Inside The Sanctuary: Foster Care, Finding Permanence, and Forever Homes
In this powerful episode, Jenny Fridge of The Sanctuary Foster Care Services shares her family’s personal journey into foster care and adoption, and the mission that now fuels her work. She pulls back the curtain on the realities of the foster system: the trauma children carry, the high burnout rate among foster families, and why support is the missing piece. We sit down with Jenny as she explains how the organization’s four pillars, which are in-home therapy, 24/7 crisis response, respite care, and community support, are redefining what foster and post-adoption care can look like.
Key Insights & Timestamps:
[00:16]: Jenny’s Journey Into Foster Care
[05:25]: Why Kids Move and How to Prevent It
[09:11]: Sanctuary’s Four Pillars of Support
[26:32]: Texas Law Changes & Foster Care Impact
[44:22]: Post-Adoption Support That Keeps Families Together
Key Takeaways:
- Foster care succeeds when families are fully supported, not left to navigate trauma alone. Jenny explains that many foster placements are disrupted because families lack practical, emotional, and therapeutic support. Sanctuary’s four pillars including in-home therapy, 24/7 crisis response, respite care, and community involvement are designed to stabilize placements and prevent children from moving multiple times.
- Trauma does not end at adoption, and neither should support. Adoption begins with loss, and children often continue processing trauma long after permanency is established. Sanctuary’s post-adoption services provide therapy, in-home coaching, and community connection to strengthen families and prevent disruption years down the road.
- Strengthening foster and adoptive families strengthens the entire community. When families are equipped with tools, resources, and consistent support, the ripple effects reach schools, workplaces, churches, and neighborhoods. Sustainable foster care and post-adoption care are community investments that create healthier, more stable futures for everyone.
Guest Spotlight:
Jenny Fridge
Jenny Fridge Fortman serves as a Community Relations Representative for Sanctuary Foster Care Services, where she supports foster and adoptive families across Fort Bend County. A wife, mother of four, grandmother, and adoptive mom herself, Jenny brings firsthand experience and deep compassion to her work in trauma-informed foster and post-adoption care. She is passionate about strengthening families through community support, in-home resources, and practical tools that create lasting stability for children from hard places.
Resources Mentioned:
- Sanctuary Foster Care Services
- Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI)
- Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS)
- Child Advocates of Fort Bend
- The Rainbow Room
For More Information:
Born in the Bend is sponsored by Develop Richmond, and is produced and mixed by the team at Speakerbox Media.
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