1. Sign up by sending an email to ch****@********on.church
2. Sign up for events when you are notified of opportunities.
3. Currently, we have two major events each year: Chosen Christmas and Back-to-School Outreach.
4. Join our Chosen Facebook Group to stay up to date with current events and the needs of Chosen. Also, communicate and connect with those in Chosen ministry. Shop for supplies for events.
5. Some items you might be able to help with include (but are not limited to shopping, packing, wrapping, cooking, delivery, or serving on the day of need.)
6. Consider taking the Group Home Training to learn more about interacting with these students and being part of their story.
7. Take the CHOSEN Trauma Training, when offered, to have a better understanding of the impact of trauma on kids and how to compassionately respond.

Steps for Becoming a Foster Famiy

1. Attend a Chosen Informational Meeting to understand the role, need, and support available with Chosen.
2. Join our Chosen Facebook Group to stay up to date with current events and the needs of Chosen. Also communicate and connect with those in Chosen ministry.
3. Meet with Chosen Leadership about specific details as they pertain to your family.
4. Pick a foster agency.  Different agencies have different approaches and requirements so it’s important to get a match for your family.  The CHOSEN Ministry is here to help you connect with other adoption families to share their experiences with different agencies.
5. Work with your foster care agency to complete all training, paperwork, interviews, inspections, and related requirements.
6. Get your home ready for inspection.  The CHOSEN Ministry is here to help you if there are things that need to be done to pass your inspection. Please bring these needs to the attention of Chosen Leadership.
7. Begin building your support team from members of your family or church family. They can be praying for you and your family. They can provide practical support, such as babysitting, items the family needs, and help with running errands or making meals.  If not, please seek help from Chosen Ministry to find people who may be able to support you in this journey.
8. Let Chosen Leadership know when you’ve gotten your first placement. We like to show up with the items you need to support your first 72 hours.
9. Take the CHOSEN Trauma Training, when offered, to have a better understanding of the impact of trauma on kids and how to compassionately respond.
10. Let Chosen Leadership know when your placement changes. This can be when a child is reunited or if the situation changes. This can be when you accept a new placement. Chosen Ministry wants to be there for these changes to support you, your family, and the children you bring into your home.
11. Impact foster kids’ lives forever!  Studies show the number one difference between foster kids who succeed and foster kids who fail is the existence of 1 person who they felt truly cared about them even for a short time.  You and your family can be that person!

1. Attend a Chosen Informational Meeting to understand the role, need, and support available with Chosen.
2. Join our Chosen Facebook Group to stay up to date with current events and the needs of Chosen. Also communicate and connect with those in Chosen ministry.
3. Meet with Chosen Leadership about specific details as they pertain to your family.
4. Pick an adoption agency.  Different agencies have different approaches and requirements so it’s important to get a match for your family.  The CHOSEN Ministry is here to help you connect with other adoption families to share their experiences with different agencies.
5. Work with your adoption agency to complete all training, paperwork, interviews, inspections, and related requirements.
6. Get your home ready for inspection.  The CHOSEN Ministry is here to help you if there are things that need to be done to pass your inspection.  Please bring these needs to the attention of Chosen Leadership.
7. Begin building your support team from members of your family or church family. They can be praying for you and your family. They can provide practical support, such as babysitting, items the family needs, and help with running errands or making meals.  If not, please seek help from Chosen Ministry to find people who may be able to support you in this journey.
8. Raise funds. The CHOSEN Ministry would like to help you explore fundraising ideas.
9. Work with your agency to find the child for whom you are a good match and complete the adoption process.
10. Take the CHOSEN Trauma Training, when offered, to have a better understanding of the impact of trauma on kids and how to compassionately respond.

1. Attend a Chosen Informational Meeting to understand the role, need, and support available with Chosen.
2. Join our Chosen Facebook Group to stay up to date with current events and the needs of Chosen. Also communicate and connect with those in Chosen ministry.
3. Meet with Chosen Leadership about specific details as they pertain to your family.
4. Pick an adoption agency.  Different agencies have different approaches and requirements so it’s important to get a match for your family.  The CHOSEN Ministry is here to help you connect with other adoption families to share their experiences with different agencies.
5. Work with your foster care agency to complete all training, paperwork, interviews, inspections, and related requirements.
6. Get your home ready for inspection.  The CHOSEN Ministry is here to help you if there are things that need to be done to pass your inspection.  Please bring these needs to the attention of Chosen Leadership.
7. Take the CHOSEN Trauma Training, when offered, to have a better understanding of the impact of trauma on kids and how to compassionately respond.
8. Begin building your support team from members of your family or church family. They can be praying for you and your family. They can provide practical support, such as babysitting, items the family needs, and help with running errands or making meals.  If not, please seek help from Chosen Ministry to find people who may be able to support you in this journey.
9. Work with your agency to find the child for whom you are a good match and complete the adoption process.  Studies show the number one difference between foster kids who succeed and those who fail is the presence of 1 person they felt truly cared about, even for a short time.  You and your family can be that person!

A group home is comprised children of various ages who’ve been removed from their homes. Group Home Volunteers go into the group home (after completing necessary paperwork and clearance) with the hope of building meaningful relationships and showing the love of Jesus. There will also be opportunities to help outside of the home.

