In this episode of The Forgotten Podcast, Jami sits down with Dr. Stephanie Shackelford, a Senior Fellow at Barna Group, to talk about the power of relationships, purpose, and tech-free spaces for improving kids' mental health. Dr. Shackelford shares insights from her recent Barna report, Gen Z, Mental Health and Wellbeing.

Dr. Shackelford discusses the six themes identified in her research for supporting Gen Z mental health, including the critical need for tech-free spaces and consistent rhythms for connection. She explains that the youth mental health crisis, marked by skyrocketing anxiety and depression, correlates with the rise of smartphone availability between 2010 and 2015. Throughout the conversation, she offers practical advice for parents on setting boundaries, such as removing phones from bedrooms and dinner tables, and modeling healthy technology use.

This conversation eflects on how to cultivate purpose and meaning in Gen Z, arguing that focusing on purpose—using one's gifts to serve others—is more fulfilling than chasing happiness. This discussion highlights that half of Gen Z Christians value seeing Christianity promote good in the world more than knowing it is true. She emphasizes that in-person church attendance is a major buffer against poor mental health outcomes like suicide and depression, encouraging families to prioritize being contributors at church and cultivating a culture of service at home.

This episode is an encouraging reminder that when parents and caregivers approach these changes with a humble vision and start with small, actionable steps, they can foster deep connection and meaningful purpose for their children.

About the Guest

Dr. Stephanie Shackelford is a Senior Fellow at Barna Group. She has researched and written for nationwide research studies covering topics such as Gen Z, mental health, purpose, calling, and discipleship. She and her husband live on the campus of Eagle Ranch, a ministry for Families in Crisis.

In This Episode

• What defines Gen Z (ages 9-27)
• The six practical ideas from the Gen Z, Mental Health and Wellbeing report
• How the rise of smartphones is correlated with increased youth anxiety and depression
• Creating tech-free spaces and the benefits of being bored and connecting with nature
• The meaning of "thick community" and "embodied experiences" to combat loneliness
• Inviting Gen Z into a narrative of purpose and redemption rather than happiness
• The protective role of in-person church attendance against poor mental health
• Cultivating a culture of service and calling at home and in the community

Resources + Links

Learn more about The Forgotten Initiative

Learn more about what at TFI Advocate does

Court is one of the most intimidating parts of the foster care journey—but you are not powerless in the process. Today, a Guardian ad Litem shares insight into how the court system works, how “best interest” decisions are made, and why your voice matters more than you may realize. Be encouraged: even when it feels confusing, your presence and partnership make a lasting impact.

On this episode of The Forgotten Podcast, host Jami Kaeb welcomes Mary Perdue—wife of former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue—to share her journey into foster care and her years as the First Lady of Georgia (2003–2011).

Mary shares how fostering newborns awaiting adoption in the late 1990s opened her eyes to the broader foster care system and inspired her to make foster care her primary initiative while in office. She describes the cultural stigma and lack of awareness surrounding the system, her focus on educating communities that there are many ways to help beyond becoming a foster parent, and efforts like Champions for Children that engage businesses, civic groups, and churches.

Additionally, Mary discusses her work in creating Georgia’s Children’s Cabinet to coordinate state agencies serving children. She reflects on lessons of obedience and calling while urging the church to take responsibility for supporting foster children, families, and caseworkers alike.

On this episode of The Forgotten Podcast, Host Jami Kaeb interviews Tony Mitchell, who entered foster care as a newborn, was adopted at age two into a loving but impoverished farm family, and grew up learning work ethic, faith, and integrity. Tony shares learning about his adoption around age 9–10, wrestling with identity and belonging while facing racial isolation and teenage rebellion, and later coming to faith in college after reading the New Testament. In his forties he located his birth mother to thank her for choosing not to terminate the pregnancy, and at 59 he was contacted by the son of his foster family, filling in the missing story of his early years and confirming he was deeply loved. Tony emphasizes gratitude, grounding identity in God, and encourages foster/adoptive parents to never give up, reminding adoptees that God can redeem painful stories for good.

Our guest, Missy Bell, is the Director of San Diego for Olive Crest, an organization dedicated to preventing child abuse by strengthening, equipping, and restoring children and families in crisis one life at a time. In this conversation with Jami, she brings wisdom and insight into common fears parents have when deciding to adopt a teen and how to overcome them.

In this episode host Jami Kaeb and Holly Gnuse sit down together to talk about all things Advocates.

