A Good Family Is Better Than a Great Program : Brian Mavis
Thu Feb 05 2026
Kim talks with Brian Mavis, co-founder of America's Kids Belong, about foster care and why families are the key to changing long-term outcomes for kids from hard places. Brian shares his family's journey into foster care, how America's Kids Belong grew from storytelling and advocacy to recruiting and retaining foster families, and what communities can do to better support the families who say yes.
Brian also unpacks his new book, Upstream: Diving into Foster Care to Heal 10 Social Wounds, explaining how foster care is connected to many of the challenges communities work hard to address later, including homelessness, trafficking vulnerability, addiction, and incarceration. They close with practical ideas for churches, including wraparound support and regular respite nights that help families stay strong and stay in the game.
"Upstream: Diving into Foster Care to Heal 10 Social Wounds" by Brian Mavis
https://amzn.to/4qx8i25
"Boundless Hope for Every Child: Help for the Hurting, Compassion for the Misunderstood, Belonging for the Lonely" by Kim Botto
https://amzn.to/3Utuw6V
(affiliate links)
Every Child Belongs explores how we can create spaces where every child feels heard and valued, whether neurodivergent, differently abled, or they've experienced trauma. We'll hear from educators, parents, professionals, and more.
Kim Botto is an adoptive mom, grandma, an advocate for kids and teens with disabilities, as well as a long-time leader of kids in student ministries.
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Kim talks with Brian Mavis, co-founder of America's Kids Belong, about foster care and why families are the key to changing long-term outcomes for kids from hard places. Brian shares his family's journey into foster care, how America's Kids Belong grew from storytelling and advocacy to recruiting and retaining foster families, and what communities can do to better support the families who say yes. Brian also unpacks his new book, Upstream: Diving into Foster Care to Heal 10 Social Wounds, explaining how foster care is connected to many of the challenges communities work hard to address later, including homelessness, trafficking vulnerability, addiction, and incarceration. They close with practical ideas for churches, including wraparound support and regular respite nights that help families stay strong and stay in the game. "Upstream: Diving into Foster Care to Heal 10 Social Wounds" by Brian Mavis https://amzn.to/4qx8i25 "Boundless Hope for Every Child: Help for the Hurting, Compassion for the Misunderstood, Belonging for the Lonely" by Kim Botto https://amzn.to/3Utuw6V (affiliate links) Every Child Belongs explores how we can create spaces where every child feels heard and valued, whether neurodivergent, differently abled, or they've experienced trauma. We'll hear from educators, parents, professionals, and more. Kim Botto is an adoptive mom, grandma, an advocate for kids and teens with disabilities, as well as a long-time leader of kids in student ministries.