No Child Should Spend Their Worst Day In A Cubicle | Jenni Tice of Lily Pad

No Child Should Spend Their Worst Day In A Cubicle | Jenni Tice of Lily Pad

What happens to children in the hours after they enter foster care? Most people never think about it. They picture courtrooms, foster homes, case workers, and placements. But before any of that happens, many children spend hours and sometimes even nights sitting in government offices, conference rooms, and cubicles waiting to learn where they will sleep, whether they will stay with siblings, and what comes next. In this episode, we sit down with Jenni Tice, co founder and Executive Director of Lily Pad [https://www.lilypadinc.org/?utm_source=chatgpt.com], a faith based nonprofit creating trauma informed spaces for children experiencing foster care and victims of trauma. What began as one foster family's desire to do something better has grown into dozens of transformed spaces across South Carolina with expansion now reaching other states. Lily Pad creates living room style environments inside DSS offices and law enforcement agencies so children and vulnerable individuals have “a soft place to land” during some of the hardest moments of their lives. Jenni and her husband Ben have fostered more than 40 children over fourteen years. Their own foster journey included adoption, reunification, heartbreak, and eventually meeting Ashlyn, a former foster youth whose story helped inspire the creation of Lily Pad. During our conversation we discuss: * Jenni and Ben’s foster care journey and how saying “yes” changed their family * The heartbreaking moment that sparked Lily Pad’s mission * What children actually experience while waiting in DSS offices * Why trauma informed environments matter * The role churches and volunteers play in maintaining Lily Pad spaces * How Lily Pad expanded from one room to more than 40 locations * Expansion into law enforcement spaces supporting children and victims of trauma * The power of dignity, compassion, and creating safe spaces This conversation is emotional, hopeful, and deeply practical. It is also a reminder that not everyone is called to foster, but everyone can help create a softer landing place for children and families in crisis. Learn more about Lily Pad, see room transformations, donate, or volunteer here: Website: Lily Pad Official Website [https://www.lilypadinc.org/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Room Gallery: Lily Pad Before & After Rooms [https://www.lilypadinc.org/lilypadroomsbeforeandafter?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Instagram: @lily.pad.inc [https://www.instagram.com/lily.pad.inc/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Support The Podcast [https://dream-small-podcast.captivate.fm/support] Speaking Requests If your church, conference, or organization would like Jason and Whitney to speak about foster care, adoption, faith, leadership, or living a meaningful life through small acts of faithfulness, you can contact them at: dreamsmallpodcast@gmail.com [dreamsmallpodcast@gmail.com] Join our weekly devotional newsletter here: https://captivate.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c75f5dfcf9d690c6c9f256d22&id=d17b98130b [https://captivate.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c75f5dfcf9d690c6c9f256d22&id=d17b98130b] Follow & Contact Email: dreamsmallpodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast Facebook: Dream Small Podcast Twitter/X: @DreamSmallShow Music Credit "Paradise Found" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons.

What Foster Parents Wish You Knew: Insights and Realities

May is Foster Care Awareness Month, and in this episode we wanted to do something different. Instead of only sharing our own thoughts, we asked foster parents what they wish everyone else understood about foster care. Their responses were honest, vulnerable, challenging, and deeply insightful. We talked about comments foster families hear all the time: * “I could never do foster care because I’d get too attached.” * “They’re lucky to have you.” * “You knew what you were signing up for.” Most people who say these things mean well. We know that. But this episode is an invitation to see foster care from the inside and understand the realities many families live every day. We discuss: * why foster parents do become deeply attached * why attachment is actually healthy and necessary * trauma and why it changes parenting * misconceptions around adoption and healing * biological parents and compassion * reunification and complicated grief * how foster care impacts biological children too * why foster parents need support more than praise * practical ways anyone can help foster families We also share stories from our own journey and highlight people in our community who have stepped in and made an incredible difference for our family. Our hope is simple: * More understanding. * More compassion. * More support. * Because you do not have to foster to make a difference. Support The Podcast https://dream-small-podcast.captivate.fm/support [https://dream-small-podcast.captivate.fm/support] Speaking Requests If your church, conference, or organization would like Jason and Whitney to speak about foster care, adoption, faith, leadership, or living a meaningful life through small acts of faithfulness, you can contact them at: dreamsmallpodcast@gmail.com [dreamsmallpodcast@gmail.com] Join our weekly devotional newsletter here: https://captivate.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c75f5dfcf9d690c6c9f256d22&id=d17b98130b [https://captivate.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c75f5dfcf9d690c6c9f256d22&id=d17b98130b] Follow & Contact Email: dreamsmallpodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast Facebook: Dream Small Podcast Twitter/X: @DreamSmallShow Music Credit "Paradise Found" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons.

