Introduction
The resources page links to our monthly FSRTC Newsletter as well as the Supporting Families Best Practice webinar series. Watch this space for future information on our quarterly podcast series as well as research briefs and other materials.
Family Support Stories Podcast
Family Support Stories
The Family Support Stories podcast exists to amplify the voices and stories of unpaid family caregivers, connect aging and disability networks, and bridge the gap between research, policy, and the lived experiences of families providing support. We aim to provide resources, insights, and community support to empower family caregivers and advocate for their critical role in society.
Podcast episodes
Episode 1: The Family Support Crisis
Dr. Tamar Heller, director of the UIC Institute on Disability and Human Development, interviews Dr. Joe Caldwell, director of the Community Living Policy Center at Brandeis University, about the research behind the Family Support Crisis. The second half of the podcast features Yolanda, a family caregiver of a woman with intellectual and developmental disabilities, who shares her on-the-ground experience of the challenges and joys of being an unpaid family caregiver.
Episode 2: Together in Care™
Guests Toni Gingerelli (National Alliance for Caregiving) and Amy Robins (PHI) discusses the Together in Care™ Initiative. The initiative aims to improve care outcomes by enhancing the partnership between family caregivers and direct care workers. The discussion highlights the importance of stable care partnerships, the role of care teams, and the potential of self-directed care models. Sharon Costabile then discusses her journey as a caregiver for her daughter Rachel, who has Down Syndrome, and the challenges and successes of building a care team. Sharon advocates for better support systems for families, and family caregivers having a “seat at the table” in policy decisions.
Episode 3: Making Respite Count
This episode explores the real-life impact of respite care for family caregivers, from the research to the lived experience. Dr. Rebecca Utz, a sociologist at the University of Utah, discusses her work developing the “Time for Living and Caring” (TLC) app, a research-based tool that helps caregivers plan, schedule, and reflect on their respite time. Her findings show that when caregivers intentionally set goals for how to use their time off, it can significantly reduce stress and enhance well-being. Later in the episode, we hear from Rocio Perez, a longtime family caregiver and Director of the Illinois Life Span Program at The Arc of Illinois. Rocio shares candid insights about how she first accessed respite care, the creative ways she’s made it work over the years, and why she never feels guilty for taking time for herself. Her story highlights the importance of accessible, culturally appropriate respite services and the role of community support in sustaining caregivers.
Supporting Best Practices Webinar
FSRTC is proud to support the Supporting Families Best Practice webinar series. These webinars introduce and elevate best practices related to supporting families. Each session will feature a panel of individuals or entities who will address key recommendations from the National Agenda through their lens of grassroots advocacy, “practice level” implementation, states service systems, federal policies, and research.
Sign up for future "Supporting Families Best Practice Series" webinars
August 21, 2025, Topic: Families as Allies, Advocates, and Partners in Grassroots Systems Change
Presented by the National Collaborative for Supporting Families.
November 20th, 2025, Topic TBD
Presented by the National Collaborative for Supporting Families
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The FSRTC Newsletter is your monthly guide to the latest research, resources, and events in family support. Each issue brings you updates on training opportunities, upcoming webinars, podcast episodes, policy news, and practical tools designed to empower families and professionals alike.