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In this episode, Messellech “Selley” Abebe talks with Kate Wilson about how she’s working to keep siblings in foster care under the same roof, why stable housing is key to family bonds, and what community support can look like in action. Wilson is the founder of Foster + Heart, a grassroots movement that builds homes designed for siblings to stay together and feel a true sense of belonging. Together, Abebe and Wilson explore the challenges of the foster care system, the power of neighbors rallying to create safe spaces, and how love—and a well-built home—can transform a child’s future.

To learn more about Kate Wilson and her work, you can check out her website Foster + Heart and follow her on Instagram. 

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Transcript

Selley Abebe  0:01  

Do you have a place in your house that you feel most at home?

Child 1  0:06  

I don’t know if there’s a specific place. Just because I feel like my home feels like a home, if that makes sense, I feel like every place feels comfortable.

Selley Abebe 0:15  

What makes a house a home when you’re a kid in foster care? This mom built her answer from scratch.

Child 0:22  

I would say probably the living room, because me and my mom spend a lot of time in the living room together, and then I also spend a lot of my time in my room. Whenever I get into my room, I just like, you know, I’m like, home and I’m safe, I guess.

Selley Abebe  0:37  

Hey, ambassadors, welcome back to Speaking of Kids. I’m Selley. Our conversation today is full of heart, literally, because we’re talking about the foster care system and what it looks like when someone says this isn’t enough and then build something better. So let me introduce you to Kate Wilson. She’s a mom of five by adoption and the founder of Foster and Heart. Foster and Heart is a non profit based in Idaho that creates warm, loving homes for sibling groups who would otherwise be separated in foster care. What started with one house, Mimi’s house quickly became a movement, and today she’s not just opening doors, she’s helping whole communities rally around kids when really they’re at one of the most vulnerable points in their lives. This is when all systems have failed and the trusted adults around them are not available. In this episode, we talk about squishmallows, sibling bonds, state policy, grief, chaos and hope and the very real ways that ordinary people, churches, businesses and neighborhoods are stepping up to say, you belong here. Kate Wilson, thank you so much for being here. Yes, thank you for having me so I, you know, I wanted to start with, you know, kids have so much wisdom, right? And what’s a way that a child has shaped your work or your life and maybe hasn’t even known it like it wasn’t even something that they were proactively doing, it’s just something that you observed, and you’re like, Wow, that really moved me, really shifted my perspective.

Kate Wilson  2:22  

I think the biggest thing I’ve learned in working in this foster care system community is all these kids are so strong and resilient. And one of my favorite things that has really shaped me is that in any season of your life, you can be used in a positive way. And a lot of our teenagers just walk in the process of, you know, them coming into foster care, them hurting, being broken, and then watching them transition right in front of us to where they could be, like, I want to go back and make a difference in a younger person’s life and speak life into them in a scary, dark situation. So I think the biggest thing I’ve learned is you don’t have to wait to be an adult to make a lasting impact on someone’s life. These young teenagers that have gone through it are coming back and wanting to be a positive influence on children who are facing foster care right now.

Selley Abebe  3:08  

I love that because I think oftentimes you know, you hear that kids are resilient, and you see life shattering situations happen in adults, and you’re able to see, you know, sometimes them rebuild, but you never think of that same witnessed resilience in kids, in a way, and so that must be pretty powerful to see.

Kate Wilson  3:27  

It’s incredibly powerful to see. I had a young girl tell a friend of mine who adopted him that she had looked back at herself two years ago. Was like, I don’t even recognize myself because I was broken. I was hurting. I was reacting in a negative way because I didn’t my world was in chaos. And so she wants to go back in and help these young kids to kind of help navigate what they’re going through, because it’s hard to understand. But being like coming out on the other side, having the wisdom to go back and make a difference is huge. And I just love that. I think, like, you know, bad things happen to us, hard situations happen in our life, but how can we use those for positive and so them wanting to do that? And every teen that we’ve had always says, That’s my one thing. I want to go back and help the younger kids. So that’s pretty incredible, you know?

Selley Abebe  4:13  

And when we think of the word family, there’s so many things that comes to mind. How do you define family? What does that? What does family mean to you?

