Care Options
There Is More Than One Way to Care
Supporting children and families can take many forms, and no single organization needs to do everything.
Understanding the different options can help organizations, churches, communities, and individuals identify where their strengths, resources, and experience can make the greatest difference.
Explore the options below to discover different ways of supporting children and strengthening families.
Care Menu
Kinship Care
Care provided by relatives or other people who already have a meaningful relationship with the child, allowing children to remain connected to family and community.
Foster Care
Temporary family-based care for children who cannot safely remain with their parents, with reunification prioritized whenever possible.
Educational Boarding
A residential arrangement that allows children to live away from home in order to access education in another community. Children attend local schools while maintaining their relationship with and care of their families.
Guardianship
A legal arrangement that gives an individual responsibility and authority to care for a child when their parents are unable to do so.
Boarding School
A residential arrangement in which children live away from home for a specific purpose, such as accessing education, while maintaining their family relationships.
Independent Living
Support for young people transitioning from care into adulthood, providing a gradual path toward independence while developing the skills and stability needed to live on their own.
Adoption
A permanent legal arrangement in which parental rights and responsibilities are transferred to adoptive parent(s), creating a new legal family relationship.
Daycare
Daytime care and supervision that supports children while allowing them to continue living with their families.
Children’s Home
Residential care in which children live together in a facility and are cared for by staff or caregivers rather than within a family household.
Not Sure Where to Start?
Every organization, community, and situation is different. Finding the right way to support children and families requires understanding both their needs and the resources already available.
If you are exploring new ways to care, strengthening an existing program, or simply want to learn more about the options available, we would be glad to walk alongside you.