Help Lydia Home Win a Makeover!

Vote for LYDIA Home in IKEA's Click for Cause Project

Want to help make a difference? LYDIA is competing for or the chance to win $10,000 worth of home furnishings, design expertise, and the talents of IKEA Schaumburg staff to makeover our residential units that are home to 40 abused or neglected children. Help us take home the prize! It's simple. All you have to do is: click here to vote, select the Schaumburg IKEA store then click on LYDIA Home. You can vote once a day from February 18 - March 11, 2013. Make a difference. Click for a cause today!

CAFO Webinar

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...

Building Trauma Competent Healing Caregivers: What Does That Look Like?

 

 

Presenter: Jayne Schooler, Trainer & Author

Date: THURSDAY, February 28, 2013 Time:  1:00 PM Central

 Around the globe, millions of children live in group homes and other residential settings. Many come with deep hurts from severe abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Some have lived on the streets, in orphanages, or as victims of trafficking for many years. Although the staff caring for these children often do so with giving hearts and sincere desire to bring healing, they frequently are not fully equipped for the challenges before them. When it is not possible to see these children taken into family care, how can we help dedicated caregivers to understand and meet the complex needs of wounded children? This webinar will present an overview of what it means to be a healing presence in the life of a wounded child living in a residential setting or foster home. We will discuss three essential skills and three essential tasks key to becoming that healing connection. These tasks and skills can be easily taught and practiced within any cultural setting and offer true hope and restoration to wounded, abandoned and abused children.

Jayne Schooler has worked extensively with caregivers serving wounded children in Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine the U.S. and other parts of the world. She is the author of numerous books, including her newest Wounded Children, Healing Homes: How Traumatized Children Impact Adoptive and Foster Families (Navpress). She and her husband are adoptive parents.

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.

Harvey Carey Speaks at Volunteer Rally at Willow Creek

Harvey Carey Speaks at Volunteer Rally

“By investing just three hours on a Saturday morning, people could expand their worldviews drastically,” says Heather Larson, director of Willow Creek’s Compassion & Justice team. “No passports, no shots, no plane tickets. Just come to the rally!”

“At the Compassion & Justice Rally, people can gain an in-depth look into various topics such as peacemaking, community building, and more,” says Austin Brown, Willow’s church engagement director and coordinator for the rally. “Harvey Carey, senior pastor of Citadel of Faith Covenant Church in Detroit, kicks things off with a keynote message followed by breakout sessions from Willow staff and justice advocates who bring stories from their lives plus hands-on advice, and Christ-like wisdom to each topic.”

Beyond the walls of the church
“Harvey is all about taking the church beyond the walls of their building,” Austin says, “and that is the heartbeat of our Compassion & Justice team. Our neighborhoods may be different from his, but our goal is the same: to bring the hope of Christ into our community. We want to learn and be challenged by Harvey’s story.”

The Compassion & Justice Rally aims to equip and encourage current volunteers—and anyone interested in learning more about Willow’s role in bringing compassion and justice to our world. “Our volunteers are our team’s most valuable resource,” says Austin. “The amount of time, energy, and giftedness our volunteers contribute to the work of compassion and justice at Willow Creek is staggering. They make a huge impact and we want to be good stewards of the passion and skills they offer.”

Compassion & Justice 101
But investing in current volunteers isn’t the only goal.

“We’re excited to introduce potential new volunteers to the work of Willow’s Compassion & Justice ministry,” Austin says. “The rally is a great way for anyone to grow in their understanding of the complex issues of compassion and justice, and to learn how Willow Creek volunteers make a difference.”

Heather will teach Compassion & Justice 101, a breakout session created specifically for anyone not currently involved in Compassion & Justice. Willow’s new Care Center will open in a few short months and the expanded services will mean the C&J volunteer teams will expand as well. “We have a place for you to serve,” says Heather. “In fact, we need you! Explore the Rally. Perhaps you will sense God nudging you to invest your spiritual gifts, talents, and skills on one of our teams.”

Register now
Compassion & Justice Volunteer Rally

8:30–11:30 a.m., Saturday, March 2
Willow Creek’s South Barrington campus

D.C.F.S. Classes Offered At Willow Creek

 

 

Attention all Licensed Foster Parents. There are two great upcoming DCFS training classes being offered at the South Barrington Willow Creek campus. Call DCFS registration Unit to sign up for these classes #877-800-3393.

