TL;DR: ConnectCare is a voluntary, short-term foster care program from Christian Family Services that helps St. Louis families stay together during a crisis. Parents ask for help directly, keep full legal custody, and skip the court system. Licensed Care Families give young children, usually birth to age 5—loving care for about 2 to 4 weeks while parents get back on their feet. The goal is always reunification, with wraparound support for parents and foster families alike.
When most people hear the words foster care St. Louis, they think of courtrooms, long placements, and children entering the state system. Christian Family Services offers something different through ConnectCare, a model centered on compassionate family support.
ConnectCare is a voluntary, short-term, prevention-focused foster care program in St. Louis from Christian Family Services designed to help families through a crisis without breaking them apart for the long term. Instead of stepping in after a family has entered the court system, ConnectCare provides earlier family support that helps protect children and strengthen parents. The goal is simple: keep children safe, help parents stabilize, and reunite families as quickly as possible.
For prospective foster families and community members, this model offers a clear and compassionate way to serve children and parents during some of the hardest moments of their lives.
What Is ConnectCare?
ConnectCare is a program of Christian Family Services that provides temporary care for young children while their parents work through a crisis. This unique foster care St. Louis model offers compassionate family support during seasons of housing loss, medical needs, emotional distress, financial hardship, or other urgent challenges that make it difficult for a parent to provide safe care for a short period of time. In ConnectCare, parents reach out directly for help. The program is voluntary, which means parents are choosing support for their family. They do not lose their parental rights. They do not give up legal custody. And they can request their child’s return. That alone makes ConnectCare very different from what many people expect from foster care.How ConnectCare Differs From Traditional Foster Care
Traditional foster care in St. Louis families may know often begins after a report, an investigation, or court involvement. ConnectCare, a program of Christian Family Services, is built around prevention and compassionate family support. Here are some of the biggest differences:- It is voluntary. Parents ask for help directly.
- There is no court involvement. Families do not enter a legal process just to receive short-term support.
- Parents retain legal custody. The goal is support, not separation.
- Placements are short-term. Most stays last about 2 to 4 weeks, or around one month.
- The focus is reunification. The program is built to help children return home as soon as possible.
- Children are typically ages birth to 5. This allows Care Families to provide focused, age-specific care during a critical stage of development.
Why Prevention Matters
A family in crisis does not always need the state to step in. Sometimes they need family support and a safe place for their child for a few weeks while they secure housing, recover from a health issue, manage a hospital stay, or work through a serious life disruption. That is one reason Christian Family Services offers a different approach to foster care St. Louis families can turn to in times of need. That is where ConnectCare meets a real need. By offering temporary, loving care at the right moment, Christian Family Services helps prevent deeper instability. Children receive safety and consistency. Parents receive breathing room and support. Families have a better chance of staying together. This prevention-focused approach reflects a strong belief: families need support, not just intervention.The Role of Care Families
Care Families are at the heart of ConnectCare, the unique foster care St. Louis model offered by Christian Family Services. These licensed foster families in Missouri open their homes to children for a short time and provide steady, loving care while parents receive the family support they need to move toward stability. They are not stepping in to replace a child’s family. They are stepping in to support it. Care Families serve young children, usually from birth through age 5, and provide a safe and nurturing environment during placement. Because ConnectCare is reunification-focused, Care Families understand from the start that the goal is for the child to return home. That makes this role both practical and deeply meaningful. For many families, it is a manageable way to serve. The timeline is shorter. The purpose is clear. And the impact can be life-changing. For those interested in serving this way, the ConnectCare and foster care pages on the Christian Family Services website offer a helpful place to learn more about becoming a Care Family.Support for Parents and Foster Families
ConnectCare is not simply a placement program. It is a support model. While a child is in care, Christian Family Services works closely with the parent to provide family support by connecting them with resources and helping them move toward stability. In this unique foster care St. Louis model, which may include advocacy, practical support, and guidance through the next steps they need to take. At the same time, Care Families are not left on their own. Christian Family Services provides wraparound support through training, licensing guidance, and ongoing communication during placements. The goal is to equip foster families well and walk with them through the process. This shared support matters. It helps parents feel seen and helped, and it gives Care Families the confidence to serve with clarity and compassion.What the Process Looks Like
The process begins when a parent contacts Christian Family Services during a crisis. A social worker assesses the situation and determines whether a Care Family is available. If the placement is appropriate, the child is placed in a licensed home for temporary care. During that time, Christian Family Services stays engaged with the parent, helping them access resources and work toward stability. Once the crisis has eased, the child returns home. For prospective foster parents, the path begins with interest, application steps, background checks, home study requirements, training, and licensing. After that, families may be added to the call list for short-term placements. Care Families also have the right to decline a placement if the timing is not right for their household.A Model Built on Compassion
ConnectCare stands out because Christian Family Services has created a foster care St. Louis model that responds to crisis with dignity, structure, and hope. It protects children, respects parents, and gives foster families a clear way to provide meaningful family support. For community members, it is a reminder that foster care can look different than many assume. For prospective foster families, it may be an invitation to consider a short-term, prevention-focused model that makes a lasting difference. To learn more about how ConnectCare works, visit the ConnectCare page on the Christian Family Services website. Those interested in serving can also explore the foster family information and contact the team to take the next step.Frequently Asked Questions
Can the ConnectCare Family adopt the child?
The goal of ConnectCare is to reunite children with their parents. Our hope is that their home will be more healthy and stable than before the child came into care. Regardless, we make it clear that under no circumstances will parents lose custody of their child while in ConnectCare. This means the children we serve in our ConnectCare program are not available for adoption.
How long does a child usually stay with a Care Family?
The average length of stay for a child is about 2-4 weeks. There are times when placements may need to be extended, but priority is given to the Care Family. An extension would only be allowed if it was in the best interest of both the Care Family and the child.
What ages of children does the ConnectCare program serve?
ConnectCare generally serves children ages birth through 5 years of age.
What type of situations do the children come from?
The children come from families in the midst of a wide range of crises. It could be the parent is struggling with unemployment or homelessness, emotional distress or financial difficulties. There are times when a parent is suffering from poor physical health and need time to heal and gain strength. No matter the circumstance surrounding the crisis, the child(ren) involved need stability, safety, and love. Acceptance of the child into the ConnectCare program is based on the availability of a Care Family when placement is being requested.
What type of contact will the Care Family have with the biological parent?
We encourage contact between the parent and the Care Family. The biological parent maintains full custody at all times and therefore we feel it is important to encourage the parent to stay connected to their child through visits or phone calls. However, even if contact between the biological parent and the Care Family is minimal, the parent is required to check in with his/her CFS social worker at least twice a week.