Bonus Babies
Jayne Amelia Larson
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I’m a CASA - a Court Appointed Special Advocate volunteer for youth in foster care. In the same way a CASA works, I explore all things in the foster care maze by talking to kids, parents, caregivers, attorneys, social workers, therapists, members of community and social programs...anybody and everybody who will speak to me to keep the conversation open and the information flowing about all things CASA––to give a forum to help people understand what it's like to have a lived foster care experience. Original music by Christina Apostolopoulos. Marcus Campito is the Audio Producer. Executive Produced by Jake Eberle.
Available episodes
Newest first
Oldest first
5 days ago
Episode 10 - I Know My Mommy Loved Me, I Always Knew That
*Jayne Amelia talks with former foster youth Jaronna Yates.* Jaronna has worked in the entertainment industry for the past 22 years, spanning across three major studios, and is currently the Sr. Project Director with Illumination Entertainment heading up the Global Project Management Team for their Marketing Division. From ages five to 13, Jaronna was raised in a Catholic orphanage and lived in several foster homes in Louisville, KY. She was officially placed for adoption at age nine, eventually reuniting with her mother in her late teens. Jaronna has been an avid volunteer for organizations working with children and is on the Board of Directors with Peace4Kids, an organization that supports foster care youth in Los Angeles. She is an active member of Soka Gakkai International (SGI), a Buddhist lay organization, as a Vice Women’s Division leader for her home District. Her goal is to run a thriving foundation benefitting charitable organizations that focus on the development and success of youth, especially those in foster care. Jaronna is a mother to her 23-year-old son whom she loves and adores.
Peace4kids
Illumination Entertainment
Soka Gakkai Buddhism
Jun 6, 2021
Episode 9 - For Me It's About Not Failing, I Refuse To Let Myself To Be Anything Less Than
*Jayne Amelia talks with former foster youth Toni Cunningham.* Anthony Cunningham, better known as Toni, is currently in his fourth year in the Recreation Tourism Management program at Cal State Northridge. Born and raised in South Central Los Angeles in the foster care system, Toni has overcome the many obstacles that have been placed is his path. Toni can be described as resilient, hard-working, and a ray of light. He's currently holding a Student Programs Assistant position with the University Student Union at CSUN and a counselor and planning committee position for the nonprofit Happy Trails for Kids, an organization that gives foster youth the opportunity to experience outdoor recreation and sleep away camp. Toni continues to use his talent and drive to make change, advocate for others, and serve the folks of his communities. Toni refuses to be a product of his circumstances and continues to work hard to become a household name.
Peace4kids
Teatime With Toniii
Happy Trails For Kids
May 28, 2021
Episode 8 - I Finally Reached The Head Of The Snake And The Head Of The Snake Is Telling Me You Called Too Late
Jayne Amelia talks with former foster youth Vaughn Laws. "My name is Vaughn and I wish I knew where I was headed, but this adventure that has been life left me a husk of who I used to be. I've come through a lot and managed to keep my wits about me and pretty much out of trouble. I am currently aspiring to be a graphic designer. I had more ambition when I was a teen since I thought I wasn’t going to be doing everything on my own. However, I learned life deals out its harshest lessons with zero bias regardless of age, gender or race, and that if you want to see success then you have to be prepared to climb the toughest mountain and cross the harshest deserts on your own. I haven't finished climbing yet but I’m not throwing away my climbing gear." Vaughn interned with Media Monks in Los Angeles and is now working with the National Foster Care Institute as an advocate and activist.
National Foster Care Institute
https://nfyi.org
Peace4kids
https://www.peace4kids.org
May 21, 2021
Episode 7 - When I Serve These Children, I Can See The Face Of God In Them
Jayne Amelia talks with children's attorney Juan Valles. Juan was born in Downey, California, and grew up in Southeast Los Angeles County. After graduating from the University of California, Berkeley, with a B.A. in linguistics, Juan spent several years working in higher education administration. In particular, he worked with undergraduates in advising, career planning, and student discipline. He later completed a Master's in Business Administration from Loyola Marymount University before attending law school in New York City at Fordham University. While at Fordham, Juan discovered the intersection of foster care systems and the law. He was immediately drawn to the field and completed several fellowships and internships in the area of child welfare law; after graduating, Juan began working with the Children's Law Center of California (CLC) in 2010. After several years as a staff attorney, Juan is now a supervising attorney and a certified Child Welfare Law Specialist. He’s also a monk with an Episcopalian Order of Monks, The Community of the Gospel, a non-residential monastic community formed under the Canons of the Episcopal Church of the United States.* *He and his husband, Raul, live with their two dogs and a cat in the City Terrace neighborhood, just east of Downtown Los Angeles.
