FAM Spotlight: Stafford Crossing Community Church

FAMs - or Family Advocacy Ministries - are church-led ministries that serve vulnerable children and families. Every FAM looks differently based on the needs of the local community and the makeup and gifts of the church. But together, FAMs across our region are each doing their part to fill the needs of their community and move the needle for our foster care system.

Here’s what the FAM at Stafford Crossing Community Church in Stafford, VA is doing!

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1. How did you find out about Project Belong?
   We first heard about Project Belong when we began using Care Portal. We were using Care Portal, trying to serve the needs of some local families. After using that tool for a few months, I saw Project Belong connected to it. I looked into the organization and thought it could be a good connection for engaging more with families in our community.
   
   

2. Why did you decide to work with Project Belong?
   Project Belong is so well connected and informed in the area of foster care. It would take us years to make connections and learn the ins and outs. Project Belong is a great resource and bridge to the needs of families that we would otherwise have little or no contact with.
   
   

3. You are providing a Care Community for a foster family whose child goes to a school that you adopted through their adopt-a-school program. How cool! Tell me about why you said YES to that?
   We were excited to get started as a Care Community. Two families from our church attended training. When we heard there was a local need that was connected to an elementary school down the street, it seemed like a no-brainer. The other family that is trained took the lead in this Care Community because their kids attend the same school.
   
   

4. What is the best part about supporting foster care needs in Stafford?
   These families and social workers are heroes doing incredibly difficult work. If we can help carry just a fraction of the workload, perhaps the system works better for the kids and the results improve. It is great to have opportunities for our families to serve and see the amazing work.
   
   

5. How does your church make it work? What does the leadership look like and why is it important to do this work?
   I am the missions pastor and I have full support from the lead pastors. We have Engage Groups that gather weekly to fellowship and study the Bible. We encourage Engage Groups to have a serving opportunity as well, so Care Communities and Social Stars fit that bill.
   
   

6. Tell me a story about success within your Care Community or working with them by your volunteers?
   We are still really new to this, but one of our Engage Groups will serve as a Care Community. The family we served came to church and joined us for a fellowship cookout on the church grounds. We have a nice playground and a space to picnic, which the family enjoyed. It was a very nice, relaxed evening, which helped us to move the pin forward in serving some of the needs of the family.