We Blame Foster Care Case Workers For A Broken System They Didn’t Create

What is it really like to be a foster care case worker? In this powerful and emotional conversation, we sit down with former Indiana DCS case worker, foster/adoptive mom, and child advocate Moriah Coons to talk about the side of foster care most people never see. From overwhelming caseloads and dangerous home visits to heartbreaking court decisions and emotional burnout, Moriah gives an honest look at the impossible weight many case workers carry every single day. She shares stories from the front lines of child welfare that reveal just how complicated the foster care system really is and why so many good case workers end up exhausted, overwhelmed, and misunderstood. But this conversation is not about defending a broken system. It is about humanizing the people inside it. Moriah also shares incredible moments of hope and redemption, including adoption stories, reunifications, and the moments that reminded her why the work mattered in the first place. Whether you are a foster parent, adoptive parent, CASA worker, social worker, church leader, or someone simply trying to better understand foster care, this episode will challenge the way you think about the system and the people trying to hold it together. In this episode, we discuss: * What foster care case workers actually face behind the scenes * Why communication can feel so difficult in foster care cases * The emotional toll of carrying impossible decisions * How judges, policies, and courts impact child safety decisions * Why many foster care workers burn out * Threats, trauma, and overwhelming caseloads * The heartbreaking realities of neglect and domestic violence cases * How churches and foster families can support case workers * Stories of adoption, healing, and redemption Some moments from this episode that will stick with us: * “Every single time I walked up the stairs, I was terrified the baby would be dead.” * “They’re not thriving. They’re surviving.” * “For every one bad egg, there’s a million more trying to do the right thing.” * “They’re just normal people trying to make a difference.” Moriah Coons was born and raised in Texas and studied Bible, Theology, Children’s Ministry, and Special Needs Ministry at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. She served as a Family Case Manager with Indiana DCS before transitioning into victim advocacy and domestic violence support work. Today, she serves as the Foster And Adoption Family Support Lead at Trader’s Point Christian Church (https://tpcc.org/fam [https://tpcc.org/fam]). Moriah and her husband Austin were licensed foster parents for nearly four years and recently adopted a sibling group of three. She also serves on the Executive Board for Champions For Children, an organization focused on making Indiana children safer. If this episode encouraged or challenged you, would you take a moment to follow the show, leave a review, and share this episode with someone else? Those small actions truly help us continue growing this community and spreading awareness around foster care, adoption, and living faithfully right where God has placed us. Support The Podcast https://dream-small-podcast.captivate.fm/support [https://dream-small-podcast.captivate.fm/support] Speaking Requests If your church, conference, or organization would like Jason and Whitney to speak about foster care, adoption, faith, leadership, or living a meaningful life through small acts of faithfulness, you can contact them at: dreamsmallpodcast@gmail.com Join our weekly devotional newsletter here: https://captivate.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c75f5dfcf9d690c6c9f256d22&id=d17b98130b [https://captivate.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c75f5dfcf9d690c6c9f256d22&id=d17b98130b] Follow & Contact Email: dreamsmallpodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast Facebook: Dream Small Podcast Twitter/X: @DreamSmallShow Music Credit "Paradise Found" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons.

How to Support Foster Families

Foster care was never meant to be done alone. In this episode, we kick off Foster Care Awareness Month with a conversation that is both deeply personal and incredibly practical. After years of fostering, one thing has become clear to us: the families who last are not the strongest or the most prepared. They are the ones who are supported. There are roughly 200,000 licensed foster homes in the United States and nearly 400,000 children in care. While that gap matters, there is another reality that often gets overlooked. Not everyone is called to foster, but everyone can do something. This episode is for anyone who has ever thought, “I want to help… I just don’t know how.” We share real stories from our own journey. The meals that showed up at just the right time. The people who stepped in to help with childcare. The unexpected financial support. The handwritten notes that reminded us we were not alone. Even the moments where someone simply stayed present with us when things were hard. These weren’t grand gestures. They were small, faithful acts of care that made it possible for us to keep going. We also walk through practical ways you can support foster families in your own community. Whether you are part of a church, a friend, a neighbor, or someone who simply cares, there are tangible steps you can take starting today. Because the truth is simple: You don’t have to foster to change a foster child’s life. And in many ways, the greatest need in foster care today is not just more families stepping in. It is more people willing to stand beside those who already have. As Whitney shared in this episode, foster care is an emotional rollercoaster, and no one is meant to ride it alone. The support system around a family often determines whether they can continue saying yes. So if you have ever wondered how to make a difference, this episode will give you clarity, direction, and encouragement to take that first step. Because sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is simply stay. What You’ll Learn in This Episode * Why support systems matter more than strength in foster care * The real reason many foster families burn out * Simple and practical ways to support foster families * How small acts of care create lasting impact * Why you don’t have to foster to make a difference Practical Ways to Support Foster Families * Provide meals during placements or transitions * Offer childcare or respite support * Help with transportation for appointments and visits * Write encouraging notes or check in consistently * Support financially when unexpected needs arise * Help create or prepare a child’s space in the home * Be present during hard seasons without trying to fix everything A Simple Challenge Think of one foster family in your life or in your community. This week, take one step. Send a message. Drop off a meal. Offer to help. It doesn’t have to be big to matter. Small acts of faithfulness can change everything. Support The Podcast https://dream-small-podcast.captivate.fm/support [https://dream-small-podcast.captivate.fm/support] Speaking Requests If your church, conference, or organization would like Jason and Whitney to speak about foster care, adoption, faith, leadership, or living a meaningful life through small acts of faithfulness, you can contact them at: dreamsmallpodcast@gmail.com [dreamsmallpodcast@gmail.com] Join our weekly devotional newsletter here: https://captivate.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c75f5dfcf9d690c6c9f256d22&id=d17b98130b Follow & Contact Email: dreamsmallpodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast Facebook: Dream Small Podcast Twitter/X: @DreamSmallShow Music Credit "Paradise Found" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons.