Kate Wilson  4:22  

Yeah, I think that that’s a, could be a big question. Obviously, the first thing I think of is my five children that obviously, I adopted, you know, five and a half years ago. I mean, they came to me. I wasn’t expecting to adopt five children, but they came and, you know, the situation turned to where they could forever be my kids, and they were such a blessing. But also, I look at every kid that has come in our home, I’ve had 91 kids I’ve fostered in my home personally, not just with foster and heart, but you know, it’s an extension of family to us when they go home. Now they’re they’re home with their biological family, but they’re an extension of our family too. So I always. Like Joe could say my kids have like, 91 siblings out there, because they may not live with us, they may not be with us forever, but their family because they were in our home for a period of time. And so we’ve even, you know, taken on some of the biological families as family too. And I get text messages. Oh, they this is how good they did in school, or this is where they’re going, or this is what sport they’re doing. And it’s a beautiful thing to look at this extension of family.

Selley Abebe  5:24  

That’s a beautiful definition and some really good and interesting examples of the possibility of family for sure. Yeah, you know, was there a specific moment that made you say, okay, like we have to do this. What really sparked Foster and heart for you?

Kate Wilson  5:44  

I was in the process of adopting my kids. Like we had a termination of parental rights, we had gotten an adoption date. And I always say, like, that’s when kind of the weight of the world lifted, kind of the unknown, you know, in our home situation, what was happening. I knew I was going to adoption, and I had mentioned to the caseworker, you know, because I saw this bigger picture, why are siblings being separated, and why isn’t that preventable? And so I mentioned to the caseworker at the time, I was like, You guys really need a home for sibling groups to go to when they enter care to prevent separation. And she just flippantly was like, You should do it. Then I guess that planted a seed. And I just was like, You’re right. Like, if I see there’s a need, why am I not pursuing a solution to that need? And so I brought this to a friend of mine, and we just put it out there, and the community response was so huge. We’re like, we can do this because we have the support of the community. So that’s basically where it started, was with my own children’s story and how they were separated for nine months.

Selley Abebe  6:44  

Wow, wow. I mean, that’s a true boss mom thing to do. Like, you just see a need and you just fill it.

Kate Wilson  6:52  

Yeah. And I think too, at the time, I was like, I want something that my kids can be a part of, you know, like, this is a family nonprofit. You know, not only obviously, with our family, but the all the the staff, we’ve all become a family. And so I was like, I want my kids to be able to do this. And my girls are so passionate about foster and heart, and my middle daughter wants to run it one day when she grows up, and she wants to foster and adopt. And it’s beautiful thing to see, like, your passion being, you know, your your kids living out that passion too.

Selley Abebe  7:24  

Is there a story behind the name? 

Kate Wilson  7:27  

I wish I had some incredible story, but no. The hardest part about starting a nonprofit, I think, is coming up with a name that you’re like, Okay, this is who we are. You know, you want to be powerful. And I knew I wanted, this is so funny. I just knew I wanted a plus in the middle, in my mind, I just had this visual of, like, foster plus something. So, you know, you ran all the home heart, or hope, you know, like all these things, and then one day I was at a stop sign, and I just felt like Foster and heart, that’s it, and I just went with it. And it’s, yeah, it’s been incredible. I definitely think that was the name it was meant to be.

Selley Abebe  8:00  

And the plus, I think a good plus sign, like, adds like, immediate, immediate, like, sophistication to anything.

Kate Wilson  8:09  

So, yeah, it’s so funny. That’s all I had. I want a plus in there. And then five years ago, at a stop sign, I got the name, so we went with it.

Selley Abebe  8:18  

So you’ve created two homes, Mimi’s home and Bubba’s home. Yes, that welcome kids during some of the hardest moments of their lives. Yes, as a child walking through the front door for the first time, what is their experience like? What does it look like? What does it feel like? What does it smell like? Yeah, you know, what is it like for them?

Kate Wilson  8:38  

You know, obviously, they’re coming from a very traumatic situation. They’re just removed from their home, and they’re walking into the door of a stranger’s home like they don’t under you know they’ve never been in there before. So our first goal is to make them feel safe and comfortable within our home environment. So they’ll walk in. The best part, I think, is they’re greeted by kids who have just gone before them, so the kids that came three weeks ago who were scared and unsure and didn’t know what was going on are now greeting the ones walking the door today and making them feel comfortable and safe and loved and protected within our home. Feed them. That’s a big thing. Get them food right away, because sometimes we’ll get notification, like the safety workers will let us know they haven’t eaten all day, make sure they get food. And then something we do is, whatever they come in the house with, we inventory it. So we right away, make sure we’re documenting everything they’re coming with, so that they’re leaving with those things, and then showing the kids around the house. Of course, the kids always want to see where they’re going to be sleeping. Some kids will go up. And I’ve had kids are like, I’m I’m good for the day. I’m gonna stand here. I need to sleep. I need to nap and kind of rejuvenate myself. Some kids are just ready to go hang out, meet everybody else. It kind of like we flow with the temperature of the child when they walk in the door, but first of all, always making them feel welcome and safe. 

