CELEBRATING GOD’S BLESSINGS

Reasons foster
parents choose
our ministry
Foster parents report being
attracted to MCH because we
are faith-based.
Foster parents choose MCH
because they were referred by
a friend.
Foster parents report being
attracted to MCH because they
see that the agency is committed
to meeting the needs of
children that are being served.
MCH has an excellent reputation
and is financially stable.
Foster Care
Foster families understand the
difficult transition children
face when they come into their
homes, so they make every
effort to help children become
comfortable with their family.
Foster families meet the needs
of children in many ways, such
as providing for their daily
care, attending school events
and parent meetings, celebrating
birthdays and holidays, and
transporting them to family
visits and other appointments.
Reasons foster parents
remain with MCH:
Foster parents express that
they stay with MCH because
they are supported by case
managers who care about them
and work with them to meet
the needs of children that are
placed in our care.
Our staff takes extra steps to
match children to homes based
on information shared about
the child and the knowledge of
each foster family’s strengths.
Foster care staff provides personal
service, providing a network
of support for the foster
family.
The foster family has 24-hour
access to casework support.
ACTIVITIES: Foster children
get swept into an active family
lifestyle with their foster
family. Children participate
in church activities, Scouts,
band, sports, running clubs,
karate, choir and swimming.
Some of our children live with
families out in the country,
so they have opportunities
to learn about farm animals.
They also participate in community
reading programs and
Vacation Bible School.
FAMILY VISITS: Children visit
with their biological families in
ways that are appropriate for
their situation. The visits are
determined by whether children
are voluntary placements
or CPS placements. For voluntary
placements, visits may be
unsupervised and children are
often able to visit with their
family in their home. If children
are placed by CPS, visits
may have to be supervised
and can be more restrictive.
Children may also be able
to visit by telephone with family
members. When appropriate,
foster parents visit with
the biological family about
the child’s progress, medical
issues or other topics relevant
to the child’s care.
FAMILY REUNIFICATION:
Foster parents, biological
parents and caseworkers talk
with the children throughout
placement about their plan
for reunification with their
family or an alternate plan
when reunification is not possible.
When it is time for a
child to return home, MCH
offers aftercare services to
families who wish to participate.
Staff members follow up
with families after release and
continue to offer case management
services, including
our Partnership-in-Parenting
program.
Foster care staff communicate
regularly with foster parents.
Foster parents are valued and
esteemed for the care they
provide children.
“One of the best things for children is to
know and be loved by their parent. Our foster
parents understand the built-in need for
a connection to a child’s biological parent.”
— MELISSA OPHEIM, VICE PRESIDENT FOR COMMUNITY SERVICES
FOSTER CARE: AGES SERVED
FOSTER CARE: ETHNICITY
FOSTER CARE: LENGTH OF STAY (months)
39%
0 to 2
22%
3 to 5
6 to 8
4%
5%
9 to 11
12 to 15
16% 14%
16 to 18
18%
32%
African-American
Caucasian
Multi-Racial
Hispanic
29%
21%
20%
0 to 3
13%
3 to 6
23%
6 to 9
9 to 12
14% 12 to 18
11%
11%
8%
18 to 24
24 +
10