Child Bridge

Recruiting foster/adoptive families. As of december 2022, there were nearly 2,600 children in Montana's Child welfare system. They have been removed from their biological homes due to abuse or neglect. Child Bridge recruits families from local faith communities to care for these children, whether their need is temporary (foster care) or permanent (adoption). Child Bridge is not a licensing or placement agency. However, in 2022, Child Bridge introduced 83 families to the state, or another approved entity, for those families to begin the licensing process, supporting them along the way. Child Bridge is the top recruiter of foster families in Montana. In 2022, Child Bridge families cared for more than 800 children in foster care.

Child Bridge supports families every step of their foster/adoptive journey. All of Child Bridge's work is rooted in trauma-informed care. That is, helping caregivers understand how trauma (like abuse and neglect) affects a Child's body, brain, and behaviors. Child Bridge equips caregivers with a parenting skill set that allows them to navigate and manage the behaviors that manifest from past trauma. In 2022, Child Bridge offered formal monthly education/training programs, small group book studies, conferences, workshops, retreats, and more. Across the state, there were 2,718 instances of adult caregivers who participated in trauma-informed education programs and family supports in 2022.