Northside is partnering with Lifeline Children’s Services and the Families Count program. Northside will host a 7-week class to help parents who are at risk for losing their children to the foster care system. These classes will teach and equip the parents as they strive to provide a stable home environment, keeping the family unit intact. We are looking for members who will be a part of this ministry. We need volunteers to provide meals for the classes, provide childcare for the classes, provide transportation to the class, and serve as a mentor to the parents in the class. If you wish to serve in any of these areas, please contact Karen Allen at kallen@northsidebaptist.org.

More about Families Count Ministry

Families Count is a family restoration and preservation ministry designed to give local churches a platform to minister to the parents of children who have been placed into the local foster care system or at risk of entering it. Families Count equips the church to engage some of the most vulnerable families in their community with the hope of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

As financial pitfalls, drugs, alcohol, stress, depression, and other barriers invade a family’s life, many parents find themselves at-risk of being separated, or already separated, from their children.

The median amount of time a child spends in foster care is just over one year. We know through research statistics that a child who grows up without a stable home environment and without parents is more likely to have negative socio-economic cognitive, and academic outcomes.

We also know God designed the family unit as a place of healing and safety for children. And a broken family needs the support, healing, mercy, and guidance from God’s people.

Through Families Count, local churches have a platform to minister to and walk with broken families to help them be restored and preserved.

This video gives more information on how these classes provide the tools needed to help rebuild their families.

Please contact the kallen@northsidebaptist.org to find out how you can help! Classes will begin in the Fall of 2024.

Volunteers Needed for classes:

• Meals
• Transportation for class members
• Childcare Workers
• Mentors for parents