The Real Life of Foster Care: What People Don’t See | E45

The Real Life of Foster Care: What People Don’t See May is Foster Care Awareness Month, and while a lot of people are familiar with the idea of foster care, far fewer understand what it actually looks like inside a home that is living it every single day. In this episode, we wanted to slow things down and offer a more honest picture of that reality, not to overwhelm you, but to help you see what is often hidden and to invite you into it in a meaningful way. When most people think about foster care, they tend to picture the big, visible pieces. They think about court dates, caseworkers, home visits, and the system as a whole. Those things are certainly part of the experience, and they can be difficult in their own right. But what often goes unseen are the quieter moments that carry just as much weight, if not more. It shows up in a child filling their plate at dinner and not taking a single bite. It shows up in tears late at night and questions that do not have easy answers, like “Why can’t I go back to my mommy?” These are the moments that don’t make headlines or get talked about often, but they are the ones that shape a foster family’s daily life. There is also a layer of unpredictability that is hard to explain unless you have lived it. Schedules change at the last minute, visits get canceled or rearranged, and communication is not always as clear or timely as you would hope. In the middle of all of that, you are still trying to create stability for a child who has already experienced significant disruption. That tension can be exhausting, not just physically, but emotionally. One of the biggest shifts foster care requires is learning to see behavior through a different lens. What might look like defiance on the surface is often rooted in fear. What looks like anger may actually be grief. Even withdrawal can be a form of protection for a child who is trying to make sense of a world that has not felt safe or consistent. There is no simple formula for responding to those moments well, which means you are often learning as you go, relying on patience, grace, and a lot of prayer. Another important piece that we talk about in this episode is the purpose of foster care itself. Many people assume the goal is adoption, but in most cases, the goal is reunification. The hope is that families can heal and that children can safely return home. That reality creates a unique tension for foster families, because you are called to love a child deeply while also preparing your heart for the possibility that they may leave. It is a kind of love that requires both openness and surrender at the same time. Even with all of the challenges, there is still so much beauty woven throughout the experience. There are moments that feel sacred in a way that is hard to fully describe. A child who begins to trust after weeks or months of uncertainty. A small expression of gratitude that carries far more meaning than expected. Watching your own children develop compassion and awareness in ways that would not have happened otherwise. These moments do not erase the hard, but they give it purpose. We also spend some time challenging the idea that foster care is only for a specific group of people. While not everyone is called to open their home, we do believe that everyone is called to care in some capacity. There are many ways to step into this space, and they do not all require becoming a foster parent. In fact, some of the most impactful support comes from people who are willing to come alongside foster families and help carry the load. If you are not sure where to begin, it can be simpler than you think. Bringing a meal to a foster family can create margin in a day that feels overwhelming. Offering to help with transportation or childcare can relieve pressure in a very tangible way. Even small acts like helping with yard work or providing groceries can communicate to a family that they are not alone. There are also opportunities to support biological families when it is safe to do so, which can play a role in preventing children from entering foster care in the first place. As we move into this month, our encouragement is to take a step, even if it feels small. Learn more about foster care, ask questions, and look for ways to get involved. You do not need to have everything figured out before you begin. Often, it is simply a willingness to say yes to what is in front of you that makes the biggest difference. If this episode encouraged you or gave you a new perspective, we would love for you to share it with someone else. You never know how one conversation or one small action might impact a child or a family in need. Support The Podcast [https://dream-small-podcast.captivate.fm/support] Speaking Requests If your church, conference, or organization would like Jason and Whitney to speak about foster care, adoption, faith, leadership, or living a meaningful life through small acts of faithfulness, you can contact them at: dreamsmallpodcast@gmail.com [dreamsmallpodcast@gmail.com] Join our weekly devotional newsletter here: https://captivate.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c75f5dfcf9d690c6c9f256d22&id=d17b98130b [ https://captivate.us4.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c75f5dfcf9d690c6c9f256d22&id=d17b98130b] Follow & Contact * Email: dreamsmallpodcast@gmail.com * Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast * Facebook: Dream Small Podcast * Twitter/X: @DreamSmallShow Music Credit "Paradise Found" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons