When Connection Becomes Community
"Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.” 1 Thessalonians 2:8 Recently, a volunteer called to let us know that she had not
What Makes Holistic Family Preservation Different?
At Alongside Families, we talk a lot about family preservation. But what does that actually mean? At its simplest, family preservation means helping biological families stay safely together. It means
Family Preservation in Real Time
This week, a mother who had aged out of foster care was preparing to give birth. She was escaping domestic violence and facing the unthinkable - her own children entering foster care because she had n
Seek First to Understand (Our Core Value of grace)
Let's look at another of our core values - GRACE: We suspend judgment and seek to understand.Grace shapes how we respond when:A family we serve or a volunteer communicates with a sense of urgency, eve
Good News: Everything Does NOT Depend on Us (Our Core Value of being gospel-centered)
Our first core value as an organization is that we are gospel-centered.The word gospel means “good news”, and it is a crucial distinction for anyone seeking to understand what makes Christianity diffe
Seven Needs. Seven Families.
Full transparency: I had another message planned for today's Ministry Memo. It was already loaded by our wonderful Communications Coordinator and ready to be sent.Then our Intake Coordinator and I spo
Five Mindset Shifts That Will Change How You Serve Parents in Crisis
Serving isolated families is not only about meeting needs. It is also about how we meet those needs. Parents we serve often feel overwhelmed, judged, afraid, embarrassed, exhausted, or alone during so
None of us are immune
Last week I had the privilege of meeting with a church for a second conversation about partnership. During our time together, they shared an unbelievable story of a family they have been walking along
"Lord, give us wisdom..."
At a recent staff meeting, our Volunteer & Donor Engagement Coordinator, Heather, prayed a simple prayer that caused me to stop and write it down in my notes."Lord, give us wisdom to know what to comm
5 Mindset Shifts that Will Change How You Serve Kids in Crisis
When a child is walking through a hard season, the way we engage with them matters deeply. Children in crisis may be carrying fear, grief, confusion, loyalty, anxiety, or stress that they do not yet h
Faithfulness > Fruit
One of our incredible volunteers, Emily Louis from Uptown Church, recently had the opportunity to share on the monthly Upstream call, a gathering of family preservation organizations from across the c
3 Simple Ways to Strengthen Your Community This Month
Three Simple Ways to Strengthen Your Community This MonthLately, I've been thinking a lot about community.Recently, someone in my family walked through a terrifying and difficult season. As we navigat