Resources & information to BECOME a caregiver for child(ren) through adoption, kinship, & fostering

Interested in becoming a caregiver to child(ren) through adoption, kinship, or fostering?

Fill out the form below to let your CyLife family know how to best support you.

Resources & information for CURRENT caregivers to child(ren) through adoption, kinship, or fostering

Are you currently a caregiver to child(ren) through adoption, kinship, or fostering?

Fill out the form below to let your CyLife family know how to best support you.

Resources and information for serving CyLife families who are adopting, fostering, or in kinship care.

👉 Get Involved: Serve, Pray & Give

Serve: Join the WRAP Crew to help meet the needs of families welcoming children through foster care, adoption, or kinship placements. You can also support our outreach as a certified babysitter for foster kids or volunteer with community partners, a great opportunity for small groups to serve together. Partners include The Riverside Project, Entrusted Houston, and Presbyterian Christian Home & Services (PCHAS).

Pray: The FAM Ministry aligns with God’s will through prayer. Join the WRAP Prayer Team to pray for specific families or offer general prayers for those in foster, adoption, or kinship care.

Give: Support the FAM Ministry financially through the CyLife FAM Fund or donate to our community partners. An Amazon Wish List will soon be available for online contributions directly to families.

🔗 CyLife FAM Fund

🔗 Community Partner: PCHAS

🔗 Community Partner: The Riverside Project

🔗 Community Partner: Entrusted Houston

Upcoming Training & Resources

These training sessions are not hosted by CyLife Church, so please verify whether they are offered online or in person. Available trainings include:

• Harris Co TBRI Trauma Training
• Normalcy Training for Foster Parents
• Runaway Prevention Training

Local Closets provide essential items such as clothing, toys, diapers, and more to support kinship, foster, and adoptive families. Recommended locations include:

• Entrusted Houston
• Oak Forest Foster Closet

Agency Recommendations

Texas law requires certification for foster and adoptive families, including kinship placements. Recommended agencies for certification and ongoing support include:

• DePelchin Children’s Center
• Presbyterian Children’s Homes and Services
• Monarch Family Services
• 1 Archangel Foster and Adoption Agency
• Accompanied by God’s Love
• Arms Wide Open Adoption Services
• Arrow Child and Family Ministries
• Azleway Children’s Services
• Circles of Care
• Family to Family Adoptions, Inc.
• Homes with Hope
• Houston Strong CPA
• Loving Houston Foster and Adoption Ministries
• Pathways Youth and Family Services
• Trel’s Home for Children
• New Life Adoption (Infants Only)

Prospective

🔗 Prospective Foster Family Resource Guide

🔗 Choosing an Agency

🔗 FAQ

Kinship Caretaker

🔗 Kinship Caretaker Family Resource Guide

🔗 Choosing an Agency

🔗 FAQ

Current

🔗 Current Foster Family Resource Guide

🔗 FAQ - Adoption

🔗 FAQ - Foster

Recommended Books

• The Connected Child – Karyn Purvis, Ph.D.
• The Connected Parent – Karyn Purvis, Ph.D. & Lisa Qualls
• The Whole Brain Child – Daniel J. Siegel, M.D. & Tina Payne Bryson, Ph.D.
• The Body Keeps the Score – Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.
• Twenty Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew – Sherrie Eldridge
• Integrative Parenting: Strategies for Raising Children Affected by Attachment Trauma – Debra Wesselmann, Cathy Schweitzer, & Stefanie Armstrong

Online Resources & Podcasts

• Jason Johnson Blog (for foster dads)
• Foster the Family Blog
• The Riverside Project Podcast
• CAFO: More than Enough Podcast
• The Archibald Project Podcast

Partner with the WRAP Crew

What is the WRAP Crew? We are the team supporting CyLife FAM ministry in the following ways:

"W" = Words of Encouragement: Writing notes, making phone calls, meeting for treats and conversation.

"R" = Relief Care: Gathering and delivering needed items, making and delivering meals.

"A" = Acts of Service: Helping around the house and coordinating with resources.

"P" = Prayer: Lifting up these families' needs to the One who provides.

It Takes a Village

We are not created to live in isolation, and you will need a support system. Inviting others into your journey gives them opportunities to serve you and your family. Incidentally, this is a great way to serve children in our community, because the members of your support system are the foster families of tomorrow.

By being transparent about the support you need from others, you encourage them to become foster or adoptive families.