Episode 225: Navigating Connection in Out-of-Home Placement

Summary:

When a child can't stay at home, families are often left asking one painful question: how do we stay connected without making things harder?

In this episode, we talk about how families can stay emotionally connected when a child is placed in out-of-home care. Whether a child is receiving temporary services or more intensive wrap-around support, separation from the home can be one of the most challenging experiences for families—especially those connected to foster care, residential treatment, or therapeutic services.

We're joined by returning guest Estefana Johnson, a licensed therapist and social worker with firsthand experience working in residential treatment centers and alongside families navigating out-of-home placement. Estefana helps us explain what out-of-home care can look like outside of formal child welfare systems, why children may need this level of support, and how families can remain involved throughout the treatment process.

Together, we explore the experience from multiple perspectives, including the child, the caregiver, and siblings who remain at home. We also share practical strategies for maintaining connection, strengthening family relationships, and creating stability during a difficult season.

If you're a parent, caregiver, foster family, or professional supporting children in out-of-home care, this episode offers clarity, encouragement, and hope. Listen in for a thoughtful conversation designed to help families stay connected—even when circumstances are hard.

Resource Links:

Residential Treatment by National Alliance on Mental Illness: Residential Treatment | NAMI

The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk: The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma: van der Kolk M.D., Bessel: 9780143127741

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