Data: More than Numbers

They say necessity is the mother of invention and foster care has the potential to be one of the most inventive systems in existence, because necessity is everywhere. When the standard playbook doesn’t work, we’re forced to get creative. Today, we sit down with Dan Vogel, the founder of the Flourish Fund. Dan spent years working on massive, complex strategic challenges in government and philanthropy before turning his focus toward the foster care system. He’s here to talk about what it looks like to move from playing checkers to playing chess—why innovation matters in child welfare, and how knowing better can finally help us do better for vulnerable children and families.

Foster care changes the landscape for the entire household—especially the siblings who were there first. In this episode, Matthew Haines reflects on growing up in a foster family and how it shaped his approach as a parent today. Plus, Dr. Nicole Wilke, Mackenzie Jamison and Philip Pattison share their own firsthand experiences navigating life in foster and adoptive families.

With so many worthy causes out there, why should we prioritize foster care?Today we sit down with Brian Mavis, the founder of America’s Kids Belong, to answer that question. We talk about his new book Upstream: Diving into Foster Care to Heal 10 Social Wounds and social issues that impact our communities - incarceration, poverty, homelessness, mental health and more.

This episode highlights a workshop from the CAFO 2025 Summit - a discussion between Chad Robichaux, Jason Johnson, Dave Frett and Keith Howard about parenting vulnerable children. It will leave you encouraged in the gospel, inspired in your calling, and challenged to take your next best steps forward in a healthy, sustainable way.

In this episode we talk about measuring our impact in foster care — and what it looks like to figure out if our organizations are accomplishing what we set out to do.

Mentorship isn't about having all the right answers. Most of the time, it's simply about opening up your life and inviting someone in. In this episode, Zach Garza shares his story, from being a struggling student changed by a professor to mentoring his own students and empowering leaders nationwide to build youth mentorship ministries in their own communities.

Today we're joined by Peter Mutabazi, Stacy Glass, and Laura Hutfless to talk about the unique journey of single foster and adoptive parents and what it looks like for a church to really come alongside and champion these families.

When data stops being abstract and starts feeling real, it compels us to act. In this episode, we share an excerpt from Until There’s More than Enough followed by stories from five foster care leaders on the data points that fuel their work.

We all have things that we’re afraid of. From imaginary dragons in the attic to snakes to some deeper fears, ‘What if I fail?’, ‘‘What if I let others down?’, or ‘What if I get hurt’? And our children, especially those who have experienced hard things, often carry even more of those “what ifs.”Today we talk with Kia Gelinas, an adoptee, teacher, and mentor about what it looks like to face those fears—and how to help others in your life do the same.

Recorded at CAFO 2025, this episode features author and speaker Kevan Chandler. We explore what it looks like to dream so big for kids and families in foster care that it requires leaning on others—and on God—to see it come to life. Kevan shares about interdependence, vulnerability, and the incredible gifts and challenges that come from working together towards more than enough for children and families.Prefer video? This special episode is available in full on the CAFO YouTube channel.