St. Charles County churches to use technology to help local kids

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 16, 2019

St. Charles County churches to use technology to help local foster kids

More Than Enough Ministries will launch the CarePortal technology platform to serve at-risk children and save tax dollars

ST. CHARLES COUNTY, MO. — Technology will soon connect foster children and at-risk families in St. Charles County to churches willing to help. More Than Enough Ministries and CarePortal, a technology platform and growing national initiative, will begin mobilizing local churches to serve children in St. Charles County on April 11, 2019. The community is invited to attend the launch which will be held at Sunrise Methodist Church, 7116 Twin Chimneys Blvd. O’Fallon, MO 63368. 2-3:30pm. You can contact 314-973-4348 for more information or to RSVP for the launch.

There were 2447 calls to St. Charles County Social Services in a year, according to the most recent data. 118 children were removed from their home. 363 preventative services cases were also opened. 122 children are available for adoption. Local social workers will utilize More Than Enough Ministries and CarePortal to help keep families together or find safe placements for children.

“So many times, my job is a struggle,” one social worker said. “There are times when I know a family needs more help than I can give. You cannot know what a blessing it is to be able to tell a mom, ‘We can get you help from the community.’”

Here’s how it works: a DSS employee signs into careportal.org and shares a need. Using geo-radius technology, CarePortal distributes the request via email to nearby churches who sign up to serve their community. The responding church or group of churches then works with the caseworker to provide what is needed. Common requests include beds, clothing, school supplies, and car seats. Sometimes these requests support children in foster or kinship care placements, while others help children remain with their biological families.

“Every request presents the opportunity for churches to make meaningful connections,” said Adrien Lewis, executive director of The Global Orphan Project, the nonprofit that created and manages the CarePortal platform. “Sometimes that connection involves meeting one need at just the right moment. At other times, it develops into a lasting relationship.”

Missouri residents from churches across the state have already served more than 5,300 children and their families. By meeting these urgent needs of at-risk families and preventing subsequent action from the state, the CarePortal platform has generated an economic impact of approximately $2.1 million in the state.

Bridge Church is one of the churches participating in the launch of the CarePortal platform through More Than Enough Ministries. They state, “We passionately believe in serving the community and making a difference outside of our four walls. By teaming with More Than Enough Ministries we have a direct link to people near us that have needs to be met, and we’re dedicated to meeting those needs. We are committed to being a light in our community and nothing will stop us from spreading that light!”

“With Church and State working together through More Than Enough Ministries and the CarePortal platform, the lives of children in our communities will be impacted for the better,” said Pastor Mark Cline from Dorsett Village Church, one of several local churches eager to begin using CarePortal in St. Charles County to meet tangible needs in the community.

Churches interested in joining the CarePortal community in serving at-risk children can start that process at careportal.org/enroll and by emailing Janiece at mo_morethanenough@yahoo.com or by calling 314-973-4348.

About CarePortal: CarePortal is a platform launched in March 2015 by The Global Orphan Project, headquartered in Kansas City, MO. CarePortal brings faith and government entities together by utilizing a volunteer network and innovative technology to bring the needs of children and families in crisis to the attention of local churches. Child welfare workers uncover the needs. CarePortal makes local churches aware, giving them a real-time opportunity to respond. Currently active in 19 states in the U.S., over 1800 churches have served 37,265 children and counting. See CarePortal’s live impact report at careportal.org.

Regional Contact

Janiece Wieschhaus

More Than Enough Ministries

314-973-4348

Mo_morethanenough@yahoo.com