Estimated read time: 4 minutes
Overview
CarePortal connects children and families in crisis with Churches and communities ready to help. If you're new to responding, there's a good chance your first request will involve a Tier 1 — Physical need: everyday items that stabilize a child's environment and provide safety, comfort, and care. This article covers the five most commonly requested items and the real difference they make in the lives of families. Here's what's most needed — and why it matters.
Intended audience
Included in this article
The top 5 most requested items
When a Church first commits to responding to CarePortal requests, we use a visual called The Grid to explain the spectrum of needs you and your Church can help meet.
If you're responding to your first request, there's a good chance it falls into Tier 1 — Physical: items that help stabilize the environment of children and their caregivers.
The most commonly requested items are:
- Mattresses
- Clothes
- Beds (cribs, twin beds & bunk beds)
- Diapers and wipes
- Sheets
Why these items matter
All of these items help ensure safety, permanency, and well-being for children and families involved with child welfare — or help prevent the need for child welfare involvement altogether.
How these items change lives
Safety of a child
A single mother of a newborn is ready to leave the hospital and is planning to have the baby sleep with her in her bed because she doesn't have money to buy a crib. Obtaining a crib would give the baby a safe sleep environment.
Well-being of a child
During an investigation, an Agency Worker notices the children sleep on pallets on the floor and do not have dressers. Although this is not a safety issue, nor a reason to remove the children from the home, the Agency Worker wants to obtain beds, mattresses, and dressers for the children to increase their well-being and strengthen the family's care for their children.
Permanency — reunification of the biological family
A child or sibling set has been placed in temporary care (foster care, or with extended family or a close family friend — called a "kinship placement") for a time. The biological parents have completed all necessary goals to reunify with their children and have them move home, but the family does not have any living room furniture and does not have the funding to acquire any. Obtaining living room furniture can help ensure permanency and well-being for children and families.
Permanency — placement with a kinship caregiver
A child or sibling set has been removed from biological caregivers, and there is a kinship caregiver willing to care for the children. Even if the kinship family is not licensed, in order to be allowed to house the children, they must have car seats for young children to be transported safely. Not having the car seats prevents this kinship caregiver from being able to care for the children, causing them to be placed in a licensed foster home where they have no connections or relational history.
Permanency — foster licensing of kinship caregiver
A child or sibling set has been placed with a kinship caregiver as determined to be in their best interest. In order to receive any state funding or support to care for the children, the relative or kin needs to become officially licensed as a foster home. Receiving seasonal items or services — such as air conditioner repair — can ensure the requirement of a comfortable living environment is met and help caregivers obtain their license.
Fulfilling common item requests like the top 5 listed above is a simple way to empower the families you're serving and help them reach their goals!
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