 |
From Foster Care to Family Law - A Child Welfare FocusAuthor: Susan Chesnutt
This is Susan Chesnutt of The Chesnutt Law Firm. This is my podcast From Foster Care to Family Law: A Child Welfare Focus. I was raised in the foster care system, I was a child abuse investigator for the Department of Children and Families, and now I am an attorney practicing family law where my passion is to focus on the best interests of the children involved. In my podcast, I will be meeting industry experts exploring the seemingly impossible scenarios that families often struggle to manage. Each episode will include insights and concepts from professionals that deal with these issues. Language: en Genres: Kids & Family, Parenting Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
Listen Now...
#51 Peter Mutabazi and Mica Phillips: From Struggle to Strength and Hope for Every Child
Episode 51
Tuesday, 2 December, 2025
What happens when caring for a child means fighting the system that’s supposed to help them?In this episode, Susan Chesnutt talks with Peter Mutabazi, a foster father to over 47 children and international advocate, and Mica Phillips, a healthcare leader improving Medicaid access and dignity in care. They share the hidden struggles of foster care, healthcare barriers, and what it truly takes to protect children when the system falls short.Hear candid stories of navigating red tape, finding resources that don’t exist on paper, and turning exhaustion into advocacy. This conversation shows how compassion—and one person’s determination—can challenge broken systems and spark real change. In this episode, Susan and Peter Mutabazi, and Mica Phillips discuss: Navigating the foster care and Medicaid mazeThe emotional and financial realities of foster parentingFragmented healthcare systems and their hidden costsTransforming personal pain into lifelong advocacySeeing the best in every child and nurturing their potentialKey Takeaways:From Street Kid to Advocate (06:12): Peter’s journey from homeless child in Uganda to father of 47 foster children shows how belief in others can spark a lifelong mission.Breaking Systemic Barriers (14:40): Mica explains how bureaucratic hurdles in Medicaid block families from care, highlighting the power of awareness and persistence.Parenting Through Trauma (36:52): Peter demonstrates that parenting children with deep scars requires seeing beyond behavior to the pain beneath.Turning Compassion into Change (41:00): Mica shows that pairing compassion with advocacy can transform healthcare systems.“I love advocating for children, but this time, I also get to advocate for the foster parents.”- Peter Mutabazi "The more people can be educated and can educate on the costs of the complication of the system, the more we can advocate for something that hopefully systemically addresses these challenges."- Mica PhillipsNearly all kids in foster care are covered by Medicaid — about 99%. That means if you’re a foster parent or caregiver, your foster child could get free diapers and other incontinence supplies through Medicaid. Getting the protective products your child needs should never be complicated. We’ve simplified the process so you can focus on their care.https://aeroflowurology.com/foster-care About Peter Mutabazi and Mica Phillips: Peter is the Founder of the Now I Am Known Foundation and a senior child advocate, caring for many foster and adoptive children while transforming the lives of vulnerable kids through advocacy, foster care, and community engagement.Website: https://petermutabazi.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fosterdadflipper/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petermutabazi/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nowiamknownYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7nyDaM9EbB15AMlOkKQyHwMica is the Vice President at Aeroflow Urology, helping patients navigate insurance for senior and family care while combining advocacy with creative problem-solving.Website: https://aeroflowurology.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mica-phillips-007614a9/Connect with Susan: Website: https://www.thechesnuttlawfirm.com/Podcast: https://www.thechesnuttlawfirm.com/podcasts/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-chesnutt-27077bb9/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thechesnuttlawfirm/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuBwfp_IVpeX-YHKpxZ5L0gAvvo: https://www.avvo.com/attorneys/32960-fl-susan-chesnutt-3330241.html
