Foster Care Ministry

God our Father, through the
loving sacrifice of your son,
Jesus Christ, you have given a
home to us and all the forsaken.
Give us the eyes of Christ to see
the vulnerable children and
families in our midst. Give us
hearts that break for what
breaks the heart of Jesus.
Encouraged by the example of
St. Joseph, foster father of our
Lord, enflame us with the
compassion of your Holy Spirit
to make our homes and parishes
places of love, support and
protection for kids in crisis and
their families.

Inform, Connect Volunteers,
Support Foster Families, Meet Material Needs

Nativity Good News Podcast about Foster Care: Click Here

PRAY, consider fostering, provide respite care, meet material needs, mentor a teen, join a care community to support a foster family. More than 550 children/teens are in foster care in Johnson County, nearly 7,000 in Kansas! They need us and so do the families who foster.

For more information on how you can help or to register, contact Susie Boster, Danielle Cool or Liz Hagen.

Foster/Respite:
St. Francis Ministry: [email protected]

Register for the KVC Foster Care training. Contact Jessica Kendall, [email protected], or on their website kvc.org

Material Needs:
Help to provide physical needs as they arise with new foster
families, and teens aging out of the foster care system.

Join A Care Team:
Care teams: to support foster families with a team of parishioners who can provide
constant prayers, meals, entertainment for children, respite, handyman, lawn mower, mass buddies etc.

Mentor A Teen:
KC Angels Dare to Dream Program pairs mentors with teens in foster care. Email Judy at [email protected].

CASA:
Court-appointed special advocate volunteers make a life-changing difference for children who have experienced abuse or neglect. Each volunteer is appointed by a
judge to advocate for a child’s best interest in court. Our volunteers help judges develop a fuller picture of each child’s life. Their advocacy enables judges to make the most well-informed decision for each child.
Contact Courtney Mead, [email protected],  or view their website casajwc.org

Foster Care Statistics for Kansas (2019)

• 7,484 kids in foster care in Kansas
• 1,353 children living in out-of-home care in Douglas, Wyandotte, and Johnson Counties
• 573 kids removed from homes in Johnson County.
• Shortage of licenced foster homes.
• Age of children in foster care 4%<1 year, 30%1-5 years, 20% 6-10 years, 24% 11-15, 21% 16-18, <1% 19+
• 60% (4490) of children in foster care have the goal of reunification with their families. 32% (2394) have the goal of adoption,
• At age 18 teens age out of care. Needs mentors and families!
• 63% of foster parents quit within the first year. However, with a Care Community supporting they tend to continue.
• Siblings need to stay together