Faith Foster Families Network (3FN)

Description

The vision of the 3FN project was launched in June 2017, when a group of ministries and faith-based organizations in partnership with the Center for Strategic Partnerships and the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), hosted a Fostering Home event in South L.A. aimed at recruiting resource families and "fast-tracking" those interested persons through the approval process. The response of the faith community in South Los Angeles was an unexpected welcome. At that time, faith leaders were enlightened about the crisis facing foster families and children in their community and wanted to go beyond a single recruitment event. Their vision was to build a network of support, uniting all their congregations in an effort to better support the children and families they serve, and to connect and work with the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). The faith leaders recognized that the need requires a community movement and collective response. In order to make an impact, it would require them to work together to be able to offer resources, support and sustainability that extends far beyond what is possible for a single organization. In February 2018, the collaborative of six-faith-based organizations and churches in South Los Angeles began working to create a foster care ministry.