Hi! I’m Kristal
In this episode, I sit down with Catherine Talbott to explore family preservation, child welfare and how lived experience can inspire meaningful change for children and families.
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“It’s not just the child who needs protection. It’s the family that needs prevention.” – Catherine Talbott
Former child welfare leader and adoptee Catherine Talbott joins Kristal Parke to discuss adoption, government care and the urgent need to rethink how we support vulnerable children and families. Drawing from more than three decades working in child welfare, including leadership roles with BC Housing, NOW Canada and the Ministry of Children and Family Development, Catherine shares how her own lived experience shaped her approach to helping others.
Rather than focusing solely on child protection, this conversation explores family preservation, adoption breakdown, wraparound supports and why meaningful reform begins by listening to those who have lived it.
Growing Up as an Adoptee
Catherine reflects on being adopted as a toddler before being removed from her adoptive home and returned to government care at age twelve. She shares the lasting impact of that experience and how it shaped both her life and career.
From Lived Experience to Child Welfare Leadership
After spending more than 30 years working across British Columbia’s child welfare system, Catherine offers a unique perspective as both an adoptee and a senior leader responsible for improving supports for children, youth and families.
Why Family Preservation Matters
Rather than asking how quickly children can be removed, Catherine encourages us to ask what supports families need to stay safely together whenever possible. The discussion explores wraparound services, early intervention and why prevention often produces better long-term outcomes than crisis response.
Rethinking Adoption and Foster Care
The conversation examines adoption breakdown, foster care, post-adoption supports and why better data could help improve outcomes for children and caregivers alike.
Turning Pain Into Purpose
Throughout the episode, Catherine explains why she began speaking publicly after retirement and how she hopes greater transparency can lead to better conversations, stronger accountability and lasting reform.
Listen to this episode on the
Because She Was Adopted Podcast
Every child deserves safety, stability and the opportunity to belong. Catherine’s story reminds us that meaningful reform begins by listening to the people who have lived the system from the inside. Through compassion, accountability and a willingness to ask difficult questions, we can begin imagining child welfare systems that support not only children, but the families who love them.
If this conversation resonates with you, we’d love to hear your thoughts. By sharing our stories and experiences, we create space for greater understanding and help move important conversations forward.
Thank you for being here.
With endless love,
Kristal
