The Foster Collaborative

Love does hard things. ❤️ And foster care is worth it.

Foster care can be beautiful, but let’s be honest—it can also be really hard. There are hard goodbyes, hard conversations, challenging behaviors, court dates, uncertainty, and moments when you may wonder, “Can I really keep doing this?”

The answer is: you were never meant to do it alone.

One of the greatest gifts you can give yourself as a foster parent is community. Find a local support group. Sit around a table with people who understand. Share the hard stuff, celebrate the victories, ask questions, pray together, and remind one another why you said yes in the first place.

Whether you need a listening ear, practical advice, prayer, or simply someone who gets it—reach out.

🌿 Connect with a local foster care support group through LifeLine or True Vine and find your people. Comment below of other local support groups!

You don't have to have it all together. You don't have to carry it all by yourself. There is a village ready to walk beside you.

“Two are better than one... If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.” — Ecclesiastes 4:9–10

Love does hard things. And sometimes love looks like letting someone else help you carry the hard things. ❤️

Sometimes, healing happens around the table. 🤍

This week after church, a child in foster care will sit around a table and share a meal with their foster parents and their biological parents.

It may look like an ordinary lunch—but sometimes, the most ordinary moments can become extraordinary opportunities for healing.

Around a table, walls can come down. Conversations can happen. Laughter can be shared. A child can see the adults in their life working together and loving them well. There may be hard moments, too, but there is something powerful about creating a space where everyone can simply be together.

A meal can say, “You belong here. You are loved. There is room for you at this table.”

Foster care is often filled with meetings, court dates, paperwork, and difficult conversations. But it can also be filled with pizza nights, birthday celebrations, Sunday lunches, shared stories, and moments of connection.

Sometimes healing doesn’t happen in a conference room. Sometimes it happens around a table, one meal and one relationship at a time.

“They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.” — Acts 2:46

May we be people who make room at the table—for children, biological families, foster families, and anyone who needs a place to belong. ❤️

There’s more than one way to make a difference. ❤️

You don’t have to foster or adopt to be part of the story. You can mentor. Advocate. Volunteer. Pray. You can bring a meal, offer encouragement, show up for a foster family, speak up for vulnerable children, or simply be someone who says, “You don’t have to do this alone.”

Every role matters. Every yes makes a difference. And when we work together, we can create a stronger community of hope and support for children and families.

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace.” — 1 Peter 4:10

✨ Adopt. Foster. Mentor. Advocate. Volunteer. Pray.
Find your place. Use your gifts. Be part of the village.

Check out our link in bio.

📚 Back-to-School Prayer 🍎

As classrooms begin to fill once again, let's pause and pray.

Lord, we lift up every child walking through school doors this year—especially children in foster care who may be starting at a new school, adjusting to a new home, or carrying burdens that others cannot see.

We pray for:
🤍 Peace instead of anxiety.
📚 Confidence to learn and grow.
👩‍🏫 Teachers and school staff to notice the child who needs extra patience, encouragement, or kindness.
🏠 Foster parents and caregivers as they navigate homework, routines, transportation, and new beginnings.
❤️ Biological families working toward healing and reunification.
🤝 Friendships that help every child know they belong.

May our schools be places where every child is seen, valued, and loved.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." — Joshua 1:9

Join us in praying for a school year filled with hope, healing, and opportunities for every child.

⛪ Imagine What's Possible...

There are over 182,000 churches across the United States.

What if every church asked:
• How can we support foster families?
• How can we wrap around biological families?
• How can we care for children in our own community?

CAFO's vision isn't simply more foster families—it's More Than Enough:
✔️ Foster families
✔️ Kinship families
✔️ Adoptive families
✔️ Wraparound support
✔️ Help for biological families working toward reunification

Together, our communities can become places where every child and family has the support they need.

Want to be part of the solution in Allen County? Follow along, get involved, and discover how your family, church, or organization can help.

Hope in Numbers

Across the United States:
🏡 333,411 children are in out-of-home care.
❤️ More than 100,000 children are being cared for by relatives through kinship care.
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 More than 44,000 children found permanent adoptive families in 2025.

These numbers remind us that while the need is significant, lives are being changed every day because families continue to say "yes."

Whether you foster, adopt, mentor, provide meals, pray, or encourage foster families—you are part of the solution.

"Let us not grow weary in doing good..." – Galatians 6:9

Want to be part of the solution in Allen County? Follow along, get involved, and discover how your family, church, or organization can help.

Want to be part of the solution in Allen County? Follow along, get involved, and discover how your family, church, or organization can help.🎧 Looking for something meaningful to listen to this week?

We recommend Episode 34 of the More Than Enough Podcast! This conversation is a great reminder that caring for children and families isn't something we're meant to do alone. It takes churches, agencies, community partners, and everyday people working together to create lasting change. Whether you're a foster parent, volunteer, church leader, child welfare professional, or simply someone who wants to make a difference, this episode will encourage and inspire you.

Take a listen, then let us know your biggest takeaway in the comments! 💙

Listen toEpisode 34 of the More Than Enough Podcast- https://cafo.org/podcasts/more-than-enough-podcast/mtep-episode34/

Want to be part of the solution in Allen County? Follow along, get involved, and discover how your family, church, or organization can help.

Will You Pause and Pray for a Child in Foster Care Today? 💙

Today, we're asking our community to take just one minute to pray for the children in foster care.

Pray for the child who is wondering where they'll sleep tonight.

Pray for the child missing their parents, siblings, and everything familiar.

Pray for the child preparing for a visit, a court hearing, or a transition they don't fully understand.

Pray for healing from trauma, for hope in the middle of uncertainty, and for people who will surround them with unconditional love.

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." — Psalm 34:18

Prayer may seem like a small act, but we serve a God who moves mountains. Your prayers matter. They bring comfort, hope, and remind us that no child is ever forgotten by God.

🎒Check out this FREE community event!🎉

The Back to School Bash at Hope Church Fort Wayne is a wonderful opportunity for families to get ready for the new school year while enjoying a fun day together.
Hope Church Fort Wayne

We are so grateful for Hope Church and their heart for serving children and families in our community. Thank you for stepping up to make a difference and helping kids start the school year with confidence!

Be sure to check it out and share with anyone who would benefit! 💙📚📝

Supporting Reunification: One of the Greatest Gifts a Foster Parent Can Give

Reunification is often the goal of foster care. While it can bring mixed emotions, it is also an opportunity to love a child and their family well. Supporting reunification doesn't mean your heart won't hurt—it means you're choosing to put a child's best interests first, even when it's difficult.

Here are a few ways foster parents can support successful reunification:

💙 Speak positively about the child's parents
💙 Share memories and milestones
💙 Encourage healthy connections
💙 Be a teammate, not a competitor
💙 Pray for healing, restoration and wisdom for the entire family

Reunification is rarely easy, but when foster parents, birth families, and professionals work together, children have the greatest opportunity to thrive.