Behind the Scenes with Mindy, Family Coach Manager
At New Mercies, the work of family preservation is not just about providing temporary care – it’s about walking alongside parents as they navigate life’s hardest chapters. At the heart of that journey are our Family Coaches, and supporting them behind the scenes is Mindy Theard, our Family Coach Manager.
Mindy’s path into this ministry was not scripted. “I had no idea what I was doing!” she says about how she came to New Mercies. Her background in social services left her feeling drained and seeking something more life-giving. Through prayer and the prompting of the Lord, she found her way to this ministry.
What does a Family Coach Manager do?
There is no “typical” day for Mindy. Her weeks are full of meetings with Family Coaches, building relationships with community partners, presenting at parent groups, and training new volunteers. She’s at the intersection of family support, volunteer care, and strategic oversight, always aiming to keep children safe while equipping volunteers to serve parents with dignity and grace.
Mindy also steps in when needed to assist Family Coaches, supporting coaches during intakes or home evaluations, fielding questions during hostings, or even covering while a Family Coach is on vacation. Every part of her day is built around one goal: to ensure families are not alone in their hardest moments.
What makes a great Family Coach?
“Coaching will truly break your heart for what breaks Jesus’ heart,” Mindy shares. The best Family Coaches don’t need to know everything or have all the answers, she says, but they are humble, grace-filled, and willing to give parents the space to walk through their challenges without prescribing outcomes.
Communication and the ability to coordinate details are also helpful. But what matters most is a heart for service and a willingness to speak the truth even when it’s hard. Mindy explains that in coach-parent relationships, “when things go well, coaches are able to speak the truth in love to them.” It might not be every day, but when it counts, Family Coaches are able to be honest with parents about the goals they set and what needs to happen to get there.
Why Family Coaches matter
Family Coaches are essential to our ministry model. They are the eyes and ears in hostings, supporting parents with tools and encouragement, and helping them build a path forward. Whether they are helping a parent set goals, identify their strengths, or connect with needed resources, the work of a Family Coach is crucial to parents regaining stability.
Mindy has witnessed powerful stories of transformation. One mom recovered from addiction and is still doing a Bible study a year later with her child’s Host Mom. Another family was supported through a crisis by Family Coach Elizabeth, a teacher, and then moved into a different school district – guess who worked at their daughter’s new school? Relationships like these are lasting, often continuing long after the hosting ends.
And the relationships are what make the job worth it for Mindy when it gets difficult. She shares that hearing the stories of long-term relationships and seeing pictures of the kids who are being hosted is so powerful for her. “That little face is motivating and changes things for me,” Mindy says.
Could this be you?
If you have felt even the smallest nudge to get involved, Mindy offers this encouragement:
“One thing that can be helpful is to talk to another coach and see what they love before you count it out as something you can’t do… If the Lord is calling you to it, we can help equip you to do it.”
“The role is deeply rewarding as we lean deeply into the Lord for strength, discernment, and wisdom," Mindy adds. “It’s a powerful place to be and can have a lot of impact...You’ll never know if it’s your thing unless you try it.”