There’s a Massive Gap in Foster Care—And This Software is Fixing It - Thomas Road Missions

My name's Julie Farley, and I am the My name's Julie Farley, and I am the Care Portal point person here [music] at Care Portal point person here [music] at Care Portal point person here [music] at Thomas Road Baptist Church. And Care Thomas Road Baptist Church. And Care Thomas Road Baptist Church. And Care Portal is it's a statewide initiative Portal is it's a statewide initiative Portal is it's a statewide initiative and beyond Virginia, [music] and beyond Virginia, [music] and beyond Virginia, [music] but specifically here in the city of but specifically here in the city of but specifically here in the city of Lynchburg overseen by 518 Family Lynchburg overseen by 518 Family Lynchburg overseen by 518 Family Services. [music] Services. [music] Services. [music] And it's And it's And it's an initiative to help foster families. an initiative to help foster families. an initiative to help foster families. What Care Portal does in the community What Care Portal does in the community What Care Portal does in the community >> [music] >> [music] >> [music] >> is Care Portal is a >> is Care Portal is a >> is Care Portal is a technology software that is utilized and technology software that is utilized and technology software that is utilized and created [music] for the local church. created [music] for the local church. created [music] for the local church. So, Care Portal is designed so that So, Care Portal is designed so that So, Care Portal is designed so that organizations who are caring for organizations who are caring for organizations who are caring for children, they are able to put [music] children, they are able to put [music] children, they are able to put [music] the needs of these children and these the needs of these children and these the needs of these children and these families into the Care Portal software. families into the Care Portal software. families into the Care Portal software. And then that And then that And then that those of us who are part of the Care those of us who are part of the Care those of us who are part of the Care Portal [music] network get notified of Portal [music] network get notified of Portal [music] network get notified of these needs. And then from there we can these needs. And then from there we can these needs. And then from there we can choose which need we are prepared choose which need we are prepared choose which need we are prepared [music] to respond to. So, there's [music] to respond to. So, there's [music] to respond to. So, there's different ways that a Thomas Roader can different ways that a Thomas Roader can different ways that a Thomas Roader can get involved with Care Portal. One way get involved with Care Portal. One way get involved with Care Portal. One way is [music] if you have a heart for is [music] if you have a heart for is [music] if you have a heart for service, whether you're leading a group service, whether you're leading a group service, whether you're leading a group or just a [music] part of a group, and or just a [music] part of a group, and or just a [music] part of a group, and you would like to be that catalyst to you would like to be that catalyst to you would like to be that catalyst to get your group serving, get your group serving, get your group serving, >> [music] >> [music] >> [music] >> a Thomas Roader can reach out to uh >> a Thomas Roader can reach out to uh >> a Thomas Roader can reach out to uh start a response [music] team for your start a response [music] team for your start a response [music] team for your group. And a Thomas Roader can be the group. And a Thomas Roader can be the group. And a Thomas Roader can be the point [music] person for that team for point [music] person for that team for point [music] person for that team for your group. And a group of individuals, your group. And a group of individuals, your group. And a group of individuals, based on who's within that group, based on who's within that group, based on who's within that group, [music] can decide what types of needs [music] can decide what types of needs [music] can decide what types of needs that they want to respond to. A need that they want to respond to. A need that they want to respond to. A need that we're currently working on through that we're currently working on through that we're currently working on through the Foster Care and Adoption Resource