Children's Law Center
Community of The Gospel
May 10, 2021
Episode 6 - You Can Fire Me All You Want But I'm Still Going To Be Here
*Today's guest is LaTanya Hill.* "LT" is a writer with a background in law, education, government, and most recently became a Reiki Master and started her own energy healing business in Los Angeles – IMREIKINOW. She has been a CASA for over 4 years and is still assisting her very first child in the program.
Please see imreikinow.com for more information about LT's healing work.
Go to NationalCASAGAL.org to find out more about becoming a CASA anywhere in the US, and CASALA.org in Los Angeles.
May 7, 2021
Episode 5 - They Saved Each Other
*Jayne Amelia Larson talks with former foster youth Venus Manuel and her social worker Lori Nelson, a former social worker working in the LA County foster care system. *Venus spent her adolescence and teen years bouncing from foster home to home, and credits one great social worker, Lori Nelson, with saving her life. And Lori says they saved each other. Venus is now an Independent Living Coordinator with the Los Angeles County Probation Department working with foster youth and says, “I will continue to champion this cause by being a voice for those too afraid to speak and for those who are not being heard.” And Lori continues to be a champion for kids of all ages.
Apr 28, 2021
Episode 4 - Even Though It Took A Toll, You See I'm Not Done
*Jayne Amelia talks with Lori Nelson, former social worker working in the foster care system and now with the LA County Probation Department. *"Lori was born a crusader with a heart for lost pets, the kid bullies made fun of and the person to run to and run away with when things were scary and unsafe. Lori’s childhood experiences led her to work in the helping profession in various human services organizations bringing value to clients fostering lasting and positive relationships. Lori graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in Sociology and also a Master's degree in Counseling and Education from California State University Dominguez Hills. She then worked as a Domestic Violence Specialist at a domestic violence shelter advocating for and encouraging women to become survivors from abusive relationships. Lori went on to work as a social worker for a foster family agency in group homes for girls and then as a CSW with the Department of Children and Family Services where she first worked with a Permanent Placement caseload with children from birth to age 18, and then with Transitional Age Youth (TAY). DCFS is where Lori met again and was assigned to work with Venus Manual, a bright, gifted teenage girl who Lori found to be genuine and honest with determination and perseverance rarely seen in some one so young. Lori left DCFS but continued to work in human service management at El Nido Family Centers for pregnant and parenting teens and Penny Lane Centers for the Wraparound Program. She later returned to Los Angeles County to work as a Program Analyst for the Los Angeles County Probation Department for PPQA, Permanency Placement and Quality Assurance; again, working with Transitional Age Youth. Venus was working as a Probation Officer with TAY when their paths crossed again at an event honoring TAY called Success Is Our Future, not as client and social worker, but as women, as friends, with a life-long special and unbreakable bond. Lori says Venus is 'her baby' and Venus calls Lori 'Mama Lori'.
Apr 23, 2021
Episode 3 - That Started Our Odyssey Through The Foster Care System Of 9 Different Homes In 3 Years
*Jayne Amelia interviews former foster youth, Venus Manuel, a shining example of how nurture does not always triumph over nature. *
From an early childhood rampant with sexual and physical abuse followed by a string of nine foster care homes, the development of another disillusioned dysfunctional youth seemed tragically imminent. However, the strength, passion and individuality inherent in Venus provided her with the abilities to not only rise above her beginnings, but stand as a true pillar of society. After graduating from Palmdale High School in 1996, Venus was emancipated from foster care and rapidly found herself in a state of destitution. Quickly responding to her circumstances, she forged an opportunity with the US Air Force and served an eight-year commitment to her country as a combat photographer. Those eight years were incredibly fruitful. Venus Manuel accomplished what most people would not be able to do with twice the time. The main bulk of her energy was directed towards bettering the lives of transitional foster care youth. As a motivational speaker requested by organizations such as the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, Child Welfare League of America and America Works, Venus has raised over half a million dollars specifically for disenfranchised youth, and continues to fight for the welfare of foster care youth. At the same time, and carrying with her the platform “The Successful Transition of Foster Youth” at age 21, she began competing in and winning high profile beauty pageants. Her titles include Miss High Desert 2000, Miss Central California 2001, Miss Los Angeles County 2002, Miss Black California 2003, and Miss Black United States 2004. Venus has also won the Miss America Interview and Community Service Award, and was chosen as one of Glamour magazine’s “Top Ten College Women in America.” Venus has an Associate’s degree in Liberal Arts from Antelope Valley College and a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services from California State University Dominguez Hills where she graduated in the top 10% of her class and was nominated by her peers as Outstanding Graduate. She has a Master’s degree in Public Administration and Master’s degree in Counseling Education. She was also invited by the late director Penny Marshall and producer Kenadie Cobbin to be the opening act of their immensely popular Vagina Monologues at the Wilshire Ebell Theater. Venus is married with two children. After the birth of her son she took up pole dancing as a hobby that turned into a 12-year passion of movement exploration, performing, teaching (women, men, and LGBTQ) and competing all over the world in Vertical Theater. She is also an Independent Living Coordinator with the Los Angeles County Probation Department continuing her work with foster youth and says, “I will continue to champion this cause by being a voice for those too afraid to speak and for those who are not being heard.”
