Episode 12

Episode 12 - Ready or Not: How to Prepare for Your First Foster Placement

Published on: 5th August, 2025

In this episode of Dream Small, Jason and Whitney pull back the curtain on what it's really like to prepare for a new foster care placement. Whether you're a brand-new foster parent or just curious about the process, this episode offers a real, relatable, and faith-rooted look into the emotional, mental, and physical preparations that come before that knock on the door.

You’ll hear:

  • What emotional rollercoaster to expect when saying "yes" to a new placement
  • Why it’s okay to feel overwhelmed — and how to stay grounded
  • Questions to ask during “the call” (and why it’s okay to say no)
  • Trauma-informed ways to welcome a child into your home
  • Tips for preparing your space, your bio kids, and your support network
  • Stories from the Smalls’ personal journey — including Grammy’s “placement magic” and car seat chaos

📖 Verse shared: Isaiah 41:10

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you…”

Resource mentioned: Raising Kids with Big Baffling Behaviors by Robyn Gobbel

Whether you're actively fostering, just exploring it, or supporting someone who is — this episode is packed with practical wisdom, grace, and a few laughs too.

Connect with us:

📧 Email: dreamsmallpodcast@gmail.com

📷 Instagram: @dreamsmallpodcast

📘 Facebook: Dream Small Podcast

🐦 X/Twitter: @DreamSmallShow

🎵 Music credit:

"Paradise Found" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) | Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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About the Podcast

Dream Small Podcast
Big impact doesn’t always come from big platforms. More often, it’s found in the faithful yeses of everyday life.

The Dream Small Podcast, hosted by Jason and Whitney Small—parents of seven, foster and adoptive advocates, and storytellers—invites you to discover the extraordinary in the ordinary. Each episode offers encouragement, practical wisdom, and real-life stories from their journey of foster care, adoption, parenting, and faith.

With humor, honesty, and hope, Jason and Whitney remind listeners that God delights in using small steps of faith and love to change lives. Whether you’re a foster parent, adoptive parent, or simply someone longing to live out your faith in practical ways, Dream Small will inspire you to trade fame for faithfulness and embrace the beauty of everyday obedience.

If you’ve ever wondered whether the “small” things really matter, this podcast is for you. Because sometimes the smallest yes can make the biggest difference.
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