Foster Care Initiatives

● Get Involved

What if
EVERY CHURCH
did something

Through the foster care initiative we are equipping churches to engage in foster care and providing support for children and families.

There are over 400,000 children in U.S. foster care.

Religion that God out 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 (NIV)

Children in Iowa Foster Care

Churches in Iowa

What IS FOSTER CARE SUNDAY?

Foster Care Sunday is a movement calling the Church to rise up and live out the heart of God for vulnerable children and families. With thousands of children in Iowa’s foster care system and thousands of churches across the state, the need is great—but so is the opportunity. This day is about more than awareness—it’s about action, equipping churches to engage, raising up foster families, and wrapping around those in need. Together, we can reflect James 1:27 and show children they are not forgotten.

● Host A Foster Care Sunday

What Does A Foster Care Sunday Look Like?

Prayer

Begin with prayer. Encourage your church to pray for foster families and children. Challenge them to pray for open hearts and homes. Pray for opportunities to serve the foster families within your church & community. Pray for God’s blessing on the foster children in your church and community. Ask God how your church can be engaged and committed to serving.

Prepare

An informational meeting will be provided following the Foster Care Sunday service. At this meeting, interested families will receive additional education and personal interaction with licensing organization and foster parents. Your church can host a 10-week training class for families that are interested in becoming trained and licensed foster parents. Churches can also host HHS approved continuing education classes.

Through Foster Care Sunday we offer your church an opportunity to hear more about the need and the process, along with an opportunity for a follow-up response to learn more. The presentation can include an in-person speaker and/or video with currently licensed foster families, former foster youth and staff from state training/licensing organizations.

Care

Remind your church families that although not everyone can/will be foster parents, everyone can do something to care for those who do. Encourage your church families to provide ongoing support for the foster families in your church/community. Beauty Amidst The Ashes can provide ways to serve foster families and children. As a church, offer financial support for special activities/needs for the foster children within your church.