Biography

Jaymi Lynn, MSW (she/her) entered foster care at the age of 13 and, by 19, became a kinship caregiver to her teenage siblings. She later became both a foster and adoptive parent, and also a grandparent -experiencing firsthand how permanency and lasting connections in foster care create stability and opportunity across generations. Today, Jaymi is a social worker, national speaker, and consultant who blends lived experience with professional expertise to drive meaningful change in child welfare.

Grounded in her lived experience, Jaymi brings a unique perspective at the intersection of kinship care, foster care, adoption, and identity. In adulthood, she also came into her identity as a queer woman, adding another dimension to her advocacy and the communities she represents. She bridges both the personal and professional, using her story and expertise to highlight the urgent need for stronger supports and resources for children, youth, and families.

As a speaker, trainer, and consultant, Jaymi has shared her story and insight across conferences, community events, and national platforms. Her advocacy and speaking topics include:

Youth Wellbeing

• Expanding Mental Health Supports for Youth in Foster Care
• Preparing Young People for Adulthood: Education, Workforce, and Life Skills
• Supporting Pregnant and Parenting Youth in Foster Care
• Ensuring LGBTQ+ Youth in Foster Care Are Seen, Safe, and Supported

Family & Caregiver Supports

• Reducing Reliance on Group Homes, Residential Care, and Institutions
• Promoting Permanency Through Relationship Building and Family Finding
• Elevating Kinship Care: Equitable Resources and Sustaining Lifelong Connections
• Improving Outcomes for Adoptees With Post-Adoption Supports
• Partnering With Faith-Based and Community Organizations to Strengthen Families

Systems Change & Practice

• Embedding Motivational Interviewing (MI) in Child Welfare Practice
• Recruiting and Retaining Caregivers Through Cultural Humility and Inclusion
• Driving Policy Change Through the Power of Lived Experience

Jaymi’s work extends beyond storytelling - she actively collaborates with organizations to influence policy, strengthen programs, and reimagine what child welfare can look like when youth and families are centered. Her efforts have inspired many while amplifying the voices of youth in foster care and those with lived experience.

Through her social media platform, @familyandcoffee, Jaymi shares her everyday life, family, and advocacy work. What began as a personal account documenting coffee shops and family moments has grown into a movement of storytelling and community. While foster care shaped her journey, it does not define her future - and she continues to show that life after foster care can be full of color, joy, healing, and possibility.