Celebrating Special Events

• Birthday parties
• Christmas celebrations
• “Going Away” Parties (emancipating, going to college, moving back home):

Monthly Program Opportunities

• Icebreaker activities
• Relationship building activities
• Crafts
• Spa day
• Sport or games (i.e., baseball, basketball, kickball, etc.)
• Board games
• Cooking Lessons
• Shopping List & Meal Prep
• Celebrate Recovery’s The Landing in the home.
• Teach life skills – including communication, adult prep, getting a job, finding a home, etc.
• Life skills activities

Helping Foster Kids Connect & become a part of Generation Church

• Bring to Chosen Events
• Bring to GenYth/the Landing/gKids
• Bring to Sunday service
• Bring to Special Church Services, Youth, and Kid Events
• Help them feel a part of the Generation Church family!

Group Home Support Activities Builder Examples

Assist our group home volunteers by prepping or creating crafts or activities in advance. Below are some examples of activities you can create for them.

• Craft or hobby building – Create and build kit for group home volunteer to take to home. Including directions and supplies
• Spa Day – Prep mani pedi kits
• Make tool kits for leader to take
• Make Ice Breaker Activities Book
• Create Relationship Building Activities
• Prep materials for Cooking Activities
• Build life skill kits – create a kit that teaches a life skill. This can be about cooking, home skills, work life, job hunting, or other skills needed to enter adulthood well. 

1. Attend a Chosen Informational Meeting to understand the roles and needs of a foster family.
2. Join our Chosen Facebook Group to stay up to date with current events and the needs of Chosen. Also, communicate and connect with those in the Chosen ministry. Volunteer to meet specific needs for our adopted group homes.
3. Pray for our students, group home staff, and the visiting teams.
4. Plan events to celebrate birthdays, holidays, the start of school, graduation, and aging out.
5. Join our Cooking Team to prepare meals for our visits.
6. Join our Prep Team to shop and prepare activities or crafts for our visits.
7. Assist the Group Home in preparing items for group home visits or for items requested by the team. This can include shopping as well.
8. Consider serving in GenYouth, gKids, CRKids, and The Landing to build relationships and foster relationships with students who attend from our group homes.
9.  

1. Attend a Chosen Informational Meeting to understand the role, need, and support available with Chosen.
2. Join our Chosen Facebook Group to stay up to date with current events and needs of Chosen. Also communicate and connect with those in Chosen ministry.
3. Be over 18, be able to pass a Level 1 Fingerprint Clearance (FBI background check), which costs $65, and confirm you can make a minimum one-year commitment.
4. Take the Group Home Licensing Training.
5. Provide 2 letters of reference or contact information from people who will attest to your character (instructions will be given in the training).
6. Join the Slack app to communicate with your house team members and schedule monthly visits.
7. Impact foster kids’ lives forever!  Studies show the number one difference between foster kids who succeed and those who fail is the presence of 1 person they felt truly cared about, even for a short time.  You can be that person!
8. Take the CHOSEN Trauma Training, when offered, to have a better understanding of the impact of trauma on kids and how to compassionately respond.
9. Attend Chosen Connect or additional trainings to keep our skills current and up to date.

1. Attend a Chosen Informational Meeting to understand the roles and needs of a foster family.
2. Join our Chosen Facebook Group to stay up to date with current events and needs of Chosen. Also communicate and connect with those in Chosen ministry.
3. Remember that these families have to carefully screen people who interact with their children.  It takes time to get to know you and to understand whether you’re a good fit for their kids’ specific needs.  Personal chemistry is important.  Please don’t be offended if they don’t invite you into their home to babysit or to do other activities directly with their kids.  There are lots of other ways you can help these families such as:

• Coordinate help for specific requests. If they mention they need something, offer to take the lead in getting it done.
• Become their Cheerleader.  Foster parenting can be a really hard job, so regular encouragement makes a big difference
• Be their Spiritual Warrior.  Pray for them every day.  Give them biblical support.  Remind them that God is on their side.
• Be an Advocate.  Make sure that all of their needs are being met.  If there are no solutions, bring it to the attention of the Chosen Leadership at Ch****@********on.church.
• Be a Doer.  Run those errands.  Make those meals.  Buy those items.  Volunteer to babysit. Do whatever the family needs in the moment.
  
  4. Take the CHOSEN Trauma Training, when offered, to have a better understanding of the impact of trauma on kids and how to compassionately respond.

Be Jesus to a foster or adoption family.  Not all are called to be foster or adoption families.  Those who are need help and support because this is a really hard job.  You can help ensure a child has a family by providing loving support to those who are called.

So you want to explore more about Chosen?

1. Attend a Chosen Informational Meeting to understand the roles and needs of Chosen Ministry.
2. Talk to volunteers on the Group Home Team to better understand what they do and why they chose that team.
3. Talk to foster and adoptive families to better understand how they made their decision to foster or adopt.
4. Talk to people who are part of a support team for a foster or adoption family to better understand what they do and why they chose that team.
5. Take the CHOSEN Trauma Training, when offered, to have a better understanding of the impact of trauma on kids and how to compassionately respond.
6. Pray about finding your place in Chosen using your specific gifts and strengths.
7. Email ch****@********on.church, and we can assist you with further choosing your place in Chosen.