You're a foster care caseworker working inside the child welfare system, carrying the emotional weight of decisions you have no control over. You manage a full caseload, walk into court hearings and removals, respond to crisis calls, and leave the office feeling scattered, guilty, or numb while quietly wondering how long you can keep showing up.
Through honest stories from the field and practical guidance, hosts Jami Kaeb and Jamie Finn offer hope-filled encouragement and support for the emotional and spiritual realities of child welfare work so you can stay in this calling long-term without losing your sense of purpose or burning out.
Because your work matters. And so do you.
Recapping Season One (w/Jami Kaeb & Jamie Finn) S1:E10
Hosts Jami Kaeb and Jamie Finn reflect on season one's impactful moments, highlighting the vital role of foster care caseworkers and the interconnectedness of the foster care system.
5 Jun 2026TRANSCRIPT
Staying Hopeful in the Long Game (w/ Jason Johnson) S1:E9
Hosts Jami and Jamie interview Jason Johnson, National Director of the Pure Religion Project, about maintaining hope and faithfulness in the slow, often uncertain work of foster care.
29 May 2026TRANSCRIPT
Collaborating to Create a Team Environment (w/Angie Lunow) S1:E8
Host Jami interviews foster care licenser Angie Lunow about building collaborative teamwork by breaking down professional silos for better child welfare.
22 May 2026TRANSCRIPT
Nurturing Relationships Outside of Work (w/ Cheryl Nitz) S1:E7
Host Jami and Jamie interview Licensed Clinical Social Worker Cheryl Nitz about how caseworkers can manage the emotional toll of their work while maintaining professional boundaries and personal well-being.
15 May 2026
Building a Culture of Care (w/LaQuisha White) S1:E6
In this episode of In Case You Forget, Jami sits down with LaQuisha White, Director of Foster Care at WinShape Homes, to discuss how frontline workers can meaningfully influence their agency's culture—even when they feel they lack authority. Having served as both a therapist and a leader, LaQuisha offers a perspective rooted in "open hands" leadership. They explore the reality that caseworkers are the primary influencers of culture because they are the "boots on the ground" representing the agency in homes and courtrooms. LaQuisha provides practical guidance for navigating the "winding road" of reunification and offers specific advice for workers who don't feel supported by their supervisors. The conversation serves as a powerful reminder that while the work is generational and heavy, the individual relationship between a worker and a child is life-changing work that matters regardless of the final outcome.
About the Guest
LaQuisha White is the Director of Foster Care at WinShape Homes, where she leads program operations and partners with churches to support families through a trauma-informed approach. With a background as a therapist for children in therapeutic foster care and a variety of leadership roles in mental health and adoption, she is known for her steady leadership and passion for strengthening systems while keeping frontline workers at the center.
In This Episode
Understanding that frontline workers are the biggest influencers of culture because they are the face of the agency to the community.
Moving beyond an "open door" policy to an "open hands and open heart" posture as a leader.
How to speak about biological families and children as "image-bearers" rather than just case files.
Practical steps for workers who feel unsupported: Finding your "why" and identifying external support systems.
Redefining self-care as a professional responsibility, including "micro-moments" of reflection and setting firm communication boundaries.
Encouragement for new workers: You are changing a child's life simply by being a supportive, consistent presence in their story.
Resources + Links
Learn more about The Forgotten Initiative
Follow TFI on Instagram
Check out WinShape Homes (https://winshapehomes.org/)
8 May 2026
Managing Your Hard Days (w/Blake Boyer) S1:E5
In this episode of In Case You Forget, Jami and Jamie are joined by Blake Boyer, a seasoned social worker and TBRI (Trust-Based Relational Intervention) practitioner. TBRI is a holistic, trauma-informed intervention designed to meet the complex needs of vulnerable children by focusing on connection, empowering environments, and proactive correction. Blake shares her personal journey through nine years of child welfare work, offering a candid look at how secondary trauma and the weight of human depravity can lead to exhaustion. The conversation explores the spiritual and practical discipline of setting boundaries, emphasizing that a caseworker's faithfulness to God is more important than their output at work. Blake encourages listeners to reject the "savior complex," reminding them that they are humans "made of dust" and that God is the only one sovereign over the outcomes of their cases.
About the Guest Blake Boyer is an MSW and practitioner of Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) with nine years of experience in child welfare, working at both micro and macro levels. She is the creator of the Instagram page @ChristianSocialWorker, where she provides education and support for believers navigating the ethical and emotional complexities of the foster care system. Blake lives in the North Georgia Mountains with her husband and son.
