People involved in foster care tend to talk about "the system." The key components of this system, which has an estimated 523,000 children in its care across the U.S., are child welfare services, the operators of group homes, and state agencies that recruit, train and monitor foster parents. And the system is set up to provide many of the basic, tangible pieces of a child's life: housing, access to schools, medical care, financial allowances, counseling, and other necessities.

But beyond those basics, a myriad of other needs exist. Many of these either go unmet, or are addressed by active, involved community members who understand that when families falter or fail, neighbors have a role to play.

In Cabarrus County, N.C., foster parents have been organized and upfront about making these needs known—and the community has responded. With a population of approximately 160,000, Cabarrus County is a friendly, fast growing county. Concord and Harrisburg are well known for the Lowe's Motor Speedway and are the homes to many NASCAR team shops located there. There are about 300 children in foster care in the county, and 92 licensed foster families.

Foster parents in the county keep informed through monthly training meetings, newsletters and annual appreciation events including a summer picnic and holiday dinner. And they use their network to get the word out about the needs of the children in their care. The following are a few examples of how individuals and organizations that have shown their support to foster children recently.

A “Safe House” evening at Broadus Family Worship Center.

Safe House Helps Siblings Stay Close

Separation from siblings is often one of the hardest challenges children in care face. A one-hour family visit at the Social Services Department does not provide ample time for siblings to stay connected, if they've been placed in separate foster homes. "Safe House," a program sponsored by Broadus Family Worship Center in Concord, N.C., endeavors to improve this situation.

Scott Parsons, a foster parent from Harrisburg, N.C., remembers a traumatic time when at age 13, his parents divorced and he and his four siblings were separated. "Two went with Mom, two went with Dad, and they decided they didn't want me, so I went to my grandmother's," said Parsons. Because of school and working commitments, Parsons rarely saw his siblings. His grandmother was always there for him and so when he married, he and his wife, Julie made a decision to foster and adopt children. "I wanted to help other children the way my grandmother helped me," said Parsons.

One of the first foster children the Parsons cared for was a teenage girl who had siblings in another home. Parsons approached the pastor of Broadus with the idea of providing somewhere for foster kids to get together with their siblings and not feel out of place, have fun, and visit with others in their position. Parsons donated funds from his landscaping company to purchase sports equipment to be used by the children.

The "Safe House" program is now a ministry held once a month from 6 to 8 p.m. in the multi-purpose gym at the church. Foster parents can come with their children or drop them off and take a break. Volunteers from the church care for the children and feed them a home-style dinner—the food is donated and cooked by the volunteers.

"Our kids are grown and gone and we enjoy kids so much, so we jumped in and helped," said volunteer Rick Campbell, who enjoys cooking for the kids. His wife Dana and other volunteers serve and clean up. The same group of volunteers has remained faithful over the two years Safe House has been in existence. For variety, the group plans different themes including BBQ night, Italian night, pizza or chicken night and grill night.

Approximately 14 men and women make up the core of volunteers. Each helps with donating the food and the church supplies the space.

Some men volunteers come out and play basketball or air hockey, offering some male support, exercise, and a release of energy for the kids. For the volunteers, it's a chance to connect with kids in a fun way while making a meaningful difference in their lives. "I started late trying to have children and may be interested in fostering in the future," says volunteer Kevin Furr who loves children and hopes to have a family someday.

Homework help is also on offer. A computer has been installed on site and volunteer tutors come during the Safe House meetings to be available to help. "Many kids are so behind in school or told that they can't learn," says Parsons.

The program is still growing—and the Parsons have adopted two teenagers and are still fostering.