Child Bridge

Recruiting foster/adoptive families. As of december 2023, there were more than 2,100 children in Montana's Child welfare system. Most have been removed from their biological homes due to abuse or neglect. Worse, there aren't enough families to care for them. Child Bridge recruits families from local faith communities to care for these children, whether their need is temporary (foster care) or permanent (adoption). Child Bridge is not a licensing or placement agency. However, in 2023, Child Bridge introduced 76 families to the state, or another approved entity, for those families to begin the licensing process. Every year, Child Bridge is the top recruiter of foster families in Montana.

Equipping foster/adoptive families. Child Bridge begins to equip families as soon as they step forward to learn about fostering. All equipping services are rooted in trauma-informed care. Child Bridge teaches caregivers to understand how trauma (like abuse and neglect) affects a Child's body, brain, and behaviors. Child Bridge also helps caregivers develop a parenting skill set that allows them to navigate and manage the behaviors and emotions that manifest from past trauma. In 2023, Child Bridge offered monthly education/training programs, small group book studies, conferences, retreats, and more. Across Montana, there were 2,680 instances of adult caregivers receiving formal equipping services in 2023.