WARSAW— A new program that provides foster parent training and support is coming to Warsaw courtesy of Pleasant View Bible Church.

Kosciusko County residents considering foster or adoptive parenting are invited to an informational meeting about the new arrangement at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 25, at Pleasant View Bible Church, 2782 W. CR 200N (west of Fox Farm Road).

Indiana Department of Child Services staff will be on hand to answer questions and distribute applications. Childcare will be provided, said a news release from Pleasant View Bible Church.

Until now, foster candidate families have had to travel to South Bend to complete the multiple steps in the training and approval process. Monday’s gathering is the kickoff for a program that will launch in February 2020, offering the option of navigating the process locally.

The meeting is open to anyone from the county with an interest in fostering. Those attending will have a say in scheduling upcoming training sessions so they work with families’ schedules.

The local effort was spearheaded by seven churches from the community, with each congregation agreeing to shoulder some portion of the task.

“There’s a growing coalition of churches in our county that are wanting to work together for the sake of orphans and foster families in our county. Whatever little differences there may be among us, we all agree that Jesus loves kids,” said Jason Alley, worship and children’s pastor at Pleasant View Bible Church. “We’re just getting organized, but our churches, as a part of that, will be taking responsibility for growing foster family care in our community.”

Pleasant View has committed to host all the training sessions and to provide childcare and food for those attending them. Other congregations are arranging a support network, so foster families will have ready access to the resources they need. One example: volunteer handymen who can help families equip their homes for compliance with the foster program’s safety requirements.

The first foster training will occur in four sessions over four consecutive weeks. It is expected to begin in mid-February. For each session, childcare will be provided, and light meals as appropriate.

Families interested in fostering the need to attend the first three classes. Those pursuing adoption must attend all four.

Alley said he anticipates that subsequent training sessions will be scheduled quarterly, but that is in flux until they have a better gauge of the community’s interest level, said the news release.