Thursday, November 10, 2016

New Video Series for Adoptive Parents!



A 14 Video Series with Study Guide


ROOTED is Now Available! 

After much anticipation and by God’s grace, we are pleased to announce that the ROOTED online video course and companion study guide is now available! 

Many families with adopted children are struggling and some are even falling apart. These struggling families are in your church. They may be in your extended family. Or maybe you would raise your hand and say, “we need some help ourselves.”In our ministry to equip churches to help orphans, Hope for Orphans has seen the growing need for parenting resources for adoptive families. ROOTED is an answer to this need. 

The ROOTED online course and companion study guide are designed for parents anywhere in the adoption process, whether you are considering adoption for the first time or have had your children in your family for years. It’s also designed to be used by church orphan ministries, adoption/foster care agencies, and biblical counselors.

ROOTED provides hope-filled, gospel-focused exhortations from teachers like Paul Tripp and Voddie Baucham, as well as practical advice from experts like the director of the Mayo Clinic’s center for holistic health, the leader of the Play Therapy Institute at Texas State University and the President of the Association of Biblical Counselors.
“Full of sound biblical teaching and wisdom, along with practical tips and counseling expertise. I highly recommend this as a guide as you seek to nurture your kids and lead them to Jesus.”—Josh McDowell, author and speaker

“A phenomenal, gospel-driven resource that I hope ends up in the hands of every family that has adopted or is thinking about adoption.”—Matt Carter, Pastor of Preaching, The Austin Stone Community Church, Austin, Texas
“Honest. Authentic. Gritty. Biblical.”—John Fuller, Co-Host, Focus on the Family. Founding Board Member, CAFO

To learn more or to purchase the videos and workbooks for your church, family, or organization, visit hopefororphans.org/rooted.

Sunday, October 30, 2016

The Most Anticipated Event of the Year!

In honor of Orphan Sunday, bring your kids to this family friendly event, and  help with hands-on projects that will serve vulnerable children in our community!



 

Pizza! Movie! Princesses! Superheroes!
Prizes! Photo Ops!
FREE admission when you RSVP Here.

Section Communities and Willow Creek's Vulnerable Children's Ministry, Safe Families for Children, Trafficking Ministry, Refugee Ministry, Kids Hope, Royal Family Kids Camp, & Angel Tree join together for the first time to bring you the most anticipated event of the year!

We are bringing a message of hope to the true superheros in the world today, orphans & vulnerable children!!!!

  Saturday, November 5th at 3PM

Willow Creek Community Church, So. Barrington, IL

Participate in hands-on projects that will serve orphans and children at risk! Kids are invited to walk through Activity Stations to help us complete the projects with help from their favorite Super Heroes and Princesses.



We will provide the supplies, pizza dinner with Movie Feature: Tangled, entertainment, drawings, prizes, and interactive live Storytime Show! Our favorite characters will help kids understand how much courage it takes to follow their dreams and be heroes! The Storytime interactive show starts directly after Willow's 5:30PM Love Everyone, Always message. 

It's all FREE, but you must RSVP! For a complete schedule of activities, click here!

Please share this email, or invite friends on Facebook

See you there!

Monday, October 17, 2016

Give Yourself A Break!



Parents' Night Out

We'll take care of your kiddos while you take care of you!
 

Saturday, October 22, from 5 - 8pm

at
Church of the Resurrection
935 W. Union Ave.
Wheaton, IL 60187


Does your child have a costume they love to wear? For this parents' night out, our children's activities will be costume themed! Dressing up is welcomed, but not required.
 
Every parent struggles to find those peaceful moments to savor some hot coffee, read a good book, spend time in silence with God, or plan a date night with your spouse. So let us help you! We've planned a fun-filled night for your children while you enjoy a night out. Drop your children off after 5 pm and pick them up before 8 pm. All children are welcome.

**Please bring your children fed. We will NOT be providing dinner**

Things to do in the Wheaton/Glen Ellyn Area:
Coffee shops: River City Roasters, Starbucks, Blackberry Market

Restaurants: Gia Mia, Mai Thai, A Toda Madre, Front Street Cantina, Bricks Wood Fire Pizza, India Palace, Muldoon's, Fire and Wine, Ivy Restaurant, Suzette's Creperie, Tasting Devine
 
 Movie theater: Glen Art Theater, AMC

Arts & Crafts: Out on a Whim (Paint your own Pottery)

 
**Please RSVP no later than October 18**
Donations of either $10 or $15 per family to cover childcare costs are welcomed, but not required
Any Questions? Contact Hollee at replanted@churchrez.org
RSVP Here

 

Monday, October 10, 2016

Workshop: Facilitating Behavioral Change!






The Vulnerable Children's Ministry and
Bethany Christian Services


Presents

An Empowered to Connect Workshop!

Join us for our final Empowered to Connect workshop of the year! 


This video-driven workshop will be facilitated by Alison Lamsma, MA, LSW from Bethany Christian Services.


Topic: Facilitating Behavioral Change: Tragically, children with histories of abuse, neglect, or trauma are more likely to display "problem behaviors", which are often driven by fear.  Dr. Karyn Purvis explores the concepts of connecting and correcting principles.
 
Wednesday, October 26th
7:30pm - 8:45pm
Willow Creek Community Church,
Room: Guest Central (off the main lobby)
67 E. Algonquin Road, So. Barrington, IL 60010
 
 ***Training Credit Hours are offered for licensed foster parents.

Questions?  E-mail vulnerablechildren@willowcreek.org

Childcare for infants through pre-K is available, and Awana is available for Kindergarten through Grade 5 at Midweek for Kids.

