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We are thrilled that your church has already responded to God’s call to care for children in their distress. We believe that the my faith FAMILY model can still be useful for your congregation. The model provides direct training and resources for organizing and mobilizing volunteers to surround and support foster families who are already caring for children. my faith FAMILY is not just a program for foster families; it is a program for the entire church — to embrace and surround foster families as they care for children. Not every church member can respond to the call to care for children directly, but everyone can have a role to play in caring for those who do.
If your church is interested in learning more about foster care, then you might consider conducting a Mission 1:27 campaign. Mission 1:27 will provide your church with the tools to lift up the voices of local children needing families and invite individuals and families to respond to God’s call by caring for these children. After your church has conducted a Mission 1:27 campaign and some families have stepped forward to begin fostering, you can develop a my faith FAMILY ministry to surround and support them. Learn more about a Mission 1:27 campaign.
We currently resource and support churches in the greater Austin, Corsicana, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, and Waxahachie and Wichita Falls areas.
To become a my faith FAMILY congregation, we require each church to pay an affiliate fee. The fee covers only a small percentage of the program’s overall costs. The majority of the program’s costs are funded by Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services. We believe the one-time fee is an important symbol of the congregation’s commitment to the children. The fee includes a two-day Director training, all the resources and materials needed to coordinate a my faith FAMILY ministry, and on-going support from our Church Engagement Coordinator. As an organization, we will stand beside you and support you with our expertise and training every step of the way.
Yes, if the agency they are licensed with will sign a my faith FAMILY CPA Participation Agreement. The reason for this requirement is to protect your church, Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services (PCHAS), and other foster care agencies from legal liability concerns. my faith FAMILY was originally designed to assist a church to support a PCHAS licensed foster family. PCHAS cannot assume regulatory authority (contractual, minimum standards, supervision, and background check compliance issues) for foster parents who have been licensed by another agency. Therefore, the entire foster parent/home licensing process, ongoing supervision of a licensed foster home, placement/supervision of children in the home, and the coordination of “wrap around” services are so intertwined, it necessitates the need for all parties to sign a my faith FAMILY Participation Agreement that protects all involved.