Compassion International's "Act for Compassion" Conference!

Act for Compassion Conference

Friday, April 15, 2016 - Saturday, April 16, 2016
5:30 PM - 5:30 PM

Community Christian Church --Naperville Yellow Box
1635 Emerson Lane
Naperville, Illinois 60540

Everyone can act for Compassion to help release children from poverty in Jesus' name.

(All are welcome and invited-- Compassion supporters, advocates, people unfamiliar with Compassion, families, children and youth, churches, leaders, your friends and family, etc.)

Summary

This conference will inspire you to Act for Compassion so we can change the story for children living in extreme poverty. The conference will include:

• Participating in a Walk With Compassion. As a conference registrant, you will receive email updates about how to engage in the fundraiser prior to the conference and the actual Walk that is scheduled for the morning of April 16.
• Dove Award nominee Shaun Groves will be sharing with us through songs and words throughout the entire conference.
• Compassion alumnus Ben Mwangi from Kenya will inspire us with his story and the impact Compassion and his sponsor have had on his life.
• Be inspired by the documentary film premiere, "Central Help," produced by Emmy-nominated director Jon Ross who asks the question, "How different would this world be if poverty didn't exist?"
• Hear what others are doing to Act for Compassion -- some teens who planted a church and a retired man from Wisconsin who raised funds to rebuild classrooms in El Salvador.
• Author Lorie Lee will be leading day-long interactive activities for children and youth as they experience what it means to be "Global in your Local." 
• There will be a session on utilizing the Act for Compassion platform, plus topical workshops and Q & A sessions, plus much more.
• The Compassion Store will be open and you can peruse the various resource booths.
• Breakfast, lunch and snacks will be provided as part of your registration fee.

More information and REGISTRATION here!

Adoption Family Retreat

 

 Adoption Family Retreat at 

Silver Birch Ranch, White Lake, WI

March 11-13, 2016

The Adoption Family Retreat is a time to encourage and strengthen your family in many ways. Hear excellent Biblical teaching from speakers who share your life situation. Enjoy networking with other families, and receive counsel and advice from professionals in the field. Horseback riding, ziplines, the climbing wall, tubing hills, broomball, cross-country ski trails, and a warm fireplace are a sampling of some of the activities you can enjoy with your family. This weekend is suited for families who have adopted, are in the process of adopting, or who are investigating adoption. Come join us as we encourage each other.

For more information and to register click HERE.

Retreat Speaker - Russ Couwenhoven

Russ an Ann Couwenhoven are parents to 12 children (2 foster, 5 adopted and 5 biological). They reside in Minneapolis where Russ is a Conference Superintendent for the Evangelical Church and Ann is a stay at home mom. They have been in pastoral ministry for 25 years serving churches in Iowa, Michigan, and Minnesota. God called them to adopt 17 years ago and still is placing youth in their home through foster care. Life in the Couwenhoven home is joyful, unpredictable, humorous, overwhelming and yet satisfying beyond human understanding. Russ grew up attending Silver Birch Ranch and is honored to be invited back to the place where God first grabbed hold of his heart. (Click here to view a family photo.)

Retreat Partner - Bethany Christian Services

	We are excited to partner with Bethany Christian Services. They are sending Michelle Scott – Grant a Post Adoption Therapist and Jenny Schmeichel to not only lead seminars but they are making themselves available throughout the weekend to meet, encourage and answer your questions. See below for a brief bio on Michelle and Jenny along with seminar descriptions.
Michelle Scott is a WI Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She deeply believes and enjoys partnering with families as they create strong healthy relationships. She has received training in Family Systems Theory, Solution Focused Therapy, TBRI and more. For 15+ years much of her career focused on permanency, either through reunification or adoption. Michelle has expertise with trauma, grief/loss, high-risk youth, child and adolescent behaviors, parenting, family conflict and adoption/foster care.
Jenny Schmeichel has earned her Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. She currently supervises the International and Infant Domestic Adoption programs for Bethany in Wisconsin. She possesses a wide range of training and experience in adoption related challenges, providing education and support to adoptive families and other professionals.

Bring Valentine Love to Vulnerable Children

Valentines Day Packing Party!

 

Help us bring cheer to vulnerable children this Valentine’s Day.

 

 

 

Come help us put together “goodie” bags with Valentine’s Day

cards, stuffed animals, candy and other items to bring to children in

various hospitals, children's’ homes and programs for individuals

with disabilities.

Sunday, February 7th after the 11:15 service

At Willow Creek Community Church, So. Barrington - Room B206

 

 

Please contact Kelly Cox at 630-674-2710 if you'd like to participate or donate.

 

Project Home Children's Foundation: Supporting adoptions, orphanages, education and programs for underprivileged children, including those with special needs.  www.projecthomecf.org

 

Empowered to Connect Conference Comes to Willow Creek!

We are excited to announce.....

in Partnership with Holt-Sunnyridge and Show Hope, 

Willow Creek Community Church will be a simulcast host site for the 

Empowered to Connect Conference 

 - A conference featuring the director of TCU's Institute of Child Development, Dr. Karyn Purvis, and other guest speakers. 

The two-day experience will take place in Nashville, Tennessee on 

April 8-9, 2016 and will be broadcast live throughout the U.S.

  

Don't miss it!  

Watch the trailer and then 

REGISTER TODAY!

