In this special mini episode, we share an important update about the future of Restoried. As Hope Bridge continues to grow, the team has been reflecting on how to ensure everything we do remains relational, intentional, missional, and prayerful. Those values have led to an important decision for the podcast.

Rather than focusing on producing more content, the goal is to create space for stories that truly point people to Jesus and help rewrite the narrative for vulnerable children and families. To do that well, Restoried will be taking the month of July off as a season of rest, reflection, and prayer.

The team hopes this break serves as an invitation for listeners as well—to slow down, spend time with the Lord, and evaluate the rhythms that shape daily life. Where might God be calling you to create more margin, listen more closely, and embrace intentionality this summer?

Restoried will return in August with one thoughtfully crafted episode each month through the end of the year. This change allows the team to focus on quality over quantity, ensuring every episode is purposeful, gospel-centered, and rooted in Hope Bridge's mission of bringing hope, restoration, and support to vulnerable children and families. Thank you for being part of this community and we'll see you back in August!

Find More on Hope Bridge:

• Visit Our Website
• Follow us on Instagram
• Follow us on Facebook

In this episode, we dive into the crucial role foster families play in the reunification process. Our discussion aims to encourage foster families to embrace their part in the team effort required for successful reunification. We'll provide an overview of foster care, emphasizing why reunification is the primary goal despite common misconceptions.

Many people struggle with the idea of children returning to their biological homes, but this is the cornerstone of foster care. Building relationships with caseworkers and biological families can seem daunting, yet it is essential for smoother, more effective reunification. These relationships not only improve outcomes for the children but also allow foster families to better advocate for the needs of both the children and their parents.

We stress the importance of unity and shared goals among all parties involved, with the child's safety as the ultimate priority and reunification as the next.

One frequent challenge for foster families is feeling excluded from the team, which can lead to misunderstandings with caseworkers. We'll explore strategies for foster families to strengthen their rapport with caseworkers and ensure their advocacy is seen as supportive rather than obstructive.

Join us as we discuss how fostering collaboration and understanding can lead to better outcomes for everyone involved.

Episode Highlights:

• June is National Reunification Month
• How Foster Parents Can Support Reunification
• Being a part of the team
• Being an advocate
• Ways to support reunification

Find More on Hope Bridge:

• Family Registration Form
• Visit Our Website
• Follow us on Instagram
• Follow us on Facebook

In this inspiring episode, we explore a powerful story of redemption through an interview with Bethany, a dedicated foster mom, and Jaliyah, the biological mother of Bethany's former foster children. Their journey has been marked by many challenges, but their unwavering commitment to each other has led to a heartwarming reunion.

Jaliyah worked incredibly hard to regain custody of her children, showing immense dedication and perseverance throughout the process. Bethany's intentional effort to maintain a supportive relationship with Jaliyah played a crucial role in this family’s story. Her consistent presence and encouragement were vital in helping Jaliyah achieve her goal of reuniting with all her children.

This episode underscores the significant impact that positive relationships between foster and biological families can have on the well-being of children. Tune in to hear how Bethany and Jaliyah’s shared dedication has paved the way for healing and togetherness, and learn why maintaining these connections, when safe, can be so beneficial for everyone involved.

Episode Highlights:

• How Bethany Got Started in Foster Care
• Jaliyah’s Childhood & Upbringing
• Forming Relationships with Biological Families
• Going against the grain
• Reunification & Redemption

Find More on Hope Bridge:

• Visit Our Website
• Follow us on Instagram
• Follow us on Facebook

In this episode of Restoried, we introduce our newest team member, Larkyn Forchione, the new Youth Empowerment Coordinator. Larkyn shares her journey as a single foster and adoptive mom, how God led her to Hope Bridge, and her passion for serving young people impacted by foster care.

We also announce the transition from our former "Aged Out Youth Program" to the newly named Youth Empowerment Program. This change reflects our commitment to supporting youth and young adults impacted by the foster care system through individualized support, life-skills development, mentorship, healthy community, and faith-based encouragement.

Join us as we discuss the vision behind the program, the needs facing system-impacted young adults, and how Hope Bridge is working to empower the next generation, one relationship at a time.

Episode Highlights:

• Meet Larkyn
• Youth Empowerment Program
• Mentorship
• Foster Care
• Adoption

Find More on Hope Bridge:

• Youth Empowerment Program Flyer
• Volunteer/Become a Mentor
• Visit Our Website
• Follow us on Instagram
• Follow us on Facebook

In this episode of Restoried, we are introduced to Shelly Mast, the newest county coordinator serving Holmes County and the surrounding area, and a longtime foster mom herself.

Shelly shares her journey into foster care, which began in 2020 during the chaos of COVID, and how God used both the beauty and heartbreak of that season to shape her faith and calling. She opens up about the challenges of foster care, including medical needs, reunification, and the emotional weight of loving children through uncertain outcomes.

