Global South (26:00)
• Medicine accessibility in Honduras (40:00)
• Overcoming the stigma with stories (45:00)
• The changing perception of HIV (49:00)
• Overcoming stigma with skits and outreach in Central America (55:00)
• One thing you want people to know (59:00)

Kyle was in the US, Matt was in the...what is Puerto Rico again? Well, while on mission trip to the island, he interviewed Javier Vargas of Adoptando, a mission of Send Relief.

Adoptando: https://www.adoptandoministries.org

As a Christ-follower, you are called to obey the Great Commandment, and you are called to pursue the Great Commission. Southwestern Seminary will encourage you to love God with all you are, and will equip you to serve God wherever He calls. Whether you’re just beginning your journey or have decades of experience, Southwestern Seminary will equip you to live your calling.

“This seminary is grace filled, Christ centered, scripturally grounded, confessionally guided, student focused, and globally engaged.

“Learn more about Southwestern Seminary's core values at swbts.edu/corevalues.

In our first ever Conversations episode, we're bringing together four global care leaders to talk about Central American cultural contexts, cycles of poverty and violence, family separation and the push factors leading migrants to flee the region. Joining the show is Kara Garcia of Project RED in El Salvador, Erica Switzer of Embraced Intl. in Honduras, Levi Bareither of Story Intl. in Guatemala and long-time children's advocate Onesimo Feliz.

Podcast Sponsors

Attachment and Trauma Focused Therapy by Deborah Gray

The ATFT course will prepare you to treat attachment, trauma, and loss issues in children; families. The course teaches approaches for prenatal exposure, executive dysfunction, and family maltreatment.

Resources and Links from the show

Migration Policy - Central American Immigrants

Think Orphan Episode 183 - Strengthening Children and Families in El Salvador with Kara Wilson Garcia

Show Notes

• Increasing levels of migrants and asylum seekers at US southern border (7:00)
• Kara shares about the current environment in El Salvador (9:00)
• Erica contrasts El Salvador with the work Embrace is doing in Honduras (13:00)
• Levi shares about the situation in Guatemala (22:00)
• Generational poverty paired with lack of opportunity as a driving force (28:00)
• Reunifying children within violent and unpredictable environments (30:20)
• Strengthening families as a preventative factor in migration (33:00)
• Onesimo shares the role of pastors in Latin America (42:00)
• Multiple layers of generational, historical, complex issues (58:00)
• We need more empathy for asylum seekers (1:00:00)

This week we have the privilege of delving deeper into the remarkable life story of Mohamed Emmanuel Nabieu. In his captivating memoir, My Long Journey Back Home, Nabs shares his resilient spirit and unwavering determination to overcome the challenges that marked his childhood and youth. In his second appearance on Think Orphan, Nabs shares more powerful insights. Discover how he is harnessing the strength of his past to forge a path of empowerment, not only for himself but for countless others who have experienced similar adversity.

Podcast Sponsors

Attachment and Trauma Focused Therapy by Deborah Gray

The ATFT course will prepare you to treat attachment, trauma, and loss issues in children; families. The course teaches approaches for prenatal exposure, executive dysfunction, and family maltreatment.

Join the Haiti Family Care Network at the Better Together Conference this July! The Better Together conference will provide a dedicated space and time to convene, share, and learn over two and half days in Nashville.

Resources and Links from the show

My Long Journey Back Home

Watch Nabs on TedxUSW

Helping Children Worldwide

Show Notes

• What prompted the writing of My Long Journey Back Home (11:20)
• A loss of family, community, culture, language, identity (12:00)
• Cultivating resilience and being transformed (13:30)
• Spreading the message about care reform and importance of families (14:00)
• Reflecting on diverse childhood experiences (16:50)
• Growing up with family (17:00)
• Navigating life on the streets (20:00)
• Family cannot be replaced (23:00)
• It is better to grow up in a poor family than a rich orphanage (26:00)
• The abuse in institutions is higher than in families (28:10)
• It’s more expensive to run an institution to family-care (29:00)
• Being taken away to the orphanage (29:30)
• Care without losing identity, connection, belonging (31:00)
• Creating bigger problems by removing children from families (32:00)
• Ways that missionaries have undermined connections with local communities (33:00)
• Changing development to ask communities, what do you need? (35:00)
• Undermining cultural ethics of countries (36:00)
• Understanding the cultural differences and how it can create challenges (38:00)
• Transitioning to family care (40:00)
• Providing hands up not hand outs (44:00)
• When families get stronger, so do communities (47:00)
• Years of cultivating a relationship with the government (51:00)
• Nab’s recommendations (56:00)

Kimberly Quinley, a pioneer of family-based care, has spent nearly 40 years serving in Thailand. She is the co-founder and Executive Director of Step Ahead, an organization committed to see all children in Thailand grow up in safe and nurturing families. Kimberly is a founding leader for Strong Families Alliance Thailand (SFAT), a Christian alliance with the same vision and goals as World Without Orphans. In episode 220, we cover everything from the core pillars of family strengthening, to collective impact, creating national roadmaps, and more.

