Our Model
My Village Ministries (MVM) seeks to come alongside families in crisis and provide community and support to help them get to the other side. We do this by placing children with host families for a short period of time, providing coaching and training for parents, and welcoming those who are isolated into a Christ-centered community.
MVM was started by a small staff and a large network of churches who wanted to provide holistic care to families in crisis. We believe that difficult circumstances reach a breaking point when you are socially isolated. We also believe that the local church has a community ready to go to meet that need.
We seek to provide family preservation through Biblical hospitality. When a family is facing a crisis that makes it difficult for them to care for their children, they can call our referral line and find a host family that is able to host their children for a short period of time until they are back on their feet. During this time, the referring parent never loses custody of their children and has the right to be reunited with them whenever they desire. They will also be able to remain in close contact with them throughout the hosting.
Timeline of a Hosting
Step 1:
Initial Contact
Parent submits a contact form or calls the referral line and hosting gets approved by MVM staff.
Step 2:
Coordinating
Staff reaches out to find a Host Family and Coach and follows up with Ministry Leads to ensure that the church is prepared to support.
Step 3:
Intake Meeting
Coach, Host Family, and Referring Parent meet for paperwork and prepare for hosting.
Step 4:
Hosting Begins
Kids are received by the Host Family and Coach visits the home within the first two days.
Step 5:
Collaboration
During the hosting, focus on relationship building, work together on goals, and complete home visits.
Step 6:
Reunification
Kids are reunified with parent(s) and hosting debrief is scheduled. Continued pursuit of relationship and community.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do you lean heavily upon the local church and not just individuals?
Most of the families we get to serve are facing social isolation. We believe the local churches have a great community to offer those who are needing and longing for community. We don’t want to just offer a person or family to those in crisis and isolation. We long to offer a whole community that can offer consistency and compassion. We know that in the foster care world, up to half of foster families stop that work within the first year. A key reason for this is because of a lack of support while fostering kids. We want to make sure the church community is equipped and ready to support our host families.
What primary services do you offer?
We are primarily a child-hosting ministry. During a time of crisis, parents can reach out to us and find a family to host their children for a short period of time until their crisis is resolved. We have a second tier of support for families who have had their children hosted that involves mentoring and parent training. Learn more about our volunteer roles.
How long is a typical hosting?
Our average hosting is 4-6 weeks but can range anywhere from a day to a year.
How do you match families with host children?
We try to account for a number of factors such as location, ages of children, availability, and compatibility.
How do I become a host family?
First, check to see if your church is a My Village Church. If so, there will be a Ministry Lead team to check with, and they can help you begin the process. This process includes a family application, a home evaluation and home safety checklist, fingerprinting and background checks, character references, a family interview, and training.
If your church is not a My Village church, they will need to become one for you to become a host family. Learn more about what it takes to become a My Village Church.
I’m facing a crisis and I need help. What should I do?
If you are facing a crisis that is too big to handle alone, one of the most courageous things you can do is reach out for help. You can request support here.