In this episode, we speak with Jesse Coontz, founder of Moms on Target: A Safe & Supportive Community for Moms to Raise Happy, Healthy Children. Jesse shares her journey and the inspiration behind creating a nonprofit dedicated to empowering single moms. We explore how providing meaningful support to moms can help prevent family involvement in the child welfare system and foster healthier communities.

Jesse discusses the challenges single moms face and how a supportive community can break generational cycles. She shares how her personal experiences shaped her mission to create a space where moms can connect, share their struggles, and receive the resources they need to thrive.

Through Moms on Target, Jesse aims to address the gaps she witnessed in her own upbringing by offering single moms the support, encouragement, and opportunities they deserve. Her work highlights the power of proactive solutions to strengthen families and create lasting change.

Learn more about Moms on Target and how you can support their mission at MomsonTarget.org. Tune in to hear Jesse’s inspiring story and discover the impact of supporting moms in your community.

Episode Highlights:

• Jesse Coontz’s journey and the inspiration behind Moms on Target.
• Supporting single moms to prevent child welfare involvement.
• Breaking generational cycles through community support.
• The mission and impact of Moms on Target.
• Challenges single moms face and how support helps.
• Proactive solutions for stronger families and communities.

Find more on Guest:

• Moms on Target Website
• Moms on Target Facebook
• Moms on Target Instagram
• Moms on Target TikTok

Find More on Hope Bridge:

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

This show has been produced by Adkins Media Co.

In this episode, we’re excited to sit down with Daniela Coats, a speaker at our upcoming Mobilize Ohio Conference, founder of With Siblings, licensed social worker, and children’s book author. Daniela’s passion for serving foster families focuses on supporting the often-overlooked biological children in foster and adoptive families.

As a “birth kid” in a foster family, Daniela experienced the challenges and rewards of being a temporary sibling to many children. Her parents eventually adopted her youngest sibling, shaping her dedication to supporting the ‘entire foster family’. Now, Daniela and her husband have six children—four through adoption and two by birth.

Through With Siblings, Daniela equips parents and professionals with resources and training to support birth children in foster and adoptive families. Her work as a licensed social worker and therapist at Be Still Counseling and Consulting in Texas is informed by her personal and professional experience, offering valuable insights for families navigating these dynamics.

Join us at Mobilize Ohio 2025 to hear Daniela Coats speak in person about supporting biological children in foster and adoptive families.

Register now to secure your spot!

Episode Highlights:

• Learn more about Daniela Coats
• Founder of With Siblings
• Challenges for Birth Kids in a Foster Family
• Mobilize Ohio 2025

Find more on Guest:

• With Siblings Website
• With Siblings Facebook Page
• With Siblings Resources
• Children’s Books written for Birth Kids

Find More on Hope Bridge:

• Register for Mobilize Ohio 2025!
• Visit Our Website
• Follow us on Instagram
• Follow us on Facebook
• Foster Our Community Instagram

This show has been produced by Adkins Media Co.

In this episode, we sit down with Anne Pace, a new staff member at Hope Bridge who has a personal history with foster care and adoption. Anne serves as the Family Advocacy Ministry (FAM) Specialist, where she provides coaching and support to partner churches, equipping them to minister to foster and adoptive families in their congregations. Through our affiliation with Promise686, Hope Bridge helps churches establish Family Advocacy Ministries that offer practical ways to care for vulnerable children and the families who support them.

Anne shares insights into the FAM model, a step-by-step ministry strategy designed to empower churches to advocate for and serve vulnerable children, foster families, and adoptive families. With access to ministry software, resources, tutorials, and consultations, churches are equipped to launch and sustain impactful ministries. Anne’s role as a coach and resource is pivotal in helping churches fulfill this mission.

Tune in to hear Anne’s inspiring story, her passion for foster care and adoption, and how the Family Advocacy Ministry is mobilizing the Church to transform communities by supporting vulnerable families.

Episode Highlights:

• Learn more about Anne
• Family Advocacy Ministry
• What is a Therapeutic Home?
• Blessings & Challenges of Foster Care
• Finding Your People

Find more on Guest:

• FAM
• Find a Support Group
• Promise686

Find More on Hope Bridge:

• Register For Mobilize Ohio 2025
• Visit Our Website
• Follow us on Instagram
• Follow us on Facebook
• Foster Our Community Instagram

This show has been produced by Adkins Media Co.

Today, we are thrilled to welcome Jamie Finn to the podcast! Jamie is a bestselling author, the founder and President of Foster the Family, the host of the Real Mom podcast, and the founder and owner of Goods and Better. She is a sought-after speaker for retreats, conferences, and events, offering encouragement and support to foster and adoptive parents. Through her popular social media accounts, Jamie shares the realities of foster parenting, inspiring thousands with her honesty and wisdom.

As a mother of seven children through foster care, adoption, and birth, Jamie brings both personal experience and professional expertise to today’s conversation. She lives in Sicklerville, New Jersey, with her husband, Alan. During our conversation, Jamie shares about her newly released devotional book for foster parents, Filled, which was created to uplift and inspire those navigating the unique challenges of foster care.

We’re also excited to announce that Jamie will be a main stage speaker at our 2025 Mobilize Ohio Conference, where she will continue to encourage and empower foster and adoptive parents.

This episode is filled with heart, wisdom, and practical advice—you won’t want to miss it!

Episode Highlights:

• Introduction to Jamie Finn
• Mobilize Ohio 2025
• Foster Care & Adoption
• Community
• Self Care Vs. Soul Care
• Jamie’s New Book- Filled

Find more on Guest:

• Jamie’s New Devotional Book- Filled
• Foster the Family
• Find Foster the Family on Social:
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
• Real Mom Podcast
• Shop Goods and Better

Find More on Hope Bridge:

• Register for Mobilize Ohio 2025!
• Visit Our Website
• Follow us on Instagram
• Follow us on Facebook
• Foster Our Community Instagram

This show has been produced by Adkins Media Co.

