6 Ways to Support Foster Families

By Lauren Hollon Sturdy
Buckner International
http://www.buckner.org/


You’ve probably heard a lot about foster care during the month of May, National Foster Care Month. But you may be saying, “I just don’t feel like our family is called to foster.”
That’s perfectly fine! Foster care truly is a ministry – one that many people are not called to pursue. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways you can minister to foster families and support them in their calling:

• Offer to babysit – Babysitting foster children does require some time spent in training and certification, but it is a huge help to parents who might need a night or weekend “off.”

• Help around the house – When you’ve got a full house, the laundry pile starts to look like Mt. Everest, and requires nearly as much stamina to conquer! Mowing, cooking a meal or even offering to spend an hour helping clean the house are all great ways to assist foster families in their work when life starts getting the best of them.

• Provide emergency supplies – Sometimes foster parents take children with very little notice of their arrival. You can offer your crib that’s sitting in storage or be an extra set of hands and make a quick trip to the store for necessities.

• Help with the “extras” – The stipends foster parents receive cover the bare minimum – clothes and food, and sometimes it doesn’t even cover all of that. Any “extras” come out of foster families’ pockets, and these are often things most families take for granted, like haircuts, birthday presents, prom dresses, football cleats, ballet lessons, entry to a basketball game, and many others.

• Transportation and carpooling – With a million different places to be at once, foster families can always use an extra set of wheels.

• Prayer – Partner together with a foster family you know to support them in prayer, because goodness knows they need it daily!

Project HOPEFUL has been chosen as one of Cultivate Wines' newest causes!

Cultivate is giving away $100,000 per quarter to non-profits via a democratic voting system. The winner will receive $50,000, and the five runners-up will each receive $10,000. To vote, you can either register or login through facebook. Once you're logged in, you will have 1 vote per day, so be sure to return and vote for Project HOPEFUL again each day! To vote go to our Cultivate Wines Page here.

We're sure you can imagine what this much money could mean to Project HOPEFUL's ability to fulfill their mission to Educate, Encourage, and Enable families and individuals to advocate for and adopt children with HIV/AIDS and other of the MOST OVERLOOKED children for adoption!

Remember to vote every single day from May 1 through June 30.  Every vote is going to be absolutely crucial! Also, every time you vote, would you please tell all of your contacts and ask them to vote, too? The power to multiply votes with these very simple actions is enormous!
 
http://www.projecthopeful.org/

New Webinar: Brothers & Sister in Adoption

Brothers and Sisters in Adoption

Lunchtime Discussion with the Experts

Tuesday, June 19 

12:00PM Central

     

Join us for a lunch and learn discussion for adoptive families on helping children navigate relationships when new kids join the family. Our experts, Arleta James and Judy Stigger,  will  focus on preparing brothers and sisters prior to adoption and the first year after adoption including:

• Transitioning new family members
• Preparing and integrating brothers and sisters
• Attachment and expectations

REGISTER   

Submit your questions for Arleta and Judy HERE or by tweeting them to @adoptiontweet using #adoptionsibs.

This webinar is sponsored by:

Pastors Conference 2012

Our Triune God & the Pastor: A Theology of Adoption for the Church

A conference for pastors, seminarians, their spouses, and church adoption and orphan care ministry leaders.

Join Hope for Orphans, White Horse Inn, and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary October 4-5 in Louisville, Kentucky for our first annual Together for Adoption Conference for Pastors and Adoption | Orphan Care Ministry Leaders. Our hope for this unique conference is to contribute to the recovery of the theology of Adoption within the Church.

 Learn more about the ‘why’ of this conference on the theology of Adoption.

Where: Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Lousiville, KY
When: October 4-5, 2012
What: Our Triune God & the Pastor: A Theology of Adoption for the Church
Who: If you are a pastor, pastor’s wife, seminarian, or a church adoption and orphan care ministry leader, consider joining us for this unique conference as we work toward the recovery of Adoption and explore its implications for church life and practice.
Speakers:

Dr. Sinclair Ferguson –  Adoption for the Pastor’s Soul
Dr. Michael Horton – Our Adoption and Union with Christ
Dr. Fred Sanders – A Trinitarian Theology of Adoption
Dr. Robert Smith, Jr. – The Theology of Adoption’s Implications for Racial Reconciliation
Dr. Russell Moore -
Dan Cruver – Adoption’s Place within Redemptive History
Zach Nielsen – Worship Leader

http://www.togetherforadoption.org/?page_id=12582

projectMUSIC™

Take one night. Make some music. Send 40 kids to camp.   

