The Riverside Project

One of our goals at The Riverside Project is to mobilize Houston to empower families and transform generations. To this end, we offer resources that build awareness and empower individuals, churches, and organizations to take action. Here are just a few resources we offer: ▶️ The Riverside Project Podcast Each month we bring guests from around Houston and beyond to have conversations to provide a greater understanding of the issues facing our community. ▶️ The Riverside Project Blog We offer practical resources to help you in your journey from finding your place along The River, to becoming a foster parent, and inspirational ways others have made a difference. ▶️ Resources & Training Foster care is not an isolated problem. There are so many systemic issues that affect children and families. As such, we provide resources and training so that together we can begin to build a better future for every family in our community. These resources include guides for prospective foster families, training for churches, a directory of resources in each county, and much more. ▶️ Community Support We cannot do this alone. Regardless of your role, each of us needs support, encouragement, and assistance. That's why we have compiled resources in Houston to help meet physical and medical needs specifically tailored for children in foster care. We also have educational support including foster care liaisons and educational nonprofits that will help children in foster care meet their educational goals. ▶️ As One: The Documentary It is only when we work together AS ONE that we can see children heal and families thrive. On any given day, thousands of Houston's children are in foster care. This documentary shares inspirational stories of what happens when organizations, churches, and individuals collaborate to meet these needs. Access all of these resources at riversideproject.org. Together, we can transform the foster care system in Houston and build a strong community together!

"Everyone can do something" is a phrase we often use, and this quote from Gaelin encompasses the concept well! You'll hear this and more powerful insights from Gaelin in Episode 28, The Extraordinary Power of Belonging. Gaelin Elmore is a dynamic and nationally sought-after keynote speaker, trainer, and thought leader. Motivated by his own traumatic childhood and lack of belonging after over 10 years in the foster care system, he now works with organizations and people to become “belonging-informed” in order to help children overcome trauma and unleash their potential. Listen to this past episode and others wherever you get your podcasts, or listen via the link in our bio! 🎧

Únase a nosotros para un desayuno especial dedicado a nuestros líderes y voluntarios. Este evento es una oportunidad para agradecerles por su arduo trabajo y dedicación a las familias vulnerables de nuestra ciudad, así como para fortalecer nuestra comunidad y compartir ideas sobre futuros proyectos. Durante el desayuno, disfrutaremos de una deliciosa selección de alimentos mientras nos animamos e inspiramos con nuestras experiencias y visiones. Además, habrá tiempo para la interacción y el intercambio de ideas entre todos los asistentes. Regístrate aquí: https://lnkd.in/dX2-CsEE _________________________ We're inviting our Hispanic churches to a special breakfast dedicated to our leader and volunteers on August 31st! This event is an opportunity to thank them for their hard work and dedication to the vulnerable families in our city, as well as to strengthen our community and share ideas about future projects. Learn more, register, or share the information with your Hispanic church leaders here: https://lnkd.in/dX2-CsEE

Here at The Riverside Project, we are passionate about bringing people together AS ONE to see families heal and children thrive. This map showcases the value of collaboration, and represents real stories where we were able to work with various organizations and individuals to meet practical needs, protect the vulnerable, and support families in crisis. Imagine if this were a complete map of every person, church, organization, agency worker, and more working together to transform Houston. The results would be incredible! Where would you see yourself? 💙 Want to hear the stories represented here? Watch our full As One Documentary: https://lnkd.in/dZErVzAa #fostercare #houstontx #houston

We are honored to work with so many church leaders in and around the city of Houston. Our goal is to support, mobilize, and collaborate with church leaders to serve your vulnerable neighbors and make Houston a place where families heal and children thrive. Would you like to join other like-minded church leaders and collaborate to maximize and sustain your impact? Learn more: https://lnkd.in/g2k7qfrt

This will add a smile to your day! 🍋 Thank you to Trinity Classical School for their generosity! They had a summer assignment to set up a stand and raise funds that can make a difference. They chose to set up a stand with drinks and cookies on the Heights Bike Trail and raised $300 to support our work at The Riverside Project! What a great reminder that EVERYONE can do SOMETHING! Will you join us in giving these kids a high five below?! ✋

It's true that there is a lot of need and there is work to be done. But instead of focusing on the doing, consider the impact of first taking time for thoughtful consideration that will lead to strategic, organized action. Summer is a great time to pause and consider before launching new ministries or spearheading new initiatives around the foster care community. We would love to help you on this journey. Get in touch through our website and let's talk about how we can help your church get started! Keep learning: https://lnkd.in/dPcEPfMh

Entering into the foster care space will come with unique challenges however, there is a meaningful opportunity for families to help make a difference by becoming foster parents. While there is a lot to consider before deciding to take this step, we want to help provide guidance as you consider this opportunity. Today on the blog, read "20 Questions to Consider When Choosing a Foster Care Agency" ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/g4zcSM2j #fostercare #fostercareawareness #fostercareagency

Our TBRI® Summer Training is full! We are thrilled and grateful that so many in the Houston community have a desire to be equipped with vital knowledge. Trust-Based Relational Intervention, or TBRI®, is an attachment-based, trauma-informed intervention designed to meet the complex needs of children who have experienced adversity, early harm, toxic stress, and/or trauma. Studies have found that TBRI® decreases serious incident reports by 39% and containments by 60% in group home settings. TBRI® provides practical tools to see the “whole child” and helps them benefit from a nurturing, trusting relationship with a safe adult. If you missed out on our summer training, be sure sign up for Fall training dates! Register here: https://lnkd.in/g_tQvtKk Thank you to everyone who signed up for our summer training. Together, we are making a difference for children and families in and around Houston!

Response Network Celebration Story! ⤵️ Through our Response Network, The Riverside Project connected with a local agency who supports biological families. This particular family was in need of several items, including a refrigerator, to help furnish the home and make it a safe, comfortable place for their children. Within a few days of receiving the request, a generous donor reached out to The Riverside Project to donate a refrigerator and delivered it directly to the family. We were also able to partner with Lakewood Church Relief & Outreach to provide other essential items. The family was so grateful for this tangible support and said “Honestly, these things have made us feel so normal again, especially the kids. I truly thank you.” Working together to serve families is always worth it, let’s keep doing this together!