Foundational Principles of CarePortal

Overview

This document outlines the foundational principles on which the CarePortal technology platform is established, and which govern the way we serve. These principles embody the standards to which CarePortal, LLC, and our Implementing Partners collectively aspire to, and guide our interactions with others. Companion articles and policies are referenced, allowing readers to go deeper into many of these topics.

We serve every vulnerable child

CarePortal requests come from a variety of requesting agency partners, and each includes a specific purpose statement, indicating how the family will be helped. When a church says, “Yes, I can help,” and commits to a CarePortal request, they agree to serve any vulnerable child/family who opens the door, without discrimination.

Jesus cast the widest net of love, tearing down cultural biases and promoting radical, personal generosity and concern for those in need. With that example, CarePortal brings together diverse constituents – government agencies, churches, businesses, schools, and other ministries – to support vulnerable children and families, before, during, and beyond foster care without regard to race, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, nationality, political leanings, etc. If we find any of our partners are discriminating against the children and families they committed to unconditionally serve, they will be removed from the network.    

We work collaboratively with trusted requesting agencies

CarePortal responders receive vetted requests, which have been approved by trained professionals at authorized Requesting Agencies. These requests are aimed at meeting an immediate need for a family, and ensuring their safety/well-being and/or sustainability. Church responders at the point of care are asked to “love and not judge” the families they serve. They are not responsible to “fix” or even understand all that they see, recognizing they only know a small piece of the family’s story. If they witness abuse or neglect, they should not take matters into their own hands, but should contact the proper authorities.

We build Care-Sharing networks

Care-Sharing is a social impact service that locates, shares, and meets the needs of the most vulnerable through caring people in local communities who want to help. CarePortal is a Care-Sharing technology that drives action for local kids and families in crisis. Care-Sharing networks (also called "ecosystems") are comprised of diverse care stakeholders who use CarePortal as a method of stepping into and maximizing their mission of working together on behalf of vulnerable kids and families. These include public and private child welfare agencies, schools, pregnancy resource centers, public safety organizations, non-profits, businesses, and faith communities. CarePortal is an open-source platform, where all requests are visible to users, allowing partners to choose which requests they meet. No partner will be given exclusive access to the platform.   

We honor the dignity of those we serve

Church responders, connected by CarePortal, serve families at no cost or obligation, offering “no strings attached compassion.” Families are not required to participate in any kind of religious activities to be served. Additionally, our agency partners are trained to protect confidential information, not to enter personally identifiable information into requests, and to obtain permission from families before sharing their stories. 

Similarly, church responders are trained to treat family stories as sacred. Responders who wish to share their own first-hand experiences of serving families should do so in a way that protects the privacy and dignity of the family.  

We mobilize volunteer church responders

CarePortal technology brings awareness of local needs to church and community partners and gives them an opportunity to respond.  We provide tools, training, and local support to equip and empower churches to make meaningful connections.  Church responders serve at the point of care, as volunteer representatives of their own local church.  We recognize that responders have limited time and resources to offer, and they are only responsible for meeting the portion of the need to which they committed.

Church responders are trained not to go alone when serving a family.  At no time should a volunteer be alone with a minor child whom they are serving.  Parents, guardians, or another authorized adult should always be present.  

If responders encounter additional needs when serving a family, we recommend that they make the requesting agency worker who entered the initial request aware of the situation prior to taking additional actions.  In some instances, volunteers may be able provide families with more than what was requested in the initial request.  In other instances, a new request may be entered on behalf of the family, allowing others an opportunity to serve.  And, on occasion, the agency worker will choose to utilize another resource to serve the family or expect the family to find their own solution as part of an ongoing case plan. Responders are encouraged to offer friendship that can lead to additional community support, understanding that friendship requires willingness from both sides, and connection doesn’t always happen. Responders should maintain healthy personal boundaries, and exercise discernment, always seeking to empower families as they walk alongside them.  If they have concerns about child wellbeing, abuse, or neglect, they should contact the proper authorities.

We are “Whole Church Committed"

CarePortal promotes unity in and among the Church and seeks to build a network across denominational, ethnic, and socio-economic lines.  Our church partners affirm a common statement of faith and agree to work collaboratively together to create opportunities for meaningful connections. 

We are guided by the Circles of Care

CarePortal, LLC, is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Global Orphan Project, a non-profit organization based in Kansas City, Missouri, which mobilizes Christian churches around the world to serve local vulnerable children and families.  Although each geographic manifestation is different, based on local context, they are all guided by a ministry model we refer to as the Circles of Care. CarePortal builds upon this model by establishing a “currency of trust” with all stakeholders. Vetted needs are shared with church and community responders. Anyone can respond and provide requested resources to help a family. Churches are trained to serve families directly at the point of care.