We are looking for imperfect parents. Individuals who know they don’t have it altogether and still want to give what they have. Because being a foster parent isn’t about having a perfect home. It’s about having a welcoming home. A place where kids feel safe enough to let their guard down and start to heal. Being a foster parent isn’t about having a perfect heart either. It’s about having a willing-to-learn heart. Willing to explore and try trauma-effective strategies to best

Encourage is excited to announce that our prep courses to become a licensed foster family is now 24 hours. Due to House Bill 8, the Ohio legislature has reduced the training requirements for foster caregivers from 36 hours to 24 hours effective January 22, 2021. Here is a summary quote from The Ohio Children’s Alliance, “Passage of HB 8 will equip Ohio’s child welfare system to onboard foster parents quicker and utilize virtual training opportunities. This is especially impor

Join us in celebrating National Social Work Month: Social Workers are Essential and honoring our social workers at Encourage and our family of ministries. Every single day, social workers make invaluable contributions in our communities—even more so this past year as our nation has faced the coronavirus pandemic. A social worker’s training gives them the ability to meet people where they are, build trust and find solutions together. They see each child, adult and family as va

With strong leadership in trauma-informed care and a diverse clinical team, Encourage is well positioned to care for the complex needs of youth in foster care. We are part of a trio of ministries with Encompass Christian Counseling and Christian Children’s Home of Ohio. Our nonprofit organization has been addressing the social and emotional needs of children and families for more than 50 years. Encompass Christian Counseling offers outpatient mental health counseling through