When we connect with a church, we strive to help individuals and groups within that congregation consider how God is calling them to serve in the foster care community. There is a role for everyone to fulfill. Sometimes one decision makes it possible for another person to serve. We understand that God has not called every family to foster children in their home however, your decision to support foster families within your church may encourage someone to answer God's call for their family to foster.

A Connect 1 Child Specialist can help you throughout the process of introducing foster care to your congregation. Here are some of the ways we can help:

• Speak about foster care during a church service
• Play a short video during a service and set up an informational table after the service
• Host a Foster Parent Orientation Meeting for families who are interested in fostering
• Meet with church staff and members to provide more in-depth information about local foster care community needs
• Connect you with other churches and individuals who have formed successful foster care ministries
• And more!

Here are a few ways churches are ministering to children and families in the child welfare system across the state:

• Wrapping around individual foster families within the church to provide childcare, meals, and support
• Hosting a Foster Parents' Night Out for local foster families
• Hosting a Foster Parents' Support Night with training for families
• Providing childcare and space for an ongoing foster parent support group
• Organizing meal trains for local foster families when a new child is placed in their home
• Collecting various items for foster families in the community such as diapers, wipes, Christmas gifts, school supplies, and more
• Hosting trainings presented by Connect 1 Child staff
• Providing non-perishable snacks for visitation rooms at the local Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) office
• Providing a makeover for visitation rooms at the local DCFS office, including fresh paint, new toys, furniture, and a deep clean

Contact your local Connect 1 Child specialist to learn more about ministry opportunities in your area!