Episode 554 - Parenting with Compassion and Intention with Jesse Faris
The Adoption & Foster Care JourneyShow Notes
“Surely your goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever..” -Psalm 23:6
On this episode, host Sandra Flach talks with Jesse Faris. Jesse is the Director of Community Engagement and Training at Empowered To Connect—a nonprofit equipping foster, adoptive, and kinship families, along with churches with trauma-informed, connection-based parenting tools. She lives in Memphis, TN with her husband of 20 years and two teenage daughters who came to her family as toddlers through international adoption.
Drawing from their personal adoption journeys, Sandra and Jesse explore how understanding trauma, attachment, and the unique needs of fostered and adopted children can transform parenting.
Listeners will discover the 9 Connecting Practices that help strengthen relationships and build trust, along with practical strategies for balancing nurture and structure, building life skills, and responding thoughtfully to challenging behaviors.
Sandra and Jesse remind parents that even when parenting gets messy, there's always room for repair, growth, and connection!
Find Sandra and Jesse’s conversation wherever you get your podcasts.
Links mentioned in this episode: Empowered to Connect Free Breath Prayer Download See Available Trainings AFCJ on YouTube justicefororphansny.org justicefororphansny.org/hope-community Email: [email protected] sandraflach.com Soul Care Saturday—52 Devotions for Foster and Adoptive Moms Orphans No More—A Journey Back to the Father book on Amazon
More from The Adoption & Foster Care Journey
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” -1 Thessalonians 5:11
“This is what the Lord Almighty said, “Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.” -Zechariah 7:9 This episode continues our FASD Awareness Month series with special guest, foster and adoptive mom, Rebecca Ciesielski. After years of searching for answers, Rebecca’s child received an FASD diagnosis at age eight. Along the way, she discovered the FASCETS Neurobehavioral Approach and began viewing challenging behaviors through a brain-based lens—recognizing differences in processing, regulation, memory, and inconsistent performance and responding with appropriate accommodations and support. That shift was so impactful that Rebecca eventually became a certified FASCETS facilitator and now serves as president of the Texas FASD Network, helping educate, encourage, and advocate for families and professionals in Texas. If you’re parenting or supporting someone with FASD, this conversation is a beautiful reminder that when we understand the brain differently, we can respond differently. Listen in as Rebecca shares her FASD story on episode 552 of The Adoption & Foster Care Journey podcast. Links mentioned in this episode: FASDUnited.org Texas FASD Network Free Breath Prayer Download See Available Trainings AFCJ on YouTube justicefororphansny.org justicefororphansny.org/hope-community Email: [email protected] sandraflach.com Soul Care Saturday—52 Devotions for Foster and Adoptive Moms Orphans No More—A Journey Back to the Father book on Amazon
"How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, 'Your God reigns!'” -Isaiah 52:7
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” -Psalm 139:13-14
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” -Psalm 139:13-14