How to Start a Foster Care and Adoption Ministry with Suzy Roth

The Good Citizen Podcast episode #103 How to Start a Foster Care and Adoption Ministry with Suzy Roth

Most church leaders and other committed Christians recognize that (1) we are in the midst of the foster care crisis (fueled in part by the drug crisis) and that (2) we are called to minister to the fatherless in their affliction (James 1:27).

But, how exactly should you and/or your church engage this issue in a strategic and effective way? Here’s how.

In this interview, Suzy Roth from Hands of Hope, a foster care and adoption ministry, walks through practical and comprehensive ways you and your church can get involved.

Key Takeaways:

50% of foster parents quit after their first year, or their first placement. Because of this, Hands of Hope encourages churches to build care communities around foster families (both in and outside of the church), and this strategy has lowered drop-out rates to 10%.
This Care Community strategy is a great way to engage the entire church (and not just specific families) in the effort.

Hands of Hope is the implementing partner of the CarePortal, a new effort in Indiana to engage churches to keep kids out of foster care (see episode #94 for the legislative backstory to this effort) We discussed the importance of bridging gaps, such as simple items like toiletry items for kids removed from their homes.
Hands of Hope also sponsors a week or two of summer camp just for foster kids and puts on Family Advocacy Ministry clinics to equip churches to get involved in foster care and adoption.


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