Selley Abebe  9:55  

And you know, you alluded to something in terms of the way that the kids are greeted. But I just want to ask, like, have you seen a small gesture, something that maybe you didn’t expect that made a kid feel really seen?

Kate Wilson  10:10  

I have particular with this is really funny with, like, squishmallows. Do you know what squishmallows are?

Selley Abebe 10:15  

I do. I have three small kids. 

Kate Wilson  10:19  

Yes. Okay so what we do put little baskets on their bed and, you know, like water bottles or it’s usually like that gift basket on their bed that makes them feel seen a journal. But really, one of the big things is when a kid gets to get that squishmallow in their hand, they’re like, oh my god, they just instantly feel safe and comforted. And usually I was here, I’ve always wanted one of these. So that’s a small thing that I’ve noticed is, and, you know, we get all those donations from the community, so it’s the community helping us meet those small gestures for each child that walks in our door. Honestly, even the 1415, year old girls always want a squishmallow.

Selley Abebe  10:52  

So who doesn’t want? Yeah, I mean, they’re so soft, and they instantly make you feel comfortable, just

Kate Wilson 10:58  

safe and comfortable. And they’ll, they’ll snuggle them, or sleep on them, or whatever it is, but those are definitely little, small things that I think that make a huge difference in their when they walk in our doors.

Selley Abebe 11:08  

So I want to shift gears a little bit. Okay, you know, you’ve got new legislation in Idaho, yes, that is poised to really, you know, make some, a meaningful impact in terms of foster work in in the state, yeah. What are you really happy about with this law? And are there any concerns or things that you don’t feel like quite meet the mark?

Kate Wilson  11:30  

Obviously, I think the best case scenario is to try to keep a kid in the home, if it’s at possible, if the kid can be safe. And so when I first heard that, I was honestly very concerned, because I was like, Wait, I don’t want the goal to be just to keep kids home. Are we making sure there’s a safe environment? And yes, they are making sure. I did talk to people, I did my research, just to make sure that kids are being safe. And it’s it’s if they’re in imminent danger, they’re still going to bring the kids into care to make sure that the child is safe, but they’re talking about situations where they can hopefully create a solution within the home environment. Because obviously kids coming into care is traumatic in its own so if we can prevent that, that should be the goal. But also on the flip side, if kids are in imminent danger, we are bringing them into care to ensure that they’re safe. 

Selley Abebe  12:18  

Right out the gate, the thing that always surprised me the most when you know we work on all issues impacting kids, ranging from early childhood health, nutrition, maternal health, child welfare is a significant part of our portfolio, and I know when I learned that the bulk of Kids entering the child welfare system are often babies ages, you know, zero to three babies and toddlers at their most vulnerable stage in development, you know, and many of these families are dealing with so many complex structures and systems, it’s really the last case resort right for a child to be removed from their home. Oftentimes, there’s poverty, there’s addiction, there’s other elements of housing instability. I mean, this is not an easy decision, and one that you would think, you know, all the band aids in my mind have did not work. You know, all the supports failed in some way, shape or form. What upstream investments like, you know, expanding the Child Tax Credit, early childhood mental health, housing supports. Do you believe really could help families, you know, stay together and prevent these crises?

Kate Wilson  13:33  

I mean, in my experience, I would say the drug crisis is the biggest issue, getting more drug education, maybe more resources for people with addiction, like going to the root of that, because a lot of times they’ll go in, in a child welfare case, and CPS is called for whatever reason, and the home is really dirty, really bad. And we’re not just talking like dust on the walls, you know, or things on there’s like feces on the ground, but usually the byproduct, the original root problem is drugs, and that’s why the home is really, really gross and dirty and nasty. So my view is a lot of times we’re dealing with addiction, not even necessarily just drugs, but alcohol addiction, where kids are really unsafe in their home because the parent is addicted. So I feel like if you could get, you know, resources to people to help them break the cycle of addiction, then I think we could see more kids staying in their homes, at least just in my experience, is what I’ve seen, yeah, yeah. And hopefully going to that root cause will help them keep their home clean, help them. But addiction is an animal, and it’s a monster in itself. And you know when your focus is on that your focus is not on your kids. And I do know that when children are removed, there is a choice to be made, either this is your rock bottom and you’re going to build up from there and work to get your child back, or you could just wallow in the addiction or whatever it is. So I. Love supporting families who, you know, there’s a negative viewpoint of the bio families, right? Like, how could you get your kids room? Sometimes they that’s their rock bottom, and they’re building up from there. And so we get to help support them, see them overcome these obstacles and these challenges in their life that if they had a hit rock bottom, they might not have sought help, or, you know, been able to overcome. So that’s my experience with families.