In This Episode
Recognizing that it is okay to "switch it up" or move into different roles within social work to preserve your marriage, health, and faith.
The importance of a "warm handoff"—transitioning cases planfully and healthily rather than quitting abruptly due to burnout.
How to foster a culture of collaboration and servant leadership within a child welfare office.
Staying grounded by focusing on "molecular" responsibilities: controlling your own attitude and obedience when the system feels out of control.
Identifying the signs of a "callous heart" as a primary indicator that you are in desperate need of a break.
Practical "in-the-moment" breaks, such as parking the car to pray or checking in with your nervous system during a long day of visits.
Finding your identity in the character of God (the Just Judge and Savior) rather than in your professional performance.
The necessity of having a life and hobbies—like art or hiking—outside of social work to keep your soul soft.
Resources + Links
Learn more about The Forgotten Initiative
1 May 2026
Learning From Your Anxiety (w/Blair Linne) S1:E4
In this episode, Jami and Jamie speak with author and Bible teacher Blair Linne about her unexpected battle with debilitating anxiety. Blair recounts how a "buildup" of life stressors—moving for a church plant, postpartum changes, and a car accident—led to a season of panic attacks and a loss of identity. She challenges the stigma of anxiety in Christian circles and reframes weakness as a "portal" to deeper dependence on God. This conversation offers caseworkers practical "body-guarding" tools, such as box breathing and "stacking" time, to help navigate the heavy weight of secondary trauma.
About the Guest
Blair Linne is a Bible teacher, author, and spoken word artist based in Dallas, Texas. She is the author of several books, including Made to Tremble: How Anxiety Became the Best Thing That Ever Happened to My Faith. Blair is a pioneer in Christian spoken word and co-hosts The Glo Podcast with The Gospel Coalition.
In This Episode
How "high capacity" individuals can be blindsided by postpartum and trauma-induced anxiety.
Reframing weakness as a teacher that helps us receive help and lean on God.
Identifying the "buildup" of stress that can lead to a tailspin from one final event.
The connection between anxiety and grief: Grieving the life and dreams you thought you would have.
Practical "body-guarding" tools: Box breathing, "blue spaces," and the physiological benefits of dancing.
Moving from being "depleted" to being "dependent" on God's strength.
How to avoid being "Job's friend" by listening well to a person's unique story of struggle.
Resources + Links
Learn more about The Forgotten Initiative (https://theforgotteninitiative.org/)
1 May 2026
Walking Your Story Alongside Theirs (w/Mia Arrington) S1:E3
Jami and Jamie welcome Mia Arrington, a therapist and former foster youth, to discuss the complex intersection of personal history and professional service. Mia shares her journey of "surrendering" to a career in social work despite her initial vow to never deal with foster care again. She explores how personal "triggers" can actually be a gift, indicating a deep level of empathy for the lives being served. The episode provides a roadmap for workers to recognize when they are burnt out, the importance of "Sabbath" and disconnection, and how to appropriately share one's story to humanize the therapeutic process.
About the Guest
Mia Arrington is a wife, mom, therapist, and social worker. As a former foster youth and adoptee, she is the founder of A Fostered Love, a faith-rooted space providing trauma-informed support for foster alumni, adoptees, and parents to help them understand and heal their stories.
In This Episode
Navigating the "obedience" of returning to the foster care field after personal trauma.
Seeing adoption and foster care as a "celebration" of image-bearers, even amidst loss and trauma.
Normalizing triggers: Why being impacted by a client's story is a sign of a healthy, feeling heart.
The ethical balance of "judicious disclosure"—sharing parts of your own story to benefit the client.
The life-changing gift of Sabbath: 15 years of prioritizing a "non-negotiable" day of rest.
Building a "toolkit" for grounding your nervous system, from cozy blankets to fiction books.
Resources + Links
Listen to Mia's episode of The Forgotten Podcast
Learn more about The Forgotten Initiative (https://theforgotteninitiative.org/)
1 May 2026
Noticing Your Attachment Style At Work (w/Kimberly Glaudy) S1:E2
In this episode, Jami and Jamie are joined by therapist Kimberly Glaudy to explore the four major attachment styles and how they influence the way caseworkers serve families. Kimberly breaks down the "dance" between a caseworker's attachment pattern and that of their clients, explaining why up to 80% of people in helping professions may lean toward a dismissive style. The conversation highlights how understanding your own "recipe" for relationship can prevent burnout and help you better interpret the behaviors of "needy" or "avoidant" clients. Kimberly offers a message of "earned security," reminding listeners that they can grow toward health even if they didn't start there.
