EXAMPLE SCENARIOS · CARE THAT HOLDS™

What this work can look like.

Caregivers need a break. People coming home need support. Mentors need someone to turn to. These examples show how we can help a team make a practical plan, prepare its people, and keep learning as it goes.

These are illustrative examples, not specific client results. They show the kinds of situations we help with and what the work can look like.

EXAMPLE 01 · IDD & FAMILY CAREGIVERS

Making room for caregivers to rest.

THE SITUATION

A large suburban church wants to support families caring for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD). Caregivers find it hard to take a break or attend worship together, and the church is unsure where to start.

WHAT WE COULD DO

A 6-week Listening + Engagement could help the team understand what caregivers need. Together, we would plan monthly caregiver breaks and worship, with a supervised volunteer team trained to respond sensitively to people who have experienced trauma.

THE GOAL

Caregivers have a dependable chance to rest. Volunteers share the load, know their roles, and have someone to turn to for help. The church has a practical guide for offering care safely.

EXAMPLE 02 · RE-ENTRY MINISTRY

Support through the first 90 days home.

THE SITUATION

An urban church supports people in prison but struggles to stay connected after release. People coming home need practical help, and pastoral staff want a clearer way to support them.

WHAT WE COULD DO

We would map the support needed from day 0 to day 90 after release, plan mentor pairings and connections to health and employment help, and create a simple quarterly progress update for the board.

THE GOAL

People coming home know who to call and where to find practical help. Mentors know when to involve professional support. The board gets a clear quarterly update on needs, next steps, and gaps in care.

EXAMPLE 03 · SINGLE-MOTHER SUPPORT

More support around a shared meal.

THE SITUATION

A faith-based nonprofit offers a regular meal for single mothers. The team wants to understand what else mothers need and explain to funders how the program aims to help.

WHAT WE COULD DO

Together, we would build a Theory of Change—a simple picture of how the work is meant to help. We could plan a support group, clear connections to professional help for trauma and anxiety, and a simple progress tracker for staff.

THE GOAL

Mothers have a place to connect and ask for support. Staff can listen for what is helping and what needs to change. The team can describe to funders what it is learning, without promising results it cannot support.

EXAMPLE 04 · YOUTH MENTORSHIP

Support for mentors as well as young people.

THE SITUATION

A church youth ministry wants to offer dependable mentoring for middle-schoolers. Volunteers feel unsure how to handle difficult situations, and the team needs clearer ways to work with the school.

WHAT WE COULD DO

We would shape mentor training around responding sensitively to young people who have experienced trauma. Monthly support meetings, clear steps for asking for professional help, and a simple progress update could help the team and school stay connected.

THE GOAL

Mentors know when and how to ask for help. Young people have adults who understand their role and limits. The school and ministry team have a clear way to share concerns and plan next steps.

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