Building a Bigger Table

Content Warning: Please note that this conversation includes discussions of domestic violence and child abuse. Take care of yourself while listening and see below for helpful support resources. Every child deserves a foundation of unconditional love, a truth that Comfort Cases founder Rob Scheer learned firsthand after surviving a broken foster care system to build a beautiful family of his own. In this episode, Rob shares his deeply moving personal journey of entering the foster care system at age 12 and aging out at 18 with little more than a trash bag of belongings. He opens up about his childhood trauma, confronting severe parental and foster abuse, and how his path toward mental-health healing through therapy became the foundation for the compassionate, purpose-driven life he leads today. Rob recounts how he and his husband, Reece, built their family by adopting five children through the same system. He details the sudden, overwhelming transition of bringing four young children under the age of four into their home within three months, navigating discrimination during the application process, and fighting an intense legal battle to finalize their adoptions. Rob also shares the story of welcoming their fifth son, Alex, who joined the family as an 18-year-old facing homelessness, embodying Rob’s drive to ensure there’s room for everyone at his table. The discussion also explores the origin of Comfort Cases and how a simple family discussion about empathy led to a massive volunteer-led effort that replaces trash bags with dignified, essential-filled backpacks. Today, the 96% volunteer-run organization has delivered more than 360,000 backpacks and duffels filled with pajamas, toiletries, and comforting items to youth in care across all 50 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico. This episode is a powerful testament to resilience, the necessity of communal investment in the future of foster youth, and the truth that it is never too late to give a young person the unconditional support and love they deserve. Learn more about Comfort Cases and get involved at comfortcases.org. National Domestic Violence Hotline Call 800-799-7233 Text “BEGIN” to 88788 Live Chat Website Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline Call 800-422-2253 Text “GO” to 800-422-4453 Live Chat Website TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE: family building, adoption from foster care, public adoption, foster care, adoption journey, foster care awareness, parenting advice, domestic violence support, child abuse discussion, mental health in parenting, resources for parents, nonprofit organizations for families, emotional support for parents, LGBTQ+ parenting, parenting through trauma, raising multiracial families, empathy in parenting, unconditional love in families, community support for families, child welfare education, Rob Scheer, Comfort Cases, Comfort Cases nonprofit, stories of resilience, mental health and parenting CONNECT WITH ALLPATHS FAMILY BUILDING: https://allpathsfb.org Follow us on social media @allpathsfb Want to share your story or ask a question? Get in touch at podcast@allpathsfb.org!