Many people enter foster care with the hope of adoption, but is that wrong?

This question has sparked discussion and even some controversy in the foster care community. For some, the desire to adopt stems from infertility or simply wanting to grow their family. In this episode, we discuss the realities of fostering with the heart to adopt and what it means to balance that desire with the primary goal of foster care—family reunification.

We discuss the process of dual licensing, the differences between being a foster parent and an adoptive parent, and the importance of providing stability for children in care. There is often stigma or shame around wanting to adopt through foster care, but it’s not inherently wrong.

Adoption actually is a beautiful outcome. But we must also keep our heart in check, ensuring we are also supporting reunification efforts for the child in our home.

Join us for an honest conversation about navigating these emotions and expectations while fostering with love and purpose.

Episode Highlights:

• Fostering to Adopt
• Dual Licensing
• Infertility
• Prioritizing Reunification
• Adoption
• Stability matters

Links from this Episode:

• Learn more about Trisha White Priebe
• Schedule Coffee with a Hope Bridge Team Member

Find More on Hope Bridge:

• Visit Our Website
• Follow us on Instagram
• Follow us on Facebook
• Foster Our Community Instagram

This show has been produced by Adkins Media Co.

In this episode, we discuss the heart behind our Single Moms Program and the vital support it provides. Our approach focuses on prevention, intervention, and restoration, with this program serving as a key piece of prevention—offering resources, encouragement, and community to help single moms thrive.

We also explore the stereotypes single moms often face and how quickly circumstances can shift, making it easy for a capable mom to become vulnerable. Many people don’t realize the challenges single moms navigate daily, from financial struggles to social stigma, and the importance of having a strong support system.

Join us as we discuss why this work matters and how we can all help lift up and empower single moms. Tune in now to learn more about how you can become involved in the prevention-focused programs at Hope Bridge that make a lasting impact!

Episode Highlights:

• The Importance our Single Moms Program
• Stereotypes of Single Moms
• Empower U Support Group

Find More on Hope Bridge:

• Check out the Support Groups at Hope Bridge
• Learn more about our Single Moms Program
• Single Mom Connection Form
• Register for Empower U
• Volunteer for Childcare at Empower U
• Donate a Meal for a Single Mom (Louisville)
• Donate a Meal for a Single Mom (Akron)
• Visit Our Website
• Follow us on Instagram
• Follow us on Facebook
• Foster Our Community Instagram

This show has been produced by Adkins Media Co.

In this heartfelt episode of the ReStoried Podcast, we sit down with Sarah Sikora—a dear friend, former foster youth, adoptee, and adoptive mama—whose life has come full circle.

Born addicted to drugs, Sarah faced many challenges growing up in foster care, navigating life with multiple siblings and a longing for stability. Now, as a wife and mother to her own biological children, she has also pursued adoption, and this month, she is officially welcoming two daughters into her family.

Sarah shares the emotional complexity of adoption—her joy in growing her family, but also the deep empathy she feels for her daughters’ birth mother. She candidly discusses the weight of grief, the bittersweet beauty of adoption, and the importance of acknowledging both the hard and the hopeful.

With a powerful message of resilience, Sarah encourages us all: You can break family cycles. No matter where you come from, healing and restoration are possible.

Tune in to hear Sarah’s inspiring journey and the wisdom she has gained along the way.

Episode Highlights:

• Meet Sarah & her background story
• You can break family cycles and create a new path.
• Adoption is both beautiful and bittersweet.
• Empathy for birth families is essential.
• Resilience leads to healing and restoration.
• Full-circle moments bring hope and redemption.
• Family dynamics in foster care can be complex.
• Embrace both the hard and the hope.
• You can make a difference in a child’s life.

Find More on Hope Bridge:

• Register for Mobilize Ohio!
• Visit Our Website
• Follow us on Instagram
• Follow us on Facebook
• Foster Our Community Instagram

This show has been produced by Adkins Media Co.