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.

• 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

Learn more about what at TFI Advocate does