Sunday, October 9, 2016

New support group forming!




JOIN A SUPPORT GROUP!

The Vulnerable Children's Ministry at Willow Creek, and Replanted ministry at Church of the Resurrection are pleased to announce that a new support group for adoptive, foster and Safe Families host parents is being formed.

Our support groups are safe places for families to share their journeys with one another. We desire for these groups to be a place of encouragement and prayer for families as they care for children. With that as the heart of our ministry, we ask that families seek to commit to these support groups, to intentionally plan for these monthly meetings in order to create relationship and community with other families. We believe that as families and children grow in relationship, that these groups can become a place of deep trust and encouragement for all involved.

When: Beginning October 20th and then monthly - every 3rd Thursday of the month from 6:15-8:15pm. (Oct 2016-May 2017, with no meeting in Dec.)

Where: A home in South Barrington, IL

Childcare: Childcare is provided by trained volunteers who understand the special needs of kids who have experienced loss and trauma.

Dinner: Dinner will be provided for parents by volunteers.  Please have your kids fed before you come.

Curriculum: The group will follow a curriculum designed specifically for adoptive and foster parents.
 
Registration is limited, so register now! (The So. Barrington group is currently listed as Elgin/Bolingbrook.  Click that selection to register for So.Barrington)
 

Monday, September 19, 2016

Workshop: Empowering, Connecting & Correcting

 
The Vulnerable Children's Ministry and
Bethany Christian Services


Presents

An Empowered to Connect Workshop!

This months topic: Empowering, Connecting, & Correcting
 
These workshops are video-driven, and facilitated by Alison Lamsma, MA, LSW from Bethany Christian Services.


Empowering, Connecting, & Correcting: Dr. Karyn Purvis explains her research-based approach with children who come from "hard places." She explains how harm during critical stages of brain growth causes significant disruptions in a child's development & behaviors. Through research and years of experience, Dr. Purvis offers a path of healing through a trust-based, relationship-based holistic approach.
 
Wednesday, September 28th
7:30pm - 8:45pm
Willow Creek Community Church, Room: Guest Central
67 E. Algonquin Road, So. Barrington, IL 60010


***Training Credit Hours are offered for licensed foster parents.

Questions?  E-mail vulnerablechildren@willowcreek.org

Childcare for infants through pre-K is available, and Awana is available for Kindergarten through Grade 5 at Midweek for Kids.

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Optimizing Futures for Children with FASD




Optimizing Futures for Children with 
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder


Wednesday, September 14, 2016
1:30- 2:30 pm (Central)
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (formerly called Fetal Alcohol Syndrome) can occur in individuals whose mothers drank alcohol during pregnancy.  FASD can affect physical, cognitive, and emotional development, and the effects may be lifelong.  This condition tends to occur more frequently in children whose biological mothers live in low resource environments or lack adequate prenatal care.  

For parents and caregivers, FASD can be a discouraging diagnosis, one that inspires fear and overwhelm.  However, with adequate care, support, and structure, children with this condition can have improved outcomes.  Dr. Judith Eckerle will share about diagnosis, intervention, and steps to take to give kids with FASD the best chance of living healthy, full lives.

This is the ninth module in the CAFO Knowledge + Practice webinar series,  which translates research into actionable information that OVC care practitioners can implement immediately to elevate the quality of the care they provide. 
  

Friday, September 9, 2016

Dr. Phil Explains How You Can Become a CASA Volunteer and Help a Child i...

Court Appointed Special Advocates!


What is CASA for Children?

Every day in this country, 1,900 children become victims of abuse or neglect, and four of them will die. Every day. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for Children is a network of nearly 1,000 community-based programs that recruit, train and support citizen-volunteers to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children in courtrooms and communities. Volunteer advocates—empowered directly by the courts—offer judges the critical information they need to ensure that each child’s rights and needs are being attended to while in foster care.

Volunteers stay with children until they are placed in loving permanent homes. For many abused children, a CASA volunteer is the only constant adult presence in their lives.

If you would like to make a difference in the life of a child in foster care by becoming a CASA, please visit www.casaforchildren.org to see how you can get involved.

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Domestic Infant Adoption Class!


The Vulnerable Children's Ministry Presents....

Domestic Adoption: A Master Class…Covering the basics and beyond!
 Rebecca Gruenspan, founder of RG Adoption Consulting, will help you understand what it takes to realize your dream of "having a baby" through domestic agency adoption. She will walk you through the process and answer your most pressing questions such as: 
 ➣ Will I get chosen if: I’m single, already have children, over 40? 
 How long does the adoption process take? 
 How do I find the right agency? 
 Is it possible to adopt a healthy baby? 
 Open adoption – what does it mean and what if the birth mother changes her mind? 
 ...and more! It’s not your typical Adoption 101. 
 
Wednesday, September 14th from Noon-1:00pm

 Classes will be held via "Zoom", an on-line video meeting site. 

You may access the meeting in one of the following ways:
 
www.zoom.us.
Meeting ID: 806 116 9382
 
From PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android:
https://zoom.us/j/8061169382
 
From iPhone one-tap (US Toll):  +14086380968,8061169382# or +16465588656,8061169382#
 
From Telephone:
Dial: +1 408 638 0968 (US Toll) or +1 646 558 8656 (US Toll)
Meeting ID: 806 116 9382
 
Rebecca Gruenspan, MSW, is the Founder of RG Adoption Consulting. Rebecca works with hopeful adoptive parents to educate, guide and be a hand to hold through the domestic adoption process.  She also has years of experience as a therapist, fundraiser, event planner, presenter and mentor.www.rgadoptionconsulting.com