""I was spending hours looking at emails for school. I had kids in six different schools at that time because of COVID. We were trying to figure out the best needs for everybody. Everything was stressful, everything felt hard, and I was not able to even give what I needed to my organization nor to my kids.""
— Jami Kaeb, Founder
The Challenge
Jami Kaeb founded The Forgotten Initiative in 2011 to bridge the gap between the foster care community and the churches that want to serve alongside DCFS agencies. Over the next decade, TFI grew to reach 47 communities across 26 states — yet Jami herself was running on empty. For ten years, she had taken no salary, giving everything to the organization and her growing family.
In 2020, Jami and her husband welcomed an eighth child, and the accumulation of responsibilities became unmanageable. With children spread across six different schools during the height of COVID, Jami found herself consumed by logistics and overwhelmed by anxiety.
"I never could do it all, but this was a point when I was actually dealing with continuous anxiety."
The weight of it all was taking its toll on every area of her life.
"Everything was stressful, everything felt hard, and I was not able to even give what I needed to my organization nor to my kids."Jami, her husband, and TFI's board agreed: it was time to bring on real support.
The Solution
Having worked with BELAY before, Jami returned — this time seeking a Virtual Assistant who could handle both professional and personal tasks, freeing her to focus on what only she could do. She was clear on her philosophy from the start:
"Anyone can do my emails, scheduling, meal planning, put groceries in the cart [online], make sure my kids get their doctors appointments, but only I can be with my kids and emotionally available."
BELAY matched Jami with Virtual Assistant Cassie Hardman, and the fit went beyond logistics. Jami wanted someone she could trust deeply — someone who shared her faith and could be a true partner in life, not just a task manager.
"I love BELAY's process. BELAY does a really good job at helping me think through what I need and recognizing what I need even when I don't know."
Cassie took on email management with a carefully organized folder system, coordinated calendars across six school schedules, set up weekly online grocery orders, handled Amazon purchases, and maintained Jami's Christmas card address lists. She was given full access — including a credit card — and responded with enthusiasm and reliability every step of the way.
""I love BELAY's process. BELAY does a really good job at helping me think through what I need and recognizing what I need even when I don't know.""
— Jami Kaeb, FounderThe Impact
The transformation was visible almost immediately. Jami's team at TFI noticed she was more present, more invested, and more engaged. Her husband offered a simple explanation: it wasn't the salary — it was Cassie. With the logistical weight lifted, Jami had the time and energy to show up fully for both her organization and her children.
But the impact went deeper than productivity. The relationship between Jami and Cassie became something genuinely meaningful — built on shared faith, mutual trust, and real care for one another.
"It's definitely not transactional; it's very relational. Everything that I do that is good, [Cassie] is part of because I wouldn't be able to do it without her."
For Cassie, witnessing Jami's transformation was its own reward.
"My biggest win is to see the load lifted off of Jami. I can tell a difference, too, from when we first started the engagement – how she was stressed and strung out on all areas – to where she has more time to relax and take care of herself, too."
Today, Jami leads The Forgotten Initiative with clarity and renewed purpose.
"I can't even believe what [Cassie] and my other assistant have done for me. I was so overwhelmed and so in the weeds and could not see clearly, and now I'm so inspired I can hardly stand it!"