Foster Care Ministry Coordinator

Position Summary:

The Foster Care Ministry Coordinator leads, builds, and sustains the church’s foster care and orphan care initiatives. This role bridges the gap between local child welfare agencies, foster/adoptive families within the church, and the broader congregation.

The primary mission is threefold: building Care Communities around active foster families, raising church-wide awareness, and guiding prospective foster parents from initial interest to state licensing.

The ideal Foster Care Ministry Administrative Assistant:

• Has a heart for vulnerable children and families.
• Thrives in highly organized environments.
• Enjoys serving people during both joyful and difficult seasons.
• Anticipates needs and solves problems proactively.
• Communicates with compassion, professionalism, and confidentiality.
• Balances administrative excellence with relational ministry.
• Finds joy in creating systems that help people experience care and support.

As a Crossroads staff member, the Foster Care Ministry Administrative Assistant is expected to:

• Be Mission-Minded
• Pursue Spiritual Growth
• Lead with Humility
• Choose Collaboration
• Embrace Innovation
• Value Excellence
• Develop People
• Finish Strong

The Foster Care Ministry Administrative Assistant succeeds when foster, adoptive, and kinship families feel known, supported, and encouraged; volunteers are equipped to serve effectively; and ministry leaders have the administrative systems needed to care for families with excellence.

Key Responsibilities:

Wrap Around Care & Volunteer Management (50%)

• Recruit & Onboard Volunteers: Recruit, background-check, and screen church members to serve in support roles (Meal Captains, Respite Caregivers, Errand Runners).
• Manage Care Communities: Form, train, and oversee 4–8 person volunteer "Care Communities" dedicated to wrapping around specific foster, adoptive, or kinship families.
• Rapid Response Coordination: Manage emergency requests when a new child enters a home (deploying the "First 48 Hours" emergency support response, meal delivery, and supply kits).
• Volunteer Care & Retention: Provide ongoing encouragement, prayer support, and check-ins for Care Team Captains to prevent volunteer burnout.

Agency Partnerships & Technology Integration (20%)

• Agency Liaison: Serve as the primary point of contact for local county/state child welfare caseworkers, private foster agencies, and community partners.
• Platform Management: Oversee and manage vetted community needs platforms (e.g., CarePortal, Promise686/myFAM) to route physical and tangible needs (beds, car seats, clothing) to church volunteers or small groups.
• Safety & Compliance: Maintain strict compliance with church child-safety policies, background clearances, and state privacy guidelines for all involved volunteers.

Recruitment Events & Awareness (20%)

• Awareness Campaigns: Plan and execute annual events, including Foster Care Awareness Sunday (May), tangible item drives, and respite care events.
• Informational Sessions: Host quarterly "Coffee & Questions" info nights for prospective foster and adoptive parents.
• Licensing Support: Coordinate on-site licensing cohorts with agency partners and pair prospective foster parents with veteran foster mentors ("Licensing Buddies") to help them navigate paperwork.

Pastoral Care & Community Building (10%)

• Family Support: Regularly check in with foster and kinship parents in the congregation to assess emotional, spiritual, and physical needs.
• Support Groups: Organize monthly or bi-monthly peer support gatherings or coffee drop-ins for foster/adoptive parents.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) & Success Metrics

• Family Retention: Maintain a 90% support coverage rate for all active foster families in the church via Care Communities.
• Volunteer Engagement: Successfully onboard and background-check 15–30 new support volunteers annually.
• Licensing Pipeline: Guide 3–5 new prospective families per year through agency orientation and licensing cohorts.
• Response Velocity: Fulfill emergency tangible needs (CarePortal requests or emergency placement kits) within 24–48 hours.

Personal & Spiritual Qualifications

• A vibrant, mature faith in Jesus Christ and a commitment to the mission and doctrine of the church.
• A deep heart for child welfare, vulnerable families, and biblical orphan care mandate (James 1:27).
• High emotional intelligence, discretion, and ability to navigate confidential or sensitive family dynamics with grace

Professional Experience & Skills

• Required: 2 years of experience in ministry leadership, volunteer coordination, non-profit management, or social services.
• Preferred: Personal experience with the foster care or adoption system (as a foster parent, adoptive parent, adult foster alumnus, or caseworker).
• Skills:
• Strong relational, recruitment, and public communication skills.
• Highly organized with proficiency in administrative tools (e.g., Church Management Software/Planning Center, MealTrain, Google Workspace).
• Familiarity with trauma-informed principles or willingness to complete trauma-informed training.

Work Location: In person