April was a monumental month for the Church Ambassador Network with historic changes made to the state’s foster care system. The foster care training reform legislation that we have worked alongside HHS and a coalition of foster-care non-profits to create was signed into law by Governor Reynolds after receiving strong bipartisan support in both chambers.
This law is historic because it will help us accomplish two key objectives:
Christian Foster Care Training: Previously, Iowa law only allowed for one universal foster care training for all Iowans. Under this legislation, multiple kinds of trainings that meet state standards will be allowed, opening the door for Christian foster care training.
Christian Foster Care Agency: For many years, it has been our goal to see the launch of a Christian foster care agency in Iowa. Removing this legal hurdle makes way for the launch of a new Christian foster care agency, giving Iowans more than one option in foster care providers.
This legislation is part of our greater strategy to strengthen the child welfare system by partnering with the state to bring reform and with ministries to build better supports and services. Since partnering with the state, we have seen Iowa’s foster care rate drop by more than 50%, from 8,000 children being in the system eight years ago to under 3,200 children today.
At the bill signing, the Governor highlighted all of the work the Church has done in the arena of foster care and allowed us to share how this bill will further that progress.
Following the bill signing, we joined the Governor in her office to discuss our next steps following this bill. AJ Doyle of the new 501(c)(3) The Table Project and Mel Pearson of Cornerstone Church in Ames shared how they are working together to launch The Table Project and build it into a Christian foster care agency. They will begin providing Christian training for foster parents in July and then continue to build all of the services an agency provides for the state.
This is another example of the church becoming a primary resource for leaders in our state from both political parties. What we have seen in foster care is a miracle. A Christian foster care agency will forever change this state and will allow the Church to engage through a biblical lens in every part of orphan care.
