Congratulations to CarePortal - One Year of Helping Foster Families

PHOENIX (April 13, 2016) - The Arizona Department of Child Safety congratulates CarePortal in celebrating its national one-year anniversary of helping foster families!

CarePortal connects state child welfare workers with churches in their local communities. In December, 2015 Arizona joined this worthy effort, starting in Pima County.  Over 50 families and 125 children have been helped already with more being added every week.

Often, families caring for children in foster care are presented with a variety of challenges that could place a stable home in jeopardy.  Without the generous support provided from CarePortal, this could result in a child being displaced unnecessarily.  

DCS staff formally request assistance for a child or family in need and CarePortal electronically distributes the request to multiple churches that are engaged.  When a church offers to fill the need, they immediately work with DCS to deliver the solution to the foster family.

"This type of connection between faith based organizations and government is vital to restoring balance between protection and charity," said DCS Director Greg McKay.  "As the good Book says, a cord of three strands is not quickly broken. DCS, the Church, and the CarePortal form three strands."  

With the foster care system so overwhelmed, DCS cannot afford to lose loving kinship and licensed foster families due to avoidable hardships.  The CarePortal brings immediate relief and provides a way for the community to help in many different ways.  

"Arizona citizens are ready and willing to answer the call to help these children," said McKay. 

Sue Baird, Tucson coordinator for CarePortal and former foster mom, says churches can fail to act in the area of child welfare because of fear or lack of awareness. In her own experience, she found ignorance made people less understanding of behavioral issues stemming from childhood trauma.

“I have a passion supporting parents and educating the community,” said Baird.

To learn more about CarePortal, visit www.CarePortal.org or contact Sue Baird at 520-912-3389 or via email at [email protected].