Helping state agencies, courts, and communities improve child welfare outcomes by preserving, restoring, and growing families
 
 

Fostering C.A.R.E.

The child welfare system in our country is struggling.

 

2,000,000

Over two million reports of child maltreatment are screened in each year. The system is overwhelmed, resulting in inadequate assessments of child safety and lengthy foster care stays.

-50%

Despite reunification being the primary goal for most children, just under 50% of children who enter foster care are reunified with their parents.

42%

Parents received appropriate assessments and services to reunify in only 42% of foster care cases reviewed nationally.

Many children in foster care suffer additional trauma due to family separation, with life-long effects.

 
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The Church is called to extend its hand to the needy, promote justice for the oppressed, and care for the vulnerable.

 
 
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A HOLISTIC FAMILY-CENTERED APPROACH

Fostering C.A.R.E exists to equip the Church to answer this call by fostering care for families. If we truly care for children, we cannot neglect their parents. 

 
 
 
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Fostering C.A.R.E. for families means:

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Fostering Compassion

We should be moved with concern for the suffering of children and their parents. Many of the parents involved in the system are socially isolated, struggling with poverty and the effects of their own past trauma. Parents are often misjudged, unseen and unheard. Their love for their children is often dismissed. Parents need Christ-like compassion.

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Fostering Advocacy

We must advocate for children and parents as they navigate judicial and government systems that are often fraught with injustice. Under-resourced, overwhelmed systems create barriers to reunification that keep children languishing in foster care. By understanding the laws and best practices that govern the system, we can do our part to ensure it operates justly.

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Fostering Reconciliation

We are ministers of reconciliation as we serve and love children and their parents, who are our neighbors. Families need the hope and power of the gospel to experience true healing and restoration. The work of reunifying families is aligned with the heart of God and can be a hallmark of faith-based child welfare engagement.

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Fostering Education

We must understand the needs of children and families who have been impacted by trauma in order to help them heal and thrive. Research on trauma and resilience, attachment, and neurobiology provides new evidence that informs how we can support positive changes in behaviors through relationships and meaningful connection.

 
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The Fostering C.A.R.E program equips churches and faith-based organizations to apply trauma-informed approaches that support reunification.

If you have an existing ministry or program that you want to enhance in order to better serve families, or if you want to develop something new in your church or organization to help families in your community, Fostering C.A.R.E provides targeted training and customized consultation services that will help you:

 
 
 
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Apply biblical and best-practice principles in your approach

Apply biblical and best-practice principles in your approach

Understand the specific needs in your state and local community

Understand the specific needs in your state and local community

Develop collaborative partnerships with your local child welfare agency

Develop collaborative partnerships with your local child welfare agency

Strengthen families and prevent child abuse and neglect

Strengthen families and prevent child abuse and neglect

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Wrap around families with critical supports to keep them safely together

Wrap around families with critical supports to keep them safely together

Train and support foster parents / mentors to work with parents toward reunification

Train and support foster parents / mentors to work with parents toward reunification

Reduce the trauma children and parents can experience with foster care placement

Reduce the trauma children and parents can experience with foster care placement

Practice biblical hospitality with families in need

Practice biblical hospitality with families in need

 
 

 WORK WITH Me

Let’s work together in fostering CARE for families.

 
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