Life & Work with Stacey Goodson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Stacey Goodson.

Stacey, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin? 
I started in child welfare in 2009. My very first day working in foster care licensing was a day where we were having a very challenging time finding a foster home for a teenager to stay that evening. I knew, in my heart, on that first day, that I would become a foster parent. A couple of years later, I decided to take the plunge. I became licensed for teenagers. I knew from working in the foster care system there was a significant lack of foster homes available to accept placement of teenagers, and I knew this was something I wanted to do. The first placement was two teenage boys, siblings, ages 13 and 15. Talk about jumping in the deep end! The two boys became legally my sons at 15 and 17, and from there, I have had the privilege of parenting more than 40 kids in my family, adding 3 more since the first two, as permanent parts of my family. Currently, I have three teens placed with me, and while every day is a new adventure, watching them grow into successful and happy young people is one of the best rewards you could imagine. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. Navigating the dynamics of kids placed through the system has its challenges. There are so many social workers and other service providers involved, and they become a part of your daily life. While they are a great support, it can also be challenging to constantly have someone else coming over to talk about your kids and their behaviors. 

Parenting teens that have experienced trauma definitely comes with its challenges and behaviors. They do not have a trust of adults because so many of the adults in their lives have failed them and not protected them. This can lead to a lot of defiance, which creates its own challenges as well. Additionally, kids that have experienced trauma develop behaviors and coping skills which help them survive. While these behaviors may have been very effective in situations they were previously in, it can lead to behaviors that seem really out of place in my home. Learning how to navigate these behaviors while building relationships is a challenge that has endless rewards. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I work in child welfare and have for the past fourteen years. I currently run a Training and Consulting agency, and we focus on educating others in the areas of behavior management, understanding trauma, cross-racial parenting, and implicit biases for social workers, child welfare, foster and adoptive parents, and educators. I am most proud of being able to develop and create a successful business that is able to help those working with teenagers. What sets me apart is my unique experiences that I bring to the table. Not only have I worked in child welfare for fourteen years, I have been a foster parent for eleven years, and I have also coached a variety of different sports from the junior high to professional level. These unique experiences allow me to bring a perspective to working with others that allows them to see things differently. 

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you.
Luck plays a role in our everyday life; however, I think it comes from when we give good to the world; we get good back. I have been fortunate in my career and my personal life, and I believe it is because I strive to put good into the world every day. 

Pricing:

• Training Sessions vary in Pricing
• Triple Threat: Teenagers, Talking and Trauma by Stacey Goodson will be available for $19.99

Contact Info:

• Website: www.amoyantrainingandconsulting.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amoyantrainingandconsulting