『The Kingswell Conversations』のカバーアート

The Kingswell Conversations

The Kingswell Conversations

著者： Richard Kingswell
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The Kingswell Conversations brings together more than 30 years of Richard Kingswell’s experience in child welfare for honest, thoughtful conversations about kinship, foster care and adoption. From the realities facing children and families to the bigger questions shaping the sector, these are conversations with heart, grounded in experience and a belief that we should never stop asking how we can do better.

© 2026 The Kingswell Conversations 人間関係 子育て 社会科学
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  • S2 E12 | What Does Good Foster Care Really Look Like? A CEO's Perspective

    S2 E12 | What Does Good Foster Care Really Look Like? A CEO's Perspective
    2026/10/27
    What does successful foster care really look like? Is it measured by the number of children placed, the families recruited, the partnerships built or something much more personal?For Richard Kingswell, CEO of Extra Special Parents and FosterVA, the answer begins and ends with the people involved, particularly the children whose lives depend on the decisions being made around them.In this special Season 2 finale of The Kingswell Conversations, Richard reflects on more than 20 years of leading Extra Special Parents in Virginia and shares what doing foster care well means to him.After a season exploring the practical, emotional and professional realities of foster care, therapeutic foster care, kinship care and adoption, this final conversation looks at the bigger picture.How do we recognise success in a system that works with people, not predictable outcomes? What does a positive fostering experience look like for a child, a foster parent, an agency or a social worker? And how do organisations maintain the humanity at the heart of their work while navigating the regulations and responsibilities that come with child welfare?Richard begins with a simple but important reminder: child welfare is human services. People are complex, circumstances change and perfection is not a realistic measure of success.Instead, he believes success needs to be considered through the experiences of everyone involved, starting with the child.In this episode, we explore:What successful foster care looks like from a child's perspective.Why safe family reunification remains a central goal of foster care.The importance of finding permanent, loving families when reunification is not possible.Why thoughtful matching matters in foster care and adoption.What success looks like for someone becoming a foster parent.Why preparation, training and confidence matter more than rushing through the approval process.How trust is built between families, agencies and child welfare professionals.The importance of supporting and retaining experienced agency staff.How agencies balance regulatory responsibilities with compassionate, child-centred care.Why strong partnerships with local Departments of Social Services are so important.What 20 years of Extra Special Parents has taught Richard about leadership, relationships and responsibility.Success begins with the childFor Richard, the first measure of success is whether a child can safely return to their family and remain there.Foster care is intended to provide care and stability during a difficult period in a family's life, not necessarily to become a permanent arrangement.When the circumstances that led to a child's removal can be addressed, a safe and lasting reunification is an outcome worth celebrating.When returning home is not possible, Richard discusses the importance of finding a permanent family through adoption, with careful consideration given to the needs of the child and the strengths of the prospective parents.He also challenges the expectation that families should be searching for a perfect child, reminding listeners that every child is an individual with their own experiences, needs and personality.Success for foster parentsRichard then considers the journey of someone who is thinking about fostering for the very first time.From that initial online enquiry to training, assessment and eventually welcoming a child into their home, becoming a foster parent is a significant commitment.At Extra Special Parents, Richard describes an approval process that typically takes around 120 days, although individual circumstances and readiness can affect the timeline.He explains why he would rather see a prospective foster parent take the time they need to feel prepared than rush into a placement before they are ready.For him, a particularly meaningful moment comes when someone who was initially uncertain develops the confidence to say yes to caring for a child.Success for agencies and professionalsThe conversation also explores the responsibilities of the organisations working behind the scenes.Richard talks about the people who make foster care possible, from social workers and clinical specialists to administrative staff and the wider professional network.He reflects on the importance of recruiting the right people, supporting their development and creating an environment where they can concentrate on helping children and families.There is also a frank discussion about the regulatory side of child welfare.Documentation, inspections, accountability and compliance are essential parts of running a foster care agency. But Richard believes the challenge is to meet those responsibilities without losing the compassion and personal relationships that make the work meaningful.Twenty years of trustAs Extra Special Parents celebrates its 20th anniversary, Richard reflects on what it means to have built lasting relationships with foster families, staff and child welfare partners across Virginia.He discusses...
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    17 分
  • S2 E11 | What Experienced Foster Parents Wish They'd Known Before Fostering