Donate Now

June 16, 20127 - 10 pm
Catalyst Ranch
656 West Randolph
Chicago, IL  

To attend this event or make a contribution to help, please click here. 
100% of your contribution will help fund a child from LYDIA attend overnight camp.

For more information, click here: http://www.lydiahome.org/event.aspx?site_id=10086&event_id=293627

featuring a special private, acoustic performanceexperience and an eclectic and energizing evening, 
by American Idol finalist Crystal Bowersox
to benefit the LYDIA.  

Foster Care Month Opportunities

Jami Kaeb

I wish you all could have been at our Foster Care Month event last night, where Jami Kaeb from The Forgotten Initiative inspired and encouraged us to bring joy and purpose to the foster care community.  A special thanks to those of you who brought donated items for the DCFS resource closet! 

There are so many ways we can be a blessing to children, families and foster care workers.  Below are just some of the ways YOU could get involved.  Please prayerfully consider each of these opportunities.
But first, if you are considering becoming a Safe Family or have started the process and still need to do the training, we want to make you aware that there is a one-day accelerated training to become a Safe Families host.  The training is scheduled for June 9th, 2012 at Moody Church.  You may R.S.V.P. by May 27 at http://trainingsafefamilies.eventbrite.com/ or contact Tom Csora at tcsora@safefamilies.net.
Also, if you live in the Bartlett area, please consider stopping by the garage sale of one of our Safe Families.  They've been wanting to host more kids, but have been prevented from doing so due to space issues.  That's when they decided to clean out and sell the clutter and use the proceeds from the garage sale to remodel a room in their home where they can host more Safe Families children.  The sale will take place this Thursday and Friday, May 24 & 25th from 9:00 - 4:30 and Saturday, May 26th from 9:00 - 12:00 noon.  Their home is at 221 North Oak Street in Bartlett, across from the fire station. 

Next Steps/OpportunitiesJoin the Prayer Team:  We are looking to form a prayer team for the Vulnerable Children’s ministry.  If you would like to lead or participate on a prayer team, please contact Dina at vcministry127@gmail.com.
Pray:  You, your family or your small group can pray for families, children, foster care workers and the church.  Download a free prayer guide at    http://www.cryoftheorphan.org/User/Document/Fosterprayerguide.pdf or visit http://www.fostercareprayervigil.org/. 
Attend our Pot-Luck Gatherings:  Join adoptive, foster and Safe families, as well as advocates, every 3rd Sunday of the month (except June/July/Dec.).  You’ll enjoy connecting with others over a pot-luck meal, and hearing relevant speakers that can help to equip and inspire you to serve vulnerable children. Contact Dina at vcministry127@gmail.com.
Become a Licensed Foster Parent:  The 9-week required pre-service P.R.I.D.E. training class is held regularly right here at Willow Creek/So. Barrington.  Contact: Joyce Moffitt at joycem@ysbiv.org. 
Become a Safe Family Host: Provide short-term care for children whose families are in crisis.  Contact: Teri Altpeter at vcministry127@gmail.com and visit  http://www.safe-families.org/.  
Help with Donation Drives:  Assist in the procurement of donations for the Elgin DCFS resource closet. We need small groups, civic organizations and families to collect needed items to restock the shelves each month.  Contact: Brooke Loske at vcministry127@gmail.com.
Host a Foster/Safe Family Coffee:  Open your home to invite foster parents and Safe Family Hosts to enjoy coffee and connection time.  Contact: Teri Altpeter at vcministry127@gmail.com.
Wrap Around A Family:  Provide meals, lawn care, snow removal, babysitting, homework assistance and other logistical needs to a foster, adoptive or Safe family.  Contact Dina at vcministry127@gmail.com. 
Join YouShare.org:  Safe Families/Lydia House has created a database where you can share your services or material resources with families that are experiencing a crisis, usually within the context of poverty.  http://www.youshare.org/ 
Serve with Royal Family Kids Camp (RFKC): Volunteer a week of your time in June at a camp for abused and neglected children in foster care.  Contact: Bart Francour at rfkc_lakecook.il@sbcglobal.net and visit http://www.rfkc.org/. 

“Adopt” a College Student: The D.C.F.S. College Connections Care Package Program (CCCPP) is designed to support new college students entering their freshman year by linking them to a volunteer who will offer encouragement through mailing care packages and also the possibility of establishing a mentoring relationship.  You must have a foster care license to volunteer for this program.  Contact Holly Bitner Duck at holly.bitner@illinois.gov.

