What is Foster Care?
A situation in which, for a period of time, a child lives with and is cared for by people who are not the child's parents when his/her family or legal custodian cannot provide care.
Family Foster Care
We believe that every CHILD deserves a safe, stable, & loving home. Whether it is a temporary placement or a long-term living situation, we know that the local church can bridge the gap for the thousands of children in the North Carolina foster care system. Baptist Children's Homes of North Carolina (BCH) established its Foster Care and Adoption ministry as a complement to its Cottage Homes program where couples, employed by BCH, provide daily care for boys and girls in family-style cottages at BCH's statewide locations. You can learn more about BCH's Cottage Homes here. This page is dedicated to Family Foster Care where couples undergo training and licensing through BCH to provide care for a child, or children, in their own homes.
The Cooks felt the calling to become a foster family. Watch their story.
“We know the love of Jesus Christ, and we should plant that seed anywhere and everywhere we can, and it begins with a child.”
— Shanell Cook, foster & adoptive mom through BCH
FAQs
Who are the children?
Foster children can be any child in North Carolina, ranging in age from infancy to 21 years old, who enters the foster care system. Each child has their own unique background, experiences, and specific needs. Many come from situations of abuse and neglect and do not possess a healthy self-esteem. Foster children need a family atmosphere, a place where they can belong. Most of all, they need to be loved and nurtured.
Can we adopt the children we foster?
Possibly. The goal of foster care is reunification with the biological parents, however, if it is determined that reunification is not possible, adoption can become an option for permanency. In a foster to adopt situation when a family is a BCH foster family, Baptist Children's Homes (BCH) handles the adoption process in collaboration with the appropriate county’s Department of Social Services (DSS)
Click here to learn more about adoption through Christian Adoption Services, a ministry of BCH.
What is a foster family home?
A foster home is a family’s residence. The family offers their residence for as many as one, but no more than five children, and provides them with daily, 24-hour care. Five children total may receive care in a family foster home (including the foster parent’s own children). Adult supervision must be provided during the time foster children are living in the home.
How long does it take to become licensed?
The licensing process to become a foster family typically takes between 4-6 months. As part of the licensure process, you are required to complete at least 30 hours of pre-services training. Our BCH Trainers are certified to use the CARE curriculum in the licensing process which are all presented from a Biblical perspective. In addition to the pre-services training you are required to complete CPR, First Aid, Blood Borne Pathogen, and Medication Administration training, so how quickly you turn in the required licensing paperwork after completing your training effects the overall amount of time the licensure process takes.
Are there other benefits to fostering through BCH?
One of the many things that sets BCH apart from other ministries is the continued care for the licensed foster family. Once a family has completed their certification process and has received their license to foster, BCH assigns them a Case Manager. The Case Manager walks alongside the foster family and becomes their advocate to help them work through any situation that arises in their foster care journey. In other words, each foster family, foster child, and church has someone to care for them.
If we can’t foster or adopt right now, are there other ways to help?
Yes, there are several other ways you can help children.
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Be a mentor for youth
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Establish a Support Team Ministry at your church for foster and adoptive families
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Raise funds for a local foster or adoptive family support group
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Volunteer with a non-profit organization that provides foster care services
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Provide childcare to foster parents attending training classes
Eligibility Requirements
Scroll to the right to see the requirements to become a foster family.