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PODCAST

Every Child Belongs

Every Child Belongs explores how we can create spaces where every child feels heard and valued, whether neurodivergent, differently abled, or they"ve experienced trauma. We"ll hear from educators, parents, professionals, and more. Kim Botto is an adoptive mom, grandma, an advocate for kids and teens with disabilities, as well as a long-time leader of kids and student ministries.

kids & family relationships

All Episodes

41:14

Big Feelings, Little Kids, and a Gospel-Centered...

Every Child Belongs ·

2026/03/19

In this episode of Every Child Belongs, Kim talks with Josh Zello, founder of JesusLovesPreschoolers.com, about building gospel-centered, developmentally rich preschool ministries where kids feel safe, known, and loved. Josh shares what changed when he moved from Texas to Baltimore and stepped into ministry in an urban context where trust is not assumed. He explains why many outreach events fail when they require parents to drop off children, and how trust is often built outside the church walls

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33:34

When Inclusion Feels Difficult: Practical Tools for...

Every Child Belongs ·

2026/03/05

In this episode, Kim talks with Cortney Jenkins, founder of Awe and Wonder, about practical, realistic ways churches can create spaces where kids with disabilities truly belong. Cortney shares how her years as a middle school special education teacher shaped her passion to bridge the gap between classroom strategies and church ministry, and why her adapted Bible resources help more than one group of learners. Cortney unpacks simple tools churches can use right away, including visual timers for

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36:39

Inclusion Ministry for Teens and Adults : Stephanie...

Every Child Belongs ·

2026/02/19

In this episode of Every Child Belongs, Kim talks with Stephanie Smith, CEO and founder of Kingdom Inclusion, a ministry creating inclusive environments for teens and adults with disabilities and helping churches bridge the gap between the church community and the disability community. Stephanie shares the story behind her passion, shaped by her sister Shelly, who has cerebral palsy and uses a communication device. She explains why finding a church that truly welcomes people with disabilities can

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40:16

A Good Family Is Better Than a Great Program : Brian...

Every Child Belongs ·

2026/02/05

Kim talks with Brian Mavis, co-founder of America's Kids Belong, about foster care and why families are the key to changing long-term outcomes for kids from hard places. Brian shares his family's journey into foster care, how America's Kids Belong grew from storytelling and advocacy to recruiting and retaining foster families, and what communities can do to better support the families who say yes. Brian also unpacks his new book, Upstream: Diving into Foster Care to Heal 10 Social Wounds,

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44:12

Why Nearly Half of Families Leave Church: New...

Every Child Belongs ·

2026/01/22

Dr. Erik Carter joins Every Child Belongs to talk about what belonging really means for families impacted by disability and why churches must move beyond accessibility to genuine relationships. Erik is a professor at Baylor University and Executive Director of the Baylor Center for Disability and Flourishing. He shares how friendships with young adults with developmental disabilities shaped his faith and his life's work, and why ministry must be with people, not for them. Kim and Erik discuss

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39:58

Anniversary Episode: A Year of Stories, Strategies,...

Every Child Belongs ·

2026/01/08

It's the one-year anniversary of Every Child Belongs and this episode flips the script. With Dave kicking things off, Kim Botto reflects on what the past year has meant, what surprised her most, and what she's learned from conversations with educators, therapists, parents, and advocates. You'll hear the biggest themes that kept showing up across the season: why proximity matters, why behavior is often misunderstood, why listening is so closely tied to love, and why adults have a responsibility to

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38:00

How Play Helps Kids Heal : Brianna Edwards

Every Child Belongs ·

2025/12/22

In this episode of Every Child Belongs, host Kim Botto sits down with licensed mental health counselor, registered play therapist, and author Brianna Edwards. Brianna shares how play can become one of the most powerful tools we have for helping kids feel safe, connected, and understood. She explains why play is a child's natural language, how adults can use it to disarm fear and build connection, and why behaviors often have deeper stories underneath the surface. Kim and Brianna talk about

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45:22

When Ministry Gets Personal: How Jenni Von Tobel's...

Every Child Belongs ·

2025/12/11

What happens when years of serving families affected by disability suddenly becomes your story too? In this heartfelt conversation, Kim Botto sits down with Jenni Von Tobel, longtime disability ministry leader at Willow Creek Community Church and mom of five, including her youngest daughter, Everly Rose, who has Down syndrome. Jenni shares how becoming a parent on "the other side of the table" transformed her approach to ministry—from advocacy to invitation, from teaching inclusion to living it

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44:01

Raising Stronger, Braver Kids : Sissy Goff

Every Child Belongs ·

2025/11/24

In this episode of Every Child Belongs, host Kim Botto welcomes bestselling author, counselor, and podcast host Sissy Goff. With over 30 years of counseling experience, Sissy is known for her calming presence and practical wisdom in helping kids and parents navigate the challenges of today's world. Together, Kim and Sissy explore why anxiety is on the rise in both kids and parents, and how adults can respond with empathy, hope, and practical tools instead of dismissing or overreacting. Sissy

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39:09

Parenting Through Faith & Advocacy: Camille...

