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Hope Bridge - Ohio

@hopebridgeohio

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Planting seeds of hope by creating Christ-centered communities for vulnerable children and families

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WHO WE ARE -

Hope Bridge - Ohio is striving to plant seeds of hope by creating Christ-centered communities for vulnerable children and families.

It is our goal as an organization to stand all along the banks of the river that is the OH child welfare system building programs and creating initiatives to keep families and children from falling in, to step into the waters to pull the vulnerable out, and to support those downstream getting back on their feet.

Visit hopebridgeohio.org to learn more about us and how you can get involved. by @hopebridgeohio

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4 years ago

If you’re new here, we would love to introduce ourselves and invite you to check out our Podcast, Restoried.

In this picture, not only will you find the hosts of our podcast, but also the directors of each of our programs!

Lisa Robertson is the Director of Hope Bridge.
Nicole Bowman is the Director of Foster Care.
Mel Montgomery is the Director of our Single Moms’ Program.
Brian Troyer is the Director of Church Engagement.

Hope Bridge is on a gospel-led mission to transform the foster care landscape in Ohio. We’re here to raise awareness and empower churches and communities to step into action by supporting vulnerable children and families in their local communities.

In this podcast and through our programs, we will share how we link arms with churches, county workers, foster families, and those in the community to rewrite the narrative for vulnerable children and families.

We’ll be shining a light on stories of hope, redemption, and transformation and sharing practical ways that you can step in and get involved.

You can find our podcast by clicking the link in our bio, or anywhere you listen to podcasts. by @hopebridgeohio

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2 years ago

Call Brian when you’re ready to take the next step toward foster care! 😉

Or, if you’re not quite there yet, that’s okay! Schedule a coffee with one of our staff members using the link in our bio.

No pressure, just an honest conversation and a chance to ask your questions. by @hopebridgeohio

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15 hours ago

For National Hospitality Week, we’re celebrating the people who show up for others every day.

This year, we dropped off 160 “On-the-Go Essentials” bags for Stark County social workers. Between visits, phone calls, and the many demands of their work, these dedicated professionals are constantly on the move.

It was a joy to remind them that they’re seen, appreciated, and cared for, too. We are so grateful for the opportunity to give back to those who spend so much of their time caring for others. by @hopebridgeohio

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a day ago

Before my husband and I became foster parents, we had four children of our own. And yes, we considered how fostering would impact them.

Would they struggle to share their parents? Would it be hard to love a child who might not stay? Would the hard parts affect them, too?

These were real questions. But how often do we ask the other question?

What might our children miss out on if we never foster?

What if they never learn to look beyond themselves and see a child whose behaviors tell a story they don't yet understand? What if they never learn that sometimes the child who is hardest to love is the one who needs love the most?

What if they miss the chance to see their parents live out the faith we talk about on Sundays? To see compassion in action and learn that every child is made in the image of God and worthy of safety, dignity, and love?

Our biological children weren't untouched by foster care. There were hard conversations, adjustments, and moments when fostering asked something of them, too. We didn't get every decision right, and it came at a cost to our family.

But they gained something, too. They learned empathy, saw the world through someone else's eyes, and discovered that a child's hardest moments don't define their worth. They learned we can love someone deeply, even when we cannot control the outcome of their story.

We have to consider both sides of foster care's impact on our children.

Yes, we need to protect our children, listen to their concerns, and make decisions that are right for our families. But protecting them doesn't always mean protecting them from fostering.

Sometimes, we protect them by teaching them how to love others well.

The question isn't just, "Will foster care impact my children?” It will.

It's also, “What kind of people are we helping our children become, and what opportunities might God be inviting our family into?”

If the impact on your biological children has held you back, don't just count the cost of saying yes. Consider what might be lost if you never do.

There is a child who needs a safe place to land. And there may be a family, including the children already in it, who could be changed by saying yes.

— Mel by @hopebridgeohio

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3 days ago

63 respondents told us they were concerned about the impact fostering could have on their existing family.

And we get it.

Opening your home to foster care doesn’t just impact you. It impacts your children, your marriage, your routines, your time and the rhythm of your home.