Become a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA.): CASA volunteers are appointed by judges to watch over and advocate for abused and neglected children, to make sure they don’t get lost in the overburdened legal and social service system or languish in inappropriate group or foster homes. Training is provided by CASA.  http://www.casaforchildren.org/.

Become a Forgotten Advocate: Work with The Forgotten Initiative to facilitate on-going, long term relationships between local agencies and the Body of Christ.  Contact: Jessi  Esterling at jessi@theforgotteninitiative.org  and visit www.theforgotteninitiative.org/advocates.

Read A Book:
Growing Up Black in White by Kevin D. Hofmann
Somebody’s Someone: A Memoir by Regina Louise
Castaway Kid: One Man’s Search for Hope and Home by R.B. Mitchell

Get Educated from the following resources:
Foster Care & Adoption Listings & Resources: http://www.adoptuskids.org/
Foster Care Information by State: http://www.icareaboutorphans.org/StateAdoptionRequirements.aspx
Foster Care Web Sites by State: http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/reslist/rl_dsp_website.cfm?typeID=10&rate_chno=AZ-0002E
Foster Care Specialists by State:
http://library.adoption.com/articles/foster-care-specialists-by-state-2.html
Heart Gallery Listings by State: http://www.heartgalleryofamerica.org/Galleries/default.asp
Waiting Children Statistics by State: http://www.icareaboutorphans.org/WaitingKidsinYourState.aspx                       
Wednesday’s Child:
http://www.freddiemacfoundation.org/ourwork/founwedn.html

Webinar: Engaging Students in the Cause of the Fatherless

 

Alliance Webinar Series

  

The Christian Alliance for Orphans Webinar Series is designed to help individuals like you create and grow effective adoption, foster care and global orphan ministry in local churches.

  

  

You're Invited...   

Engaging Students in the

Cause of the Fatherless 

Whether you're a student, a youth pastor, or just want to help wake a passion for orphans in young people, this webinar is for you!  The idea of Heartwork first sprung up in a Colorado youth group, and it's now helping students and youth groups across the country care for orphans around the globe.  But this vision is not only about the needs of orphans.  It's also about rescuing American youth from self-absorbed lives and helping us all grasp God's great love for orphans…and for each of us as well! 

 

 

 

Presenter:  Jeremiah Parks, Heartwork

                  Craig Zuithoff, Third Church

Date:  Wednesday, May 30, 2012             Time:  1:00 PM Central 

 

 

Each 60-minute webinar in this series will give local advocates access to the knowledge and experience of top Alliance member churches and organizations nationwide, covering key topics on adoption, foster care and/or global orphan care.  Every webinar will be hosted by a local church orphan ministry and co-presented by one or more national experts on the subject matter.  This pairing will deliver a combination of specialist information and resources alongside a “here’s how it works in a real church” perspective.

Safe Family Host Training

Safe Families for Children Presents:  Host Family Training Day!

Prospective Safe Families are invited to a live, accelerated Comprehensive Training Session.

Date: Saturday, June 9th

Time: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Where: The Moody Church

R.S.V.P. by May 27th

Everything you need to become a certified Safe Family—

all in one place. 

•Start or submit your application

•Schedule a Home Study

•Complete your training hours

•Meet like-minded families who will support you!

Contact Tom Csora at  773-573-6759 or tcsora@safefamilies.net.

Register at  http://trainingsafefamilies.eventbrite.com

Youth Services Bureau (YSB) of Illinois Valley

Invites You....

24th ANNUAL CHILDREN’S CHALLENGE

GOLF OUTING & DINNER

CHILDREN’S CHALLENGE

Score the 1st hole-in-one on hole #6 and

receive $10,000 CASH

Contest sponsored by the Bank of Montgomery

HOLE-IN-ONE CONTEST

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
PHONE: 630/820-6303

Youth Service Bureau (YSB) is a community based not for profit child welfare agency established in 1976.

As a community based agency, YSB responds to the changing needs of children and families in the Illinois Valley through a variety of programs. YSB's board, staff, and donors strive to improve the quality of life for the people the agency serves, and by doing so improve the Illinois Valley community.

Current services include outreach counseling, treatment, foster care, youth and family activities, Hispanic services, and early childhood education at The Kids' Place.