    S2 E11 | What Experienced Foster Parents Wish They'd Known Before Fostering
    2026/10/27
    What do experienced foster parents wish someone had told them before their very first placement?You can complete the training, read the guidance, prepare your home and speak to professionals, but there are some things about foster parenting that only become clear when you're actually living the experience.In this episode of The Kingswell Conversations, Richard Kingswell, CEO of Extra Special Parents and FosterVA in Virginia, reflects on the lessons foster parents often learn along the way and the realities that can surprise even the most prepared caregivers.Drawing on his years of experience working with children and foster families, Richard explores the differences between traditional foster care, therapeutic foster care and kinship care, and why understanding a child's experiences before they enter your home is so important.For many new foster parents, one of the biggest surprises is discovering that a child may not immediately welcome their love, attention or support.A child entering foster care may be frightened, angry, confused or desperate to return home. Their previous experiences may have taught them that adults cannot always be trusted, and building a relationship with a new caregiver can take time.Richard explains why patience, understanding and realistic expectations are essential, particularly when supporting children who have experienced significant trauma.He also discusses something that can be difficult for adults to appreciate: what feels normal to one family may be completely unfamiliar to a child who has grown up with different routines, expectations or experiences.From everyday activities such as mealtimes and bathing to the way children respond to kindness, boundaries and reassurance, foster parents may find themselves helping children navigate situations that others take for granted.In this episode, we explore:What experienced foster parents often wish they'd understood before their first placement.The differences between traditional foster care, therapeutic foster care and kinship care.Why children may initially resist the care and affection offered by a new foster family.How trauma and previous experiences can shape a child's understanding of everyday life.Why building trust takes time and cannot be rushed.The importance of understanding a child's own sense of normality.How fostering can reveal unexpected emotional triggers and opportunities for personal growth.Why respite care and looking after your own wellbeing matter.The wider network of professionals involved in a child's foster care journey.Why paperwork, reporting requirements and documentation can surprise new foster parents.How confidence and experience develop through the fostering journey.One particularly important part of the conversation focuses on the difference between therapeutic foster care and kinship care.Richard explains that children placed with relatives or other familiar adults may already have an established relationship of trust. Although the circumstances surrounding the placement can still be extremely difficult, that existing connection can provide an important foundation.For therapeutic foster parents welcoming a child they have never met, building that trust may be a much longer journey.Richard also reflects on the personal development that can come with fostering.Caregivers may discover emotional triggers they hadn't previously recognised, learn new ways of responding to difficult situations and develop a deeper understanding of themselves.He shares how experienced foster parents sometimes tell him that the children they've cared for have taught them just as much as they've taught the children.The conversation then turns to another reality that can surprise new foster families: the number of people involved.When you welcome a child into your home, you're not simply taking on the responsibilities of everyday parenting. You're also becoming part of a wider network that may include social workers, clinical specialists, teachers, attorneys, judges and other professionals.Richard explains why this network exists to support the child and their caregivers, while acknowledging that the appointments, paperwork, record-keeping and reporting requirements can initially feel overwhelming.From documenting medication to keeping essential household information up to date, these responsibilities become part of the fostering journey.But as Richard reminds us, foster parents aren't expected to know everything on day one. Training, experience and professional support all help caregivers develop the confidence and skills they need.Whether you're considering becoming a foster parent, preparing for your first placement or already caring for children, this episode offers a thoughtful and realistic look at the lessons that come with experience.Because fostering isn't just about what you can teach a child.Sometimes, it's also about everything that child will teach you.Explore Richard's free guideConsidering foster care or ...
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    17 分
  • S2 E10 | Feeling Overwhelmed as a Foster Parent? Why Asking for Help Matters