Selley Abebe  15:25  

Yeah, and I love that perspective. And we know this that a lot like while government and policy does have a huge impact on all of our lives, you know, government’s not going to solve everything, right? And so you know how have in your experience, and you’ve alluded to this throughout our conversation so far, but how have local businesses and families that you’ve partnered with, you know, really stepped up and surprised you?

Kate Wilson 15:50  

We have the best community, and our view is like, not everyone can foster and that’s a reality. People might not be in that season, but everybody can be a part to make a lasting impact on a child’s life. And so we have people, businesses, churches like people volunteering their time, people giving their resources. We run something called the essentials project. So we found that most kids are coming in the doors with just the clothes on their back. So we deliver duffel bags full of everything a child would need to get through that first week. Well, we don’t necessarily go out on purchase. People donate to that, and so we have like, fundraising events for those. We have a big, huge event at Walmart every year where we sit outside and people go in and shop and bring out clothes. I really am blown away by the community support. And I don’t look down on someone because they can’t Foster. I just am like, Hey, you can’t Foster. You’re not in that season, but what can you do? And people want to be involved. People don’t know how to get involved, and then once they find out, they’re like, Okay, I don’t have the time to foster, but I have $5,000 I can give you to fund. And it’s really true. We’ve just seen incredible support from our amazing community, like I said, from churches to real estate companies coming around us to support kids in care.

Selley Abebe  17:05  

And you know, to that point, I know that you host a lot of local events. Yeah, we do. Can you tell us a little bit about some of these, some of the events?

Kate Wilson  17:14  

So we do what we call once a month foster parent day outs, so any foster parent in the Treasure Valley can drop their kids off, but not just their foster kids, their bio kids, and kids that are adopted. And we put on this big, huge party, and we give them a couple hours to go. Maybe it’s a date with your husband. Maybe you really need to go to Costco and you got seven kids in your home. You’re like, whatever it is. You could do whatever you want, and you can take four hours to go do whatever. But what the cool thing is, is not only do the foster parents get a break, the kids get community. So we see kids running up and hugging each other, and I think it’s also an opportunity to just feel like they’re not alone. There’s other somebody else out there that gets it, even if their story’s a little different. So we love the community aspect. We also love giving them a break. And then twice a year. Actually, this year we’re adding a third big party. We do big parties, family parties, so we call it the foster family fun day. And it’s just a blast. It’s so fun. All the families come. We hang out, but you got dads meeting dads, you got moms meeting moms, kids hanging out together. So then we do a huge Christmas party, and this year we’re adding the last splash of summer, so we’re renting slip and slides and just letting everybody come and have fun and get to know each other. I think community is huge in this world. You need to know someone else out there understands.

Selley Abebe 18:37  

I couldn’t agree more. I think you know, especially in just like the state of the world and where we are leaning, leaning into community, and especially the hat that you wear, where you’re literally building community. It takes someone to build that community. You know, like, if Foster and heart wasn’t around, these would be a lot of people that wouldn’t necessarily have found themselves together, kind of joined together by this mission, or even aware of the crisis that’s going on in the state, right? And the gaps that you’re trying to fill.

Kate Wilson  19:11  

For sure. And we had a coffee date the other day at a local it’s called the village. It’s like a shopping center, and everyone was wearing a foster heart t shirt. And this woman’s like, what are you guys? We’re like, Oh, we’re a foster, you know, mom’s group. She’s like, I’ve always thought about doing that. So she got the business card of, you know, one of our girls that runs recruitment of foster parents. And so anyways, let’s like, it definitely is like being out there community. You could draw people. I thought about it, but I didn’t know where to start. So right, hey, we’re going to be your starting point, and we’re going to get you all the way through. And then once you’re fostering, we got you. You already got community. We’re right here. So it’s definitely been cool to see you know how we can? We have the residential homes, and then we’re also recruiting foster parents, so across the board, we’re trying to make a difference in the foster care world.

