CAREPORTAL
Connecting vulnerable children and families with the Church
CarePortal is an online platform that connects local needs in the community (vetted by social workers) with the Church. We provide material needs and human connections to vulnerable children and families to empower them, love them, and invite them to know Jesus. Vulnerable families are without support systems. Our goal is to strengthen and stabilize families so that children never have to go into foster care, or could be returned from foster care.
There are 3 tiers of CarePortal:
Tier 1. Material needs that lead to relationship -- i.e. providing beds, diapers, clothing
Tier 2. Relationship centered -- i.e. mentoring, tutoring, babysitting, transporting, and supervised visits
Tier 3. Bringing children in homes -- Safe Families, Fostering, and Adopting
In the first 14 months, CarePortal from Appomattox to Roanoke served 925 children with 1050 responses with an economic impact $325,000. You can access which current needs are available in your part of the SWVA by clicking here: https://www.careportal.org/map/
A Quick Glimpse
The social worker wrote the request like this: I'm working with a family that has two kids with one on the way. They are taking in a sibling set of five as a kinship placement to keep them out of foster care. They had 2 minutes to decide if they would take the kids or not. The mother called her husband at work. He said, "they don't deserve this. Bring them on." This family was totally unprepared; they needed beds, laundry detergent, clothing, groceries, and more. When CarePortal delivered the first bunk bed, they texted the mother to let her know they we coming. Don't worry about Roanoke City patrol car. It's my husband. The very first week, the children were all present in church and the local church offered each child a Bible. It was immediately clear that the family needed a larger vehicle and multiple churches pitched in to buy a used Honda Odyssey. Now that same family is serving others.
FAQ
Here are some of the most common questions people ask about the CarePortal program. We'd love to talk with you more about your questions if you have more that are still unanswered.
DOES CAREPORTAL COST THE CHURCH ANYTHING TO PARTICIPATE?
No! Isn't that awesome? We ask churches who participate to simply commit to viewing the requests and responding to one request per month (even if that is responding by committing to prayer).
HOW CAN I BE SURE MY RESOURCES ARE REALLY MAKING A DIFFERENCE?
The requests that are posted in the online platform have been vetted by trusted agencies such as the Department of Social Services.
WHO ARE WE HELPING?
We are helping children and vulnerable families in our local community. Sometimes there are families with challenges living literally right next to the church. We reach out to serve the way Christ did, with compassion and welcome.
WHERE DO THE REQUESTS COME FROM?
The requests are posted by "requesting agencies." These might be the Department of Social Services, Child Protective Services, doctor's offices and local schools.
DO YOU TAKE USED ITEMS AS DONATIONS?
We do! But not everything, and as we have space. 127 Place currently has 4 storage locations. We accept gently used furniture that is structurally sound and in good shape. We accept appliances that are both in good working order, and have been cleaned out properly. We accept boxes of diapers, and baby items. We do not, however, accept clothing or items that need repair or renovation.
CAN I MAKE A ONE-TIME FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION?
Yes. You can use our support page to donate directly to the CarePortal program.
WHO CAN HELP WITH CAREPORTAL?
Anyone. Truly. You can help if you're too old to lift, too nervous to speak, too new to have a church. There's a place for you in this. We promise.
CAN MY BUSINESS PARTICIPATE?
YES! Businesses can become a community champion, which means they can choose requests to financially support either with money from the business itself, or from the donations from team members within the business. It's an exciting way to be involved in serving your community.