What Makes Jonah’s Journey Unique
At Palmer Home for Children, we’re reimagining and redesigning our approach to foster care through Jonah’s Journey.
Whether placed in foster care through a state agency or a private care provider, children in foster care often come from difficult places. They need a stable environment and loving home where they can begin to experience healing and restoration.
Through the ministry of Jonah’s Journey, Palmer Home has expanded its services to reach even more children in need. Jonah’s Journey is a privately operated foster care network that places children in single-family homes. This service allows us to rescue and restore many more vulnerable children. Many families are curious as to what makes Jonah’s Journey different from state run agencies – in fact, it remains one of the most asked questions to date.
The Compensation Package
One significant difference is that foster parents (caregivers) through Jonah’s journey do not receive monetary compensation. These families take in a child, or children, because they believe all children deserve safety, family, love, and an opportunity. Their actions are a response to God’s commands to care for “the least of these” and they share His heart for these young ones in need.
While there are many selfless individuals serving children in the state foster care system with likeminded views, there are also exceptions. Unfortunately, some are apathetic toward the children they take in and approach foster care from a financial perspective. The absence of funding from the government makes Jonah’s Journey different and allows us to eliminate many of the risks associated with monetary compensation.
The Support and Community
Both Palmer Home and Jonah’s Journey caregivers are trained through Palmer Home’s Whole Child Initiative. Through this training, our caregivers learn how to care for not only the physical needs, but also the educational, emotional, and spiritual components of every child in their care. Much of the training is conveniently offered online with in-person reviews to supplement and aid learning.
Jonah’s Journey caregivers are also instantly connected to a family of other caregivers through the Palmer Home and Jonah’s Journey communities. In addition, Whole Child Initiative’s website boasts a forum and internal communication tools for caregivers. Resources and information are never lacking for those who seek support and advice.
As a community, we strive daily to restore the lives of the 100+ children currently in our care by providing a loving and stable environment in which they may heal. Simply put, we believe this number is not enough – there are countless children in need of a safe place to call home, and we are committed to working relentlessly to rescue each and every one of them. As our waiting list continues to grow, we need the help of passionate individuals like you who can be the answer the next child needs. Alone, we can never serve all the children in need; together, however, we can Make Lives Whole for so many more.
