Finally Home: The Survival Skills for Healthy Christian Foster, Adoptive, and Kinship Families

 Purpose

Since 2008, Finally Home has been equipping foster, adoptive, and kinship families to build healthy homes where kids can heal. The Survival Skills for Healthy Christian Foster, Adoptive, and Kinship Families curriculum is one of the several family-strengthening programs Finally Home offers. This curriculum is designed to provide parents in a small group setting a guided conversation focused on the habits and skills found in healthy families.

 Pricing Overview (subject to change)

Startup costs for a facilitator: $50*

Cost for 10 participants: No additional cost unless you purchase the optional workbook ($5 download per participant) or printed and shipped workbooks ($10 each).

 Perspective

The inception of Finally Home was a result of the co-founders’ feelings of isolation and rejection by the church during their own foster care and adoption journey. Mark and Kristin Orphan discovered that, although church-goers had good intentions to support the foster care and adoption community, they were ill-equipped. Their programs are a result of their desire for the church to be the most supportive and accepting place for foster care, adoption, and or kinship families.

 Structure

There are three highly interactive topical series available intended for groups of 12-15 people:

1. Map for Healthy Families: Foundational principles of the building blocks of family (includes bonus video)

2. Parents as Leaders: How to establish and follow through on effective family rules

3. Parents as Models: Key elements of connection between parent and child

Each series consists of four 1-hour sessions (12 weeks total for all 3), which include:

• A short instructional video (5-7 minutes),

• A scripted leader guide with suggested times allotted for activities and questions,

• A participant handout for each week, and 

• Additional worksheets available in the optional participant workbook. 

While the material was created for face-to-face instruction, leaders are welcome to consider offering the course virtually.

 Best For

This curriculum is appropriate for churches or faith-based nonprofits of any size to be implemented in small groups or classes. Although the content was created for foster, adoptive, and kinship parents (both singles and couples), the curriculum is appropriate and helpful for any parent. 

Finally Home also offers programs for children and youth - Superhero Academy and Solid Rock Students.

 Evidence That It Works

As of 2024, a conservative estimate of 1,500 families have been impacted by this curriculum. Of those, over 90% of participants surveyed report improvement in at least one of the key learning outcomes. 

 Cost and Resources

Each topic includes leader guides, handouts, and videos for four sessions. Leaders need access to a computer or smart device and the internet to log into the leader dashboard and retrieve the video lesson links. They will also need either a smart TV or a projector and audio for streaming the videos.

While there is no specific training required for leaders, the best group leaders are those who have parenting experience similar to the families in the group. For in-person groups, the recommended leader/student ratio is 1:10; for virtual groups, 1:8.

 How to order:

https://finallyhome.net/shop/

 What We Love

True Charity believes that healthy relationships are vital to both avoiding and escaping material poverty. We love the desire of Finally Home to strengthen natural family ties when possible and equip the church to fulfill the role of foster, adopt, and kinship families when necessary. We also love that this was initiated by compassionate parents with first-hand experience with a desire to minister to others with similar challenges.

 Considerations

Survival Skills for Healthy Christian Foster, Adoptive, and Kinship Families Curriculum is just one of a variety of resources for the entire family. We encourage organizations considering offering this course for parents to also consider offering the programs available for children and youth.

Links Reviewed 6/24/24

*Prices Subject to Change