Foster Care & Adoption
Summary
Epworth began offering private, foster care case management services in 2005 as part of a four-agency partnership (Children’s Permanency Partnership). One primary aim of the program is to match foster children with permanent loving homes, whether by reunifying families through focused support, matching children with caring foster homes, or adoption. Among many other services, Epworth provides training and assessment for individuals, couples and families who have room in their homes, lives, and hearts for a child in need. There are thousands of children throughout Missouri who desperately need the love, care, and guidance a foster home can offer. Epworth foster families are licensed through the Missouri Department of Social Services-Children’s Division and receive financial assistance, as well as ongoing training and support.
Requirements to be a foster parent
You must be at least 21 years old, complete various background checks and attend necessary training. You will receive a physical standards checklist for your home, and a family development specialist will complete your home study. Epworth staff will support you throughout the process and answer your questions. The application process and training are free of charge. Once licensed, foster families are eligible to receive reimbursement for child care related expenses.
Anyone with time and love to share can be a foster parent. Single people and those who work full time DO qualify. Please contact Casie Neu, Epworth’s Family Development Specialist, for more information at 314.963.8200 or via email cneu@epworth.org.
Download the Foster Care application (1.4 MB pdf file)
Fostering Faithful Families
Finding Families for Missouri's Waiting Kids
Right now, more than 1,400 legal orphans in Missouri foster care are waiting for adoptive families. Are you being called to serve these children?
Come explore what the Lord may be asking you to do. Together, we can ensure that no child in Missouri is waiting for someone to call mom or dad.
A father to the fatherless…is God in his holy dwelling…God sets the lonely in families…
Psalm 68.5-6
Epworth is also looking for Methodist church ambassadors to act as liaisons between foster and adoptive families and agencies participating in the Fostering Faithful Families initiative.
For more information about Fostering Faithful Families,
contact Corey Logan at (314) 918-3363.