Out of her experience, Shelly co-founded Project 1018, focused on practical and relational support for foster families. Now, she brings that same heart into her work with Hope Bridge, helping churches and communities step into meaningful care for vulnerable children and families.

This episode is a simple but powerful introduction to Shelly’s story, and the heart behind her work: showing up, staying faithful, and loving kids and families in the middle of hard stories.

Episode Highlights:

• Meet Shelly Mast
• County Coordinator
• Foster Care
• Project 1018
• Church Mobilization
• Community

Find More on Hope Bridge:

• Project 1081
• Visit Our Website
• Follow us on Instagram
• Follow us on Facebook

In this month’s spiritual formation conversation, we continue our series by reflecting on the practice of fasting and why it matters for our walk with Christ. Spiritual formation helps re-center our lives on Jesus when everything else competes for our attention.

Fasting is more than just abstaining from food; it’s intentionally setting something aside to create space to seek God. Looking at Jesus in the wilderness, we see how fasting prepares us to depend on God rather than comfort, control, or distraction.

Alesia shares her experience fasting from social media and how it reduced anxiety, comparison, and noise while increasing presence and attentiveness to God. Brian shares his experience of fasting during a season of medical testing, and how it became a reminder of God’s goodness and steadiness in uncertainty.

Ultimately, fasting reveals what we rely on and invites us to re-center our lives on God. We encourage listeners to consider practicing fasting in some form this month as a way to step away from distractions and lean more fully into God’s presence.

Episode Highlights:

• Spiritual Discipline
• Fasting
• Living Less Distracted
• Focusing on God
• Foster Care Crisis

Find More on Hope Bridge:

• Visit Our Website
• Follow us on Instagram
• Follow us on Facebook

For Foster Care Awareness Month, we’re continuing our For the One series with one of our most honest and challenging conversations yet.

In this episode, we wrestle with the tension between awareness and action. As believers, many of us know the foster care crisis exists. We’ve heard the statistics, seen the social media posts, and maybe even prayed for the children and families impacted by it. But at what point does “not everyone is called to foster” become less of a truth and more of a shield protecting our comfort, convenience, and fear?

We also talk about the excuses we hear most often: “I’m too busy,” “I’m not equipped,” “What if it disrupts my family?”, and challenge listeners to honestly ask whether those barriers are rooted in wisdom… or fear and self-preservation. Because while not everyone may foster, some people absolutely are being called to step in, and are choosing not to because obedience feels costly.

We unpack the reality that faith was never meant to stay comfortable. Jesus consistently moved toward brokenness, interruption, inconvenience, and vulnerable people. He didn’t just raise awareness, He stepped in. And if our faith never moves us toward vulnerable children, struggling families, or sacrificial love, we have to ask ourselves what kind of faith we’re actually living.

This episode isn’t about shame. It’s about invitation. An invitation to stop looking away. To stop assuming someone else will do it. To ask God to break your heart for what breaks His, and to be willing to become part of the answer to your own prayers.

Whether fostering feels impossible, intriguing, terrifying, or deeply stirring, our encouragement is simple: take one step. Learn. Ask questions. Show up. Move toward the brokenness instead of away from it.

Because the foster care system doesn’t just need more awareness, it needs people willing to live out a faith that has feet.

Episode Highlights:

• Foster Care Awareness Month
• Faith with Feet in the Foster Care System
• For the ONE
• Don’t Just Pray- MOVE
• Debunking Common Barriers

Find More on Hope Bridge:

• Connect with a Hope Bridge Team Member
• Visit Our Website
• Follow us on Instagram
• Follow us on Facebook

In this really special episode for Foster Care Awareness Month, Nicole sits down with DiEmma, the biological mom of her three adopted kids—for an honest conversation about what it actually looks like to choose relationship in the middle of really hard things.

What started over ten years ago in the middle of addiction, loss, and the foster care system has slowly grown into something neither of them expected, a relationship built on respect, compassion, and a shared love for the same kids. Together, they talk about the fears that can keep foster families from connecting with biological parents, and gently push back on the idea that it has to be “us vs. them.”

From relapse to healing, boundaries to grace, it hasn’t been easy, but it’s been worth it. DiEmma shares what it’s like from her side: not just as a biological mom, but as someone who was in foster care herself, and what it meant to feel supported instead of judged. Nicole talks about how important it is to stay grounded in who you are, choose empathy, and remember that loving a child means caring about where they came from, too.

At the end of the day, this episode is a reminder that foster care isn’t about swooping in to save the day, it’s about showing up, again and again. It’s messy, it’s hard, but it’s also where real healing can happen. And when it’s safe and healthy, connection between foster and biological families can be one of the most powerful gifts we give kids. This is what “For the One” looks like in real life.

Episode Highlights:

• Foster care awareness
• Bio family connection
• Standing in the gap
• Shared motherhood story
• Restoration is possible

Find More on Hope Bridge:

• Chat with a Hope Bridge Staff Member
• Visit Our Website
• Follow us on Instagram
• Follow us on Facebook