how to host a “traveling companions”...

How to Host a “Traveling Companions” Programwww.EmbraceMinistry.org

What is Traveling Companions? Traveling Companions is a program designed to help newly licensed or “waiting” foster and adoptive families develop a support network from their existing community BEFORE children arrive in their home. This program was created by the Tapestry Ministry at Irving Bible Church in Irving, TX and adapted by Embrace. The program should be no more than two hours in length. It is helpful to provide a meal for attendees and offer child care. Asking for attendees to register may encourage their commitment to attend and help you collect a solid headcount for the meal and childcare. Ideally, there would be no cost to attend.

Who should attend? Families going through the licensing process to become foster parents or those in the waiting phase of an international, private or matched adoption should attend with no less than 3 members of their community. Ideally they would invite a few people from each of the following categories: family members, friends, coworkers, neighbors and church/small group members.

What materials/topics are presented? The content of the Traveling Companions presentation can be very flexible to meet the expressed needs of those attending. The following list of suggested topics are based on polling numerous foster/adoptive/waiting parents. Many of these suggestions came in the form of “I really wish my mother-in-law understood….” or “I know I will need support when kids come into my home, but I’m not sure how to ask…” or “My coworkers and friends have expressed concern about…”. The goal is to answer/address as many of these concerns and questions as possible in less than two hours.

• Positive adoption language• Attachment• Trust-based parenting/discipline• How the child welfare/foster care system works in your area (from removal to

placement and reunification or adoption)• The kinds of abuse and trauma children may have experienced and the effects it

has on their behavior and brain development• The urgent need for foster & adoptive parents• Statistical details about the demographics of waiting children (age, race, gender,

special needs, sibling groups)• Biblical call to care for orphans• Ways to pitch-in and support foster/adoptive parents

It may be helpful to use a projector and slides during the presentation with photos of children and graphs to help convey statistics. Avoid listing out bullet points on slides or creating an atmosphere that feels more like a lecture than an interactive program. Providing guests with a handout and pen provides them with the opportunity to take notes and jot down questions. We’ve provided a sample handout in the appendix.

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Is there a way to involve and educate children? It’s important that children already in the home, cousins and friends aren’t overlooked. We’ve included a sample children’s curriculum that can be presented to children in childcare. It is appropriate for ages 12 and up to attend the adult traveling companions program.

Example agenda for the evening:

5:45 - 6:00 check-in, seating, childcare drop-off6:05 Welcome, share purpose of evening, bless the meal6:05 - 6:20 Guests go through buffet line, begin eating6:20 - 6:50 About the need

• What is the need? (Biblical, statistical)

• Who are the children?

• How are they affected by abuse, neglect, institutionalization and trauma?

• Positive adoption language6:50 - 7:10 The need for support

• How will life change when children arrive in the home?

• How can you support foster & adoptive parents through this transition & beyond?7:10 - 7:40 Adult adoptee panel

• Were you curious about your birth family?

• Do you feel connected to your adoptive family?

• What struggles did you face that were directly related to being adopted?

• What advice do you have for foster/adoptive parents?7:40 - 8:00 Q&A with speakers and adult adoptee panel8:00 Childcare ends

How do we call participants to action? At the end of the program you may wish to challenge a family’s support partners to commit to step up and get involved. This process could be achieved by asking groups to break off and talk through ways they can surround the family with support. We’ve also attached a “commitment card” of sorts. This card is distributed to guests of the foster/adoptive family and the guests are encouraged to fill it out and share ways they hope to be of help when a new child arrives in the home. It’s also helpful to remind parents in attendance that support is not optional. That they are surrounded with people willing and able to help, and that they are allowing God to work through an entire community to care for a child when they choose to call on others to support their family.



Sample HandoutThis handout was provided to each attendee. The back of the page was lined for note taking. Each attendee was also provided with a pen.



Sample Children’s Program

Children can be guided through an interactive discussion to better understand their changing family and what adoption means. Below is a script for this kind of discussion. This script is appropriate for children ages 3-9. Older children may be encouraged to help younger children participate.

This handout can provide parents the opportunity for further discussion with their children. Encourage parents to ask their children what they learned in their class. On the next page you’ll find a sample handout used with the above script. If it seems too daunting to create a children’s curriculum, you might just read a few of the following books to the class and discuss them: Owen & Mzee by Isabella Hatkoff, Kids Need to be Safe or Families Change by Julie Nelson or A Mother for Choco by Keiko Kasza.



The script mentions pets, and the meaning of family. In this part of the discussion we shared a story from the news about a golden retriever caring for orphaned tiger cubs. We used the following images to spark a conversation about what “family” truly means, and how we can help care for others. The images of the dogs were printed in color and laminated so children can pass them around.



Sample Invitation

The following invitation was printed on card stock, postage added, and provided to foster/adoptive parents who planned to attend the Traveling Companions program with their support network. Parents were responsible for addressing and mailing them a few weeks before the event. They were also provided a PDF version for those they wished to email.



Sample Commitment Card


A Special Invitation

copyright 2009 Embrace www.EmbraceTexas.org

_________________________ are beginning the journey of a lifetime by growing their familythrough adoption! Children facing difficult transitions, and the families they become a part of,need to be surrounded by positive, encouragingindividuals willing to invest in their family. Whenthis topic was discussed in training your uniquegifts and talents came to mind immediately.

On behalf of their family, we would like to inviteyou to join their Resource Network. A Network member is someone who cares about the welfareof this growing family, makes themselves availableto serve, and will proactively seek opportunities toinvest in their children and overall well-being.

The Resource Network program is one of the manyways the Embrace Ministry provides resources andencouragement to foster and adoptive families. Formore information visit www.EmbraceTexas.org.

copyright 2009 Embrace www.EmbraceTexas.org

Getting StartedBelow are a few suggestions of ways you can serve in this family’s Resource Network. Please prayerfullyconsider if you are willing and able to join the team, then contact the family with your decision, and anyquestions you may have.

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**Due to the requirments of some child placing agencies, thos who care for foster or adoptive children may be asked to submit credentials or undergo training. The family will provide you with any of the required forms, and offer you information about training opportunities. The following items are required:

Background CheckCPR/First Aid CertificationFoster Parent Training/LicensingFBI FingerprintingAgency Caregiver Form


Sample Resource Network Image

We spent much time brainstorming how best to communicate the many ways friends and family could surround and encourage foster/adoptive families. The following image seems to sum up the idea of how a support or “Resource Network” could surround a family with a positive, caring community.



how to host a “traveling companions”...

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