Every Child Belongs

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 be so challenging, and what changed when Shelly was included in youth group life simply as a person who belonged.

You'll hear practical ideas churches can use right away to create meaningful belonging beyond kids ministry, including asking families what barriers exist, inviting individuals with disabilities to serve in ordinary roles like greeting and hospitality, and helping volunteers slow down, learn, and ask questions. Stephanie also shares powerful stories from Kingdom Inclusion, including a moment at the Great Banquet when a guest realized, "They really love me here."

If you want church to become the most inclusive place on earth, this conversation will encourage you and give you next steps you can actually take.

"Boundless Hope for Every Child: Help for the Hurting, Compassion for the Misunderstood, Belonging for the Lonely" by Kim Botto
https://amzn.to/3Utuw6V
(affiliate links)

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 in student ministries.

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, explaining how foster care is connected to many of the challenges communities work hard to address later, including homelessness, trafficking vulnerability, addiction, and incarceration. They close with practical ideas for churches, including wraparound support and regular respite nights that help families stay strong and stay in the game.

"Upstream: Diving into Foster Care to Heal 10 Social Wounds" by Brian Mavis
https://amzn.to/4qx8i25

"Boundless Hope for Every Child: Help for the Hurting, Compassion for the Misunderstood, Belonging for the Lonely" by Kim Botto
https://amzn.to/3Utuw6V
(affiliate links)

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 in student ministries.

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 research showing that nearly half of families of children with disabilities have left their church because their child wasn't welcomed or included. They explore the "10 dimensions of belonging," what intentional churches do differently, and practical ways churches can support families not only on Sundays but throughout the week. The episode closes with encouragement for leaders who feel overwhelmed and a reminder that creating belonging is central to the gospel.

"Boundless Hope for Every Child: Help for the Hurting, Compassion for the Misunderstood, Belonging for the Lonely" by Kim Botto
https://amzn.to/3Utuw6V
(affiliate links)

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 in student ministries.

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 stay in the game longer than feels comfortable. Kim and Dave also talk about the power of community for families who feel isolated, the importance of offering specific help, and the hope-filled truth that change is possible through both neuroplasticity and the renewing of the mind.

If you serve kids in any capacity, this recap will help you focus on what matters most: creating spaces where kids can be fully themselves, find their people, and experience real belonging.

"Boundless Hope for Every Child: Help for the Hurting, Compassion for the Misunderstood, Belonging for the Lonely" by Kim Botto
https://amzn.to/3Utuw6V
(affiliate links)

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 in student ministries.

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 practical ways parents, teachers, and church leaders can support kids with big feelings or confusing needs—even when we don't have all the answers. From creating sensory-friendly spaces, to practicing repair after conflict, to helping siblings feel seen, the conversation is full of gentle wisdom and real-life strategies.

Brianna also shares her personal story of growing up with her brother Nathaniel, who had complex medical needs, and how that experience inspired her new children's book, The Little Roo Who Stuffed Her Stuff, which helps kids express emotions they might otherwise hide.

If you want to better understand kids, support families, or create environments where every child truly belongs, this episode offers hope, insight, and practical next steps. 

Get Brianna's book: "The Little Roo Who Stuffed Her Stuff" on Amazon
https://a.co/d/3WiXSSt

"Boundless Hope for Every Child: Help for the Hurting, Compassion for the Misunderstood, Belonging for the Lonely" by Kim Botto
https://amzn.to/3Utuw6V
(affiliate links)

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 in student ministries.