SUPPORT THE FOSTER COMMUNITY

(Ways to support the larger foster community is listed down below)

BRING FOOD

Seriously, who doesn’t love food? Prepare dinner for a family, stock their freezer with meals, or pack a basket full of yummy snacks.  Even a simple coffee for a foster parent with a new placement could be just the boost they need.

ORGANIZE A MEAL TRAIN

This is especially important in the first couple of weeks after a new placement arrives. MealTrain.com is just one of the many websites available to make this process efficient and helpful for a family that deserves a little extra love.

SUPPLY DRIVE

Be proactive and ask what the family needs before and after a new placement arrives. Maybe it’s diapers and a baby gate? Maybe it's bunk beds and backpacks? Families can foster children of varying ages and genders over time, so the supplies they need starts to add up — both financially and space-wise. Another creative way you might be able to help is by offering to store supplies for them!

Be proactive and ask what the family needs before and after a new placement arrives. Maybe it’s diapers and a baby gate? Maybe its bunk beds and backpacks? Families can foster children of varying ages and genders over time, so the supplies they need starts to add up — both financially and space-wise. Another creative way you might be able to help is by offering to store supplies for them!

WELCOME A NEW PLACEMENT

When an infant, toddler, or teenager arrives to a new foster home, this time can be loaded with different kinds of emotions for everyone involved. Help the foster parents, as well as their own biological children, welcome the child into their home. Talk with the foster parents about how you can help with the transition. You could deliver a gift or activity that the family could enjoy together that first evening or week. 

Oftentimes, kids in care arrive with very few belongings, so consider gathering clothing, personal hygiene items, toys, or school supplies. 

BECOME A PRIMARY SUPPORT FOR A FAMILY

Every foster family could benefit from a few people stepping up into their primary support circle and committing to help when it’s needed most. Two very big ways primary supporters can help are by:

• Regularly providing transportation – children in the foster care system often have a significant number of additional appointments, so providing rides for visits, after-school activities, and appointments can be a huge blessing.
• Providing respite care — whether it’s just during an afternoon full of errands, an overdue date night, or entire weekend, caring for a child is a tremendous gift to both foster parents and children. Ideally, your friends would know you’re committed to providing this support even before they get licensed to accept a placement. Laws vary state-to-state, but this may require a background check or special certification from the foster family’s licensing agency. Be proactive to find out what you need to do, and then follow through. Try to make this support regular, because your consistent presence could have a powerful stabilizing effect for both the child(ren) and the family.

CHECK IN AND LISTEN

This is a big one. Foster parenthood (and parenthood in general), and the busyness and complexity that comes with it, can often leave foster parents feeling isolated or overwhelmed. Regularly and proactively check in with your friends to see how they’re doing. Laugh with them. Cry with them. Pray with them. Finally, try not to give unsolicited advice; just be with them and listen.

HELP WITH EVERYDAY STUFF 

You can bless a family by simply letting them know you’re available to help with day-to-day chores and errands. Most foster families feel awkward asking for specific needs but would gladly accept help with household tasks.

Say: “I’d like to mow your lawn this week. What day works best?” Then follow through.

Ask: “Could I help with your grocery shopping this week? Send me your list and I will pick up and deliver what you need.” Then follow through.

INVITE THE WHOLE FAMILY OVER FOR DINNER/PLAYDATE

As we mentioned  above,  foster families — parents, children in temporary care, and biological children — can feel isolated. Invite the whole family over for dinner or a playdate. Warmth and hospitality, and welcoming a child into a bigger community, is a powerful way to show Christ’s love to both the child and the family.

PROVIDE PARENTING CLASSES

Parenting classes could provide a valuable resource to foster families and to families whose children are in foster care.  Many parents whose children are removed have neglected basic needs for their children and often need training to bring their children home.  

GIFT THEM THEM MEMBERSHIP PASSES OR DAY TRIPS

Foster families and kids in care enjoy the same activities that you do! Gift them a day pass to a nearby water park or activity center. Offer them a membership to the zoo or the city pool. This could be such a fun and unexpected way to brighten up life for a family — and could be a great choice for a family in your church or neighborhood you don’t know as well but want to serve.