The Empowered to Connect conference is designed to help adoptive and foster parents, ministry leaders and childcare professionals learn to connect with children who have experienced grief or trauma - children who come, as Dr. Purvis says, from "hard places." The conference will offer hands-on, practical tips to engage with and support at-risk children.

Conference Schedule

Conference sessions will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Pacific & Central time zones) both days, with a break for lunch.

Register before February 29th to receive a free guidebook! CEUs available.

If you have any questions, please contact Katelyn Marks at:

katelynm@holtinternational.org | 541-687-2202 ext. 111

Bethany Christian Services Fundraising Luncheon

A Child's Hope
A Fundraising Luncheon

Bethany's heart is for children, and every child deserves a loving family - that's where they thrive best.  Across the United States and around the world, we are shining God's love into the hard places and striving to bring children and families together.  You are an important partner in this ministry, and your giving equips families to be a child's hope.

Lunch will be a gift from our sponsors and reservations are required.

An opportunity will be provided to support the ministries of Bethany Christian Services and Safe Families for Children.

Thursday, March 3, 2016
12:00 - 1:15 pm

Doors open at 11:15 am

Program begins promptly at Noon 

The Carlisle
435 East Butterfield Rd
Lombard, IL 

Please register by February 18, 2016.

REGISTER HERE

Family Teachers Needed at Mooseheart

Join Mooseheart Child City and School in its mission to care for at-risk children and teens. Mooseheart, located 40 miles west of Chicago, is searching for couples or individuals who strongly believe that every child deserves a healthy, happy, nurturing environment in which to grow, and who are willing to dedicate their careers to enriching the lives of children and teens.
 

Mooseheart Family Teachers provide safe and caring home environments for children ranging in age from newborns to high school seniors. Family Teachers are responsible for teaching social and independent living skills, as well as providing educational assistance, self-esteem building, and spiritual and moral guidance.

            
             Mooseheart offers Family Teachers:

• Eligibility for full health and low-cost dental benefits beginning the first of the month following employment
• Business vehicle available (when responsible for live-in youth)
• Free room and board (equivalent to a savings of more than $750 per month)
• Low cost employee medical health (BCBS-PPO or HMO) and dental insurance
• Self-directed 401(k) - company makes annual contributions regardless of employee's contributions
• Paid vacations, personal time off, and holidays
• Two days off each week, with 1 bonus day added each month.

            Requirements:

• Minimum 21 years of age
• Possess valid driver's license and a good driving record
• High School diploma required (College degree preferred), experience is a plus - but not necessary
• Ability to work within a team approach and possess conflict-management skills
• Must have the ability to live and work within our campus environment, and have a personality that is nurturing, energetic, patient, and persistent. Must have the ability to work under challenging conditions, and possess strong oral, written, organization, and time-management skills.

    For more information or to apply, click HERE.

Ministry Reception at Willow Creek

The Vulnerable Children's Ministry 

Invites you to

A Ministry Reception

 Learn - Connect - Grow!

Learn about the needs of children in crisis and how you can be a part of the solution.

Connect  with others who have a passion to nurture & help children’s hearts heal.

Celebrate  God’s power to heal & redeem his children.

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

7:30 PM – 8:45 PM

Willow Creek Community Church

67 E. Algonquin Road, So. Barrington, IL (room b100)

There will be an opportunity to ask questions about adoption, foster care, Safe Families, Short-Term Mission trips, and Royal Family Kids Camp.

***Registration for this event is not required.

Childcare for infants through pre-K is available and Awana is available for Kindergarten through Grade 5 at Midweek for Kids. http://www.willowcreek.org/midweekforkids 

D.C.F.S. Foster Care Classes at Willow Creek Community Church

The following classes will be held at  

Willow Creek Community Church

67 E. Algonquin Road, So. Barrington, IL

PRE-SERVICE TRAINING FOR PROSPECTIVE FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE PARENTS (27 hours)

Thursdays, January 14, 2016 through March 10, 2016                                 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

The goal of this competency based training is to share essential information about fostering and adopting that will help the participants to develop into a successful foster and/or adoptive family.  It will also help you to learn the knowledge and skills you need to make an informed decision about fostering or adopting and get off to a healthy start.  Please note: you must be referred to this class by an agency.

ADOPTION CERTIFICATION “From Foster Care to Adoption” (9 hours)

Tuesdays, January 12, 19, 29, 2016                                     6:00-10:00p.m.

The purpose of this training is to meet the needs of experienced foster parents who are adopting a child who they are currently fostering. It is a requirement that foster parents take this training prior to the adoption being finalized.

EDUCATIONAL ADVOCACY TRAINING FOR FOSTER PARENTS (6 hours)

(TWO SESSIONS OFFERED – PICK ONE)

Saturday, March 19, 2016                                        9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.             

Saturday, June 4, 2016                                               9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The purpose of this class is to provide foster parents the basic information and skills necessary to advocate for and obtain quality special education and developmental services for the children in their care who are between the ages of newborn to 18 years old. Best practice is for this class to be taken prior to receiving a foster placement and it is mandatory to take prior to renewal of your foster care license.

*Registration is required to attend these classes. Call the DCFS Registration Unit #877-800-3393

For more information, please call your local DCFS office or e-mail vcministry127@gmail.com.