 

 

Leadership Team

Members of the Vulnerable Children's Ministry Leadership Team were privileged to attend the 2012 Christian Alliance for Orphans Summit earlier this month.  It was a rich time of learning, networking and being inspired by God. Thank you for praying for us while we were there.   I wish each and every one of you reading this blog could have been there!  You may want to make plans for next year's Summit which will be held May 1-2, 2013 in Nashville, TN. 

Steven Curtis Chapman Concert on the last evening.

I wanted to let you know that each and every plenary session and breakout session from this year's Summit are now available for purchase.  Main sessions are available as a download or on d.v.d. and breakout sessions are available as a download or a c.d.  Below is the link to purchase the sessions.  I encourage you to check out the titles and purchase the ones that would be helpful for your ministry.
http://www.conventionmedia.net/for20coreplc.html

The Summit was hosted at the beautiful campus of Saddleback Church.

You are Invited to Join us as we
Commemorate
National Foster Care Awareness Month

Learn the many ways you can support children in foster care in a

one-time serve or on an ongoing basis.

Sunday, May 20th, 2012
5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Willow Creek Community Church
67 E. Algonquin Road, So. Barrington, IL 60010
Room F150 (Downstairs in the 2 yr. old Promiseland room.  Use parking lot F)
* The evening will include a pot-luck dinner from 5:00 – 5:45Please bring a dish to pass.  Beverages will be provided.

*We will announce plans for a makeover of the visitation room at the D.C.F.S. facility in Elgin.  Come and here how you can be a part of this exciting initiative this summer.

* Donations will be collected for the resource closet that our ministry will be maintaining at the Elgin D.C.F.S. office.  If you’re able, please bring one or more of the following needed items:

* Diapers or pull-ups
* Toothbrushes(single wrapped)/Toothpaste
* Snacks (single serving sized only)
* Juice boxes or bags
* Crayons/Coloring Books

R.S.V.P.’s are not necessary, but are helpful in our planning.

Child care is provided if you r.s.v.p. with the number of children and their ages to vcministry127@gmail.com. 


Jami Kaeb has an enthusiasm and passion for the Lord that spills over onto those she meets. She shares from her life with authenticity and humor in a way that others relate to. Jami lives in Bloomington, Illinois with her husband, Clint, and their six children (three of whom they are adopting from foster care.) She is also the founder of The Forgotten Initiative, a ministry dedicated to bringing joy and purpose to the foster care community.

The Forgotten Initiative is a ministry of Lifesong for Orphans
http://www.theforgotteninitiative.org/
www.facebook.com/forgotteninitiative


This event is hosted by the Vulnerable Children’s Ministry at Willow Creek Community Church
vcministry127@gmail.com

 

Come and learn how you can be a part of supporting the foster care community.
Guest Speaker, Jami Kaeb, founder of The Forgotten Initiative, will share her story of how God has called her to serve the foster care community.   She will give practical ways that you can become involved as an advocate, a donor, a supporter or a foster parent. 

Save the Adoption Tax Credit is the effort of a national collaboration of organizations and individuals called the Adoption Tax Credit Working Group that have united to support the cause of adoption by advocating for the adoption tax credit. We know the adoption tax credit is an important resource to help children find forever families and make adoption affordable for all.

The adoption tax credit, which can be claimed for eligible adoption-related expenses, has helped thousands of American families offset the high cost of adoption since the credit was established in 1997. Since 2003, families that adopted children with special needs could claim the full credit regardless of their qualified adoption expenses. The credit has made adoption a more viable option for many parents who might not otherwise have been able to afford adoption, allowing them to provide children with loving, permanent families. With more than 100,000 children in U.S. foster care available for adoption, and countless millions of orphaned and abandoned children around the world, the continuation of the adoption tax credit is vital to providing love, safety, and permanency to as many children as possible.

The goal is have an adoption tax credit that is:

• Inclusive: Children, whether adopted from foster care, through intercountry adoption, or through private domestic adoption should be able to benefit from the adoption tax credit.

• Permanent: The adoption tax credit should become a permanent part of the tax code to ensure continued support to those who bring children into families through adoption.

• Refundable: The adoption tax credit should be refundable to ensure that families with moderate and lower incomes receive the full benefit of the credit.

• Flat for Special Needs: All families who adopt a child with special needs should be eligible for a “flat” tax credit, meaning they can claim the maximum credit without documenting expenses. This distinction, which is already in current law, recognizes the fact that many of the expenses associated with adopting children with special needs show up after an adoption is finalized.

If you would like to learn more and advocate for continuing the adoption tax credit, please visit http://adoptiontaxcredit.org/advocate/