5 Families Wrap-Around Support
Did you know that 50% of foster parents quit after the first year?
Do you know WHY?
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They feel ill-equipped
They lack support/feel alone
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Would you be more likely to foster, adopt or provide kinship care if you knew that you weren't going into it alone?
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What if you knew that you were going in with a team of 4 other families who were committed to walking the journey with you and being there when you needed them?
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​It truly takes a village to raise a child!
The 5 Families Model
We are championing the 5 families concept for foster care, adoption and kinship care.
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The 5 families concept is:
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Five families commit to go into foster care/adoption TOGETHER
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Before a formal application is made, the 5 families commit to journey as a team
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The foster family applies and begins the foster/adoptive family intake and training process​
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The four supporting families learn alongside the foster/adoptive family
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(through formal government training or informally through the foster/adoptive family)
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Some or all of the four supporting families get approved as respite for the foster/adoptive family
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Following placement of a child, the 5 families work together as one, extended family to support the placed child and foster/adoptive/kinship family
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Four families are the first call for support:​
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Driving​ kids
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Babysitting
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Picking up groceries/prescriptions
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Respite
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Emotional support/listening ear
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Play dates
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Mentoring
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Meals/practical support​
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Why 5 families?
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​Large enough to have a practically available pool of support
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Small enough to be intimately acquainted and safe with one another
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Diversity of gifting and skill sets
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Enough manpower to be long-term sustainable
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What Makes This Model Different?
The supporting families join the journey together from the start.
Learning together.
Building on the same foundational understanding. They "get" why there are doing to be really hard times.
Before a crisis hits, the parents knows that they CAN call and that they CAN expect a "yes".
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The parents can be honest and real about their challenges and needs without fear of judgement and shame.
These families understand and they are willing to be an ear and a support.
The 4 families are proactively intentional.
They aren't just waiting for "call me if I can do anything."
They are aware, invested, and checking in!
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All generations have a role to play.
Not everyone provides the same kind of help.
From widowed retirees to other families with children, each brings a unique relationship and support to the family.