The Aging Out Podcast

In this November 2025 episode, MSW intern Jasleen Virk interviews Jamie Bennett, co-founder and executive director of Cetera. Jamie shares her personal foster care journey and how it fueled her passion to advocate for young people in foster care. She believes that relationship building is a cornerstone to supporting youths’ well-being and highlights the importance of connections with consistent and trustworthy adults. Jamie also di...

In this October 2025 episode, MSS intern Cheri Mitchell interviews Sarah Pauter, Executive Director of John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY). Sarah shares how her lived experience in foster care motivated her to become an outspoken advocate for extending the age of foster care emancipation to twenty-one. She passionately advocated for the passing of Assembly Bill 12 (AB 12) which became law in 2010, creating California’s Extended ...

In this September 2025 episode, Associate Director Sarah Wasch interviews David Meyers, Director, and Lori Tiller, Director of Research & Evaluation, of Embark Georgia. Together, they share their professional journeys that led them to the University of Georgia where they now lead a statewide initiative aiming to increase college access and retention for youth who have experienced foster care or homelessness. David and Lori disc...

In this August 2025 episode, MSS intern Hannah Bennett interviews Liz Northcutt, Executive Director and Founder of City Living NY. Liz shares her inspiring journey - from social policy intern to CASA Borough Coordinator to forensic social worker - leading to the creation of City Living NY. Moved by the barriers youth face as they age out of foster care, Liz teamed up with fellow social workers to build an organization grounded in d...

In this July 2025 episode, MSSP intern Liya Cha interviews Fritzie Saintoiry, the CEO and President of Genesis Hopeful Haven in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Fritzie shares her personal story, turning her grief over losing her son into a life-giving force for youth in foster care. Genesis Hopeful Haven works to prepare youth to successfully transition from the foster care system to a purpose-driven adulthood by engaging them with div...

In this June 2025 episode, MSW intern Sabrina Vargas talks with Gianna Mulkay, Executive Director of Foster Love, to discuss the organization’s incredible journey from its roots on a college campus to the impactful nonprofit it is today. Gianna shares her personal story, insights into the mission of Foster Love, and the specific programs making a difference for youth currently or formerly in foster care in California and across the...

In this May 2025 episode, the inaugural episode following the transition of the podcast from the Aging Out Institute to the Field Center for Children’s Policy, Practice & Research at the University of Pennsylvania, MSW Intern Kate Greco interviews Lynn Tonini, Founder and former Executive Director of the Aging Out Institute. Lynn spoke about her journey working with professionals and organizations involved in the child welfare ...

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 descr...

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. List...

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...

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 relations...

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 als...

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 givin...

In this episode, Lynn Tonini interviews Liberty Thompson, Executive Director of JEM Friends, Inc. in Boise, Idaho. Liberty shared how her interest in the challenges that youth aging out of care face developed from a friendship with a girl in foster care growing up. She described the four pillars of support that they provide youth: housing, community, life skills classes, and independent living planning. She also covers the four p...

In this episode, Lynn Tonini interviews Tyila Cooks, Executive Director of Lifebridge Child Advocacy in Midland, Georgia. Tyila shared about her own background, which included adopting foster children to be part of her own family. Started as a ministry, Lifebridge Child Advocacy officially transitioned to a nonprofit in 2021. They serve at-risk youth in the Columbus, GA area, providing a place for them to come together, get suppor...

In this episode, Lynn Tonini interviews Amy Navarro, Director of the Launch Success Program with Treehouse in Seattle. Amy explained her introduction to the challenges of foster care while serving with Americorp and the journey she took to get to her work with Treehouse. Amy's program, Launch Success, takes a three pronged approach to support youth: education & ca...

In this episode, Lynn Tonini interviews Hannah Hodgson Katzman, Associate Director of Family Harvest Farm in Martinez, California. Hannah described the mission of her organization, the John Muir Land Trust, which is to protect open spaces. Hannah's program - Family Harvest Farm - is under the John Muir Land Trust umbrella. They utilize 3.5 acres of urban open space for a program that hires yo...

In this episode, Lynn Tonini interviews Sherrie Weis, Case Manager at  YouthCare in Seattle, Washington. Sherrie described her organization's mission to help homeless youth, many of whom have a connection with or have aged out of foster care. Sherrie's program is a shelter that supports homeless youth between the ages of 12 and 17, but they also have a program for youth over the age of 18. YouthCare strives to build community for ...

In this episode, Lynn Tonini interviews Tige Charity, CEO of Kids in the Spotlight in Burbank, California. Tige shares about the unique employment support services that Kids in the Spotlight provides youth aging out of foster care, which focuses on skills in the arts and entertainment. We talk about the Script-to-Screen program that culminates in film productions that compete with one another for awards through their Kids Film Awar...