What does it mean to be a TFI Advocate? They answer all of our frequently asked questions about the role including things like what's the time commitment, is training provided, and how do I start. Listen in as they share details about how TFI equips advocates just like you, all across the country to care for the vulnerable right where they live.

More information on becoming a TFI Advocate: https://theforgotteninitiative.org/become-a-tfi-advocate/

Set up a call to learn more: https://calendly.com/mellissa-foster-tfi/learn-more-you-don-t-have-to-foster-to-care?month=2026-01

Join host Jami for a powerful conversation with experienced foster parent and trauma-informed care expert, Tera Melber. Tera, the founder of Resound Trauma Education, brings her extensive background—including a master’s degree in human services counseling and a commitment to integrating faith with the latest interpersonal neurobiology research—to the discussion. She shares her 20-year journey into foster care and adoption, highlighting the realization that parenting a child from early adversity requires a special set of skills and a Christian framework for care that wasn't always readily available.

Tera delves into the critical need for a trauma-informed approach to parenting and ministry, illustrating how Jesus himself modeled this connection-based care by avoiding shame and fostering safety, as seen in biblical accounts like the woman at the well and Zacchaeus. She also shifts the focus to the pivotal role of the church, encouraging congregations to move beyond rigid expectations. Instead, she advocates for trauma-aware environments—equipping volunteers with co-regulation tools, like "backpack teams"—to ensure foster and kinship families feel safety, connection, and belonging.

Ultimately, Tera’s mission is to combine the research of trauma-informed care with the biblical teachings of Jesus, viewing this work not as a buzzword, but as essential "gospel work." She looks forward to witnessing the church step up to be a unique place of safety, connection, and hope to bring healing and generational change to families navigating the foster care journey.   Links: Learn more at theforgotteninitiative.org More about guest Tera Melber https://www.facebook.com/p/Resound-Trauma-Education-LLC-61560422615470/

In this very special episode, our usual host, Jami Kaeb, is taking a turn in the guest seat. Stepping in to act as the host is our dear friend (and repeat guest) Jamie Finn!

The Forgotten Podcast is celebrating 10 years of creating content that serves, equips, and encourages those in the foster care community, as well as exalts the name of Jesus. To help commemorate this milestone, Jami will be the one answering questions and filling us in on some of the most impactful moments from the last 10 years as we look ahead to what’s coming next.

In this episode, Jami shares key lessons she’s learned through hosting the podcast, a little bit about how The Forgotten Initiative began, why it matters to hold both the darkness and the light in our stories, and much more.

Find resources mentioned and more in the show notes for this episode: https://theforgotteninitiative.org/jamie-finn-284/

My guest for this conversation didn’t set out to have fourteen children in her home. But through every step of her journey, she boldly trusted in the Lord and kept stepping out in faith.

Beth van der Wel is not only a biological mom to three, but she is also an adoptive and foster parent to an additional 11 children. Throughout their nearly three decades of marriage, Beth and her husband, Robin, have opened their hearts and their home to however the Lord would lead, which would include welcoming entire sibling groups into their home all at once.

From an unexpected nudge toward adoption to watching God bring life and hope to children the world had given up on, Beth has seen firsthand that you don’t have to have a perfect plan to be used by God. Beth recently joined the TFI Team as an Advocate in Marshall County, Alabama.

In this episode, Beth shares how she is living out her call to serve vulnerable children, the importance of making caseworkers feel seen and supported, how even 24 hours can have a profound impact on a child’s life, and much more.

Find resources mentioned and more in the show notes for this episode: https://theforgotteninitiative.org/beth-van-der-wel-283/

What should I do if I have a heart for the foster care community, but I can’t open my home to foster right now?

We hear this question often. Sometimes it comes from individuals who have fostered before and are simply in a season where they need to pause. Other times we hear it from people who don’t feel called to foster, but still have a deep passion to support vulnerable children and families. No matter which group you fall into, there are so many meaningful roles you can step into to make a difference.

Today, we want to highlight one such role—and a foster parent who stepped into this role when her home was at capacity.

We’re honored to introduce you to one of our TFI Advocates, Hanna Thrower. Hanna is a dedicated TFI Advocate serving Butler County, Alabama. Her heart for foster care began at a young age, and since then Hanna and her husband, Caleb, have fostered over 20 children, welcomed one adopted child into their family, and are raising three biological children.

In this episode, Hanna shares about her foster care journey, how she got started as an Advocate and earned the trust of her local agency, advice she would give someone considering the role of a TFI Advocate, and much more.

Find resources mentioned and more in the show notes for this episode: https://theforgotteninitiative.org/hanna-thrower-282/