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This is the trailer for the BONUS BABIES podcast. Jayne Amelia Larson interview kids, attorneys, social workers, caregivers and more, and tracks her experience learning about and navigating through the foster care system…not as someone who has a lived foster care experience… but through the unique lens of a Court Appointed Special Advocate (or CASA) volunteer––the eyes and ears of the court––whose job it is to seek out as much information as possible about the child to whom they’re assigned, the child’s case, and the child’s family. The CASA acts as the child’s voice, and is her advocate, her voice, in court; and it is a volunteer position, this is what differentiates us everyone else in that child's care. Los Angeles, where she is recording, has 35,000 kids in the county foster care system, and only 1200 CASA volunteers. So do the math, there are not enough of them. We hope that hearing about these kids and from these kids will help give them a voice …to give them a forum to help others understand what it’s like to have a lived foster care experience by hearing the compelling stories of the children who have lived it. Original music by Christina Apostolopoulos. Yukon Haar is the audio producer. Executive Producer is Jake Eberle.

Go to NationalCASAGAL.org to find out about becoming a CASA anywhere in the US, and CASALA.org in Los Angeles.

See bonusbabies.org to learn more about what we are doing and please donate to support us by making a 100% tax-deductible contribution. EVERY PENNY OF YOUR CONTRIBUTION GOES TO RECORDING AND PLATFORMING THESE STORIES. Yeah!

We are so happy there are so many people listening (all over the world!) and can't wait to reach an even bigger audience this next season. Please consider becoming a CASA or a foster parent or offering respite care or contributing to the many worthy organizations working with youth in foster care.

National CASA/GAL
California Youth Connection
National Foster Youth Institute
Peace4kids.org
Adopt a Foster Child in LA
Heart Gallery LA
KIDSAVE

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Jayne Amelia introduces the BONUS BABIES podcast and talks with her first guest, foster parent and Peace4kids.org volunteer, Mrs. Dorrie Woods. After a rewarding career in education, Dorrie retired to a life of family and volunteering with Center of Hope Youth Ministries, Miracle Workers, Carson Foster Parent Association, and Peace4Kids which offers a peaceful respite to children in the system and their families. She’s a Fun Ambassador at the Compton Adult School where one of the highlights was sparking and following through on a prom for intellectually delayed individuals who've never had one before, and she is a volunteer lead at Sister to Sister Purse Ministry providing purses jam packed with hand-written letters of encouragement and comfort items to homeless women. Dorrie founded Travel For Me, creating personalized and fully escorted travel for adults with Downs Syndrome, Autism, and intellectual development disabilities to provide the experience of pleasure and joy of travel. In her role as a foster parent (to mostly special needs children and young adults) and assistant principal, she has supervised, escorted and loved thousands of kids. These experiences have given personal insight on how to foster special needs individuals who are often times marginalized, discredited, ignored and not valued as contributing members of society. Dorrie is a die-hard lover of chocolates, a good scrabble game, and great adventures. She and her husband have had the pleasure of raising 2 biological children, and fostering for 31 years with 26 Bonus Babies. They are currently fostering 2 stellar future leaders.

faithfosterfamilies.org
Peace4kids.org
centerofhopechurch.org/minsitries
dcfs.lacounty.gov/caregivers/adoption
heartgalleryla.org
kidsave.org

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Jayne Amelia talks with Jaci Cortez, former foster youth identifying as LGBTQIA and now a foster youth advocate. Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Jaci is of Guatemalan and Asian Indian descent, and was in foster care from the ages of 4-21. She has a Communications Degree from Rio Hondo College, and now serves as a consultant to nonprofit organizations and programs that serve current and former foster youth. Jaci is working toward her dream of launching her own nonprofit organization, Sunflower Foster Youth Investment, to help current and former foster youth achieve stability and realize their goals.

pennylane.org
fosterreprohealth.org
CASAla.org
kidsave.org

See bonusbabies.org to learn more about what we are doing and please donate to support us by making a 100% tax-deductible contribution. EVERY PENNY OF YOUR CONTRIBUTION GOES TO RECORDING AND PLATFORMING THESE STORIES. Yeah!

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Jayne Amelia interviews former foster youth, Venus Manuel, a shining example of how nurture does not always triumph over nature.

From an early childhood rampant with sexual and physical abuse followed by a string of nine foster care homes, the development of another disillusioned dysfunctional youth seemed tragically imminent. However, the strength, passion and individuality inherent in Venus provided her with the abilities to not only rise above her beginnings, but stand as a true pillar of society. After graduating from Palmdale High School in 1996, Venus was emancipated from foster care and rapidly found herself in a state of destitution. Quickly responding to her circumstances, she forged an opportunity with the US Air Force and served an eight-year commitment to her country as a combat photographer. Those eight years were incredibly fruitful. Venus Manuel accomplished what most people would not be able to do with twice the time. The main bulk of her energy was directed towards bettering the lives of transitional foster care youth. As a motivational speaker requested by organizations such as the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, Child Welfare League of America and America Works, Venus has raised over half a million dollars specifically for disenfranchised youth, and continues to fight for the welfare of foster care youth. At the same time, and carrying with her the platform “The Successful Transition of Foster Youth” at age 21, she began competing in and winning high profile beauty pageants. Her titles include Miss High Desert 2000, Miss Central California 2001, Miss Los Angeles County 2002, Miss Black California 2003, and Miss Black United States 2004. Venus has also won the Miss America Interview and Community Service Award, and was chosen as one of Glamour magazine’s “Top Ten College Women in America.” Venus has an Associate’s degree in Liberal Arts from Antelope Valley College and a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services from California State University Dominguez Hills where she graduated in the top 10% of her class and was nominated by her peers as Outstanding Graduate. She has a Master’s degree in Public Administration and a Master’s degree in Counseling Education. She was also invited by the late director Penny Marshall and producer Kenadie Cobbin to be the opening act of their immensely popular Vagina Monologues at the Wilshire Ebell Theater. Venus is married with two children. After the birth of her son she took up pole dancing as a hobby that turned into a 12-year passion of movement exploration, performing, teaching (women, men, and LGBTQ) and competing all over the world in Vertical Theater. She is also an Independent Living Coordinator with the Los Angeles County Probation Department continuing her work with foster youth and says, “I will continue to champion this cause by being a voice for those too afraid to speak and for those who are not being heard.”