Podcast Sponsor

JOURNEYHOME is offering online courses and practical resources for reforming models of care throughout the world. Created by seasoned frontline practitioners, the instructors in our community share field-tested and solution-based content to safely and effectively get kids home.

Reintegrating Children with Disabilities into Family: Around the world, children with disabilities are 17x more likely than typically developing children to end up living in an institution. Our hope is that this course will help your organization find a way home for children with disabilities.

Resources and Links from the show

Urban Halo by Craig Greenfield

Step Ahead Thailand

Think Orphan Episode 51 with Delia Pop

Show Notes

• Introducing Kimberly Quinley (7:00)
• Understanding the reality of orphanages (9:00)
• Starting Step Ahead (10:30)
• One mother’s dilemma (12:00)
• Keeping families together is the best thing to do (15:20)
• Cross cultural insights, do your homework (18:00)
• Poverty is great reason children enter care (19:00)
• Come listen, and learn (20:00)
• Push and pull factors for children in residential care (25:00)
• Children at risk of trafficking (29:00)
• Strengthening families is most needed (35:00)
• Defining family strengthening (39:00)
• Different areas of family strengthening (40:00)
• Connecting families to services (43:00)
• Collective impact model (50:00)
• Defining shared vision (53:00)
• Monitoring and evaluation (55:00)
• Creating leadership (58:30)
• Drafting a national roadmap (59:00)
• Kimberly’s recommendations (1:03)
• Brandon and Phil recap the conversation (1:15)

Find additional shows and resources on thinkorphan.com 

In episode 219, Lindsay Hadley is on to discuss the upcoming release of the documentary "Uncharitable". After many years in the nonprofit sector, Lindsay has become one of the most sought-after consultants and producers. This conversation challenges us to envision an unconstrained nonprofit sector. What if the charities could attract the best leaders, talents, and ideas? What if smaller operations with less impact stopped and those resources went to the best organization solving the problem? We get into these questions and more in this episode of Think Orphan.

Podcast Sponsor

Multnomah University's Masters in Global Development and Justice

The M.A. in Global Development and Justice (MAGDJ) program prepares students to work across the nexus of justice, peacebuilding, and transformational community development work. The curriculum seeks to develop compassionate leaders, who are trauma-informed and prepared to support human flourishing in whatever context they work in.

Resources and Links from the show

Uncharitable Documentary

Dan Pallotta's Ted Talk - The Way We Think about Charity is Dead Wrong

Lindsay's Book Recommendation- Bonds that Make Us Free

Show Notes

• Lindsay shares her background in nonprofit (5:05)
• Her involvement working in orphan care and global poverty (7:30)
• Overhead myth and a real example (17:25)
• Ted Talk behind 'Uncharitable' (24:00)
• Lindsay explains her role as an executive producer (33:00)
• The role risk plays for non-profits (38:00)
• Appreciation in the non-profit sector (49:00)
• The best organizations would grow (51:00)
• Lindsey’s book recommendation (55:00)
• To see ourselves in the other (57:00)
• Lindsey’s most influential person (59:00)
• Joe Ritchie on Caring for Orphans (1:00:00)
• Brandon and Phil recap their talk with Lindsey (1:02:00) 
• The overhead myth (1:03:00)

In episode 218, we hear from lawyer and professor, Elizabeth Kirk. Elizabeth is the Director of the Center for Law and the Human Person, as well as a research associate at The Catholic University of America. Her work spans a variety of law in child welfare, parental rights, and adoption policy. In addition to her career, her lived experiences as an adoptee and an adoptive parent, give her a unique perspective and voice to speak into the conversation happening around adoption today. She talks with Brandon about the role that infant adoption could play following last year's Dobbs decision at the Supreme Court, misconceptions around adoption, as well as insight on the decision making process for women that have an unplanned pregnancy.

Podcast Sponsor

Masters Program at Mulnomah University in Global Development and Justice

The M.A. in Global Development and Justice (MAGDJ) program prepares students to work across the nexus of justice, peacebuilding, and transformational community development work. The curriculum develops compassionate leaders and professionals, who are trauma-informed and prepared to support human flourishing in whatever context they work in.

Resources and Links from the show

LifeMark movie

Show Notes

• Elizabeth shares her background and what drew her into this work (5:20)
• The role of adoption in a post Roe vs. Wade world (13:00)
• Overviewing pro-choice arguments against adoption (14:52)
• A view of pregnancy that includes communities (18:20)
• Mothers and decision making in adoption (24:50)
• A global south perspective (27:20)
• Misconceptions concerning adoption (29:00)
• Elizabeth’s adoption experience and a story from a birth mother (35:20)
• Is adoption a viable option in a birth mother’s mind? (49:00)