Selley Abebe 19:58  

Let’s take a quick break, and this might be a good opportunity for you to share this episode with someone, maybe somebody that you know that’s been on the fence or considering fostering when we come back, Kate shares what it really looks like to live this calling day in and day out, and how you stay grounded when the work never stops. I’m here with Kate Wilson, founder of foster and heart. We’ve been hearing how she’s building homes and a network of foster parents across Idaho. Let’s shift from the big picture to what that actually looks like moment to moment, and what happens when her phone rings at 2am so I know you must be so busy day to day. Yes, what is the most chaotic? You know, beautiful, ordinary thing that might happen on any given day in your world.

Kate Wilson  20:58  

I mean, just when you think it’s a calm day, you get a call for a sibling group of five, or whatever that needs a place to live. And so the other day, I’ll just give this example. I was on vacation two weeks ago. 2am in the morning, I got a call, and I’m like, I knew it was for kids. And you know, you’re like, do I answer? You know, that split second? I’m like, Yes, I got a so 2am on vacation. I’m up till 430 in the morning trying to help get these kids into our home. Because our homes are, you know, obviously open 24/7 we have staff on that’s awake, and so, yeah, that’s kind of the chaos. It’s 20 477 days a week. You never know what’s going to come and but I love it, you know, I’m not clocking into a nine to five. So I feel like there’s some freedom to like, you know, be with my kids, but also I might get woken up at 2am to help a sibling group have a place to sleep that night.

Selley Abebe  21:49  

Wow. I mean, that’s, that’s real, and I think that goes to show that you’re walking in your purpose, right? Yeah, like there wasn’t a chance that you would have not picked up the call.

Kate Wilson 22:00  

Yes, I don’t think though, so I definitely say it’s, it’s a lot. It can be stressful, but it’s so worth every second of it to walk alongside these children so and be there for them. So, yeah, you know?

Selley Abebe  22:12  

And in our line of work, what we typically say, and you know, we see it play out all the time, is kids are often an afterthought when it comes to policy and legislation and budget decisions. And while government can’t solve all problems, it does have the ability to make such a significant impact. And so you know, if you could sit down with an elected official, what’s a story, or what’s something that you would share with them, that you would really want them to understand around this issue.

Kate Wilson  22:42  

I think it just goes back to keeping sibling groups together. Is that, I mean, for me, that’s my passion, and I think people don’t necessarily prioritize the bond and the connection that siblings have. And you know, statistically, when siblings stay together, the ability to heal is more successful, right? And their ability to bond is more better, and their ability to find a security and safety in a home is higher. I didn’t even know until I watched it firsthand with my children that siblings were separated in foster care. I think, obviously I understand where the department is too they need to get kids in a home that night, right? That’s just but that’s why Foster and heart is here, because we’re like, hey, you need them in a home tonight, but let’s prioritize keeping them together. And so I think just from the top up, I would love for you know people to understand that it’s not just about getting a home, it’s about keeping them together, keeping that bond, keeping them feel safe and secure, and helping them walk that healing process, that journey to become healed from whatever happened before in their home to getting them home also, but like, whether they end up going home or are they getting adopted, just that prioritizing keeping them together.

Selley Abebe  23:52  

And I think you brought up a good point. Is oftentimes, sometimes I don’t think people even realize that siblings are separated.

Kate Wilson  23:59  

Yeah, and I, I worked here locally for a very short time on the placement team, where we would call families to place children, and everyone wants that baby, one and under, you know, okay, yes, we need people to take on babies, absolutely. But I would have people say no to the two year old, and I’m like, I’ll take the one year old, but not the two year old. I’m like, okay, you’ve missed, you’ve missed the purpose here. It’s not a this or that. It’s they’re together. You either have space for both or you don’t like that would really grieve me. I remember getting off the phone many times crying because I’m like, No, we should probably is this not a child for your family. You are being you’re providing a safe place for them. It’s not to fill your need, it’s to help them out too, you know? And so I think people sometimes think I want a baby, but what about the other siblings? They need you as well. So changing that mindset from filling a need for you and looking at it like I’m filling a need for these children and being their safe place and prioritizing keeping them. Together is so important to me.

Selley Abebe  25:02  

And to that note, you know, if there’s somebody thinking like, maybe I can do this, like, what would you want people to understand?

Kate Wilson  25:11  

I basically would say that everybody has the ability to open their hearts and their homes to kids in care. I think sometimes we think it’s like the special person, or, you know, we hear that all the time as foster parents, you’re amazing. I’m like, Okay, no, I just had a passion to help. That’s really what it was. And I realized my place in this is, like, however long a kid needs me, I’m gonna fill that need. And so I think also stepping away from your own desire and being like, How can I be a safe place for a kid in the community? And you can do it. Everybody can do it. You got to dip your toe in there. You know, maybe it’s taking that first step. But there’s a quote that’s like, once you see their faces, once you know their names, once you hear their stories, you can’t turn away. And so it’s like the reality of, okay, when you see a number on paper, like 400,000 kids across the United States that are in foster care. But bring that a little closer. There’s a little child right down the street, or two or three that right now need you. And so when you can realize like they need me, I think you can step up to the plate.

Selley Abebe  26:13  

I love that. I think because of your perspective and because you’re kind of walking in your purpose and your calling, yeah, it makes it a little easier for you to digest the hard moments. But sometimes I know that they are there, and so we ask all of our guests, like, is there a song, or is there an album that you turn to to kind of reset yourself and be like, Okay, I can go back at it again.

Kate Wilson  26:37  

Well, I’m Christian. I love worship. Worship is what fuels me and really gives me that perspective. I would say right now, is just forest Frank his Lord, I need you.

Selley Abebe  26:51  

No, that’s like my daughter loves the all my kids, even at the home,

Kate Wilson  26:55  

my kids, your daughter. I mean, it just really puts you like, Okay, God, I need you now more than ever, put my heart back together when you’re broken. We had, I’ll just share this really quick. We had a about three weeks ago. We had a sibling group that was with us very long time we find out they’re moving out. It was it breaks your heart. You’re saying bye to these kids who’ve become family. Now you can hopefully keep in contact, but sometimes you can’t. But still, that doesn’t matter. Like, the life you’ve grown to know is changing. So it can be very grievous, and you’re grieving the loss of these children as they move out. They move out at 8pm and at 805, we have a new sibling group movement of three. And so after you grieve, you’re trying to like, okay, process all that, and now I’m trying to put on a happy face for these next kids so they don’t feel like, Oh, this is a Debbie Downer place, right? This is a sad place. We’re like, welcoming them. And I left that night feeling like, wow, this is a roller coaster. And I’m just as if I keep my focus on the Lord and just, you know, like, grieve. It’s okay to grieve and it’s okay to pick yourself back up and get back out there, because there’s another seven group that needs you. But I definitely love, I mean, my kids were in the car and they’re like, put on forest. Frank, he’s just, not only is he, like, encouraging, but it’s just, like, so exciting and fun. And we’re dancing, you know, the whole little dance move. I love it. So that’s probably who I turn to right now, Forrest Frank. But I, I always go to worship music is my thing.

Selley Abebe  28:25  

He’s been in heavy rotation, yeah, yeah, yeah. If I

Kate Wilson  28:28  

If I want to cry, though, not that I want to cry, that’s but, yeah, sometimes you do. I love Kane band. They have some really good heartfelt music that’s just like, oh so good. So we love Kane band, too, and obviously Maverick city, elevation worship, all that. That’s kind of who we all go to.

Selley Abebe  28:45  

So, nice, nice. Okay, well, thank you so much for being here today. Yeah, this was such a great conversation, yay.

Kate Wilson 28:52  

Well, thank you for having me. You’re so wonderful to have us on and get it. Let us share who we are and what we do. So I appreciate it.

Selley Abebe 29:01  

What sticks with me in this conversation is how Kate doesn’t just offer shelter, she offers belonging. The foster care system is made up of real kids, real families and real moments of heartbreak and hope. It’s easy to forget that when we talk about policy ideas. And here’s the thing, while not everyone can foster, everyone can do something. You can donate, volunteer, organize, advocate or just say yes to helping one child feel seen. If this episode moved you share it, because the more we can talk about these stories, the more we can remind each other that kids aren’t an afterthought. Speaking of kids, is a podcast by first focus on children. It’s produced by Windhaven productions and bluejay Atlantic. Elizabeth Windom is the supervising producer. Julia Windom is the editor, and Jay Woodward is the Senior Producer. Art. For more information about this episode, please visit firstfocus.org.