“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” – James 1:27
What We Do
Fostering The Family
Mission
We ignite churches and communities to support foster, adoptive, and kinship families.
Vision
Making a lasting difference in vulnerable children’s lives.
Fostering The Family
We are a dedicated of team of Christian believers passionate about addressing the crisis of orphaned children. We’ve embraced a sustainable approach to empower churches to fulfill their mission of caring for orphans and widows. God’s heart holds a special place for the vulnerable, and we believe ours should too. Through Care Communities, we offer meaningful support to foster, adoptive, and kinship families.
Mission
We ignite churches and communities to support foster, adoptive, and kinship families.
Vision
Making a lasting difference in vulnerable children’s lives.
Our purpose is to empower and engage churches to raise up and support foster, adoptive, and kinship parents who are committed to changing the lives of vulnerable children.
Our Strategy
We believe Churches working together is the answer!
Fostering the Family partners with Promise 686. Working together, our goal is to flood the foster care system with well trained, well supported foster families.
Fostering the Family doesn’t decide whether a child goes into the child welfare system…that’s up to the state. However, we know when the state does intervene, it’s time for The Church to intervene. Did you know there are approximately 3300 children in foster care and over 7000 churches in South Carolina? That means, if every church could raise up one foster family, we’d have enough homes for these vulnerable children.
But fostering is a tough job. Without support, it can feel nearly impossible to continue. In fact, the national average of families who continue fostering after their first year is about 50%, but when supported by a Fostering the Family FAM – Family Advocacy Ministry and its Care Communities, 90% continue fostering into a second year.
In addition, we endeavor to create an environment where children and families can thrive through legislation and policy changes within our state system.
Our Sustainable Plan
Awareness
Educate churches and communities on foster care needs and retention.
Support Services
We build resilient families through community and direct care.
Resource Network
We connect needs with solutions for lasting family stability.
How We Make a Difference - From Awareness to Stability
We’ve learned that a lack of support causes 50% of foster families to quit in their first year, feeling isolated and defeated. Our three core areas of focus are specifically designed to combat this by providing a reliable and consistent network of care that creates lasting stability.
Bring Awareness
Fostering the Family holds awareness and recruitment events to educate the public. The purpose of each event is to raise awareness,recruit foster families, recruit Guardian Ad Litem volunteers and most of all ask The Church to pray.
- Host Stand for Children Prayer Walk
- Host a Stand Sunday event at your local church
- Lead a SC Steps Up for Foster Care Challenge in your church, business, or organization
- Plan a local 5k to bring awareness
- Work with local licensing agencies to recruit foster families
Build Support Services
Foster Families have additional stress placed on their entire family. Children in foster care have monthly visits with their DSS case worker, placement agency, Guardian ad Litem volunteer, therapy and court dates. Often children are behind in school. Many times foster parents work to provide the children in care with the same opportunities as their biological children, all contributing to extra stress- supportive services help provide consistency through FAM’s and Support groups.
We know that foster families who feel isolated and overwhelmed often quit within the first year. To combat this, Fostering The Family builds resilient families through hands-on care and a strong sense of community. We provide the support that empowers families to continue their vital work through three essential services:
- Build Family Advocacy Ministries: Sign up for a Care Community Clinic.
- Host Quarterly Fellowship Dinners: We unite our community through quarterly Fellowship Dinners for foster and kinship families. These gatherings serve as a vital lifeline, connecting new families with experienced mentors and building a powerful sense of belonging.
- Learn about hosting a support group or family connection event.
Bridge Resource Networks
DSS requires a safe living space for families following the biological parent’s treatment plan. To alleviate children avoiding foster care, many times this includes providing very simple needs that are met. This includes items such as beds, cribs, car seats and adequate food. Additionally, children often enter foster care with only a few items. Fostering the Family works with local church ministries to build Resource Networks in SC. When a church already has an established ministry, together we can work on building a Network that focuses on meeting the needs of the general population BEFORE disruption of the family happens!
- Find My County
- Tangible Needs Platform
- Build Resource Networks locally: food pantries, clothing closets, furniture closets and churches.
Have Questions? Let's Talk!
Conctact our Director of Outreach and Partnerships, Susie Boyle. Alternately, you can submit a message via our contact form below and someone will be in touch with you shortly!