The hope chest

The Hope Chest is Dwell’s foster closet. This is a space for foster, adoptive, and kinship families that receive emergency placement of children to come and gather a week or two weeks worth of clothing and necessities to help them get through the initial trauma and transition. Often when children are placed into foster care, they come with very little clothing and necessities, if they come with any at all. The HOPE Chest will be stocked with new and gently used clothing, shoes and necessities for children of all ages. The HOPE Chest will also supply each child with a duffle bag, backpack or suitcase to carry their new clothing in. This space will serve our foster, adoptive and kinship families in our community so that the children in their care are clothed in love and restored to hope again. Learn more about the Hope Chest here.

PARENT CARE GROUPS

Fondly referred to as The Dwelling Place, our informal care groups are for foster and adoptive parents where the only agenda item is confidentiality. Let’s face it, this journey is beautiful but it’s also brutal. We call that “brutiful!” Come hang out with other moms and dads who "get it."

CARE PACKAGES

“May no gift be too small to give, nor too simple to receive, which is wrapped in thoughtfulness and tied with love.”

Dwell Orphan Care puts together “New Placement Care Boxes” for foster and adoptive families when they receive new placements. The first few months of a new placement are very stressful on everyone. A recent recipient told us, “getting that package in that first week of getting our two teen foster kids was an unbelievable encouragement. Knowing that there were people we didn’t even know praying for us, and caring about our needs gave us what we needed to love on our foster children even more. We will forever be grateful.” All items in our Dwell Care Packages are meant to help encourage attachment and connection as well as offer some respite and fun to the family. Common items found in our Dwell Care Packages are blankets, books, family board games, stuffed animals, art supplies, lego sets, gift cards as well as other treats.

TRAUMA INFORMED TRAINING

Throughout the year, Dwell offers trauma informed trainings using the Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) Model. TBRI is a therapeutic model that trains caregivers to provide effective support and treatment for at-risk children. TBRI has been applied in orphanages, courts, residential treatment facilities, group homes, foster and adoptive homes, churches, and schools. These trainings will be open to foster and adoptive parents as well as educators and other adults that would benefit from training on being trauma informed.

ADOPTION Grants

We know the expense for a domestic or international adoption can be an overwhelming obstacle. Many of our board members are adoptive parents themselves. Dwell works to put adoption within reach by providing grants to qualified families in need of financial assistance.

Applications for Adoption Grants are Open! Click here to complete a preliminary approval form.