CarePortal launched to assist local families

Oct. 04--A window to help local children and families was opened Wednesday.

The 196th District Court was filled during the lunch hour, as local judges, child care advocates and church officials helped launch CarePortal, an initiative designed to assist children in Greenville, Quinlan, Commerce and Royse City.

"This is an invitation to do something, a dramatic change in the life of the children," said Felicia Mason Edwards, District Administrator for Texas CPS Faith-Based Programs.

Edwards was one of several speakers during the luncheon, and spoke about how the CarePortal system can help address the needs of families in crisis and help prevent agencies from being forced to take more drastic measures.

"In order for the children to be well, we need the faith-based community to help," Edwards said. "CarePortal is one of those ways."

Under the program, CPS staff and employees can sign in to careportal.org to share a need. CarePortal then distributes the request via email to nearby churches who have signed up to serve the community.

The responding church, or depending on the case, group of churches then works with the caseworker to provide what is needed. Needs vary from basic items such as beds, clothing, school supplies, bus passes and car seats.

The requests can support children in foster or kinship care placements, while others help children remain with their biological families who are not abusers.

Kelly Reagan, pastor at The Church of River Oaks in Greenville, recalled how he began his career working as a Dallas County jailer and eventually worked his way up to a detective who dealt with child cases. Reagan worked daily with CPS as well as organizations like CASA.

Reagan said he was contacted by Cher Bench, wife of Judge Andrew Bench, to help start CarePortal in Hunt County.

"Maybe this time, we can make a difference in children's lives for the rest of their lives," Reagan said. "I see CarePortal as a way for the New Testament church to be the church."

CarePortal Regional Manager Tammy Pargoud said the program is a calling.

"This is a ministry, this is an outreach ministry," Pargoud sad, urging those in the audience to support parents and children through the program. "If we don't do anything to teach them to have a better life, they are still part of our community."

There are currently 196 children in foster care in Hunt County, according to the Department of Family and Protective Services, with approximately 150 placed in homes outside of Hunt County.

On average, 79 investigations are completed by Child Protective Services each month. Local social workers will utilize CarePortal to help keep families together or find safe placements for children.

Judge Bench, who presides over the196th Judicial District Court, along with 354th District Court Judge Keli Aiken, is called weekly to make decisions about whether to keep the children with their parents, or find new and temporary homes for them.

"That hurts me deeply," said Bench. "That's not easy. Even when it's right, it's not easy."

Bench prefers that children be allowed to stay with their families, and sometimes all it would take is to provide for some basic necessities, which he called the "but for" cases.

"But for that physical need, that child stays with their parent. That's why we're here today," Bench said.

Bench urged church leaders present during the luncheon to reach out to other churches in the community and to encourage them to join in the program.

"It means more coming from you, because they know you," he said.

Churches interested in joining the CarePortal community can start that process at careportal.org/enroll or by emailing info@careportal.org.

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