Venus Manuel - Pole Theatre USA 2017 Semi-Pro Pole Drama Champion
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbXOn9c9s54

National Juvenile Justice Network
http://www.njjn.org/our-work/juvenile-justice-reform-advances-california?phpMyAdmin=14730ab3483c51c94ca868bccffa06ef

National Center Youth Law
https://youthlaw.org/publication/legislative-push-juvenile-justice-reform-california/

CA Division of Juvenile Justice
https://www.cdcr.ca.gov/juvenile-justice/

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Jayne Amelia talks with Lori Nelson, former social worker working in the foster care system and now with the LA County Probation Department. "Lori was born a crusader with a heart for lost pets, the kid bullies made fun of and the person to run to and run away with when things were scary and unsafe. Lori’s childhood experiences led her to work in the helping profession in various human services organizations bringing value to clients fostering lasting and positive relationships. Lori graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in Sociology and also a Master's degree in Counseling and Education from California State University Dominguez Hills. She then worked as a Domestic Violence Specialist at a domestic violence shelter advocating for and encouraging women to become survivors from abusive relationships. Lori went on to work as a social worker for a foster family agency in group homes for girls and then as a CSW with the Department of Children and Family Services where she first worked with a Permanent Placement caseload with children from birth to age 18, and then with Transitional Age Youth (TAY). DCFS is where Lori met again and was assigned to work with Venus Manual, a bright, gifted teenage girl who Lori found to be genuine and honest with determination and perseverance rarely seen in some one so young. Lori left DCFS but continued to work in human service management at El Nido Family Centers for pregnant and parenting teens and Penny Lane Centers for the Wraparound Program. She later returned to Los Angeles County to work as a Program Analyst for the Los Angeles County Probation Department for PPQA, Permanency Placement and Quality Assurance; again, working with Transitional Age Youth. Venus was working as a Probation Officer with TAY when their paths crossed again at an event honoring TAY called Success Is Our Future, not as client and social worker, but as women, as friends, with a life-long special and unbreakable bond. Lori says Venus is 'her baby' and Venus calls Lori 'Mama Lori'.

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Jayne Amelia Larson talks with former foster youth Venus Manuel and her case worker Lori Nelson, a former social worker working in the LA County foster care system. Venus spent her adolescence and teen years bouncing from foster home to home, and credits one great social worker, Lori Nelson, with saving her life. And Lori says they saved each other. Venus is now an Independent Living Coordinator with the Los Angeles County Probation Department working with foster youth and says, “I will continue to champion this cause by being a voice for those too afraid to speak and for those who are not being heard.” And Lori continues to be a champion for kids of all ages.

See bonusbabies.org to learn more about what we are doing and please donate to support us by making a 100% tax-deductible contribution. EVERY PENNY OF YOUR CONTRIBUTION GOES TO RECORDING AND PLATFORMING THESE STORIES. Yeah!

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Today's guest is LaTanya Hill. "LT" is a writer with a background in law, education, government, and most recently became a Reiki Master and started her own energy healing business in Los Angeles – IMREIKINOW. She has been a CASA for over 4 years and is still assisting her very first child in the program.

Please see imreikinow.com for more information about LT's healing work.

Go to NationalCASAGAL.org
to find out more about becoming a CASA anywhere in the US
and CASALA.org in Los Angeles.

See bonusbabies.org to learn more about what we are doing and please donate to support us by making a 100% tax-deductible contribution. EVERY PENNY OF YOUR CONTRIBUTION GOES TO RECORDING AND PLATFORMING THESE STORIES. Yeah!

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Jayne Amelia talks with children's attorney Juan Valles. Juan was born in Downey, California, and grew up in Southeast Los Angeles County. After graduating from the University of California, Berkeley, with a B.A. in linguistics, Juan spent several years working in higher education administration. In particular, he worked with undergraduates in advising, career planning, and student discipline. He later completed a Master's in Business Administration from Loyola Marymount University before attending law school in New York City at Fordham University. While at Fordham, Juan discovered the intersection of foster care systems and the law. He was immediately drawn to the field and completed several fellowships and internships in the area of child welfare law; after graduating, Juan began working with the Children's Law Center of California (CLC) in 2010. After several years as a staff attorney, Juan is now a supervising attorney and a certified Child Welfare Law Specialist. He’s also a monk with an Episcopalian Order of Monks, The Community of the Gospel, a non-residential monastic community formed under the Canons of the Episcopal Church of the United States. He and his husband, Raul, live with their two dogs and a cat in the City Terrace neighborhood, just east of Downtown Los Angeles.

Children's Law Center
Community of The Gospel

See bonusbabies.org to learn more about what we are doing and please donate to support us by making a 100% tax-deductible contribution. EVERY PENNY OF YOUR CONTRIBUTION GOES TO RECORDING AND PLATFORMING THESE STORIES. Yeah!

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