From Foster Care to Family Law: Susan Chesnutt on Justice, Healing, and Child Welfare

⚠️ Advisory: This episode includes discussion of child abuse and family trauma.

Welcome to this week’s episode of Fostering Change, where host Rob Scheer speaks with Susan Chesnutt — a family law attorney, child welfare advocate, and former foster youth based in Vero Beach, Florida.

Susan’s journey is one of resilience and purpose. After growing up in the foster care system, she became a child abuse investigator for Florida’s Department of Children and Families (DCF), then earned her law degree and founded The Chesnutt Law Firm, focusing exclusively on child welfare and family law. She also hosts the podcast From Foster Care to Family Law: A Child Welfare Focus, where she and her guests unpack the toughest issues facing families today.

In this powerful conversation, Rob and Susan explore:

✅ Lived experience as a foundation for advocacy.

“I know what it’s like to feel powerless in a system that’s supposed to protect you. That’s why I fight so hard to make sure every child—and every parent—has a voice.”

✅ What really happens inside a DCF investigation.

Susan breaks down the process from the inside, reminding families that “you have rights, even when it feels like you don’t.”

✅ Why empathy matters in family law.

Her trauma-informed approach prioritizes safety, healing, and understanding over blame.

✅ A call for systemic change.

“We can’t fix the child welfare system until we start valuing families instead of labeling them. Real reform begins with compassion.”

Susan’s unique perspective—combining lived experience, government service, and legal advocacy—shows how justice and empathy must go hand in hand.

👉 Learn more about Susan Chesnutt:

🌐 thechesnuttlawfirm.com

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