About this episode

This episode features a kinship foster parent and her nephew discussing their experiences and insights on fostering teens.

In this heartfelt episode of The Call to Foster Podcast , hosts Shasta Miller, Jessica Huckstep, and Ashton Kever sit down with Yolanda, a kinship foster parent, and her 13-year-old nephew, Jeremiah, to share their inspiring story. Yolanda opens up about her own experience in foster care as a child and how it shaped her decision to step in when Jeremiah needed a safe, loving home. Together, they discuss the challenges and joys of fostering teens, the importance of family bonds, and practical advice for navigating technology, setting boundaries, and finding support. Jeremiah offers a unique perspective from a youth in care by sharing what helped him feel safe, his coping strategies, and his honest advice for future foster parents. From powerful insights on “loving beyond the hurt” to the role of community and counseling, this episode is packed with wisdom, encouragement, and real-life experiences that every foster parent or prospective foster family needs to hear. If you’ve ever considered fostering or want to better understand the impact you can make, this conversation will leave you inspired and informed. Learn how to get started on our website .

People in this episode

Hosts: Shasta Miller, Jessica Huckstep, Ashton Kever

Guests: Yolanda, Jeremiah

Topics covered

• foster care
• family bonds
• teen fostering
• support systems
• coping strategies

Keywords

• foster care
• kinship foster parent
• family
• support
• technology
• boundaries
• youth in care

More episodes of The Call to Foster

• The Missouri Foster Parent Portal · June 22, 2026 · 20 min
• "It's the home-cooked meals, honestly." · January 30, 2026 · 30 min
• Finding Support as a Foster Care Provider in Missouri · October 16, 2025 · 45 min
• "Get into the arena." · September 17, 2025 · 34 min
• "You have to know it's not gonna be easy." · August 19, 2025 · 21 min
• "The biggest steps in life might be the scariest, but they are the most rewarding." · July 15, 2025 · 31 min

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