Frequently Asked Questions

Foster Care questions

What is foster care and who needs it?

Foster care is temporary out-of-home care for children. Children who cannot be adequately cared for in their homes due to abuse, neglect or abandonment need foster care.

What is a foster parent?

A foster parent receives a license to provide nurturing care, shelter, and the basic necessities of a child who cannot safely be cared for in their own home.

How do children come into foster care?

Child and Family Services (CFS) investigates reports of suspected child abuse and neglect and removes children from threatening situations.

Who decides that a child needs foster care?

A juvenile court judge decides if a child needs to be placed or remain in foster care.

What is the goal of foster care?

The goal of foster care is to reunite a child with their biological family, whenever possible. A judge is the one that makes that determination as to when, or if, it is safe for a child to return home to their birth family.

Is there a need for foster parents?

Yes! There is an ongoing shortage of available families in every community. Many areas of Montana are in crisis, with very few families available to meet the local need.

Who can become a foster parent?

Every foster family looks different! Foster parents can be established families, young married couples, empty-nesters, singles or grandparents.

What is required to become a foster parent?

For Montana’s state specific foster licensing requirements, please see this link:

https://dphhs.mt.gov/cfsd/fosterparent

How can I learn more about the call to foster care as a Christian?

The book Reframing Foster Care by Jason Johnson is an excellent resource that we highly recommend in the early stages of your foster care journey.

What type of parenting frameworks should I know about?

Trust-Based Relational Intervention® and the work of Dr. Karyn Purvis is the primary framework we use at Child Bridge to equip parents with tools to parent children who come from hard places. This methodology focuses on helping children heal through relationship with a trusted caregiver. The Connected Child book is an excellent starting place to learn how to connect with a child who has experienced trauma.

Are the children in foster care ever able to be adopted?

Yes. If a child’s birth parents’ parental rights are terminated by a judge, it means that the child will never be able to return to the care of their original family. In these kinds of situations, the child can be adopted. A child must be fostered for a minimum of six months by the prospective adoptive family prior to moving forward with the legal process to file for adoption.

How much does it cost to adopt from foster care?

Most adoptions from US foster care are free. The minimal costs that can be associated with them are often reimbursable. With this in mind, we have to note that foster care is not simply a cheaper route to adoption! See the question above about the goal of foster care or meet with one of our team members to learn more.

What are the general requirements for fostering?

You do not need to own your own home, be wealthy, have children already, have a college degree, or be a stay-at-home parent to foster or adopt. However, you do need to demonstrate that you can support yourself without any additional income. When a child is in foster care, she will qualify for Medicaid, which will cover medical needs and checkups.

Giving Questions

Is my donation tax deductible?

Child Bridge Inc is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. Your donation is tax-deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law. To claim a donation as a deduction on your U.S. taxes, please keep the donation receipt(s) or annual tax statement for your records.

Will I receive a receipt or tax statement for my gift(s)?

For electronic gifts, a receipt is sent to the email address provided during checkout. For cash or check gifts, a receipt is mailed to the address on your account. In late January, an annual tax statement that summarizes all gifts is mailed to the address on your account listing all gifts for the prior calendar year.

Can I donate monthly?

Absolutely! Select the "monthly" option and preferred amount. The provided account will be charged each month on the same date until you instruct otherwise.

I would like to mail in a gift, where should I send it?

Thank you! Our mailing address is: P.O. Box 310 Bigfork, MT 59911

Can I make a gift to Child Bridge through my Donor-Advised Fund?

Yes! Request a grant distribution through your DAF sponsor. You can also designate Child Bridge as a beneficiary for your donor-advised fund. Our nonprofit tax id # is 27-3382066. Our mailing address is P.O. Box 310, Bigfork, MT 59911.

Can Child Bridge accept Stock gifts?

Yes! Our brokerage account is: DTC Number 0361, Account Number 59990463

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Can I make an endowment gift to Child Bridge?

Yes! You may be eligible to receive a 40% Montana Endowment Tax Credit for contributions up to $25,000 per individual. To learn more, contact donations@childbridgemontana.org. Or, if you would like to reach out directly to a Community Foundation, contact Lauren Wright with the Billings Community Foundation at 406-839-3334; Mitch Carroll with the Montana Community Foundation at 406-443-8313; or Daria Perez with the Whitefish Community Foundation at 406-863-1781.

Can I leave Child Bridge a gift in my will?

Absolutely! When you make a legacy gift, you’ll continue to make an impact in the lives of children who have suffered so much even after you’re gone. Your vision and generosity demonstrates your commitment to the Child Bridge vision of “a family for every child.” Your gift deepens your commitment to improving the lives of children who have suffered abuse or neglect, now and in the future. Email donations@childbridgemontana.org to learn more.

How can I access Child Bridge's 990 reports?

To request a copy of our recent 990 reports, please email donations@childbridgemontana.org.

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Is my information secure?

Yes! Credit card and bank account numbers are NEVER available to Child Bridge or Classy. The data is encrypted using industry-standard SSL technology to protect your information and provide a safe and secure environment for online giving.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Foster Care questions

Services questions

Giving Questions