Helping Birth Parents Make Positive Changes (feat. Catherine Vannatta & Tiffany Maggret)
The foster care system’s primary goal is to serve the best interests of the families within it. Whenever possible, that means reuniting biological parents with their children.
To help a family heal, birth parents need intentional support. But all too often, they aren’t given the resources they need to overcome their challenging life circumstances and set their family on a positive trajectory.
In this episode, I am joined by two incredible women from Decatur, Texas: Catherine Vannatta and Tiffany Maggret. Catherine currently serves as a CASA advocate, while Tiffany is the Founder and Executive Director of One Hope Village, an organization that helps deteriorating families recover by equipping them with robust community resources.
Catherine and Tiffany share with us what it’s like to advocate for a child’s rights when they are struggling in the foster care system, how God’s grace inspires them to create safe spaces where birth parents feel comfortable asking for help, how they give families the resources they need to heal and reconnect, and so much more.
You can also find this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and more.
Key Takeaways
- Trauma is an ongoing process of healing for children in foster care. Some people have the misconception that when a child is removed from a home in crisis or placed into an adoptive home, their problems are solved. But the reality is navigating the foster care system is traumatic in and of itself and can be a continuous rollercoaster of emotions and difficulty. One of the best things we can do for children and youth in care is to show them unconditional love and support.
- Birth parents need support and resources. Often, biological parents are facing a complex combination of challenging life circumstances, and their personal and family histories can make breaking out of destructive cycles extremely difficult. Tiffany shared that handing birth parents legal documents that give them just one year to turn their lives around is not the way to set them up for success. The goal is to reunite families whenever possible, and this pursuit starts with giving them resources and support.
- Building trust with biological families is essential. Birth parents sometimes may struggle to open up, ask for help, and have the hard conversations that are needed to help their families heal. Catherine and Tiffany remind us that “when you know better, you can do better.” This is why it’s important to connect with birth parents intentionally and partner with them in identifying the positive paths they can take to transform their lives.
Resources
- Connect with One Hope Village on Facebook, Instagram, and their website.
- Give to support One Hope Village
- Learn more about CASA
Meet the Guests
Catherine Vannatta is a Senior Data Analyst and a mom to two boys. She’s always had a heart for helping children in tough places, and this passion has fueled her involvement in different facets of the foster care system for more than 10 years. She is now a CASA advocate who has been serving the community of Wise County for the past three years.
Tiffany Maggret is the Founder and Executive Director of One Hope Village, an organization that uses resources, education, and awareness to serve, assist, and positively impact underserved families. She’s also the mother to two grown girls as well as a proud new grandmother. Before taking on her current role, she worked as a school teacher for more than 20 years and has also served as a CASA supervisor.
