Child Welfare System Support

To launch the TFI Advocate Program locally, churches may identify a volunteer to apply for the Advocate role, or individuals can apply directly. All applicants complete an application and interview process to ensure fit and readiness.

Accepted Advocates receive three months of cohort-style training on assessing community resources, understanding agency needs, identifying church strengths, and planning efforts to encourage caseworkers. 

Advocates learn about local community needs by directly engaging agency staff and plan ways to empower local congregations to meet those needs. They offer guidance and encouragement to church ministry leaders, helping the church serve according to its gifts and pursue its existing goals rather than adding extra burdens. 

After completing training and launching a ministry within their church, Advocates spend their time building relationships, continuing to serve as a bridge between the child welfare agency and their church, as well as facilitating the church’s ministry efforts. Other volunteers within the church can contribute as their availability allows, with Advocates carrying the main relational leadership role.

Advocates help churches identify and meet a variety of physical, relational, and spiritual needs. Each community is unique, with existing resources and strengths. Advocates don’t duplicate efforts that already exist in the community; instead, they identify the gaps and focus on supporting the needs agencies themselves have identified. Advocates approach the local agency with a posture of listening and learning, acknowledging them as the experts in their role.

When caseworkers are supported, the entire foster care system benefits. Children experience greater stability, as turnover is linked to longer reunification periods and delayed permanency. Those with more than one caseworker were 60% less likely to achieve permanency on time and often reported instability, loss of trust, and re-traumatization (Stahlschmidt, 2019). 

Agencies retain experienced, compassionate staff, reducing disruptions in care; the NSCAW Workforce Study found supervisors most often cited job stress and burnout—74.9%—as reasons for caseworker departures (Office of Planning, Research & Evaluation [OPRE], 2021).

Foster parents also gain confidence and trust in the system, as foster parent retention is threatened by lack of support, dissatisfaction with staff, turnover, limited information about the child, and little input into the child’s future (Hanlon et al., 2021). 

Advocates raise funds locally as needed for the church’s ministry activities. TFI Advocates have access to 501(c)(3) status through their affiliation with The Forgotten Initiative (TFI). Churches and individuals in their local community can financially support the ministry and receive charitable donation receipts, all handled by TFI National at no cost to the Advocates. 100% of gifts go directly to the church’s ministry area. 

While monetary support can be helpful and valuable, many ministry areas also operate entirely through in-kind donations, such as tangible items. Both financial and in-kind support are effective ways to meet local needs and serve the community.

There are no specific fundraising requirements for Advocates; their primary role is to build relationships and support child welfare agencies and the church.

A volunteer is needed to fill the Advocate role. During training, Advocate trainees spend between 2-4 hours per week on assignments and Zoom calls. Once the ministry is launched in their church, Advocates spend about five hours per week on ministry-related work, but this can vary depending on the time of year or season of ministry. 

There is no specified commitment for the length of time spent in the Advocate role. On average, individuals stay in this role for about three years. The Forgotten Initiative team supports Advocates in creating a transition plan and assists in training and equipping the next person to step into the role.

An identified contact at the local child welfare agency and the church’s leadership are both necessary to implement this program. The Advocate aims to carry a majority of the burden of work for these individuals, keeping their time commitment to a minimum. 

Additional church volunteers can choose to get involved with the ministry efforts based on how much time they would like to spend.

It typically takes about six months from the initial application until an Advocate launches a ministry within their church. 

Yes, The Forgotten Initiative staff provide instruction, mentoring, and resources to Advocates throughout the process of launching and leading a ministry.

New Advocates complete three months of virtual, cohort-style training equipping them in areas of agency and church relationships as well as team leadership. Training includes one-on-one Zoom calls, a group Zoom call each month, and assignments to be completed on one’s own time (approx. 2–4 hours per week). 

After the initial training phase, participants receive ongoing monthly coaching along with opportunities for peer support and additional resources.

Yes, The Forgotten Initiative is a CAFO member organization.