Understanding Orphan Statistics

Please take a few moments to read this important paper written by the leadership of Christian Alliance for Orphans.http://www.christianalliancefororphans.org/cafo-white-paper/

Christian Alliance for Orphans’ White Paper

ON UNDERSTANDING ORPHAN STATISTICS

If we are to communicate with humility, credibility, and integrity, Christian orphan advocates must both accurately understand and carefully present orphan-related statistics.  Failure to do so undermines the strength of our advocacy and can misguide the actions that organizations, churches and individuals take on behalf of orphans.   Meanwhile, an accurate grasp and communication of the true nature of the need provides a strong foundation for an effective, well-focused response.  To read the full paper, click here: http://www.christianalliancefororphans.org/cafo-white-paper/

Seminar: The Adoption Process

The Process of Adoption:

  From Termination to Finalization of Parental Rights

Monday, June 18th ~ 5:30-7:00pm

Batavia Public Library, 10 S. Batavia Ave (Route 31)

Jodi Perko,

DCFS Adoption/Guardianship Supervisor

Jodi will help us understand how an adoption case travels through the Department of Children and Family Services. She will explain the various court requirements, background check processes, necessary paperwork and the generally expected timeframes for each. Jodi will also touch upon Post Adoption and Adoption Preservation services.

Please RSVP to Deb McQuaid at debm@casakanecounty.org or 630-444-3110

Sponsored by CASA Kane County

CASA Kane County is a nonprofit, volunteer organization that advocates for the best interest

of abused and neglected children within the Juvenile Court system.

Blue Sunday

Abused Children Shouldn't Have to Pray Alone.

National Blue Sunday is April 29, 2012  Join churches across the nation as they take the time in their morning service to pray for the victims of child abuse and those that rescue them.  Take the lead in making a difference in child abuse prevention efforts.  Visit http://www.bluesunday.org/ to learn more and to access their resources.

Christian Alliance for Orphans Summit VIII

I have attended the past three CAFO Summits.  It is THE conference to attend if you are involved in ministry for adoption, foster care, Safe Families, orphan care, child trafficking or vulnerable children.  It is a wonderful place to meet people from around the country who are striving to serve God through serving the fatherless.  Each year I look forward to hearing God's voice at this Summit.  He seems to speak loud and clear as he empowers, inspires and leads me in the direction of our ministry at Willow Creek.  This conference is definitely a shot in the arm that I need each year.  It reminds me to .." not become weary of doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Gal. 6:9)

If you're able, I encourage you to attend this conference or help sponsor a pastor or ministry leader from your church to attend. 

The Christian Alliance for Orphans’ annual Summit has become the national hub for what Christianity Today recently called, “the burgeoning Christian orphan care movement.” Summit VIII on May 3-4, 2012 at Saddleback Church in Southern California is expected to draw 1,800 to 2,000 pastors, grassroots advocates, organizational leaders and church ministry heads.

Alongside more than eighty workshops, the unforgettable plenary sessions will include Francis Chan, Rick and Kay Warren, Crawford Lorritts, Dennis Rainey, Steven Curtis Chapman, and other global leaders.

Summit inspires, equips and connects for adoption, foster care and global orphan ministry.  For more information and to register for the Summit, visit http://www.christianalliancefororphans.org/. 

Families By Design Adoption

I found this great resource which many of you will find helpful. I encourage you to check it out.

After adopting 3 children from foster care, Karla's passion to see children's lives changed was fueled. She spent several years assisting other parents in building and expanding their families. This passion soon turned into Family by Design ~All Things Adoption. Leaving a long career in bank management and human resources, Karla assists prospective parents in accomplishing their dream of parenthood and changing children's lives.


Family by Design~All Things Adoption is a consulting firm dedicated to the advocacy of adoption and foster care. They firmly believe that our children should be the ultimate focus to ensure their needs and dreams are fulfilled. FBD was started out of a passion and heart to see childrens' and parents lives changed through this precious gift of adoption and foster care!

FBD also focuses extreme effort in assisting adoptive parents in parenting and raising confident and well-adjusted children. We firmly believe that giving the adoptive parent/foster parent the tools needed provides each child with an experience of freedom, joy and a positive self-identity.

Through their radio program, seminars and private consulting on adoption and adoptive parenting they provide information and inspiration. They also provide tools, resources and e-books that guide clients through the process.