PRAY

Finally — and firstly — pray. There are battles going on that we can’t always see. Pray for the child. Pray for their biological families. Pray for their foster parents. Pray for the biological children of the foster parents. 

*Taken from Go Project (https://goproject.org/10-meaningful-ways-to-support-a-foster-family/)

ORGANIZE A MEAL CALENDAR

It's fairly standard practice for small groups, support groups, women's ministries, etc. to organize a meal calendar for a family when a new baby is born. Do the same for a foster family when a new child is brought to their home. 

SCHEDULE LAWN CARE

Do whatever you can to relieve any amount of burden you can from the family - like organize a team of people in the church who rotate mowing foster families lawns while they have children in their homes.

CERTIFY BABY SITTERS

It is illegal to leave a foster child with a babysitter that is not (in most cases) CPR certified and background checked. This means most families struggle to find babysitters. Host CPR certification classes at the church. Have sitters ready for families!

PARTNER WITH YOUR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS

Provide resources to foster families.  Many school districts have information on hand about children who are in foster care in their district.  Talk to a district ‘Community Resource Liasson.

PROVIDE SUPPORT GROUPS

The work of foster care can be overwhelming.  Hosting a group, or provide space for a group can give foster parents the needed support they are looking for to sustain during difficult seasons of foster care.

CONDUCT DEDICATION CEREMONIES

Most churches celebrate Parent/Child Dedication ceremonies during the year. Do the same for foster families. When they bring in a new placement pray for them in front of the church and have the body commit to support them! (Don't bring the child up, just the parents.)

HOST A CHILD CARE DATE NIGHT

Once a quarter or every semester (or even once a month) the church can hire certified babysitters for a Friday or Saturday night and allow foster families from the church and community (hint: outreach!) the chance to go on a date!

GIVING TREE AT CHRISTMAS/BIRTHDAY PARTY

Bless foster families with gifts during Christmas or for a birthday.  Many kids in foster care have never had a real Christmas or birthday party.  A church can provide a Christmas or birthday party a child will never forget!

PARTNER WITH A ROYAL FAMILY KIDS CAMP

that invites kids in foster care to a week long camp where they experience a camp of a lifetime just for them.  You can find out more by going to their website to find a local camp near you.  You also can host a camp through RFKC. (WEBSITE)

DELIVER CARE PACKAGES

Most placements occur with little to no notice. Often times within hours. Have things like diapers, gift cards, baby supplies, and other necessities ready to go to be dropped off to a family immediately after receiving a child. 

CREATE SUPPLY PANTRY/COMMUNITY CLOSET

In conjunction with the care packages develop a supply pantry that stores items like diapers, cribs, strollers, car seats, baby equipment, bikes and other things that families may immediately need upon a child placement.

For our Community Closet, we collect clothes, diapers, baby formula, and more to have available to foster families in your community. These can be emergency items when kids are placed in a home.

BUILD A RESPITE CARE TEAM

Certified babysitters can watch a child for a short period of time (generally less than 48 hours). When extended breaks are needed or travel plans require it, respite care providers are needed. These are extremely hard to find. Have a team at your church ready!  

WANT TO DO RESPITE?  Get certified through your county. Find your county though "FOSTER A CHILD"  on 'OUR RESOURCES' page.

FACILITATE SUPPORT GROUPS

Foster parents live in a unique world of state regulations, bio-parent visits and licensing guidelines as well as experience the emotions that come along with loving vulnerable children. Give them a place to connect, share experiences and encourage one another. Check out my new book, ReFraming Foster Care: Filtering Your Foster Parenting Journey Through the Lens of the Gospel! It's got group discussion questions attached to each chapter so it can be used in a group setting!

HOST A CPR EVENT

Many churches host CPR events for volunteers.  Open the CPR training to foster families.  Foster families are required to have CPR training to obtain their foster license.

PRAY

Pray for them. They are engaged in a spiritual battle over the lives of incredibly vulnerable children. They are standing on the frontlines and in the gaps for these kids while willingly placing themselves in the path of the Enemy's attacks. 

*Information has been taken from the Jason Johnson Blog, with some edits and additions from Foster Hope.  (source: https://jasonjohnsonblog.com/blog/ten-simple-ways-your-church-can-serve-foster-families)