Foster Care Ministry Coordinator

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
• 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.

• 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 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., Care Portal, Promise
  686/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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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 (Care Portal requests or emergency placement kits) within 24–48 hours.

• 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

• 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).

• Strong relational, recruitment, and public communication skills.
• Highly organized with proficiency in administrative tools (e.g., Church Management Software/Planning Center, Meal Train, Google Workspace).
• Familiarity with trauma-informed principles or willingness to complete trauma-informed training.