If you’re listening to this, chances are it was passion that first pulled you into your role in the foster care community—whether you’re a professional, a caregiver, an advocate, or a faithful supporter.
But here’s something you might not have realized yet: just because you started in one role doesn’t mean that’s where you’ll stay. As we grow and gain experience, our passions often deepen and shift—and one of the beautiful things about this work is discovering new ways to use your gifts to serve children and families in need.
My guest for this conversation knows this well! He has seen this work from nearly every angle. Thomas Dent has welcomed children into his home as an adoptive and former foster parent. He has also worked inside Mississippi’s child welfare system as their former Director of Faith Based and Volunteer Services and Foster Parent Liaison. He knows the challenges that come with this calling, but in the face of those battles, Thomas carries a deep, steady hope in Jesus—the Father of the fatherless.
In this episode, you’ll hear some of the challenges of working within a broken system, what a blessing a supportive community can be to vulnerable families, how your passion makes your work personal, and much more.
- Connect with Thomas on his Facebook
- CAFO’s Finding Your Fit in Foster Care
- Give to The Forgotten Initiative
- Foster Care & the Church
TAKEAWAYS FROM TODAY’S CONVERSATION:
1. Supportive roles make more of an impact than you may realize.
Thomas shared how, during his time as a foster parent, it meant the world to him when people showed his family support by bringing over meals and offering encouragement. At first glance, these may seem like small acts, but for the family who is too exhausted to plan dinner, they mean everything! You can support foster, adoptive, and biological families where you live by offering food, prayers, encouragement, helping with cleaning or lawn care, or even providing respite care.
“It wasn’t necessarily the best meal I’ve ever had, but it was the most important. And that was the first time I felt the weight of it, but also understood how important the support was and the encouragement.”
2. The system may be broken, but it’s not beyond repair.
You don’t have to look far to see the brokenness. This is why it’s vital to have good people stepping into every role in the foster care community—using their unique skills and passions to fill critical gaps in care. When people who are passionate about helping vulnerable children and families take up these roles and make assistance more accessible to those who need it, we can work to repair what has been broken.
“I saw the problems and over time I thought, ‘I really think I want to be a part of changing this.’”
3. God will supply what we need.
There are countless stories we’ve heard from foster parents, caseworkers, and biological parents about how, in their time of need, God provided what was needed. That could be the strength to make it through a difficult season, a friend who can sympathize with our suffering, a physical need being met, or even the means necessary to reunify with one’s child. God truly is the Father to the fatherless, and He provides for us all. If you’re in a season of uncertainty or doubt, trust that He will provide everything you need.
“I’ve seen this play out time and time again. It’s the faithfulness of God that sometimes looks like two pack-n-plays and two car seats.”
Meet Our Guest
Thomas Dent is an adoptive parent, former foster parent, and former Director of Faith Based & Volunteer Services with the Mississippi Child Welfare System. He has also served as a Foster Parent Liaison. Thomas knows well the challenges that come with this work, but he carries a deep, steady hope in Jesus, the Father of the fatherless. He has been married to the love of his life, Christina, for 20 years, and together they are raising three sons.
Get encouragement and updates in your inbox.
Be the first to know about new episodes, posts, resources, and stay in the loop about what’s coming up.
Other Episodes You Might Enjoy:
