5 Best Practices for Responding to a Tier 1 Request

The child welfare system is complex and diverse, as are the ways that you can engage and serve within it. CarePortal is a tool designed to help bridge the gap between the children and families in crisis and people who want to help.

When a church first commits to responding to CarePortal requests from child welfare employees, we use a visual called The Grid to explain the spectrum of needs you and your church can help meet. (Watch the short video below to learn more about The Grid.)

If you are about to meet your first need through CarePortal, the odds are very high that it falls into Tier 1: Provide resources to stabilize the environment of children and their caregivers.

Understanding The Grid

Tier 1 Basic Training

Common Tier 1 requests include beds, clothing, school supplies, bus passes and car seats. (Learn why beds are the #1 item requested through CarePortal.) An important goal of churches in meeting Tier 1 CarePortal requests should be to go beyond a delivery and use the items/services they provide as an opportunity to build a meaningful connection with partners and the families they serve, reflecting the love of Christ that is unconditional, unifying, and sacrificial. 

Watch this short video or read on below to learn more about the basic but important best practices of meeting a Tier 1 need. 

Note: a PDF version of this information is available here

	Bring someone with you If you are going to someone’s home, never go alone. Jesus sent his disciples out two-by-two for many reasons. It is wise to be above reproach and protect the people you are helping.
	Avoid assumptions Avoid assuming anything based on what you observe or the little you know. There is always more to the story– we don’t know the circumstances that led a person to the crisis they are in. For someone who is stuck in "survival mode", new situations and new people can add to their stress, which may influence how they respond. Interpersonal interactions with families through CarePortal can create the ability to connect to those we serve by relating to their pain and struggle, and we can become more gracious and accepting of imperfections in others when we accept that we are also imperfect.
	Call the caseworker If you have any questions, concerns or follow up, call the caseworker. As the connection point to the family, they can give you tremendous insight.
	Be encouraging Encouraging words have power. Look around and find the strength you see in the people you meet. Tell them. Lift their spirits. Be a light in a dark time for them.
	Engage with additional needs When you meet the first need, you may find other things to help with. Rather than giving cash, you should buy physical items. Engaging in the process of meeting specific needs allows you to participate alongside the family.