The Project Belong Network
We believe the local Church is the answer to the foster care crisis in our region. The Church offers the hope, grace, truth, and community our broken city desperately needs. The work is often complicated, but Project Belong will be your church's guide and bridge as you respond to God's call to care for vulnerable children.
The Project Belong Network brings together
Engaged Churches, who all desire to see more than enough well-supported homes for every child in foster care in northern Virginia – including foster, adoptive, and restored biological families.
By working together, Engaged Churches unite in a vision larger than any one of us could achieve alone, reach greater impact for vulnerable children, and demonstrate God’s character to their neighbors by living out James 1:27 in their communities.
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
James 1:27
By connecting with the Project Belong Network, Engaged Churches receive:
Event information and resources that can be shared with their congregation, for example: updates on foster care numbers and needs, tools for Orphan/Stand Sunday or Sanctity of Life events.
Training materials and tools for Trauma-Informed Care and wrap-around care for foster/adoptive families at no cost.
Staff support and collaboration for ministry establishment and growth.
Invitations to regular regional meetings for advocates among local churches to network and collaborate in ministry.
Bridging connections to child welfare agencies. Project Belong maintains an ongoing relationship with the state of Virginia and local counties (Alexandria, Arlington, Culpeper, Fairfax, Loudoun, Winchester/Clarke/Frederick, Prince William, Stafford), as well as private child-placing agencies.
In return, Engaged Churches make these commitments:
Affirm Project Belong’s Statement of Faith, Core Commitments, and Guiding Principles (found here).
Identify a lay ministry leader or church staff member to regularly communicate and collaborate with Project Belong (a “FAM Leader”).
Gladly play a part in working to achieve "more than enough" in our region.
Partnering with Project Belong does NOT include any financial obligations. We are financed by community and individual donations. If you would like information about supporting our work through a gift or grant, please contact Rachel@projectbelongva.org.