the Foster Care and Adoption Resource the Foster Care and Adoption Resource Center [music] Center [music] Center [music] is um is um is um I I I There was a need that came up in Care There was a need that came up in Care There was a need that came up in Care Portal for some baby items for [music] a Portal for some baby items for [music] a Portal for some baby items for [music] a mom who was expecting, and she's not due mom who was expecting, and she's not due mom who was expecting, and she's not due to have her baby for a a couple months, to have her baby for a a couple months, to have her baby for a a couple months, but they knew her case worker knew that but they knew her case worker knew that but they knew her case worker knew that she was going [music] to need these she was going [music] to need these she was going [music] to need these items and knew that Care Portal was the items and knew that Care Portal was the items and knew that Care Portal was the way that she could get the word out to way that she could get the word out to way that she could get the word out to the local churches that this mom needed the local churches that this mom needed the local churches that this mom needed support. [music] So, once I select that support. [music] So, once I select that support. [music] So, once I select that I can respond to that need, um I can respond to that need, um I can respond to that need, um >> [music] >> [music] >> [music] >> I'm then given the the contact >> I'm then given the the contact >> I'm then given the the contact information for that mom. So, I've been information for that mom. So, I've been information for that mom. So, I've been able to talk with her, and it's kind of able to talk with her, and it's kind of able to talk with her, and it's kind of developed into now she's had some developed into now she's had some developed into now she's had some complications [music] complications [music] complications [music] with her pregnancy, and maybe uh well, with her pregnancy, and maybe uh well, with her pregnancy, and maybe uh well, she's going to be in the hospital she's going to be in the hospital she's going to be in the hospital [music] until she gives birth. So, I've [music] until she gives birth. So, I've [music] until she gives birth. So, I've now been able to work with her case now been able to work with her case now been able to work with her case worker in collecting these items, a car worker in collecting these items, a car worker in collecting these items, a car seat and a [music] pack and play, seat and a [music] pack and play, seat and a [music] pack and play, children baby clothing, and other baby children baby clothing, and other baby children baby clothing, and other baby necessities. [music] She really didn't necessities. [music] She really didn't necessities. [music] She really didn't have anything, but at the Foster Care have anything, but at the Foster Care have anything, but at the Foster Care and Adoption Resource Center, um those and Adoption Resource Center, um those and Adoption Resource Center, um those items were there um that folks had items were there um that folks had items were there um that folks had donated, and we were able to collect donated, and we were able to collect donated, and we were able to collect [music] those for her. Care Portal was a [music] those for her. Care Portal was a [music] those for her. Care Portal was a designed by the Global Orphan Project, designed by the Global Orphan Project, designed by the Global Orphan Project, and designed [music] specifically for and designed [music] specifically for and designed [music] specifically for the local church. So, it's a way for us the local church. So, it's a way for us the local church. So, it's a way for us [music] as uh the citizens of Lynchburg [music] as uh the citizens of Lynchburg [music] as uh the citizens of Lynchburg to uh reach out [music] to our neighbors to uh reach out [music] to our neighbors to uh reach out [music] to our neighbors that are hurting.

that are hurting. that are hurting. Um and the question has been presented, Um and the question has been presented, Um and the question has been presented, if you knew a child who was at at risk if you knew a child who was at at risk if you knew a child who was at at risk of going into foster care, [music] would of going into foster care, [music] would of going into foster care, [music] would you do something about it? And I think you do something about it? And I think you do something about it? And I think we'd all answer yes to that question, we'd all answer yes to that question, we'd all answer yes to that question, but there's a gap. [music] We don't know but there's a gap. [music] We don't know but there's a gap. [music] We don't know many of us don't know who these children many of us don't know who these children many of us don't know who these children are, and our children may be going to are, and our children may be going to are, and our children may be going to school with these [music] children, they school with these [music] children, they school with these [music] children, they may be living down the street from us, may be living down the street from us, may be living down the street from us, and there's just there's this gap, and there's just there's this gap, and there's just there's this gap, [music] which was why Care Portal was [music] which was why Care Portal was [music] which was why Care Portal was created. It was created for the local created. It was created for the local created. It was created for the local church to to respond [music] church to to respond [music] church to to respond [music] to um to start that relationship with to um to start that relationship with to um to start that relationship with these people, to first meet the physical these people, to first meet the physical these people, to first meet the physical need, and then from there um spiritually need, and then from there um spiritually need, and then from there um spiritually encourage [music] them, invite them to encourage [music] them, invite them to encourage [music] them, invite them to come to church, let them know of other come to church, let them know of other come to church, let them know of other resources that Thomas Road has through resources that Thomas Road has through resources that Thomas Road has through the counseling [music] ministry, sports the counseling [music] ministry, sports the counseling [music] ministry, sports ministry, children's ministry. There's ministry, children's ministry. There's ministry, children's ministry. There's all kinds of ways that we can help uh all kinds of ways that we can help uh all kinds of ways that we can help uh these families who are just looking and these families who are just looking and these families who are just looking and needing connection [music] needing connection [music] needing connection [music] uh to connect with the local church.