Licensed to Love

Licensed to Love

What does it really take to open your home—and your heart—to a child in foster care? Licensed to Love is the podcast for future foster and adoptive parents who want to understand the foster care system, build trauma-informed parenting skills, and create safe, loving homes for children who need them most. New episodes every 2nd and 4th Friday of the month on the JazzCast Pros Network. Hosted by Lauri and Veronica—directors at Families Thrive Inc., a leading foster care and adoption agency in Rochester, New York—each episode blends real stories from foster youth, birth families, and licensed caregivers with expert guidance drawn from decades of experience helping children find permanent, loving homes. Topics Include: ✅ How to become a licensed foster parent in New York ✅ What to expect during your home study and training ✅ Supporting teens and keeping sibling groups together ✅ The truth about family reunification and the Families First Act ✅ Navigating trauma, grief, and resilience ✅ Preparing youth for adulthood and aging out of the system Whether you’re just starting to explore foster parenting, deep in the licensing process, or preparing for adoption, Licensed to Love gives you the tools, encouragement, and clarity to say yes—with heart and confidence. Because love isn’t just a feeling—it’s a commitment. And every child deserves a place to belong. About Families Thrive Inc. Based in Rochester, NY, Families Thrive recruits foster and adoptive families for children in the foster care system ages 0 to 21. We place referred children in a loving home temporarily with a goal to return to a family member. When children cannot return or are waiting for a family, we provide pre-to-post adoption services and work closely with families through the entire process. Families Thrive offers services and training to our families and skill-building to the children. We host a Wendy’s Wonderful Kids recruiter on staff to find resources for children waiting for a family. With two sites in Rochester and the Finger Lakes, our mission is always to provide children with a kin family connection or find a permanent loving place to belong. Donate at: https://givebutter.com/FamiliesThriveDonation Connect with us on Social Media Instagram Facebook Families Thrive, Inc,| LinkedIn Music from #Uppbeat⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/evoli/vancouver ⁠ License code: OP7TONLRWONEVAYD

Episodes

October 18, 2025 41 mins
Ep. 2 For Monique Burney, the desire to become a foster mom came from personal experience—she grew up in foster care herself and understood the power of keeping siblings together. What she didn’t know was whether she qualified to do it on her own as a single parent. In this heartfelt episode of Licensed to Love, Monique shares how her path to fostering began with that question—and how a conversation with Families Thrive’s Director...
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Ep. 1 In this debut episode of License to Love, hosts Lauri McKnight (Executive Director) and Veronica Black (Director of Program Services) of Families Thrive share the inspiring journey of how their organization evolved from Children Awaiting Parents into a comprehensive foster care and adoption agency. With decades of combined experience, Lauri and Veronica open the door to what fostering and adoption look like in New York Stat...
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August 17, 2025 2 mins
Have you ever felt called to do more? To open your heart—and your home—to a child who needs love and stability? Meet Lauri & Veronica, two moms with decades of lived and professional experience in foster care and adoption. As executives at Families Thrive Inc, they’re guiding future parents through the real journey of fostering and adoption in New York State. Because every child deserves a safe, loving home. 💛 Licensed to Love...
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