Every Child Belongs ·

2025/11/13

In this episode of Every Child Belongs, host Kim Botto welcomes Camille Robinson, host of the Moments of Joy podcast and soon-to-be published author with Penguin Random House. Camille shares her story as a mother of five, including her son Maison, who was born with a congenital heart condition and later diagnosed with autism and an intellectual disability. Camille opens up about the challenges and joys of parenting children with special needs, from navigating IEPs and medical interventions to

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45:50

How the Church Can Support Foster Families : Jami Kaeb

Every Child Belongs ·

2025/10/30

What happens when the Church shows up for those who often go unseen? In this powerful conversation, Kim sits down with Jami Kaeb (mom of eight and founder of the Forgotten Initiative) to explore how churches can truly come alongside foster families, kids, and especially the often-forgotten caseworkers who hold the system together. Jami shares the story of how God transformed her family's view of adoption and foster care, how a simple "yes" led to a national movement, and why supporting those behind

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43:19

Included and Indispensable : Ellie Axford

Every Child Belongs ·

2025/10/16

What if the Church wasn’t just a place where kids with disabilities were cared for—but discipled, included, and seen as indispensable? In this inspiring episode, Kim Botto talks with Ellie Axford, Director of Embrace Special Needs Ministry at Brentwood Baptist in Nashville. Ellie shares how a ministry that started with four kids and a closet has grown into a thriving, full-spectrum program that includes worship, discipleship, and lifelong support. You'll hear powerful stories of reverse

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38:29

What It’s Like to Be a Little Person in a World That...

Every Child Belongs ·

2025/10/02

Jen Kendall on identity, parenting, public spaces, and raising kind kids. In this episode of Every Child Belongs, Kim Botto talks with longtime friend, mom, and creative leader Jen Kendall. As a little person, Jen offers an honest look at what it’s like to navigate everyday life—and parent—in a world that often overlooks people with different bodies. She shares real stories about public spaces, awkward interactions, and helping her kids understand and embrace who they are. With humor and practical

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53:06

How to Support Neurodivergent Kids: A Conversation...

Every Child Belongs ·

2025/09/18

What do you do when a child’s behavior feels overwhelming—or misunderstood? In this honest and practical conversation, Dr. Chinwé Williams—licensed therapist, speaker, and author of Calm, Courageous, and Connected—joins Kim Botto to talk about how we can better support neurodivergent kids and their families in everyday spaces. "Calm, Courageous, and Connected: A Parent's Guide to Raising Emotionally Resilient Kids" by Dr. Chinwé Williams https://amzn.to/45bU5Q6 Chinwé shares her personal story as

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43:57

Foster Care Impacts the Whole Family : Daniela Coats

Every Child Belongs ·

2025/09/04

On this episode, Kim Botto welcomes licensed clinical social worker Daniela Coats—founder of With Siblings and a powerful advocate for birth children in foster and adoptive families. Daniela brings a deeply personal and professional perspective, having grown up as a “bio kid” in a foster family and now parenting children through both birth and adoption. She’s also the author of a beautiful children’s book, The Day Lily Turned Uninvisible, which shines a light on a group often overlooked in

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50:01

ADHD, Autism & Church: A Dad's Honest Perspective :...

Every Child Belongs ·

2025/08/21

In this episode of Every Child Belongs, Kim Botto talks with entrepreneur and dad Chris Heslip, founder of PushPay and CEO of Amazing Life. Chris shares how his passion for creating welcoming church spaces for all kids stems from personal experience—raising two sons, one with ADHD and the other with autism. Through vulnerability and vision, Chris opens up about the grief, learning, and breakthroughs that shaped his family’s journey and deepened his commitment to inclusive ministry. Chris and Kim

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53:09

Why Families with Mental Health Challenges Avoid...

Every Child Belongs ·

2025/08/07

In this episode of Every Child Belongs, Kim Botto welcomes Dr. Steve Grcevich, a child and adolescent psychiatrist and founder of Key Ministry. With decades of experience and a deep passion for inclusion, Dr. Steve shares his journey from medical practice to ministry, focusing on helping churches welcome families impacted by hidden disabilities and mental health conditions. Dr. Steve unpacks eye-opening data showing that families raising children with mental health challenges—like anxiety, ADHD,

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03:20

Summer Reflection 2 : Kim Botto

Every Child Belongs ·

2025/07/24

It's the summer! Our routines change, the way we do things change, and so we're changing up Every Child Belongs for the month of July with a couple of mini-episodes. When we started this podcast in January 2025, one in 36 kids were being diagnosed with autism. Just a few months ago, the CDC, Center for Disease Control, released new research which shows that one in 31 kids are being diagnosed with autism. And it made Kim think back on a couple episodes that we had with two moms who are parenting

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02:05

Summer Reflection 1 : Kim Botto

Every Child Belongs ·

2025/07/10

It's the summer! Our routines change, the way we do things change, and so we're changing up Every Child Belongs for the month of July with a couple of mini-episodes. As Kim has been reflecting, a recent episode that stands out was with Dr. Dwonna Thompson Lenoir and the three things she said we could do in order to be a safe place for kids. One is, be curious. Like if a kid is behaving in a way that you don't understand, be curious. Second thing is have a conversation. Talk with the child,

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39:10

Building Inclusive Churches for Kids with...

Every Child Belongs ·

2025/06/26

In this episode of Every Child Belongs, host Kim Botto sits down with her friend and fellow advocate Sandra Peoples. Sandra shares her unique story of growing up in a family shaped by disability—her older sister had Down syndrome—and how that upbringing influenced her calling. Years later, Sandra and her husband became parents to two boys, one of whom was diagnosed with profound autism. This dual perspective—both as a sibling and now a parent—has fueled her lifelong work in encouraging families and

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39 results

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