Quick Facts

How does Alongside Families hosting work?

After a support line referral is received and determined to be an appropriate fit, we work quickly to match children with a Host Family (click here to see our model in action). A volunteer Family Coach monitors children in the host home and supports the parent as they stabilize their situation. Our Family Care Manager supervises volunteers to ensure safety and excellence in service.

Why Alongside Families?

• Preventative vs. Reactive: families receive help before abuse or neglect occurs
• A non-coercive, 100% voluntary way for parents to ask for help
• Increases social capital: Neighbors help neighbors, and lasting relationships form

Ages served & return home

Children ages 0-17 can be hosted. In some cases, we are able to host young adults 18-21 years old, including mothers with infants. Approximately 99% of children are reunified with their parent when hosting ends.

Length of stay

Our average child hosting lasts for 1-2 weeks, but the length of stay is based on the specific needs of each family and can range from a couple of days to several months.

Host Family screening

Host Families are thoroughly screened with background checks & fingerprinting, character references, training, a home safety evaluation, and a family interview. They are unpaid volunteers within local partner churches who want to love their neighbors and champion family preservation.

Parent dignity and choice

Parents maintain full custody, are honored as the primary decision-maker, and can request that their child return home whenever they wish. We are committed to children being back home with their parent(s) as soon as possible. We do not provide substitute parenting-- we provide supplemental care. We seek to serve like a grandma or aunt would during a difficult time. Parents visit their children weekly, and often text Host Families and have video calls with their children daily. Parents meet the prospective Host Family before their child is hosted and can decide whether they wish to move forward with the hosting.

What referrals are not a good fit for Alongside Families?

• As mandated reporters, Alongside Families always defers to child protective services if there is suspicion of abuse or neglect. In compliance with DHHS of North Carolina, Alongside Families cannot provide hosting if a parent is being investigated for abuse or neglect or if a child is in the custody of a local Department of Social Services.
• We are unable to host if a child has severe behavioral or medical concerns that cannot be safely managed in a family-like setting. Children with some concerns may be considered if an experienced Host Family is available, depending on the severity. Child exclusion criteria includes: suicidal or homicidal threats or behavior, a history of physical or sexual aggression toward other children or adults, runaway risk, serious mental health concerns not responding to medication, a medical condition that includes life-threatening episodes or requires highly skilled care, child is eligible for and receives intensive in-home services, or a child is in need of substance abuse treatment.
• We are unable to host if we are unable to obtain consent from both parents (when applicable) who have legal custody.
• If you are unsure if a family is a fit for Alongside Families, please reach out to us! We are happy to discuss with you.