Local Response Team

responding to the needs of families in crisis in our community

At any given time, in Rochester alone, there are hundreds of families and children facing crises. Sometimes, a crisis can be resolved by meeting a relatively simple need. And sometimes, meeting that need can mean the difference between losing stable housing or keeping it, or placing children in foster care or keeping them in their families where they can feel safe, stable, and loved. If prevention is the best medicine (and it is), then responding to these needs is a crucial way to bring hope to our community.

The Local Response Team at Gloria Dei works together to respond to needs in our community when they arise. Team members help in a variety of ways: networking with others, locating or shopping for specific items, delivering items to the people who need them, visiting with the family, lending a large vehicle that can carry furniture, lending muscles for moving that furniture, etc.

How it works

Gloria Dei is part of a network of churches that uses a platform called CarePortal, which connects people who can help with people who need help, in real-time.

  • A child or family in need requires help from a child-serving professional

    Every community has professionals working in a broad range of sectors who are dedicated to improving the lives of the clients they serve. Individuals working in child welfare, education, law enforcement, community help centers, and more interface with vulnerable children and families often, giving them first-hand knowledge of the critical help they need in order to overcome difficult challenges.

  • The child-serving professional vets and types needs into CarePortal

    Before any need is shared, it goes through a thorough vetting process to ensure that the request is legitimate, accurate, and important to the wellbeing of a child or family.

  • CarePortal alerts nearby churches and community members to needs

    This is where we come in. Once a request is submitted, alerts are instantly sent to responders located within close proximity of the need. If that’s us, our team receives the alert and determines whether or not we can commit to providing the tangible items, relational support, or child placement assistance that is needed.

  • Our local response team works to ensure that the child and family is helped

    Once we respond to a request, we coordinate gathering what is needed to help the child and their family. Then we work with the child-serving professional to deliver the items directly to the family.

what it looks like

  • New requests are made in Rochester constantly.

  • Response team members can be involved as often or as little as they have capacity for.

  • Our response team needs all different types of people - people who can talk and listen, shop, carry, drive, and many other skills!

  • Training is provided for response team members.

  • Meeting a family’s need happens on whatever schedule works for those involved.

  • Visit CarePortal and see for yourself!

how to help

Our local response team needs people that can help in all sorts of different ways. Let us know if you’d like to find out more!