Right now, there are over 500 children in the foster care system of Cobb County. 44% of those children have had to be placed in homes outside of their community and the county. Having been removed from their familiar homes, these precious children are now in the custody of the State of Georgia. Every one of them desire to be in a safe and loving home. They want to know that things are going to be okay. And the very parents that they were taken from want their children to be safe and loved as well. We believe the Church has a God given responsibility to stand in the gap to help make this happen. This belief has led to the birth of Piedmont Fosters and a partnership with FaithBridge Foster Care.
The goal of Piedmont Fosters is to make sure foster children
and foster families know that they are not alone.
We want to provide a caring, Christian home for every foster child in our community while working towards having that child return to their birth parents or to another family member. It is important to have foster care homes within the child’s own community to keep him or her from being uprooted and moved to another school or community. And it is equally important to have a Piedmont Fosters “Community of Care” to support and care for the foster children and families. We have three strategic areas for families or individuals to be involved that make up Piedmont Fosters –
Community of Care, Respite Families, and Foster Families.
We are looking for families and individuals to serve in all of these areas within Piedmont Fosters.
What is the community of care?
There are multiple ways to be a part of our Community of Care.
Babysitters provide basic childcare for things such as date nights, appointments, foster parent training and other short-term needs.
Drivers help with periodic transportation needs for foster children. These volunteers provide back-up support for appointments, including but not limited to medical, dental, counseling and family visitation, when the foster or respite family is unable to provide transportation. Transportation is typically scheduled a week or more in advance; however, there may be needs for same-day support.
Clothing, Meals and Supplies Expand
Clothing, Meals and Supplies support team volunteers coordinate the location and delivery of stuff that foster, and respite families need to care for children, such as baby supplies, clothes and furniture, especially when new children enter the home on short notice.
Tutors and Mentors provide one-on-one tutoring and mentoring. Tutoring is focused on academics, and a mentor pours into the life of a child who could use help to guide them as they grow and learn.
What is a respite family?
Respite Family stand beside the Foster Family by providing another level of support. Overnight childcare, weekend care, attending ball games or recitals are just a few areas where the Respite Family supports the Foster Family. Our Foster Families need an extended break from time to time and The Respite Family is there to provide an approved home for their foster children. To be a Respite Family you will walk through the same training as the Foster Family.
What is a foster family?
These are the homes that are willing to have foster children live with them for a few days, a week, a month or longer. However long it takes for the birth family to work on correcting the issues that stand in the way of their children returning home. Foster Families are the front line of Piedmont Fosters. Many times these children are much different then your own and they come into your care scared and broken. Trust is often difficult with these children. The Foster Family has to be prepared to work through many unforeseen situations while the child is in their care.
Piedmont Fosters Next Steps
1. Encounter Orientation 2. Foundations Training 1. Encounter Orientation
The Encounter Orientation is STEP ONE of the process of serving in the Piedmont Fosters Ministry. Everyone desiring to serve as foster families, respite families, and community of care must participate in the Encounter Orientation.
At the Encounter Orientation you will learn about:
- The Piedmont Fosters Community of Care
- Our partner, FaithBridge, and the excellent services they provide
- The requirements for being a Foster family
- Volunteer opportunities
- The great need our community and foster children have for families like yours
- How volunteers and respite families will be matched with foster families to help ensure their success.
- The steps to Foster & Respite care
- The approval process
2. Foundations Training
(Required for all Foster Families and Respite Families)
If you have completed the Encounter Orientation and are ready to take the NEXT STEP, Piedmont Fosters provides FaithBridge Foundations training, an intensive, multi-day event designed to prepare a couple for the physical, emotional and spiritual demands of foster care. Using mini workshops, prayer, conversation and tabletop discussions, FaithBridge Foundations training touches on a variety of important topics while helping families examine their hearts in order to determine if they are called to foster. This training is required by the state of Georgia for all families desiring to provide foster and respite care.
Ready to find out more?
For information about Piedmont Fosters or upcoming Training Opportunities, please email our Family Ministries Pastor Nate Galloway.