In this episode of Torn, Classie and Sonia are joined by Roxanne Logan—attorney, clinical social worker, and longtime advocate—for a conversation about how parenting classes are used in the child welfare system. Together, they examine why these classes are often mandatory, rarely relevant, and disconnected from the realities of Black and Brown families.

They share firsthand stories from the field, discuss how culture and survival shape parenting, and call out the deeper issue: a system more focused on compliance than care. From court orders to funding streams, this episode takes a critical look at how the system fails to meet families where they are—and what needs to change.

In this episode of Torn, Sonia Johnson and Classie Colinet focus on mental health in Black communities and what it means for advocates to support their clients with care, context, and cultural understanding. Drawing from personal experience and community history, they talk about how mental health has been treated in Black families, the stigma that still exists, and the slow shift toward healing and openness.

They also speak directly to advocates working in the child welfare system, offering concrete ways to check in with Black and Brown clients, ask meaningful questions, and connect them with resources that reflect their realities. Throughout the episode, they make the case that tending to mental health isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessary part of advocacy, especially in systems that often ignore or pathologize the communities they claim to serve.

When children enter foster care, they lose more than just their homes—they lose their family connections, cultural identity, and access to their history. In this episode, we speak with Shanika Bynum about what it means to truly support children in care, beyond just placement.

Shanika shares insights on how foster care often erases a child’s sense of self, why maintaining family ties and cultural traditions is essential, and how both biological and foster parents can help children navigate these challenges. She also discusses the importance of culturally competent caregiving and how foster parents can embrace a child’s background rather than expecting them to conform.

Listen as we discuss:

• Why children in foster care seek out their biological families—no matter what
• The role of cultural competency in foster parenting
• How separation impacts a child’s sense of identity and belonging
• Ways to keep family connections strong, even during separation

This episode is for advocates, social workers, foster parents, and anyone committed to a child welfare system that centers family preservation and cultural identity.