Behind the Curtain: Honest Conversations about Foster Care and Adoption
Each episode will feature a conversation between host Rebecca Harvin and foster/adoptive caregivers or members of the community who support foster care and adoption.
Behind the Curtain: Honest Conversations about Foster Care and Adoption
BRB: We Hit Pause Before Season 3 starts on December 2nd
Big news first: we’re taking a short breather so we can come back strong on December 2 with Season Three of Behind the Curtain. While we pause, we’re pointing you to two powerful replays and a brand-new support that can change the daily rhythm for foster and adoptive families.
We start with a listener favorite: a candid look at foster care through the eyes of Brianna, a former foster youth, alongside her case manager. It’s raw, grounded, and deeply human, offering a window into what healing looks like over time—how trust is rebuilt, where systems help and harm, and what consistent adults can do to make a difference. Then we move to the school front with a practical breakdown of IEPs and 504 plans. If you’re navigating evaluations, meetings, or behavior plans, this episode turns jargon into steps, gives you language for advocacy, and explains how trauma-informed supports fit into real classrooms.
We’re also excited to share a new resource at Haven: our Family Advocate position. If you’re overwhelmed by school processes or unsure how to find local services, the Advocate helps you navigate IEPs and 504s and connects you with community programs that already exist but are hard to find. Think of it as a guide who knows the map and walks it with you. If you would like more information, email sara@havenretreatinc.org. And, for foster and adoptive moms who need true rest, mark your calendar for our therapeutic retreat in Jacksonville, Fl, February 20–22, 2026—registration opens mid-December.
We’ll meet you back here on December 2 with fresh stories, practical tools, and a steady reminder that you’re not alone.
Hey friends, Rebecca here with a quick update from Behind the Curtain Honest Conversations about foster care and adoption. I wanted to let you know we're taking a short break between seasons, but don't worry, we will be back with season three launching December 2nd. We've got some powerful stories, great conversations, and practical encouragement coming your way as we keep pulling back the curtain on real life for foster and adoptive families. In the meantime, if you're new or want to revisit some favorites, now is a great time to listen to older episodes. If I were you, I'd start with an episode titled A Look at Foster Care Through the Lens of a Former Foster Youth, Brianna's Journey. This is where Brianna Grow and her case manager share what it's really like inside foster care and how Brianna has learned how to heal. Or if your child is struggling at school, maybe check out Breaking Down IEPs, a foster parent's guide to school advocacy. It's an extremely practical episode about navigating IEPs and 504 plans for our kiddos that need a little extra support at school. That podcast is a great intro into something I'm really excited to share with you. We now have a family advocate position at Haven to help families navigate IEPs, 504s, and to connect you with community resources that can make a big difference in your child's life and already exist. We just don't really know where to find them. So we are gonna help you. We know how overwhelming those systems can feel. If you need help in this way, please reach out to Sarah. That's s-a-ra-a at havenretreats incotor. So s-a-ra-a at haven retreats with an s-n-c dot or g. Finally, if you are a foster or adoptive mom, grab your calendar and save the date for our next mom's retreat, February 20th to 22nd, 2026, right here in Jacksonville, Florida. This is a therapeutic retreat centered around rest, laughter, and connection with other moms who truly get it. More details are going to come soon, but I want to let you know that registration opens in mid-December, so be on the lookout for that. In the meantime, take a deep breath, enjoy the little pause, and have a great Thanksgiving. We'll meet you back here on December 2nd for season three of Behind the Curtain. Thanks for listening, and as always, I want to let you know you are not alone.