Those are real considerations, and they deserve more than a quick answer.

That’s exactly why we started by listening.

In the months ahead, we want to create space for honest conversations with families who have lived this firsthand—the beautiful parts, the difficult parts and the things they wish they had known before they started.

So let’s start here:
If you’re thinking about how foster care could impact your family, what’s your biggest question?

Tell us below or send us a message. There’s a good chance you aren’t the only one wondering. by @hopebridgeohio

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5 days ago

On a serious note, if you’ve ever had questions about becoming a licensed foster family, we’d love to talk with you.

Message us or use the link in our bio to grab coffee with one of our staff members. There’s no pressure and no expectation to make a decision. Just an honest conversation where you can ask questions, hear about our experiences, and learn more about what foster care could look like for you.

#fostercare #fostercareawareness #fostercaresupport #fostercareadvocacy

Sometimes the first step is simply just having the conversation. 🤍 by @hopebridgeohio

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7 days ago

This Tuesday, October 13th, we’re donating $1 from every drink purchase to @hopebridgeohio 🤎

The impact Hope Bridge is making in our community is huge, and we’re so excited to come alongside them and support the work they’re doing for children and families in Ohio’s foster care system.

Give them a follow to learn more about their mission, and come grab a drink Tuesday knowing your purchase is helping make a difference!

#coffeeforacause #ohiofostercare #supportlocal #communitymatters taken in Fredericksburg, Ohio by @hopebridgeohio

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9 days ago

We had a great time at our Fall Family Event! 🎃🍂

We love gathering with this incredible community of families. It’s always a wonderful reminder that we are not in this alone.

If you’re a foster, adoptive, or kinship family and looking for community in your life, we’d love to have you.

Fill out the family registration form linked in our bio to stay up to date with all of our upcoming events! by @hopebridgeohio

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10 days ago

You are not the only one wondering.

How will fostering affect my children?
Can we afford it?
Are we prepared to care for a child who has experienced trauma?
How could we ever say goodbye?

Over the last several weeks, we’ve been listening to our community, and one thing has become very clear: there are a lot of people with real questions about foster care.

And those questions deserve real, honest answers.

Over the coming weeks, we’re going to start talking about them—one by one.

No pressure. No pretending foster care is easy. Just honest conversations, helpful information, and a place to learn.

Because sometimes the first step toward saying yes is simply having a safe place to ask the questions that have been holding you back.

For the One. by @hopebridgeohio

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11 days ago

Registration is officially OPEN for Thanksgiving Together 2026!

Join us for an early Thanksgiving dinner as foster care youth, alumni, and allies come together to share a meal, connect, celebrate, and enjoy time in community.

For nearly two decades, Ohio foster care youth, alumni, and supporters have gathered for this special event to share stories, build relationships, and celebrate together and we’re excited to continue the tradition this year!

Saturday, November 14, 2026
1:00–3:00 PM
Compassion Center | 1012 Sunnyside Street SW, Hartville, OH

Foster care youth ages 14+, alumni ages 18+, and their guests are welcome! The event is FREE, but registration is required.

Ready to join us? Register today through the link in our bio!

We can’t wait to gather around the table, share a meal, and give thanks together.

#ThanksgivingTogether #FosterCareFamily #HopeBridge #ACTIONOhio by @hopebridgeohio

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12 days ago

Happy Pastor Appreciation Month!

There is so much that happens behind the scenes in the life of a pastor.

The prayers, the preparation, the hard conversations, the people they carry, and the countless ways they serve their churches and communities often go unseen.

We’re thankful for the calling God has placed on the lives of pastors and for the ways they faithfully lead their churches.

And we’re especially grateful for the pastors who have stepped into the foster care conversation. Those who have taken the time to learn, ask questions, and consider how they and their congregations can come alongside vulnerable children and families and support those already in the trenches.

Your willingness to step into these conversations matters. The example you set can help your congregation see that caring for vulnerable children and families is something we can all be part of.

We’re grateful for you, we’re praying for you, and we pray God continues to give you the strength, wisdom, and courage to lead your church in a way that reflects the heart of Jesus. by @hopebridgeohio

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12 days ago