EduVoices: Championing Foster Futures
EduVoices: Championing Foster Futures is a podcast amplifying the voices and stories at the intersection of foster care and education. Through in-depth conversations with educators, CASA volunteers, social workers, legal advocates, and policymakers, this series explores the challenges and solutions shaping the educational outcomes of foster youth. Produced in collaboration with Texas Tech University and key community partners, EduVoices blends research, advocacy, and storytelling to inform, inspire, and drive systemic change.
Episodes
How can communities better support children and families before they enter foster care—and how do schools, child welfare agencies, and community organizations work together once children become involved in the system?
In this episode of EduVoices: Championing Foster Futures, Dr. Rudy Reyes, Ed.D., CEO of Children's Home of Lubbock, shares his perspective on t...
Students in foster care often face school instability, interrupted educational services, and the lasting effects of trauma. When special education enters the picture, navigating the educational system can become even more challenging for foster parents, caregivers, CASA volunteers, educators, and school leaders.
In this episode of EduVoices: Championing Foster Futures, Dr. Dusty Palmer and Dr. Stephanie Barbre welcome Dr. Bridgett ...
In this episode of EduVoices, we explore the transformative framework of Collaborative Family Engagement (CFE) with Frances Lofley, a Texas CASA CFE Coach. CFE represents a significant shift in how systems approach foster care—moving beyond case management toward intentionally identifying, strengthening, and sustaining lifelong relationships for children. At its core, this model is grounded in th...
In this episode of EduVoices, we sit down with Vicki Spriggs, CEO of Texas CASA, to explore the evolving landscape of foster care advocacy across Texas. This conversation takes a systems-level view of how children in foster care are supported—and where critical gaps still exist. Vicki Spriggs shares insight into the role Texas CASA plays in aligning efforts across local programs, courts, child we...
In this episode of EduVoices, we are joined by Brandi Goen, Grants Management Director at Texas CASA and former CASA volunteer, to explore how lived experience and strategic funding come together to strengthen advocacy for children in foster care.
Brandi shares her personal journey from serving as a CASA volunteer to supporting programs across Texas at the state level—offering a unique perspective on how...
In this episode of EduVoices, we take a closer look at the policy landscape shaping foster care in Texas with Stephanie Battaglia and Ana O’Quin. Policy decisions have a direct impact on the daily experiences of children in foster care, yet the process behind those decisions is often complex and misunderstood. This conversation breaks down how legislation is developed, how advocacy organizations...
The transition from foster care into higher education is a critical — and often overlooked — stage in a student’s journey. In this episode of EduVoices: Championing Foster Futures, hosts Dr. Dusty Palmer and Dr. Stephanie Barbre explore how colleges and universities can play a vital role in helping foster-connected students access, persist in, and complete their degrees.
Joining the conversation is Ariana Hernande...
This episode explores the lived experience of transitioning from foster care into adulthood through the story of a former foster youth who is now a working professional and graduate student. The conversation highlights the realities of aging out of care, the importance of supportive relationships, and the role of education in shaping long-term opportunities.
Listeners will gain insight into how system experiences influence id...
In this episode of EduVoices: Championing Foster Futures, we welcome Dr. Selenda Cumby, Assistant Professor in Educational Leadership and former foster caregiver, for an in-depth conversation on the realities of foster parenting.
This episode explores the lived experiences of foster parents, including what motivates individuals to foster, what daily life in a foster home looks like, and how foster families navigate relationships, t...
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