Who we are
Families Together is a professionally supported, church-powered movement that surrounds parents and children with a caring community.
Families Together is a partnership between Christian Heritage and local churches to provide temporary in-home care to vulnerable children. By connecting families to trained Host Homes and a caring community, we can help reduce the number of children entering foster care. This will keep families together.
Are you or someone you know looking for support? Contact us at 402-937-0450 or familiestogether@chne.org.
Who we seek to support
Parents facing a medical procedure or emergency.
Parents seeking short-term mental health support.
A mother preparing to have another baby.
Parents checking in to a drug/alcohol treatment center.
Families experiencing homelessness.
Parents facing a short-term jail sentence.
Carly was addicted, homeless, and living out of a car with her 5 year old son. She knew she couldn’t keep living this way. She needed help and a safe place for her son, but had no support system.
Carly learned about Families Together. She met a Lincoln couple with three young children who were willing to care for her son while she went to treatment and received the help she needed. Carly found temporary shelter for her son and much more: her first apartment, a full-time job, and steady support from a family who continue to be there long after treatment ended. Families Together helped keep Carly’s family together.
Looking for support?
Contact us at 402-937-0450 or familiestogether@chne.org.
How you can be involved
Families Together is more than a program. It’s community-based discipleship in action. As we partner together, we give families in crisis a glimpse of God’s love through our hospitality. This unconditional compassion opens the door for them to experience our church’s community.
The people in our church play an essential part in making this happen. There are many ways to serve. Each role will receive training and ongoing support from Christian Heritage:
Point Person: The person (or multiple people) who oversees and organizes Families Together in our church. You will connect the Care Community to the needs of the child and Host Homes.
Host Home: The individual, couple, or family who provides short-term care for a child in their home. You will provide safe, loving hospitality to vulnerable children.
Parent Advocate: The person who provides support to the parent(s) as they pursue their goals and prepare for their child to return home. You will be a cheerleader ready to encourage every step of the way.
Care Community: The network that provides a Host Home with the everyday things that help a child flourish. This may involve meeting tangible needs like clothing, diapers, and meals. It could mean providing transportation, occasional babysitting, or tutoring. The Care Community may also include relatives or friends of a Host Home who are not a part of our church. You will be like an extended family to the Host Home.
Ready to get involved? Want to find out more? Contact Melissa at 308-530-0324 or Shelly at 308-530-8489, or reach out to Families Together at 402-937-0450 or familiestogether@chne.org.
FAQ's
Are the parents losing custody of their children? Is this foster care?
Not at all! This is a voluntary process designed to support the family. The state foster care system is not involved. The parent can choose to end hosting at any time.
Is this a state run program?
No. This is a partnership between Christian Heritage and local churches across Nebraska to help support families in need.
Who are the people involved?
Christian Heritage has a Families Together team that gives leadership to this program. Everyone else is a volunteer who’s trained to help families and children flourish.
Will the parent(s) get to see their child?
Absolutely! We encourage the parent and Host Home to schedule what we call “Family Time.” Each family will have unique circumstances that influences how often they will be able to see their kids.
How long does hosting a child usually last?
Hosting may be for a couple of days or a few months depending on the parent’s situation. It’s designed to be temporary. But the relationships made in Families Together will last a lifetime.
How can I get support, get involved, or find out more?
Contact us at 402-937-0450 or familiestogether@chne.org.