Venus Manuel - Pole Theatre USA 2017 Semi-Pro Pole Drama Champion
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbXOn9c9s54
National Juvenile Justice Network
http://www.njjn.org/our-work/juvenile-justice-reform-advances-california?phpMyAdmin=14730ab3483c51c94ca868bccffa06ef
National Center Youth Law
https://youthlaw.org/publication/legislative-push-juvenile-justice-reform-california/
CA Division of Juvenile Justice
https://www.cdcr.ca.gov/juvenile-justice/
Apr 16, 2021
Episode 2 - The People That Hurt Me The Most Was My Own Family
*Jayne Amelia talks with Jaci Cortez, former foster youth identifying as LGBTQIA and now a foster youth advocate.* Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Jaci is of Guatemalan and Asian Indian descent, and was in foster care from the ages of 4-21. She has a Communications Degree from Rio Hondo College, and now serves as a consultant to nonprofit organizations and programs that serve current and former foster youth. Jaci is working toward her dream of launching her own nonprofit organization, Sunflower Foster Youth Investment, to help current and former foster youth achieve stability and realize their goals.
pennylane.org
fosterreprohealth.org
CASAla.org
kidsave.org
Apr 9, 2021
Episode 1 - We Call Them Our Bonus Babies
*Jayne Amelia introduces the BONUS BABIES podcast and talks with her first guest, foster parent and Peace4kids.org volunteer, Mrs. Dorrie Woods.* After a rewarding career in education, Dorrie retired to a life of family and volunteering with Center of Hope Youth Ministries, Miracle Workers, Carson Foster Parent Association, and Peace4Kids which offers a peaceful respite to children in the system and their families. She’s a Fun Ambassador at the Compton Adult School where one of the highlights was sparking and following through on a prom for intellectually delayed individuals who've never had one before, and she is a volunteer lead at Sister to Sister Purse Ministry providing purses jam packed with hand-written letters of encouragement and comfort items to homeless women. Dorrie founded Travel For Me, creating personalized and fully escorted travel for adults with Downs Syndrome, Autism, and intellectual development disabilities to provide the experience of pleasure and joy of travel. In her role as a foster parent (to mostly special needs children and young adults) and assistant principal, she has supervised, escorted and loved thousands of kids. These experiences have given personal insight on how to foster special needs individuals who are often times marginalized, discredited, ignored and not valued as contributing members of society. Dorrie is a die-hard lover of chocolates, a good scrabble game, and great adventures. She and her husband have had the pleasure of raising 2 biological children, and fostering for 31 years with 26 Bonus Babies. They are currently fostering 2 stellar future leaders.
faithfosterfamilies.org
Peace4kids.org
centerofhopechurch.org/minsitries
dcfs.lacounty.gov/caregivers/adoption
heartgalleryla.org
kidsave.org
Mar 26, 2021
Bonus Babies trailer
This is the trailer for my podcast, BONUS BABIES. I interview kids, attorneys, social workers, caregivers and more, and track my experience learning about and navigating through the foster care system…not as someone who has a lived foster care experience… but through the unique lens of a Court Appointed Special Advocate (or CASA) volunteer––the eyes and ears of the court––whose job it is to seek out as much information as possible about the child to whom they’re assigned, the child’s case, and the child’s family. The CASA acts as the child’s voice, and is her advocate, her voice, in court; and it is a volunteer position, this is what differentiates us everyone else in that child's care. Los Angeles, where I am recording, has 35,000 kids in the county foster care system, and only 1200 CASA volunteers. So do the math, there are not enough of us. I hope that hearing about these kids and from these kids will help give them a voice …to give them a forum to help others…