Answering the Call: The Growing Need for Foster Friendly Churches in Central Kentucky

By CKNB News

A growing crisis is unfolding in Central Kentucky—one that calls for urgent attention, compassion, and collaboration across the community, especially within the Church.

Reuben Watson knows this reality firsthand.

Having grown up in foster care through Sunrise Children’s Services, Watson has lived the very system he now seeks to strengthen. After spending seven years working with Sunrise, he now serves with the Lexington Leadership Foundation, where he focuses on bridging gaps between government agencies and the faith community. His mission is clear: build stronger partnerships to care for Kentucky’s most vulnerable children.

At a recent lunch with pastors and church leaders hosted at Lexington Leadership Foundation, Reuben shared some staggering statistics...

A System Under Strain

The numbers in Fayette County alone reveal the urgency:

• Only 219 foster children currently have placements

• More than 400 children are still waiting for homes

• 50% of new foster families close their doors within nine months, often due to lack of support and resources

This is not just a logistical challenge—it is a human one. Children in need of stability and care are too often left waiting, while families willing to help struggle to sustain their commitment without adequate support.

Kentucky has also carried a sobering reputation for decades, ranking among the highest in the nation for domestic violence and child abuse. The need for safe, loving homes has never been greater.

From Competition to Collaboration

Historically, foster care efforts in Kentucky have often been fragmented. Agencies and organizations have competed for funding and operated in silos, limiting their collective impact.

Watson envisions something different.

Through his work, he is helping cultivate a new model—one rooted in unity rather than competition. By bringing together government agencies, nonprofits, foundations, and churches, he believes the region can build a more effective and compassionate system of care.

“There’s more we can do together than we ever could apart,” Watson shared with local pastors and church leaders.

While there is still work to be done in rebuilding trust—particularly following past legal tensions between Kentucky’s Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) and Sunrise Children’s Services—there is renewed recognition that the faith community is not an obstacle, but a vital partner.

The Role of the Church

Watson is inviting churches across Lexington to step into that partnership through the “Unity in Action” Network, encouraging congregations to become more aware, engaged, and equipped.

Central to this effort is the concept of becoming a Foster Friendly Church—a model supported by Foster Friendly, an initiative that helps churches build cultures of support for foster families.

Several CKNB churches have already begun answering the call:

• Ashland Avenue Baptist Church

• The Mission Church of Lexington

• North View Baptist Church

These congregations are taking active steps to recruit foster families, support those already fostering, and care for children in practical, tangible ways.

Donovan Stewart of The Mission Church of Lexington shared how their partnership with Sunrise Children’s Services has not only impacted children, but also deeply enriched their church.

“We set out to be a blessing,” Stewart said, “but we’ve been just as blessed in return.”

The Mission Church is also working to support youth aging out of the foster system, helping them access critical resources such as college tuition assistance and housing support—tools that can shape a more stable future.

Looking Ahead: Awareness and Training

Efforts to mobilize the community continue to grow.

An upcoming foster care awareness event is being planned for April 18 at Immanuel Baptist Church in Lexington, aimed at educating and inspiring broader community involvement.

Foster Friendly Summit

Join us for a day of learning about the need for foster care and for the faith community in Central Kentucky to become more foster friendly.

April 18, 2026

Immanuel Baptist Church

Tates Creek Campus

Additionally, Watson and his partners are working to provide trauma-informed training for churches, equipping congregations to better understand and respond to the complex needs of children who have experienced hardship.

A Call to the Whole Church

CKNB Co-Executive Director David Barron emphasized the importance of sustained leadership in this effort.

“Just when leaders are growing tired of beating the drum for an issue,” Barron said, “is about the time those we lead start to get it.”

He encouraged church leaders to remain engaged and to partner with organizations like Lexington Leadership Foundation, Orphan Care Alliance, and Sunrise Children’s Services to explore how they can become more foster friendly.

The Importance of Representation

Both Watson and Barron also highlighted a critical need for greater racial and ethnic diversity among foster families.

Children entering foster care come from diverse backgrounds, and having families who reflect that diversity helps create environments where children can truly feel at home.

Engaging predominantly Black and ethnic-international congregations is an essential part of building a system that serves every child with dignity and cultural understanding.

A Vision for “Zero Need”

In just five months, Watson’s work has already begun to spark momentum across Lexington. But his vision reaches further. He believes Lexington can become a “zero need” community—a place where every child in foster care has a safe, loving home.

It’s an ambitious goal. But one he believes is possible if the faith community rises to meet the moment.

For churches across Central Kentucky, the invitation is clear:

To move beyond awareness into action. To turn compassion into commitment. And to ensure that no child waits for a place to call home.