ABOUT TOGETHER FOR GOOD
We provide a network of care
to support families who are in crisis.
We Connect Those Who Need Help With Those Who Can Help
Founded in 2017, Together for Good connects volunteers from local churches with isolated parents and vulnerable children.
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At TFG, we provide wrap-around, relational care that helps to stabilize families, so that they can move beyond a crisis. There are four primary ways that our volunteers serve: hosting children during a crisis (hostings range from one day to one year); hosting children for shorter periods (typically a weekend), so that parents are able to experience respite relief; building relationships with parents through parent advocacy; and meeting the practical needs of parents, such as meals or transportation.
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TFG has four locations in three states and a team of professional staff that train volunteers in culturally-competent, trauma-informed caregiving, and who manage each case.
SERVE WITH A LOCATION NEAR YOU
DO GOOD
We want to help followers of Jesus live out Isaiah 1:17, "Learn to do good; seek justice; correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow's cause."
LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR
God calls us to defend, visit, and care for widows and orphans – to love those who are isolated, without family or community. We believe Christians are called to walk with the hurting and the rejected – those who are in distress.
MOBILIZE THE CHURCH
We want to reignite the vision and purpose of the early Church by providing an opportunity for the Church to love our neighbors.
What Drives Us
What We Know
We know that there are government systems in place to protect children when harm or neglect occurs – and these systems are important. However, we want to mobilize the Church to help struggling families before a crisis of abuse or neglect – this concept is called "up-stream intervention." We do this through working within a continuum of care model, prioritizing building relationships, protecting children, and preserving the family. Research shows that intentional intervention "up-stream" prevents harm to children and prevents family separation.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE TFG MODEL
Our Board
Maridel Sandberg
President & CEO of Together for Good
Darin Hunhoff - Director
Executive Vice President, Energy at CHS Inc.
Nicky Brown - Interim Chair & Secretary
VP of Advocacy and Government Affairs with HealthEquity
Stan Hamann - Director
Retired VP of NorthRisk Partners
Linda Rukavina - Treasurer
Health Coach with Mastering Diabetes
Cindy Engelking - Director
MBA Carlson School of Management
Frequently Asked Questions
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How is hosting with Together for Good (TFG) different than foster care?When children are placed in foster care, they are under the custody of the government body for their county or state, as mandated by a court order and publicly managed. In contrast, a hosting with Together for Good is voluntary, never mandated by the courts, and at the discretion of the custodial parent, who can end the hosting at any time. During a hosting, children are cared for by volunteer host parents who are not paid or licensed by the state but are trained and approved by social workers at Together for Good.
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Where does TFG receive funding from?As a religious non-profit, Together for Good receives no funding or grants from the government. TFG is funded entirely by private donations.
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Who does TFG serve?Children in need of care are assessed on a case-by-case basis to determine if Together for Good is an appropriate option. In most cases, TFG does not bring children into care who are older than ten years old, who have an open and ongoing investigation or case through Child Protective Services (CPS), or who are in foster care.
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How do participant families find you?Our referral partners include first responders, departments of human services/child protective services, public health nurses or hospital staff, treatment programs, housing services/homeless shelters, and staff at prisons or jails. We also receive referrals from our current participants.
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Can I request care on behalf of someone else?No. Because all of our care is provided on a voluntary basis, parents must be the ones to complete an intake with our staff and request care for a specific hosting. However, referral partners frequently connect participants with TFG, and we often have an individual’s social worker on the phone when completing an intake.
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Do you ever place children from different participant families with one host family?No. Host families may only host children from one participant family at a time.
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Do you typically try to keep sibling groups together for extended placements?While we make an effort to keep siblings together for extended hostings, this is not always possible.
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Who can serve with TFG?Together for Good volunteers must fully agree with our sincerely held religious beliefs as outlined here. Volunteers must successfully complete a background check, home assessment (if volunteering as a host family), and foundational training.
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How long does the host family process take?It typically takes a family one month to be ready to host. This includes a three-hour in-person training, an in-person home assessment with a TFG Home Assessment Specialist, online training, and a background check.
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What support do you offer to volunteers?All of our volunteers are supported by our professional staff. Whenever a hosting happens, our staff are on-call for questions, emergencies, or unforeseen situations. Most of our care staff have a background or licensure in social services or psychology. A TFG staff member is present for all pick-ups with a new participant family. Our advocates receive a monthly check-in from our care team.
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Do you take in-kind donations?Yes! Please reach out to info@tfgood.org to learn more.