using technology to leverage cross-sector communication

Karen Phillips didn’t plan to become a child welfare changemaker—she simply said yes to becoming a foster parent. That yes set her on a path to help families in crisis long before the foster care system gets involved.

In this episode of The Forgotten Adoption Option Podcast, Karen shares how her lived experience fueled the creation of the 100 Families Initiative at Restore Hope Arkansas. Together with her team, she’s building tech-powered, community-based solutions that bring together nonprofits, agencies, and families to prevent foster care entry.

🎧 You’ll hear:

• How Karen’s journey into foster care turned into statewide impact

• What the 100 Families model looks like in action

• The surprising ways technology is bridging gaps across systems

• Why prevention is both possible and powerful

This is more than a story—it’s a blueprint for hope.