We’re wrapping up the year with something special and light-hearted—a “Hot Seat” episode featuring our amazing staff!

Join us as we put Lisa, Nicole, Brian, and Mel in the Hot Seat with rapid-fire questions, surprising answers, and plenty of laughs. Get to know the people behind the scenes a little better as they share their quirks, favorite moments, and maybe even a few unexpected secrets!

This is the perfect way to close out the year on a fun and personal note. Whether you’ve been with us all year or are just tuning in, this episode is guaranteed to leave you smiling.

Grab your favorite holiday drink, settle in, and enjoy this special episode with us. See you in the Hot Seat! 🔥

Episode Highlights:

• Get to Know Your Hope Bridge Staff
• Lighthearted Q&A fun
• Team stories and behind-the-scenes insights
• A festive farewell to the year

Find More on Hope Bridge:

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

This show has been produced by Adkins Media Co.

As 2024 comes to a close, we’re taking a moment to pause, reflect, and celebrate all that God has accomplished through Hope Bridge this year. This episode is a heartfelt look back at the milestones we’ve reached, the lives we’ve impacted, and the ways God’s strength and provision have carried us through every step of the journey. Before we dive into setting goals and dreaming big for 2025, we want to honor the work that’s been done, express gratitude for the incredible support we’ve received, and acknowledge the lessons learned along the way.

In this episode, we’ll reflect on the highlights of 2024, celebrate the stories of transformation and hope, and share our deep appreciation for the volunteers, supporters, and community members who made it all possible. We’ll also discuss the importance of taking time to reflect before setting new goals, grounding our plans in gratitude and faith.

As we look ahead to the new year, we invite you to join us in praising God for His faithfulness and provision. Together, let’s move into 2025 with hearts full of gratitude and hope.

Episode Highlights:

• White Elephant Gifts
• 2024 Highlights
• Stories from Our Team Members from 2024
• Adding to the Team

Find More on Hope Bridge:

• Spiritual Formation Episode
• Visit Our Website
• Follow us on Instagram
• Follow us on Facebook
• Foster Our Community Instagram

This show has been produced by Adkins Media Co.

In this episode, we’re excited to highlight Brian’s new role at Hope Bridge as the Director of Discipleship. We dive into the heart behind this position, exploring what it looks like in practice and how it’s being implemented to further our mission. This role is all about supporting our team’s spiritual growth and helping us stay rooted in our purpose as we serve foster families.

We also discuss the importance of spiritual formation in the workplace. Spiritual formation is the process of being formed in the image of Christ for the sake of others. Brian shares practical ways we can incorporate this into our daily work lives, creating space for deeper faith and connection even amid the busyness. At Hope Bridge, where we are all foster or adoptive parents, the work we do to support foster families can sometimes lead to weariness and burnout. It’s a reminder that you can’t pour from an empty cup. By prioritizing spiritual formation, we not only refill our cups but also keep the main thing the main thing—becoming more like Jesus in the work we do each day.

Whether you’re involved in ministry, foster care, or any work focused on serving others, this episode will inspire and equip you to integrate faith into your daily routine, helping you stay grounded and refreshed in your calling.

Episode Highlights:

• Brian’s New Role as Director of Discipleship
• The Importance of Spiritual Formation in the Workplace
• Practical Ways to Integrate Spiritual Practices into your Workday
• Using Spiritual Formation to Combat Burnout and Stay Christ-centered.

Resources From This Episode:

• Practicing the Way- Jon Mark Comer
• The Common Rule- Justin Whitmel Earley
• Invitation to a Journey: A Road Map for Spiritual Formation
• Justice & the Inner Life Podcast

Find More on Hope Bridge:

• Schedule a Cup of Coffee with Brian
• Visit Our Website
• Follow us on Instagram
• Follow us on Facebook
• Foster Our Community Instagram

This show has been produced by Adkins Media Co.

Loneliness is an epidemic in today’s world—but there’s hope in community. In this episode, we explore why community matters and how it serves as the heart of everything we do at Hope Bridge.

We’re also unveiling the theme of the 2025 Mobilize Ohio Conference: Belonging. Together, we’ll dive into the heart behind this theme and why creating spaces of belonging is essential for foster care, adoption, and kinship families.

We’re thrilled to introduce two incredible speakers for the 2025 Mobilize Ohio Conference:

• Dr. Curt Thompson: A psychiatrist, speaker, and author, Dr. Thompson connects our deep desire to be known with the need to tell truer stories about ourselves. He’ll guide us in forming meaningful relationships, discovering purpose, and living integrated, creative lives.
• Jamie Finn: Author of the bestselling book Foster the Family and founder of Foster the Family, Jamie is a dynamic speaker and advocate for foster and adoptive parents. She shares encouragement and wisdom drawn from her experience as a mother to 6+ children through foster care, adoption, and birth.

Join us for an inspiring conversation about building community, fostering belonging, and supporting those in the foster care journey.

Tune in now to hear the heart behind it all!

Episode Highlights:

• The Importance of Community
• Foster Care
• The Impact of Loneliness and Isolation
• The Theme of Mobilie Ohio: Belonging
• Speakers for Mobilize OH!

Find More on Hope Bridge/Links from this Episode:

• Register for Mobilize OH 2025!
• Learn more about Curt Thompson
• Learn more about Jamie Finn
• Get Connected with a Support Group
• Schedule Coffee with a Hope Bridge Team Member
• Visit Our Website
• Follow us on Instagram
• Follow us on Facebook
• Foster Our Community Instagram

This show has been produced by Adkins Media Co.