For decades, the Palmer Home for Children had been known in Mississippi for its role as a traditional, residential home, but in recent years, the leadership of Palmer Home began to discuss the best way to provide for children and started to re-think their organization’s original model. As Drake Bassett and his team started to expand their approach to include a focus on family strengthening and foster care, it made a way for families like Amy’s to become invested and involved in the lives of the children that Palmer Home cares for. Palmer Home’s story demonstrates the importance of making big changes, despite what has always been done, to act in the best interest of the child.

Key Quote

“So regardless of where you’ve been and where are you trying to go, the one question we always put on the table is, ‘What’s in the best interest of the child?’.”
Drake Bassett, (President and CEO of Palmer Home for Children)

Learn More

Here are the resources and/or organizations mentioned in this episode:

Palmer Home for Children: https://palmerhome.org

Meet Our Guests

DRAKE BASSETT
Drake grew up in the mid-south and attended college at the University of South Florida. He married his wife Kelley in 1987, and they now have four children and four grandchildren. Drake had a successful corporate career for over 20 years, serving in various leadership roles including, most recently, CEO for Claritas. In 2012, he transitioned to the nonprofit space with a desire to incorporate faith in his work environment and make a difference serving vulnerable children. For the past 8 years, he has pursued innovative paths to increase the number of children served, along with growing the reach of Palmer Home. In addition to his work at Palmer Home, Drake enjoys serving in his church and on the board of several other organizations.

AMY BROWN
Amy is originally from Columbus, Mississippi, but has spent her entire life in various regions of the state. She has been a practicing attorney for over 20 years and still loves the challenge of finding a solution for her clients. Amy and her husband, Chris, have been married for 24 years and have four sons, ages 17, 15, and twins who just turned 11. About seven years ago, God placed another boy in their path and they were able to become a mentor family to him. This year, they were thrilled that he became a more permanent part of their family as their foster son. In her spare time, Amy enjoys reading books, running, and doing yoga. She also loves to cook and travel with her family.

Meet Our Host

JASON WEBER
Jason and his wife, Trisha, have been speaking up on behalf of the marginalized for the past 24 years. Jason has written and helped to produce several books and other tools, including Farmer Herman and the Flooding Barn, a 2018 ECPA Christian Book Award finalist and the newly released Until There’s More Than Enough. Jason writes a regular column for Fostering Families Today magazine and is the host of the More Than Enough Podcast, which highlights the work of national foster care advocates. Jason serves with the Christian Alliance for Orphans and helps lead More Than Enough, a collaborative movement facilitated by the CAFO community. Jason and his family live in Plano, Texas.