Foster Family Finding & Growth

A Partner Church seeking to raise up new foster families and support for those families commits to: 

1. Regularly casting vision to their congregation about the opportunities to care for vulnerable children through the role of foster parent or Support Friend (those who actively support foster families in tangible ways)
2. Identifying a volunteer Advocate to lead the Foster the City ministry in their church 

Churches can cast vision in many different ways. Most churches use their main platform on a Sunday, through a sermon or an extended announcement, but churches can also share through their social media, small groups, family ministry newsletters, etc. 

The Foster the City team comes alongside Partner Churches to equip them for raising up foster families and Support Friends by providing: 

• Vision-casting resources (sermons, videos, graphics, prayer guide, small group tools, etc.)
• Advocate coaching
• A pathway of next steps for those interested in getting engaged
• A mobile app designed to hold the support calendar, communication, resources and prayer for Foster Families and their Support Teams

All resources and training needed to launch this program are provided by Foster the City at no cost.

Since 2015, Foster the City Partner Churches across the country have raised up more than 500 new foster families. 

Currently, 60% of all active foster families in Santa Clara County (where Foster the City first launched) come from Foster the City Partner Churches.

Pastoral leadership at the church will need to agree to partnership with Foster the City.

A qualified volunteer with capacity to fill the Advocate role will also be needed. The Advocate is responsible for making sure the vision casting occurs regularly, shepherding the Foster the City ministry within the church, and working directly with the Foster the City leadership team. 

Typically, the Advocate role can be done in about 5-7 hours per month. In larger churches, or churches with many Foster Families and Support Teams, this may be a little higher. In these cases, a team of Advocates is recommended to share the work.

Implementation can happen within one month. Each Partner Church first identifies an Advocate to be onboarded and trained, which can happen within a few weeks. From there, the church begins casting vision and Foster the City provides the infrastructure to help families take their next steps.

Yes, the Foster the City team provides: 

• Vision-casting resources (sermons, videos, graphics, prayer guide, small group tools, etc.)
• Advocate training and monthly coaching (virtual)
• A pathway of training and next steps for those interested in becoming Foster Parents and Support Friends
• A mobile app designed to help churches provide the support that a family needs to foster longer and stronger

Yes, Foster the City is a CAFO member organization.