PREPARING FOSTER YOUTH FOR ADULTING

Show notes and recordings of AOI’s podcasts from 2025 are below (episodes 102-TBD).
You can also find the show on most podcast distributors, including Podbean, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pandora, Stitcher, TuneIn, Listen Notes, Podbay, Blubrry, Vurbl, and iHeartRadio. 

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The Aging Out Institute podcast is AMAZING! It's a space for conversations about access, opportunities, and discovery as youth transition from foster care programming into adulthood. As an educator and nonprofit leader, I look for ways to connect with people making a difference and to hear about real work happening in communities across the country. Listening to an episode gives me that time to get inspired and find resources for youth.

Andrea FerreroCo-Founder/Executive Director, Pockets Change
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As a former child welfare case manager who worked directly with children in foster youth, I find it comforting that there are agencies that actually help foster youth who are aging out of care. I love that this podcast showcases those agencies!

Rhea WardAdmissions Coordinator of Multi-Alliance Agency for Children
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I enjoy the AOI podcast. It gives me an opportunity to learn of the many organizations that have the passion and mission to assist the foster care population.

Patricia Holland, Executive DirectorAll Things New, Inc.
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Just listed to the latest podcast and reached out to your guest...Appreciate you bringing awareness to organizations that help these kids.

Adam Pavao, Executive DirectorImpact Living Services
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I really enjoyed the first podcast of AOI's that I listened to about the mobile tiny homes (among other things). I could tell that Lynn asks questions in such a way that listeners can really gain actionable information.

Dr. Steve J. RiosPresident, NPO Library
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The AOI podcast series has been an incredibly helpful tool for our new non-profit. Our organization has been encouraged, informed and motivated by the AOI podcast series. Our volunteers and leaders love listening to this podcast and look forward to many more to come!

Angela LippensFounder, Unfaulted
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I greatly appreciated being a guest on this podcast! I've been on many podcasts and I found this one to be the most helpful. I loved Lynn's style of tactful and critical feedback. Overall, this is a highly recommended podcast for foster care awareness!

Cheryl WilliamsFounder and Executive Director of Fundamentals for Foster Care

05/04/25

In this episode, Lynn Tonini interviews Gretchen Dupps, the Founder and Executive Director of Cleveland Angels located in Cleveland, Ohio. Gretchen shared her own exposure to the foster care system in her own family, who took in foster youth. She also described the purpose and services of Cleveland Angels, which is a chapter of the National Angels program based in Texas. Cleveland Angels supports all ages of youth in foster care, and even the families who take them in. She focused on the Dare to Dream program, which offers supportive relationships through mentors for older youth in care up to age 22. We ended with a discussion about strategies that the foster care system can put into place to help improve outcomes of youth who age out of care.

Resources mentioned during podcast:
Cleveland Angels
National Angels
American Medical Association Alliance

04/24/25

In this episode, Lynn Tonini interviews Amanda Simonetta, the Executive Director of The Felix Organization in Locust Valley, New York. Amanda discussed her background as a school guidance counselor, which then led to being the first Camp Director at The Felix Organization. She shared the goal of her organization, which is to help youth in care experience joy. Through multiple camps, they work with about 1,500 youth every year. Listen to learn about their camps and the work they do to support youth aging out of care that earned them a 2024 AOI Award.

Resources mentioned during podcast:
The Felix Organization
Michael Lang
NY Foundling
Happy Trails for Kids
Children’s Home of Poughkeepsie
A Broader Way Foundation

03/24/25

In this episode, Lynn Tonini interviews Alissa Jecklin, Director of Transitional Living with Good Samaritan Boys Ranch in Springfield, Missouri. Alissa shared how she discovered the needs of youth in foster care through a summer job while in college. She chose to focus her career helping these youth. At Good Samaritan, she leads a transitional housing program that builds partnerships with community landlords in order to help youth prepare for adulthood.

Resources mentioned during podcast:
Good Samaritan
MO State University Master’s in Social Work
MO Mentoring Partnership
HiSet Prep

03/12/25

In this episode, Lynn Tonini interviews Deana Mendez, Case Manager at Finally Family Homes in Santa Clarita, California. Deana told about her journey to working at this organization and explained about the host home program that provides housing for 18 to 25 year old former foster youth with community members in the Santa Clarita area. She also shared about their Oasis Center – a place for youth to get resources and build relationships, and Life Launch – their life skills program open to any youth in need.

Resources mentioned during podcast:
Finally Family Homes
LA Mission College Guardian Scholars
California State Northridge Resilient Scholars

02/11/25

In this episode, Lynn Tonini interviews Yolanda Johnson, Executive Director, and Cheryl Richards, Case Supervisor for Transition-Aged Youth, for the Prince George’s County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) in Riverdale, Maryland. Yolanda and Stephanie shared their own backgrounds and an overview of their CASA organization, which has been around for 25 years. While they serve as advocates for foster youth at all ages, the also have services and funding that support Transitional Aged Youth (TAY) specific to education, permanency, and emergent issues.

Resources mentioned during podcast:
Prince George’s County CASA
National CASA

01/18/25

In this episode, Lynn Tonini interviews Stephanie Rampone, Director of Development for the Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) Angels in Dallas, TX. Stephanie shared her unexpected journey from the fashion industry to working with youth in foster care. She also described the three primary areas of service of her fast growing organization: 1) intentional giving, 2) relationship building, and 3) mentorship. Their youth work on 10 specific developmental milestones and 2-3 individual goals with their mentors.

Resources mentioned during podcast:
Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) Angels
National Angels Organization
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
The Dream House