Wrap Around Support

All of us should applaud the child and the family that is placed in a loving, kind and supportive home whose goal is to restore the hope of the child. But it takes more than applause to restore the years lost in loneliness or to wipe away the tears (and years) of neglect, emotional deprivation and oftentimes, cruel abuse. It takes a church community whose heart "weeps with those weep".

Children placed in temporary or permanent foster care, adopted children and even host children here on short visits from another country require more than just a loving home. Clearly that is the imperative, but it is often not enough. It is not unusual for a family desiring to help these children, to feel alone and ill equipped to deal with many of the issues that arise.

The long term work of restoration and integration of the child in a healthy family unit takes work, sacrifice and often times, specialized help. To succeed long after the applause has ended, a system of wrap around resources is desired that assist the family unit in a holistic fashion - working together on matters of physical and spiritual influence. 

The Coalition of Care has created a wrap around support model that surrounds the child and the family with five resources designed to fulfill both common and special needs.  It is our hope that each church will "wrap around" the family protecting them from the forces that want to tear them apart. In time, we believe that with this support, the child AND the family have a greater likelihood to grow stronger together in Christ.

If you have comments or suggestions pertaining to this model, please contact us at coalition@achildshopeintl.org