About the Guest
Kimberly Glaudy is an author, therapist, and mentor with over 25 years of experience in youth and community development. Based in Houston, she leads a therapeutic group practice and is the co-founder of Revive Coaching and Consulting. She is a renowned trainer in Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) and has served refugees, survivors of trafficking, and youth in state custody.
In This Episode
Defining the four major attachment styles: Secure, Dismissive, Preoccupied, and Disorganized.
How a "dismissive" caregiver style can lead to becoming a "hyper-independent" adult and expert problem solver.
Understanding "preoccupied" or "needy" client behavior as a strategy to ensure their needs are met.
The concept of "earned security"—the ability to move toward healthy attachment through intentional work.
Why self-awareness of your own "dance" is the first step toward helping a client.
The "Yes and Thank You" practice for dismissive workers learning to receive care.
Moving beyond meeting goals on a treatment plan to helping a child experience true love and safety.
Resources + Links
Learn more about The Forgotten Initiative (https://theforgotteninitiative.org/)
1 May 2026
Wondering If Your Work Matters (w/Austin Ludwig) S1:E1
In this episode of In Case You Forget, Jami and Jamie sit down with Austin Ludwig, a foster care advocate, speaker, and artist, to discuss the profound and lasting impact a caseworker can have on a child's life. Austin shares his personal journey of entering the foster care system as a teenager after years of instability. He reflects on the shift from viewing social workers as the "enemy" to seeing them as the only consistent humans in an inconsistent season. Austin offers a unique perspective on how small acts of intentionality—like remembering a child's favorite ice cream flavor or being the first person to offer a celebratory smile in a courtroom—build the bridges of trust necessary for a child to flourish.
About the Guest
Austin Ludwig is a self-produced artist, speaker, and foster care advocate based in Atlanta, Georgia. After spending much of his childhood in foster care and aging out at 18, Austin experienced the redeeming love of Jesus, which now fuels his music and ministry. He currently works at WinShape Homes, raising awareness and supporting the next generation of youth in care.
In This Episode
The shift in a child's perspective from fearing caseworkers to seeing them as a "consistent human" in crisis.
The importance of being a "very human bridge" in the midst of an inhumane system.
Why "giving a child voice" through small choices is essential when they feel out of control of their lives.
Navigating the imbalance of having high responsibility but very little authority in the workplace.
The significance of "eye-to-eye" connection and celebration during monumental court hearings.
Encouragement for workers to fight against "calloused" hearts and maintain sensitivity through community and faith.
How the work of a caseworker mirrors the "cross-bearing" nature of Jesus.
Resources + Links
Learn more about The Forgotten Initiative (https://theforgotteninitiative.org/)
23 Apr 2026
Introducing In Case You Forget
The weight of child welfare work doesn't stay at the office. It follows you home, fills the quiet hours of the night, and often leaves you feeling scattered, guilty, or numb. If you are a foster care caseworker, you know the reality of carrying a heavy caseload while managing the emotional toll of decisions often beyond your control.
From the Forgotten Initiative, this is In Case You Forget, hosted by Jami Kaeb (host of The Forgotten Podcast) and Jamie Finn. This 12-part series offers faith-based encouragement and honest stories from the field to help you navigate the spiritual and emotional realities of your calling. Inviting you into a space specifically designed for the unique challenges of the child welfare system.
Whether you are walking into a difficult court hearing, responding to a late-night crisis call, or quietly wondering how much longer you can keep showing up, this podcast is here to remind you that you aren't alone. Our mission is to provide a steady source of hope and practical guidance so you can stay in this calling long-term without losing your faith, your family, or yourself.
Inside a recent episode
Recapping Season One (w/Jami Kaeb & Jamie Finn) S1:E10
Published 12 Jun 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] Yeah. Yeah. I think I first made the connection, you know, a lot of foster parents or really a lot of people who just enter this space. It's all about the kids. Right. We just want to serve the kids. Right. And then my heart started to grow for the families welcoming kids and serving foster families. And then it was like, oh my goodness, the parents, they have these stories and these struggles and they're just like us. […]
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