How did Foster Family Connect start? 

Northwoods Retreat Center (a ministry of Silver Birch Ranch) was looking for ways to expand the use of its property.  With eight individual cabins, NRC is a perfect place for families to experience a restful retreat from home.  Providing foster family retreats seemed like a likely extension of this ministry. Silver Birch Ranch has over 50 years of experience in youth and family ministries and developing Biblical educational programs (Nicolet Bible Institute and Relate365) under its ministry platform.  SBR has the needed non-profit status, offices, and personnel to start a new ministry like FFC.  SBR's youth/family camping and horse programs make it ideal for serving foster kids and their families.  The best aspects from all these ministries were combined to form Foster Family Connect to help the foster care community. 

How did Family Connect start?

Due to the addition of CarePortal, FFC divided the state into 5 regions and established directors in each region. The directors have been trained and will focus on establishing connections between county social services, non-profits, donors, and churches during 2024. FFC will continue to serve the foster community, but we also see that families at risk of losing their children need churches to mentor them through a faith journey so that the biological family can stay intact, preventing the need for foster care. This report refers to “families” as both foster families and families at risk of losing their kids.

Are my donations "Tax Deductible"?

Yes, Silver Birch Ranch is a 501.c.3 non-profit, licensed as a non-profit by the state of Wisconsin, and is audited yearly by an outside CPA firm hired by the Board of Directors.  Your donations are used wisely to advance the FFC ministry.  

How are you funded?

We are funded by donations from individuals, businesses, foundations, and organizations that want to support the foster programs in Wisconsin.  We also ask (but do not require) participating churches to add FFC to their local mission’s budgets to help support the FFC programs.  Churches supply volunteers to serve foster families, and Silver Birch Ranch provides the business infrastructure to the office and operates FFC.  There may also be special fees for youth camps and retreats when those occasions arise.  

 
Who supplies the leadership for FC & FFC? 

FFC is under the direction of Silver Birch Ranch's Board of Directors, President Dave Wager, and the Directors (management team) of Silver Birch Ranch.  Mike Jewell (VP-Business Director) is the primary contact for Foster Family Connect.  Northwoods Retreat Center is a ministry of Silver Birch Ranch and reports to Silver Birch Ranch's Directors.

What is your most significant need right now? 

FFC needs donations to hire the team required of people to write additional curricula, train churches, and coordinate with each county's advocates and social services.  Currently, Silver Birch Ranch is financing the start-up of Foster Family Connect.  

How does FFC work? 

Churches appoint an "Advocate" who organizes volunteer communities to serve the foster families in their congregation or local community.  Through the development of volunteer communities, the Advocate coordinates other church volunteers to supply items needed by the foster family, such as meals, babysitting, respite care, youth programs, and any other ideas that will serve the foster family. Foster children are given the opportunity to attend a summer youth camp at no cost to them. Northwoods Retreat Center provides respite weekends for foster parents and Biblical behavioral training for foster parents and churches.  The purpose is to support the foster family in any way we can to reduce the stress they experience.  

Each county has a County Coordinator who connects the dots between the County Social Services departments, events at Silver Birch Ranch or Northwoods Retreat Center, churches, advocates, and volunteers.  

How does Social Services fit in? 

The State of Wisconsin is responsible for the foster child and oversees all foster programs.  Where Social Services rules apply, FFC and partner churches will follow them.  We work together with the foster parent, Social Services, and the church (via the Advocate) to ensure the child is safe, and all requirements are met. FFC’s and the church's purpose is to serve the foster parent and the social services system through a spirit of grace, however, we can. FFC is privately funded and does not accept government funding for its programs or services.