Welcome to Wise Short-Term Missions:
Principles and Practices to Benefit Vulnerable Children & Families!
We participate in short-term missions because we want to positively impact the world around us. However, we can do more harm than good without a proper understanding of what is most effective. This is especially true when we seek to serve vulnerable children and families. This course will address key topics vital in pursuing a healthy short-term mission strategy.
Hybrid Course Live Meeting Dates: Tuesdays, 10-11am CST
Week 1: April 30
Week 2: May 7
Week 3:May 14
Week 4: May 21
Week 5: May 28
Event times are listed in Central Standard Time (CST), but you can use this time zone converter tool to determine the corresponding time where you live.
What You Will Learn:
The Wise Short-Term Missions course helps leaders to ensure their programs are seeking the best for the children they are serving by:
- Guiding leaders through the essential work of evaluating their own programs and identifying ways they want to adapt or develop new strategies
- Looking at statistics around serving vulnerable individuals
- Learning about ethical standards specifically developed for serving vulnerable children and families
- Engaging with widely accepted standards of excellence for short-term missions
Who Should Take This Course?
Anyone who works with vulnerable children and families in a global context: Organizational leadership and staff, volunteers, contractors, partners, community members, parents and caregivers, etc.
This Course can be completed on your own, with a partner, or as a team. Teams learning together is where growth begins, and we are here to support you in your process of equipping your team to care well for vulnerable children and families. If cost might be a barrier, we offer full and partial Learning Grants for individuals and teams. To be considered for a grant, please fill out this grant application form prior to enrolling.
What You Can Expect
Discussion and Ongoing Collaboration with a Community of Peers
Connect with others in the field to reflect on topics, problem-solve, discuss next steps, and highlights relevant resources for further investigation both during and after the conclusion of the course via a peer learning community.
Editable, Logo-Free
Tools and Templates
Use our editable, logo-free templates to help you make a plan of action for how you can improve the quality of service you provide. These free introductory tools are accessible to any organization or advocate.
CAFO Certificate of
Completion
Earn a CAFO Certificate of Completion by which CAFO stands behind your commitment to learn, grow in, and apply best practices and wisdom-guided.
Example Curriculum
- Evaluating our Program
- The Seven Standards of Excellence in Short-Term Missions
- Pause and Reflect
- Short-Term Missions Strategy Intended to Benefit Families
- Principle #1: Protection: Safeguarding Children From Harm Is The First Priority
- Principle #2: Attachment: Support Bonds Between Children And Their Parent Or Primary Caregiver
- Principle #3: Caregivers: Honor The Role Of Parents And Primary Caregivers
- Principle #4: Community Support: The Communities Surrounding Vulnerable Children
- Principle #5: Expectations: Make Sure The Trip Purpose Is Clear And Expectations Thoroughly Understood
- Principle #6: Partnership: Anchor Every Trip In Long-Term Relationships With Quality Partners
- Principle #7: Training: Commit To Learning Before Doing
- Principle #8: Media: Share Stories And Images With Care
- Pause and Reflect
- Discussion Information
About the Instructor
Joy Fitterer serves as the Learning Manager for CAFO’s Center on Applied Research for Vulnerable Children and Families. As a lifelong learner and educator, she has spent the past 18 years as a public school teacher, instructional coach, university professor, director of education and nonprofit board member for organizations serving students and families in the U.S. and abroad. She has also served the local church as a Missions Director and Director of Leadership Development. Joy is especially passionate about creating experiences that foster growth and development for the vulnerable and overlooked.
Joy holds an Ed.D. in Learning Organizations and Strategic Change, a MS in Cultural and Educational Policy, a MS in Language, Literacy and Specialized Instruction, and a BS in Secondary Education, English, and Journalism.
The Core Elements of Success in OVC Care
This eCourse is part of the Core Elements of Success in OVC Care program. It is targeted toward supporting NGOs serving vulnerable children and families as they develop and engage in partnerships with government agencies, other NGOs, churches, and other stakeholders, but principles may apply more broadly.
Ideally, it will be used in conjunction with the Core Elements Self-Assessment and other Core Elements eCourses. We recommend that you take the Core Elements Self-Assessment prior to enrolling in the course.
This eCourse can be completed on your own, with a partner or as a team. We believe that teams learning together is where growth begins, and we are here to support you in your process of equipping your team to care well for vulnerable children and families.
