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Local nonprofit '1 More 1 Less' outlines church-based foster-care recruitment model to Burke County commissioners
Summary
Representatives of the nonprofit 1 More 1 Less presented to the board on a church-centered model to recruit and support foster parents; county manager said the initiative could help reduce out‑of‑county placements and staff will explore local partnerships.
The Burke County Board of Commissioners heard a presentation on June 16 from Jeff Marburger of the nonprofit 1 More 1 Less about a faith‑based approach to recruiting and supporting foster families.
County Manager Brian Manning introduced the initiative, saying the county has struggled to recruit and retain licensed foster parents and that the board has started convening a group to address the issue. Manning said Burke County currently has about 181 children in the Department of Social Services’ custody and stressed the county’s interest in local placement options.
Jeff Marburger described 1 More 1 Less’s model, which engages local churches as primary partners for foster‑parent recruitment, supports kinship and reunification where possible, and provides transitional housing and life‑skills programming for youth aging out of foster care. Marburger said his organization works to ‘‘inform, inspire, and intertwine the local church with foster care, reunification, and adoption’’ and shared examples from Cleveland County, including a transitional home program called Not Far From Home.
Commissioners and the manager discussed the possibility of adapting the model locally; one commissioner noted Burke County already has many churches and suggested the approach ‘‘seems like a good way to kinda work together and get everybody in a home.’’ Manning and Marburger agreed to continue conversations with local stakeholders about how the program might be implemented and what supports would be needed.
The presentation did not propose binding county policy or funding at this meeting; the board thanked the presenters and asked staff to follow up on engagement and potential partnership steps.
