Resources
Sometimes the best help is another organization.
OCC can offer ideas, but it should not pretend to be the expert in everything. The orphan-care community already contains experienced organizations, networks and specialists that can help with specific challenges.
We will continue adding and improving these resources as practitioners help us identify what is genuinely useful.
Orphan care and family-based care
Trusted places to begin
Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO)
A broad Christian network with resources for church ministry leaders, nonprofit leaders, child-welfare professionals and global leaders.
Best place to start when: you want Christian orphan-care training, peer learning, research, church resources or connections across the field.
Faith to Action Initiative
Faith to Action helps churches, organizations and individuals understand family care, family strengthening and alternatives to orphanage-based care.
Best place to start when: you are exploring family strengthening, permanency, kinship or foster care, transition away from institutional care, or wise church support.
Better Care Network
A global knowledge platform focused on children without adequate family care, family strengthening and care reform.
Best place to start when: you need research, policy, guidance or international evidence related to alternative care and care reform.
Changing the Way We Care
An international initiative focused on strengthening families and systems so children can grow up in safe and nurturing families.
Best place to start when: your organization or country is working on care reform, family strengthening, reintegration, systems change or transition away from residential models.
Family for Every Child
A global alliance of locally rooted organizations working to ensure children grow up in safe and caring families.
Best place to start when: you want locally led experience, family-strengthening practice, child-protection learning or peer perspectives from around the world.
Social work and local care systems
Global Social Service Workforce Alliance
A global network focused on strengthening the social service workforce.
Best place to start when: you need to strengthen social workers, case workers, supervisors, paraprofessionals or the broader child-protection workforce.
Ministry stewardship and governance
ECFA
ECFA provides standards and practical resources for Christ-centered churches and nonprofits.
Best place to start when: your ministry needs stronger governance, financial accountability or stewardship practices.
Nonprofit technology
TechSoup
TechSoup helps nonprofits access technology, digital tools, technical support and training.
Best place to start when: technology is getting in the way of your ministry or you need affordable nonprofit technology and implementation support.
A growing collection
More help is coming
We expect this page to grow around real ministry needs, from safeguarding and family strengthening to governance, technology, communications and church partnerships.
Know a resource we should include?
If you know an organization, tool, training program or resource that has genuinely helped ministries care for children and families better, please tell us.
Need help finding the right resource?
Start a conversation
We may not know the answer, but we will try to help you find someone who does.
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Find the most relevant next step for your question, idea or ministry context.