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 nation. Guided by a belief in the power of love and generosity, Foster Love is transforming the lives of youth in foster care across America and giving them a brighter, more hopeful, future.

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 system, as well as how her lived experience in foster care as a teenager played a role in inspiring her future work. At the Aging Out Institute, Lynn focused on improving national outcomes for youth aging out of foster care through a variety of programs and beneficial resources.

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.