In Iowa last year Four Oaks Family Connections received 1,729 referrals for children that needed homes, and only 1,305 families were licensed. (I can provide statistics for individual counties as well). We need more families that could provide a safe, loving, temporary home for vulnerable children as they work toward reunification with their birth families. Fostering is a high impact way to affect change in not only a child but their family as well.
During COVID we have seen a drastic drop in child abuse reports because children have been more isolated. We expect to see a large increase in reports as schools open up – resulting in an urgent need for foster families.
Step one would be for pastors to share this information with your church. If churches have questions about the best way to do that they can always ask me. Lots of churches decide to present the info from the front or in announcements then advertise an orientation a week or two later.
After sharing this need with their church, the next step is to reach out to Emily Easton via email and someone at Four Oaks would come and host an online or in person orientation session. Those who are interested in fostering can come and learn about the fostering process, hear from someone who has been there, and ask any questions they might have. Sometimes I like to bring other foster families along to share their personal stories to help churches get a picture of how it affects your family.
Churches can also support foster care by opening their buildings to Four Oaks Family Connections to use for licensing classes and ongoing trainings that are required for foster care licensure requirements. I am also available to talk with church leaders about how to provide ongoing support to families once they are licensed.
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