A car repair away from missing work. A set of bunk beds away from a safe home visit. A single rent bridge away from keeping kids with kin. That’s the razor-thin margin many families live on—and it’s exactly where CarePortal steps in to turn urgent needs into quick, local help.
We sit down with Kim Tulu, who leads CarePortal in the Roanoke Valley, to explore how a simple platform empowers agencies, schools, churches, and neighbors to prevent foster care entries with practical support. Kim shares the staggering need—around 400 kids in foster care locally and 90 to 100 new requests each month—alongside the hopeful reality that the community meets roughly 80 percent of those requests. From diapers and cribs to car repairs and short-term rent assistance, these timely responses stabilize families before a setback becomes a crisis.
This conversation moves from mechanics to meaning: how small acts grow into relationships, how multiple churches can rally around one household, and why prevention changes both outcomes and hearts. Kim’s personal story—rooted in an extended family built through foster care and adoption—reveals why accessibility matters. Not everyone is called to bring a child into their home, but everyone can do something measurable today. We also talk through practical onramps: viewing and funding needs at careportal.org, enrolling a church team, or helping launch CarePortal where none exists yet.
If you’ve wondered how to help beyond writing a check, this is your roadmap. Learn how to meet verified needs quickly, build trust with neighbors, and keep children connected to the people who love them most. Subscribe, share this episode with a friend who cares about family preservation, and leave a review telling us the one small act you’re ready to take next.

Welcome to Rebuilding Life After Addiction. I’m Justin Franich — I’ve led recovery programs, pastored churches, and walked hundreds of men into real transformation. This podcast gives you the tools, truth, and straight talk to rebuild your life through Jesus. Let’s jump in.

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