1.CARING FOR CHILDREN WHO HAVE EXPERIECED TRAUMA: A WORKSHOP FOR RESOURCE PARENTS (15 HRS.) TUES. 3/26, 4/2, 4/9, 4/16, 4/23 – 6:30 PM – 9:30 PM

 

According to the trainer of this NEW class, it is by far one of the best classes that DCFS has to offer. Understanding how trauma affects children can help you to make sense of your child’s sometimes baffling behavior, feelings, and attitudes. Once you understand why your child behaves the way he/she does, you’ll be better prepared to help him/her cope with the effects of trauma. Come and learn how to become a trauma informed resource parent.

2. EDUCATIONAL ADVOCACY TRAINING (6 HRS.)  THURS. 4/4/13 & 4/11/13 – 6:30 PM-9:30 PM

 

This class is mandatory for renewal of your license, but it is best practice to take this class prior to having your first placement. Come and learn the skills to be a Educational Advocate for children in your care who are between the ages of newborn to 18 years old. The most frequent comment that the trainer hears at this class is “ Oh My Gosh, I wish I would have taken this class sooner. I learned so many helpful things!”

Safe Families Host Training

 

You Are Invited to a

Safe Families

Host Family Training Day!

 

Offered as an alternative to online training, this event is designed to equip you to welcome a child into your home and move you through the training process efficiently. The live Comprehensive Training Session includes everything you need to become a certified Safe Family—all in one place.  

 

Here's what you can expect to accomplish:

• Start or submit your application
• Schedule a Home Study
• Complete your training hours
• Meet like-minded families who will support you

Choose from two different locations.  Both are on February 23, 2013:

Willow Creek Community Church - North Shore Campus
315 Waukegon Road, Northfield, IL  60093
8:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Doors open at 8:30 AM for those who need to start an application, schedule a home study, start a background check, or ask one-on-one questions. Training session begins at 9:00 AM sharp.

Register Here. 

Harvest Bible Chapel - Rolling Meadows Campus
800 Rohlwing Road, Rolling Meadows, IL  60008
8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
(childcare is provided if you register in advance.)
 
This training is in conjunction with an Orphan Care Conference will include a main session as well as three workshops throughout the morning. As a prospective Safe Family, you're invited to these accelerated Comprehensive Workshops.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
(Note: This will direct you to the Harvest Bible Chapel website)

 

 

 

 For more information about Safe Families for Children, visit www.safe-families.org

Safe Families Community Meet & Greet Event

   

The Vulnerable Children's Ministry is inviting you to a Safe Families Community Meet & Greet event.  This event is for all Safe Family volunteers. Come meet other Host Families, Respite Care volunteers and Support staff.

You will have opportunity to give feedback to Safe Family staff and learn about important updates regarding the direction Safe Families is going.  We will be introducing new volunteer roles that will work and lead together to help shape the vision and direction of the Safe Family movement.

Wednesday, February 13 from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM

Willow Creek Community Church67 E Algonquin Road, South Barrington, IL 60010

Room B108 (Chapel Entrance)

 
Childcare is provided by the Midweek for Kids program at Willow, available from 6:30pm to 8:30pm.

You may contact our ministry with any questions at vcministry127@gmail.com

 

 

 

Eevah Adoption Jewelry

Monthly Pot-luck: Adoption & Foster Care Panel

The Vulnerable Children’s Ministry

Invites you to a

Monthly Pot-luck Gathering

for those interested and involved in Adoption, Foster Care and Safe Families

We invite you to understand the heart and mind of a child who has been adopted, in foster care, or growing up in a children’s home. This month we will feature a panel of adults who have traveled this road. Their stories just may give you the insight you need to reach out in love to the children that God brings into your life.

Sunday, February 17, 2013

5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Willow Creek Community Church

67 E. Algonquin Road, So. Barrington, IL 60010

Room F150 (park in the F lot and follow the signs downstairs to room F150)

Pot-Luck Dinner begins promptly at 5:00. Please bring a dish to pass. Beverages will be provided.

R. S. V.P.'s are encouraged. Childcare is available if you R.S.V.P. to vcministry127@gmail.com with the number of children and their ages.