Their vision is to increase the awareness of children that need loving families and provide all the information that a parent needs to help their children succeed.

familybydesignadoption.com

Interviews from Summit VII Air this Week on Family Life Today

September 27th, 2011

by Jedd Medefind, President of the Christian Alliance for Orphans

The unforgettable interviews done live on stage by Dennis Rainey and Bob Lepine at Summit VII are being aired on Family Life this week! The interviewed with Carolyn Twietmeyer ran yesterday, and can be listened to or downloaded online, titled “Welcome Home"
(http://www.familylife.com/site/c.dnJHKLNnFoG/b.6240603/k.2C4F/Search_FamilyLife_Audio_Library.htm

The interview with Luther and Rebecca Ellis airs today and can also be heard in Family Life’s online archive, titled "The Adoption Journey"

(http://www.familylife.com/site/c.dnJHKLNnFoG/b.6240603/k.2C4F/Search_FamilyLife_Audio_Library.htm)

Admittedly, both of these adoptive families are larger than most. But each gives a compelling look at a specific aspect of adoption, while also offering moving stories and insights that apply to any family.

About Luther and Rebecca Elliss: Luther John Elliss is a former American football defensive tackle in the National Football League. He played for the Detroit Lions for 8 seasons before he was released in 2003. He played for the Denver Broncos for one season, before retiring in 2004. In his time in the NFL, he was a two time Pro Bowler after the 1999 and 2000 seasons. Luther is married to Rebecca and their children include Kaden, Olivia, Christian, Noah, Isaiah, Isabelle, Sophia and Jonah. Rebecca and Luther are actively involved with the Act of Love adoption agency based in Salt Lake City. They’ve donated money, spread the word of adoption and they sit on the agency’s board of directors.

About Carolyn Twietmeyer: Carolyn Twietmeyer and her husband Kiel are parents to 13 wonderful children. The Twietmeyers have adopted from Ethiopia three times (two sibling groups of three children) because they recognized the vitality of keeping orphan siblings together and minimizing their losses. One of their children is HIV+ and another is diagnosed with stage 4 AIDS. Carolyn is Founder/ Executive Director of Project HOPEFUL, an organization dedicated to educating, encouraging, and enabling families and individuals to advocate for and adopt children with HIV/AIDS. Carolyn advocates for orphans by speaking at various conferences around the country, and has been featured in national and international publications, radio, and on television news shows.

Christian Alliance for Orphans Summit Recap

If you were at the Summit, relive the richness and re-engage actions you intended to take. And if you missed it, catch a glimpse of what the excitement was all about. (And make plans for May 3-4, 2012 at Saddleback Church in southern California!)

(Be sure to mute the blog music at the bottom of the page before starting the video)

2009 Midwest Adoption Conference

The 16th Midwest Adoption Conference is being held at Trinity International University in Deerfield, IL on Sunday, November 1, 2009. This annual conference is for adoptive families, prospective adoptive parents, adoption professionals, adult adoptees, birth parents and foster parents.



This year's Keynote Speaker is Dr. Jaiya John, PhD who is an author and speaker and Founder of Soul Water Rising, a global human relations mission.



For more information and to register for this conference, please visit http://www.midwestadoption.org/.

Please note that despite the location at a Christian University, this is not a Christian-Based conference.

Adoption & Foster Care Conference

Tapestry, the adoption and foster care ministry at Irving Bible Church, will host its annual adoption and foster care conference on October 24, 2009, in Irving, Texas. As in past years, the conference will include a great line-up of practical breakout sessions that are highly relevant to adoptive and foster parents. This year’s conference sessions include topics such as the practical benefits of play, sensory processing issues, talking with children about the difficult realities of adoption and foster care as well as two sessions focused on older child adoption – just to name a few.

In addition, this year’s Tapestry Conference will once again feature speakers from TCU’s Institute of Child Development. Tabatha Gunn will lead a session entitled Making Sense of Sensory Issues, while Dr. Karyn Purvis will be featured during the general session with a talk entitled The Connecting Link: What Parents Need to Bring Healing to Their Children.

We hope that you can attend this year’s Tapestry Conference. However, if that is not possible we will provide future updates as to how you can obtain CDs, DVDs and other materials relating to the conference. In the meantime, be sure to check out resources from past Tapestry Conferences.