Host Neil Colley returns to the Local Yokels Podcast after a brief break and is joined by Mississippi social workers Jessica Wade, Liz Luzader, and Brittany Benson to discuss systemic community issues, focusing on how adverse childhood experiences and trauma shape later outcomes. They describe foster care realities—frequent placement disruptions, late-night transports, children placed in juvenile detention or high-level facilities due to lack of beds, and decision-making that often ignores social-worker recommendations. The group links unmet needs, food insecurity, and inadequate school resources to long-term harm, highlights compassion fatigue and the importance of relational support, and discusses mandatory reporting in Mississippi. Liz also explains geriatric care challenges, including relocation stress and the vulnerability of older adults in assisted living and memory care. They emphasize showing up for others and note child advocacy centers as a crucial resource, while acknowledging major gaps in local services.

A reminder to buy Jeep giveaway tickets at fancynancyfoundation.com to benefit House of Grace and domestic violence survivors, and thanks sponsors including MSJ Off Road, Roof Works, Spider Off Road, Rough Country, and Stuck Worthy Inc.

This podcast is Sponsored by Roofworks

http://RoofworksMidsouth.com

You can reach us at TheLocalYokelsPodcast@gmail.com

You can find the Local Yokel’s Podcast on YouTube, Apple, Spotify, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok

Produced by Derrick Michaud and SRP Studios Podcasting

#MississippiSocialWork
#FosterCareAwareness
#ChildhoodTrauma
#AdverseChildhoodExperiences
#FoodInsecurity
#ChildAdvocacy
#MentalHealthAwareness
#GeriatricCare
#CommunitySupport
#SocialWorkMatters