Cultivating Families

Cultivating Families is a nonprofit organization based in the greater Houston area, dedicated to supporting families and children involved in foster care and adoption. The organization seeks to empower diverse faith communities through education and training, ensuring that these communities can effectively support families and children navigating the foster care and adoption journey.

Mission

The mission of Cultivating Families is to empower greater Houston's diverse faith communities through education to welcome and care for families and children impacted by foster care and adoption. They aim to create a supportive environment where faith communities can surround foster and adoptive families with love, education, resources, and guidance.

Vision

The organization envisions a future where all diverse faith communities and families in greater Houston cultivate lives of love and faith together for a lifetime. This vision is grounded in the belief that faith communities can play a pivotal role in providing stability and hope for children in need.

History

Cultivating Families began its work in 2013 as part of a fellowship at the Hope and Healing Center & Institute (HHCI). The organization was formally established as a Texas non-profit corporation in October 2016 and received its 501(c)(3) public charity status in May 2017. Amy Bezecny, the founder, initiated the program following her own experience with adoption and recognizing the need for broader community involvement in supporting foster care and adoption.

Programs and Services

Cultivating Families offers several programs to equip faith communities to support foster and adoptive families effectively:

• Faith Partner Program: Provides training for faith communities on handling trauma and supporting children, along with resources for group volunteer initiatives.
• Decisions Course: Assists potential adoptive or foster parents in understanding their options and preparing to welcome a child into their home.
• Prayer Initiative: Encourages communities and individuals to pray for children in state foster care, promoting awareness of their needs.

Through these programs, Cultivating Families aims to build strong, supportive networks around foster and adoptive families, focusing on the spiritual nurturing of children as well as addressing their physical and mental needs.

[1] https://cultivatingfamilies.org/about/ [2] https://cultivatingfamilies.org [3] https://www.guidestar.org/profile/81-4363348 [4] https://evolveservices.org [5] https://raiseachild.org