WRAP Coordinator Spotlight
Nearly 50% of foster parents stop fostering within the first year due to a lack of community support. Faith communities play a vital role in changing this outcome through the practical care and encouragement of WRAP ministries. WRAP Teams walk alongside foster and kinship families to provide practical, hands-on support. Committed, caring groups of volunteers provide tangible and intangible support, allowing homes to stay open stronger and longer. This helps minimize further trauma by creating safe, stable environments for kids to heal and grow.
In addition to the benefits felt by foster families, WRAP Coordinators and volunteers share that serving in this way is meaningful and rewarding…. though it can be intimidating at first!
When Maria first joined a WRAP team, she wasn’t sure what to expect.
“I stepped out of my comfort zone and just started serving in whatever ways were needed—big or small,” she recalls. “I’ve learned to listen more closely, to show up even when I’m not sure what to say, and to recognize that sometimes the most meaningful support is simply being present, offering a prayer, or just sitting with someone.”
Maria’s team supports a foster/adoptive family in simple but powerful ways:
- Cooking freezer meals for busy weeks
- Babysitting so mom and dad can enjoy a date night
- Offering steady prayer through a challenging adoption process
“Faithfulness in the small things really matters,” she says. “You don’t have to have all the answers or do anything extraordinary. Just being willing to show up, listen, and care makes a bigger impact than you might expect. Families walking through foster care and adoption often carry a lot, and your consistent presence can be a real lifeline.”
Maria and her team also use the free Promise Serves software.
“It’s helped us stay organized and all on the same page,” she shares. “The calendar feature is so helpful, and the training videos and resources make it easy to educate ourselves and others. I’d absolutely recommend it to other WRAP ministry leaders.”
For Maria, serving in a WRAP team has been about more than checking tasks off a list—it’s about showing love and being part of a community that stands behind foster families.
Her encouragement to anyone considering getting involved?
“Go for it—even if it feels a little intimidating at first. Your willingness to be there consistently matters more than you know.”
Learn More About WRAP
If families in your faith community commit to the critical work of foster care, we recommend building a network of support for their journey. WRAP team members walk alongside the messy, beautiful work of foster parents providing support to ease stress and reduce burnout. The responsibilities of each WRAP team member can be specialized to their unique passions and skills.
