The Church is the solution to the Foster Care crisis in our country!
Caring for the orphan is a demand of the Gospel. We must open our hearts to see these vulnerable children as our children. Our parish communities can live the corporal works of mercy through foster care – Feed the Hungry, Give Drink to the Thirsty, Shelter the Homeless, Give Alms to the Poor — by raising up more loving foster families and increasing our support to them. Even if you are not able to foster at this time, there are many other ways to help!
~ Pope Francis
1. Form a Foster Ministry
Talk to your priest about starting a new Foster Care Ministry or if foster care should fall under an existing Pro-Life, Social Justice, or Marriage & Family ministry at your parish. Your parish likely already has several families who are fostering. Find out who they are and consider gathering them for an appreciation event or a blessing by your priest.
Utilize the following resources to help educate and raise awareness on foster care in your parish.
- Foster Care Prayer
- Foster – Homily Helps
- Foster-Petitions
- Foster-Care-Flowchart-Light-Colors-4.pdf
- Bulletin insert – Help educate and raise awareness of the needs of children and families in your community.
- Social Media Posts
- Parish Discernment Guide – Your Foster Care Ministry can help your parish discern how it can best help children and families based on your community’s gifts and talents. Foster-Ministry-Communal-Discernment.pdf
- Hosting a Foster Awareness Event
This video is for educational purposes only. The Archdiocese does not have a partnership with Live the Promise.
2. Encourage more Foster Families
“Shelter the Homeless”
- Find out who is already fostering in your parish so you can better support them.
- Host an informational meeting so people can learn about fostering and hear from current foster families.
- Bring foster families together for fellowship and fun. Consider hosting a speaker for the parents and entertain kids separately.
- Contact the Pro-Life office for ideas and assistance! Email: prolife@archkck.org
3. Create “Care Communities” for your Foster Families
“Feed the Hungry”
Becoming a foster family for vulnerable children is an act of selfless love. It is a very rewarding experience but it can be challenging at times too. Unfortunately, more than 50% of foster parents quit within their first year of service.
“Wrapping around” foster families and providing them with emotional, spiritual, material, and day-to-day support can make all the difference for them to continue fostering and therefore maintain stability for the child they are helping.
Support can include bringing meals for the family, helping with household chores or errands, praying together, or providing respite care.
is an organization that will train your ministry leaders to develop Care Communities for foster families in your community. States that follow the Fostering Joy model have seen a 96% foster family retention rate!
4. Provide Material Support
“Clothe the Naked”
Help provide practical physical needs of biological families working to reunite with their children, and foster families who are working to meet the new needs of children they are welcoming into their homes.
Headquartered in Kansas City
CarePortal provides an online portal service that helps mobilize your parish to be the hands and feet of Jesus in your community.
Sign up your parish at careportal.org
5. Provide a Respite Ministry at your Parish
“Drink for the Thirsty” — Foster parents need an opportunity to take a break or a night out. Respite evenings provide an opportunity for the parish to support these parents. Click on link for “Hosting Respite Nights for Foster Families” for planning, suggestions, and best practice ideas.
6. Host a Foster Fair
Raise awareness of the foster care situation in Kansas and the need for more foster families. Share statistics and play Archbishop Naumann’s video shown here.
- Contact the Pro-Life Office for suggested speakers.
- Invite representatives from a foster agency, CarePortal, Fostering Joy, YouTHRIVE, Safe Families, and area Respite Program leaders to share their programs with parishioners.
7. Host a Supplies Drive
- Contact one of the Foster Care Agencies to see what is most needed for foster children and foster families
- Consider hosting your drive at critical times of the year such as back-to-school or Christmas.
- Children need suitcases or duffle bags as no child should carry their belongings in a trash bag. Personal hygiene items and clothing are always needed.
We are not responsible for all the actions and policies of the community organizations mentioned on this website, but we are happy to post them as available resources.