Keeping the FaithPARTNERING WITH THE FAITH COMMUNITY TO SERVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

Family Restoration Coalition

IntroductionsFelicia Mason-Edwards, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services

Dennise Jackson, Texas CASA

Jay & Tonya Foulkrod, Family Restoration Coalition

Why Consider Partnering with Communities of Faith?Uniquely capable in ways the State is not → Personal and Cultural / Societal Transformation

A vast army for good that is largely untapped and under-utilized◦ The largest participation◦ The widest distribution◦ The simplest administration◦ The fastest expansion◦ The highest motivation◦ Holistic Approach

They can provide services our families and children need◦ Transportation◦ Daycare◦ Monetary ◦ Counseling◦ Diverse volunteers

The Foundation for Partnership

Relationship

Ways for Partnership to Develop

State-Initiated

Faith Community Initiated

Key Consideration: Alignment on Goals & Standards

Creating an Effective Partnership or Program

Sell it

Design it Implement it

Creating an Effective Partnership or Program

Sell it

Design it Implement it

• Remember, this is a volunteer army

• Design and distribute the work well

Creating an Effective Partnership or Program

Sell it

Design it Implement it

5 Keys:1. Stories2. Data3. Operational Vision4. Align to their core

mission / strategy5. Convert the Leaders

Creating an Effective Partnership or Program

Sell it

Design it Implement it

• Start small. Pilot & Build• Listen and continually

Improve• Don’t quit• Act like partners• Sufficient resourcing?

Creating an Effective Partnership or Program

Sell it

Design it Implement it

These activities are continuous and only

loosely sequential

Pitfalls to Avoid

One: You may not be talking to the right person

Our natural first tendency is to go directly to the person in charge

Identify a key lay leader or another member of church staff with a particular passion or experience with kids in care

Pitfalls to avoidTwo: You’re asking them to join your mission instead of you asking how you can join theirs

Often when organizations and agencies approach churches:

There is a need

We have a program to meet that need

We want your people to join our program in order to meet the need

Instead

Church, what is your vision for this community?

How would you imagine that children who need temporary and permanent families could fit into that overall vision?

What can we do to help you accomplish that vision?

Pitfalls to avoid

Be clear about what you need

Be flexible about what you want

Listen

Be patient

Discussion: Bridges to Build

We Speak Different Languages

The Message

Motivate

What is Your Piece?

Danielle’s Story

Appendix

Family Restoration Coalition

AN INTRODUCTION TO

Behold I am making all things new

www.FRCoalition.org

What We Are HearingCase Loads continuing to increase – at the highest levels ever

There is a gaping hole in services for parents (availability & efficacy)

A Crisis? What’s the solution?

FRC is a coordinating entity that marshals the Church to fill the gap in parental services for families whose kids are in state custody

Kids

Parents

Family Restoration

Coalition

Courts, Caseworkers, attorneys, advocates,

other professionals

What does Family Restoration Coalition provide?

For the Parents For the State For Churches and Volunteers

• Friendship• Community• Wisdom• Mentoring• Accountability• Support• Advocacy• Holistic transformation

• A new partner• A vast army for good• Uniquely capable where the State is not• Single point of contact & quality assurance• Improved outcomes

• Volunteer & Church Recruitment Support• Volunteer Training• Parent / Family Referral Sourcing• Curriculum (Three Strands)• Best practices & guidelines• Process & System support• Governance & minimum standards• Continuous program marketing,

improvement, and growth

Three Strands Parenting ProgramA MINISTRY OF FAMILY RESTORATION COALIT ION

What is Three Strands?

Three Strands is a 9 Week Program for parents / families in crisis

Host Churches / Volunteers Provide FRC Provides

• Volunteer recruitment and shared coordination w/ FRC• Teaching couple• Mentors for participating parents• Family style meal on class nights to be shared by

participating parents, kids, and volunteers (with leftovers for parents to take home)

• Childcare and transportation assistance, if needed, for parents to attend class

• Facilities for class, childcare, and shared meal• Costs for meal prep

• Shared coordination with church’s coordinator(s)• Volunteer Training• Parent referrals from the State• Curriculum including Bibles and printed workbooks• Various ministry process and coordination helps:

• Ministry planning documents and assistance• Volunteer roles / job descriptions• Meal prep guides / recipes• Process and information system support• Consultation / assistance with ministry execution

• Leadership around min. standards and best practices

DFPS Top 5 Initiatives•Clergy in Court for Kids

•Foster/adopt ministry

•CarePortal and Adopt-A-Family

•Babysitting/Parents Night

•Blue Sunday and Stand Sunday

Current Partnerships•Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops launched the St. Joseph Ministry.

•Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) faith initiative.

•The North Texas District of Assemblies of God Families First initiative.

•General Baptist Convention of Texas 2020

Current Partnerships•Fielder Church in Arlington goal is to get 1,000 children placed in loving families within the church by 2026.

•A Place to Stay launched a 12-city concert tour and awareness-raising effort anticipated to reach 500,000+ people.

•The Travis County Collaborative • Recruit 200 new foster families• Ensure that every child has two or fewer placements• Ensure positive, permanent placement in two years or less

Results•1,900 faith partners

•22 bed ministries

•Regional Summits

•Furnished and purchased homes

•Faith community becoming providers

•Placements

•Employment