James Trail: from functional to flourishing

• Seeing the Forgotten Siblings

  Meredith talks with Daniela Coats, a therapist and the founder of With Siblings, an organization focused on supporting biological children in foster and adoptive families. They talk about Daniela’s personal journey growing up with foster siblings, how that shaped her professional path, and what it means to create emotional space for all kids in a family. Daniela shares powerful insights on birth order, scripts for awkward questions, and how faith and therapy intersect in this work.🔗 LinksLists of trainings that can be hosted live: https://www.withsiblings.org/home/training-and-consultationPre-recorded trainings, worksheets, guide, and other free resources: https://stan.store/with_siblingsThe Day Lily Turned (un)Invisible: https://a.co/d/3lJ8y6J"Siblings... if only for a short time" Shirts https://www.bonfire.com/if-only-for-a-short-time/Be Still Counseling and Consulting: https://www.bestilltherapy.com/daniela-coatsProduction Credits:Producer: Zach LuceroMarketing: Sydney JonesSocial: Griffin ShumanBooking: Gretchen Schrock

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• What’s Broken in Our Helping Systems?

  What happens when the systems meant to help actually hurt? Shanelle is a pastor’s wife, attorney, and Executive Director of the Racial Equity Collaborative. In this episode, she shares her passion for addressing racial disparities in the child welfare system—and her commitment to community-driven solutions that bring lasting change.We talk about racial trauma, what’s often misunderstood about equity work, how faith informs her approach, and what it means to “have equity eyes.”📌 More from Shanelle & the Racial Equity Collaborative:WebsiteInstagramYoutubeSkin DeepProduction Credits:Producer/Cam Op: Zach LuceroMarketing: Sydney JonesCam Op/Social: Griffin ShumanBooking: Gretchen SchrockSpecial thanks to Westside Church and the RE Conference team for being gracious hosts!https://www.westsidefamily.church/https://www.realencouragement.org/

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• Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: The Hidden Challenge Facing Families

  1 in 20 school-age kids in the U.S. are impacted by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)—yet most go undiagnosed. Sandra Flach, host of The Adoption & Foster Care Journey podcast, shares her powerful insights as an adoptive mom, FASD educator, and advocate for trauma-informed care. If you're parenting a child from a hard place, navigating FASD, or supporting adoptive and foster families, this episode is for you.🔹 Learn how trauma and prenatal alcohol exposure impact the brain🔹 Understand why traditional discipline approaches don’t work for neurodivergent kids🔹 Discover hope, community, and strategies for parenting children with FASD📌 CHAPTER MARKERS0:00 – Intro07:41 – The ADHD & FASD Overlap – Why Kids Are Often Misdiagnosed12:56 – Why Doctors & Schools Miss FASD – The Gaps in Medical Training20:36 – The Parenting Shift – Why Traditional Discipline Fails These Kids34:12 – FASD & Church Hurt – How Faith Communities Can Do Better44:20 – Invisible Disability, Real Challenges – What Needs to Change50:02 – Stories of Hope – How Kids with FASD Can Thrive📢 Further Resources from Sandra Flach🔗 Podcast: https://www.justicefororphansny.org/podcast🔗 FASD Training & Support: https://www.justicefororphansny.org/registration🔗 Hope for the FASD Journey Community: https://www.justicefororphansny.org/hope-community🔗 Sandra Flach’s Website: https://www.sandraflach.com/🔗 National FASD Resources: https://fasdunited.org/📲 Connect with Sandra & Justice for Orphans➡️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sandraflach_jfo | https://www.instagram.com/justicefororphans➡️ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SandraFlach | https://www.facebook.com/JusticeForOrphans🎬 Production CreditsProducer: Zach LuceroMarketing: Sydney JonesSocial: Griffin ShumanBooking: Gretchen Schrock

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• Disability & Ministry: Why 1 in 3 Families Are Leaving the Church

  The church should be the most welcoming place on earth—so why do so many families with disabilities feel unseen and excluded? Rebecca Wall, Executive Director of WITH Ministries, shares powerful stories, eye-opening stats, and practical ways churches can shift from exclusion to belonging.In This Episode:✅ Why so many families with disabilities are leaving the church✅ The heartbreaking reality of being told, "Your child is a liability"✅ How churches can shift from separate spaces to true inclusion✅ Practical steps for church leaders, parents, and individuals to foster belongingLearn moreWebsite - https://withministries.org/Research & Resources- https://withministries.org/equip/Access Subscription- https://withministries.org/access/Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/withministriesorg/Tim Tebow Foundation - https://timtebowfoundation.org/Boundless Hope by Kim Botto - https://store.kimbotto.com/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaYNIi-I_5MhGe3hSOyb6iQkuT1zVgwZRcSqhyT8bRrQoMQ23_Vq55aRfkQ_aem_mxQRvtc7CSzeA2zrqpXuCQProducer: Zach LuceroMarketing: Sydney JonesSocial: Griffin ShumanBooking: Gretchen Schrock

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  48:41
• FASD & Trauma: Understanding the Root of Big Behaviors

  Parenting kids who have experienced trauma or live with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) comes with unique challenges. In this episode, Meredith sits down with Barb Clark, Director of Training at Families Rising, to discuss parenting strategies that work, the power of connection, and how understanding brain-based differences can transform the way we support kids. With humor and real-life insights, Barb shares her journey as a parent to five adult children, including those affected by prenatal alcohol and drug exposure. She also highlights the most common misconceptions about FASD, why traditional parenting strategies often fail, and how professionals—caregivers, therapists, social workers, and law enforcement—can better support impacted individuals.Barb is a nationally recognized trainer and the head coach of the FASD Caregiver Kickstart Program, an international initiative helping families navigate the challenges of FASD. If you’ve ever felt stuck, frustrated, or unsure how to help a child struggling with big behaviors, this episode is for you.Producer: Zach LuceroMarketing: Sydney JonesSocial: Griffin ShumanBooking: Gretchen Schrock📚 Resources Mentioned:Families Rising (Training, Resources, and Support): www.wearefamiliesrising.orgFASD Training Webinar Series by Barb Clark: https://wearefamiliesrising.org/training-series/fetal-alcohol-spectrum-disorders-training-series-webinar/FASD Success Caregiver Kickstart Program: https://www.fasdsuccess.comFASD United (State Resource Directory): https://www.fasdunited.orgReConference (Real Encouragement for Families): https://www.realencouragement.orgFaithBridge Foster Care (Past Sessions by Barb): https://faithbridgeu.com/Join the Notification List for Barb’s Upcoming Book: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScESI1VSx_QOLu9GhKbskHHkO-BMvoJUy-nVgPbOfaTP5xPCg/viewform🔗 Follow Families Rising:• Website: https://wearefamiliesrising.org• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/58249251/• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wearefamiliesrising• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearefamiliesrising• Twitter: https://x.com/familiesrising💬 Join the conversation! What’s one takeaway from this episode that stuck with you? Drop a comment or send us a message.

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