    S2 E10 | Feeling Overwhelmed as a Foster Parent? Why Asking for Help Matters
    2026/10/27
    What happens when foster parenting starts to feel overwhelming? When you've tried everything you know, you're exhausted, and you're beginning to wonder whether you're doing enough?For foster parents, those moments can be difficult to admit. After all, you've worked hard to become approved, opened your home to a child and committed yourself to making a difference. The last thing you want is for someone to think you're struggling or that you're not capable of providing the care a child needs.But as Richard Kingswell explains in this episode of The Kingswell Conversations, asking for help isn't a sign of weakness. It's one of the most important responsibilities a foster parent has.Richard, CEO of Extra Special Parents and FosterVA in Virginia, explores how fostering agencies can help families remain supported and committed when the realities of foster care become challenging.Drawing on his experience working with foster families, Richard discusses the importance of professional support, personal relationships, respite care and honest communication.He explains why foster parents should never feel they have to manage every difficult situation alone, and why reaching out before a situation becomes a crisis can make an enormous difference to both the caregiver and the child.In this episode, we explore:Why feeling overwhelmed can be part of the foster parenting journey.How fostering agencies can support families during difficult moments.Why asking for help demonstrates responsibility rather than failure.The importance of 24/7 professional support for foster families.How friends, family and fellow foster parents can provide valuable reassurance.Why building a support network before a placement matters.How respite care can give caregivers time to rest and reconnect.Why foster parents shouldn't expect themselves to have every answer.How experience, confidence and parenting strategies develop over time.Why changes in a caregiver's own life can affect their capacity to foster.How honest conversations can help families and agencies work through challenges together.One of Richard's strongest messages is that foster parents are not expected to be superheroes.They're people who have made an extraordinary commitment, but they still experience the same pressures, uncertainties and personal challenges as everyone else.Sometimes those pressures come from the demands of caring for a child who has experienced trauma. Other times, they come from everyday life: a change in employment, illness in the family, relationship pressures or simply feeling exhausted.Richard explains why Extra Special Parents provides around-the-clock professional support to its foster families, and why he wants caregivers to use that support whenever they need it.He also highlights the importance of the relationships foster parents build outside their agency.A trusted friend, supportive family member or another experienced foster parent can offer reassurance, perspective and practical help during challenging times.The conversation also explores respite care.Just as other parents sometimes need an evening or weekend to recharge, foster parents may benefit from planned breaks that allow them to rest, spend time with their partners or reconnect with themselves.Richard discusses how appropriate respite arrangements can support caregivers while maintaining a focus on the child's safety and wellbeing.Perhaps most importantly, he reminds us that confidence and experience develop over time. Nobody should expect to have every answer during their first placement, and even experienced foster parents can encounter situations that require additional support.Towards the end of the conversation, Richard makes a particularly important observation: fostering agencies cannot read minds.Professionals may recognise signs that a family is struggling, but honest communication is essential. If a caregiver is overwhelmed, exhausted or unsure what to do next, the agency needs to know so that it can respond.Whether you're currently fostering, preparing to welcome your first child or working professionally with foster families, this episode offers an encouraging reminder that you don't have to do everything alone.Because strong foster parenting isn't about never having difficult days. It's about knowing when to reach out, accepting support and working together to give children the stability and care they deserve.Explore Richard's free guideConsidering foster care or adoption in Virginia? Download Richard's free 45-page Comprehensive Guide to Foster Care and Adoption:https://www.fosterva.org/freeguideLearn more about Extra Special Parents at https://www.espva.org and FosterVA at https://www.fosterva.org.Connect with Richard Kingswell on LinkedIn and follow The Kingswell Conversations on Spotify or Apple Podcasts for more honest conversations about kinship care, foster care and adoption.Continue the Conversation📘 FREE DOWNLOAD | The Comprehensive Guide to Foster Care and ...
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    15 分
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