Substitute Caregiver

Foster Adoption-Friendly Churches not only provide a safe environment for children from hard places, but support families caring for these children. It’s difficult for kinship and foster families to locate respite resources to care for the children in their absence placed in their homes, whether for a few hours or overnight. The State of Colorado has created a ‘substitute care’ category that will allow families to seek substitute or alternative caregivers of their choosing. 
Consider becoming a respite resource for kinship and foster families who could use a break or some time away to take care of family or personal needs. Create an opportunity for foster parents within your church to enjoy a date night, movie or individual time with their biological children. Recruit a group of substitute/ or alternative caregivers to provide care for children in foster care. Group members can wrap around several foster families, providing the families with opportunities for time away to rejuvenate, spend time with God, or an evening of fun knowing the children are well cared for.  
Children in foster care come from a place of trauma and benefit from caregivers that are trauma-informed. Project 1.27 is happy to support you in developing substitute caregivers, and provide trauma-informed training for your youth ministry leaders, as well as those in small groups and others who are interested in supporting foster families within your church.  

• Learn more about substitute or alternative caregivers by contacting Project 1.27
  
• Reach out to your local Child Welfare agency or CPA to learn about obtaining background checks
  
• Consider holding in-person CPR classes in your church. Many providers will come to your location and provide group training sessions for a reasonable fee.  
  
• Contact Project 1.27 to arrange Trauma-informed training for your substitute/alternative caregivers.