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 maze
The emotional and financial realities of foster parenting
Fragmented healthcare systems and their hidden costs
Transforming personal pain into lifelong advocacy
Seeing the best in every child and nurturing their potential
Key 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 Phillips
Nearly 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.
Mica is the Vice President at Aeroflow Urology, helping patients navigate insurance for senior and family care while combining advocacy with creative problem-solving.
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-YHKpxZ5L0g
Avvo: https://www.avvo.com/attorneys/32960-fl-susan-chesnutt-3330241.html
