Care + Portal: Relationship Enabled by Technology
Certainly, the channels through which communication takes place are an important piece of the story, so the emphasis on technology rightfully receives a spotlight. Through the CarePortal platform and thousands of inboxes across the country, child welfare agencies are discovering unparalleled access into the hearts of local church members. Responses can be almost real-time, allowing for sudden and impactful changes in the lives of local children.
Even so, it’s not as if a new form of technology was stumbled upon that allowed CarePortal to come into existence. As it relates to CarePortal, you will hear no stories like Benjamin Franklin perched outside with a flying kite or the Wright brothers’ raw determination of trial and error on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Email, servers and GeoRadius technology have existed for some time, so what makes CarePortal so effective?
It’s you. It’s me. It’s all of us who are choosing to engage. To receive an email. To care.
CarePortal has been so successful in meeting the needs of local children and families in crisis because of all the people who are choosing to do something. Each need met is built upon the bedrock of relationship. Child welfare agencies have long been in conversation with CarePortal staff to understand CarePortal. Local church members are meeting together to discuss how needs can be met. Social workers are meeting with local families and determining needs. Churches and social workers are meeting to coordinate the delivery of goods. Local families are forming new relationships with churches who care for them. CarePortal users are providing feedback to the CarePortal central office in order to improve the user experience and ensure that the technology is smooth.
So, CarePortal’s name is a reminder of its very purpose. It’s a beautiful message that all of us, working together, can care for local children and families. It is relationship fueled by technology.
Because of this growing relational and technological network, more than 4,500 children have been impacted since CarePortal’s inception. 4,500 lives on the brink of crisis have been changed. Thank you.
Care to share about your experiences with CarePortal? Please email [email protected] to relay your story of relationship enabled by technology.