Our Mission

Esther Project 31 exists to provide faith‑centered, trauma‑informed, and leadership‑driven services for women and women with children who have been impacted by abuse, neglect, crime, and complex behavioral, developmental, and physical health challenges.

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We recognize that trauma does not disqualify women from leadership—it refines it. Our mission is twofold: to support healing and to cultivate resilient, purpose‑driven leaders who are restored in dignity, identity, and hope.

Our Vision

Our vision is to see women and women with children—those harmed by crime, those who have caused harm, and those impacted within the community—renewed, restored, and reunified wherever possible.

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Through trauma‑informed care, relational healing, restorative justice practices, and servant leadership development, Esther Project 31 seeks to repair the breaches caused by trauma and crime, strengthen families, and empower women to walk in wholeness, accountability, and purpose.

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We support pathways of healing and restoration so women and families can achieve stability, well‑being, and their fullest God‑given potential, creating lasting personal and generational impact.

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Esther Project 31

The Women Called to the Nations

(WCTN) Family Advocacy Services

“For such a time as this” — Esther 4:14

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1. Preparation & Training for Purposeful Service

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• Completes all required Celebrating Families® curriculum training and implementation standards, along with all mandated trainings, to ensure trauma‑informed excellence, ethical practice, and effective family reunification support.

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• Utilizes the Celebrating Families® curriculum as a foundational framework to strengthen family bonds, increase protective factors, support healthy attachment, and promote sustainable reunification.

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• Provides education and consultation to DHS staff and partner agencies regarding WCTN services, the Celebrating Families® model, and the lived experiences of women navigating child welfare and justice systems.

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• Actively participates in all scheduled team meetings, planning sessions, and collaborative reviews to maintain alignment, accountability, and mission integrity.

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2. Early Engagement & Relationship Building

• Makes initial contact with referred biological parent(s) within seventy‑two (72) hours of referral to establish trust, clarify the purpose of The Women Called to the Nations services, and begin relational support.

• Makes contact with the assigned foster care provider within five (5) days of referral to ensure coordinated care and timely service delivery.

• Meets face‑to‑face with each referred parent at least once weekly for a minimum of two (2) hours, and as needed, whenever possible in the family home.

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3. Advocacy, Support & Courageous Presence

• Provides consistent emotional support, empathy, encouragement, and system navigation guidance, helping parents understand foster care processes, court expectations, and available services.

• Accompanies parents to court proceedings, Family Team Meetings, treatment or recovery appointments, agency‑required meetings, and other gatherings for advocacy, reassurance, and support of parental rights.

• Is available to support and educate parents during family visits, advocating for healthy interaction and the preservation of parent–child bonds.

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4. Reunification & Restoration Planning

• Works intensively with birth parents to promote full engagement in case plan activities through face‑to‑face visits, letters, emails, and phone communication.

• Collaborates with parents and assigned foster care providers to develop and support the Esther Project 31 tailored to the needs of the parents, children, and court mandates.

• Assists in the shared goal of family reunification and/or the development of appropriate alternative permanent plans when reunification is not possible.

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5. Mediation, Collaboration & System Navigation

• Collaborates closely with the WCTN and/or Program Manager, DHS caseworkers, foster care providers, planning committees, and community partners.

• Meets periodically with DHS caseworkers throughout the duration of services, as requested or as family needs indicate.

• Assists in mediating conflicts between assigned foster care workers and parents, promoting understanding, resolution, and forward progress.

• Advocates alongside parents to ensure they are receiving appropriate, timely, and culturally responsive services.

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6. Empowerment, Self‑Advocacy & Hope

• Teaches and reinforces self‑advocacy and empowerment skills, equipping parents to navigate systems with confidence and clarity.

• Helps maintain and strengthen parent–child connections by observing, advocating for, and protecting the rights and well‑being of both parents and children.

• Provides a sense of hope and inspiration, affirming each parent’s value, resilience, and capacity for growth—reminding them they are positioned for restoration for such a time as this.

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7. Documentation, Accountability & Ethical Conduct

• Provides monthly reports documenting:

  • Dates, times, and nature of all contacts

  • Progress toward reunification or permanency goals

  • Issues or concerns related to families, courts, agencies, or services

• Requests reassignment promptly if a conflict of interest exists, including prior relationships or proximity concerns, to ensure ethical boundaries and program integrity.

• Performs other duties as assigned in alignment with program goals and contractual requirements.

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