Find Your Niche in Serving Vulnerable Children!

Adoption, Foster Care & Safe Families Informational Open House

Interested in serving the adoption, foster care and Safe Families communities? 

Join us for an open house event where you can learn about the many opportunities 

available in our church and community.

Wednesday, February 8^th, 7:30-8:45pm

Willow Creek Community Church

(In Guest Central, off the main lobby)

67 E. Algonquin Road, So. Barrington, IL

There will be representatives that you can talk to about adoption, foster care, Safe Families, Royal Family Kids Camp and C.A.S.A. (Court Appointed Special Advocates) ) Whether you want to welcome kids into your home or support kids and families in another way, come and find your niche! 

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.

http://www.willowcreek.org/midweekforkids  

Get Ready for Parents' Night Out!

"They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor." - Isaiah 61:3b

Parents' Night Out We'll take care of your kiddos while you take care of you! **Please RSVP no later than January 17 at midnight** Saturday, January 21st, from 5 - 8pm at Church of the Resurrection 935 W. Union Ave. Wheaton, IL 60187 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) Donations to cover childcare costs are welcomed, but not required Any Questions? Contact Hollee at replanted@churchrez.org RSVP Here

Safe Familes Sunday

 

Safe Families invites you to join us for Safe Families Sunday at your local church, as we connect children of parents in distress with host families who are committed to sharing the love of Christ by opening their home. By providing this extended family environment to those most vulnerable, you can help keep a child safe and reunite a family in Christ’s name.

Safe Families Sunday

February 12th, 2017

 

We are encouraging churches to participate by showing a brief video, making an announcement, incorporating it into a sermon,  hosting a reception, or create your own way to be involved.

 

If you have questions or need additional resources such as scripts, videos, sermons, etc. contact danderson@lydiahome.org.  

Come for Portraits and Pizza!

Adoptive Families, Foster Families and
Safe Families Hosts
  Are invited to attend a  

Family Photo Night

Hosted by the Vulnerable Children’s Ministry

Wednesday, January 11^th, 2017
Willow Creek Community Church/So. Barrington
Room TBD
5:30 – 7:30pm
 

 

Have a FREE family portrait and/or child’s portrait taken.

• Foster/Safe Families: Many children in protective care do not have pictures to remember important people or events in their lives, or even a picture of themselves.  Bring your Foster or Safe Families child to take a photo they can keep forever! 

• Take a photo with your family or invite the child’s family to come.If you know of a sibling group, all families are welcome to bring the kids together for a fun evening! 

• Adoptive Families: Take advantage of taking that long overdue family portrait you’ve been meaning to arrange! 

 

 Enjoy FREE pizza and salad!

Come for community with other adoptive, foster and Safe Families!

Please R.S.V.P. to vcministry127@gmail.com so that we can get a count for food and photographers.

Help an Orphan Find their Forever Family!

Just TWO Weeks Left! Miracle of Adoption

We have just two weeks remaining of our Miracle of Adoption Christmas Campaign!

Thank you for bearing with us! Thank you for bearing with us when we had our server problem last Friday. Everything is running smoothly again, so please stop by the MACC page! GO NOW!

We've raised $70,000+ Seven children have found their family! AND 35 kids have made their $1000 MACC goal! BUT there are still 65 who need your help to make the goal! TODAY we have an $8000 BUMP MATCH! When a child is bumped over the $500 mark, our donor will bump the BOTTOM child over the $500 mark too! DONATE DONATE NOW!

DONATE NOW!

Tween Support Group!

New Tween Group!

We are dedicated to supporting our Holt-Sunny Ridge families for life — through every age and stage. And recently, we’ve heard a lot of you ask for a program especially for your tween-aged kids…  So we are very excited to announce a brand new Tween Adoptee Group at Holt-Sunny Ridge! Starting on December 13, we invite all 11 to 14-year-olds to come together for a fun, interactive time that focuses on building self worth. The group will be led by Carly Schrimpl, LCSW, and will take place from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. at our office in Bolingbrook the second Tuesday of each month. While tweens meet, parents can also meet together at our office.  Click here to register for the first Tween Adoptee Group on December 13! The cost is $20 per child, and space is limited.  If you have any questions, please contact Pam Shepard, Supervisor of Clinical Services, at pams@holtsunnyridge.org or 630-754-4523. We hope to see you there!

HOLT-SUNNY RIDGE 270 Remington Blvd, Suite D Bolingbrook, Illinois 60440

   

Adopteen Midpoint Retreat in Oregon!

Registration for the Adopteen Midpoint Retreat in Oregon is open!

Adopteen focuses on providing positive, face to face opportunities for teen adoptees ages 13 and up.  It’s a chance to meet other adoptees in a casual and positive environment that is organized and led by young adult adoptees!  We host events throughout the year and travel to a different part of the country each time.  We strive to make new friends, and take pride in who we are and where we come from.

Midpoint is a chance for adoptees to get a quick taste of Adopteen.  It’s a whole Camp-Conference packed into a long weekend - a small dose of all the fun a Camp-Conference has to offer.  We will be going to Gresham, Oregon this year, which is 30 minutes outside of Portland, from January 14-16th. We are excited to be surrounded by the beautiful woods for our outdoor adventure!

Click below for a quick overview of what our Camp-Conferences have to offer!

You can find out more information about Adopteen Midpoint Oregon by clicking here.

For more information about Adopteen and to register, visit www.adopteen.org or email info@adopteen.org! 

Kate Cruz | Program Assistant
6920 S. Holly Circle, Centennial, CO 80112 | (303) 850-9998 x14
kate@adopteen.org | www.adopteen.org 

 

Young Adult Adoptee Group!

Upcoming Group - December 6th

Young Adult Adoptee Group This event is for older teens and adults (15 years old or older) who would like to discuss adoption-related topics in a safe and open environment. Parents can also attend a separate group simultaneously, led by a licensed therapist (no fee for parents, but please RSVP). Discussions will range in topics from: peer relationships,  launching out of their parents home,  college/career,  and other adoption related issues. Facilitated by Pam Shepard, LCSW and an adult-adoptee.

When? December 6, 2016 Tuesday, 6:30pm to 8:00pm Where? Holt-Sunny Ridge Children's Services 270 Remington Blvd  Suite D  Bolingbrook, IL 60440

Register Here!

Holt-Sunny Ridge | 630-754-4500 | illinois@holtsunnyridge.org

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Tour!

CASA 101: Basics of CASA in 15 minutes

Monday, December 5, 2016

5:30 pm

CASA of McHenry County Office 

70 N. Williams St., Suite B, Crystal Lake, IL

You are invited to the CASA Office on Monday, December 5 at 5:30 pm for a 15 minute "tour" of our work. If you have ever wondered what CASA does or are curious how you can get involved, this invite is for you. We are excited to share our impact and how you can be a part of it.  

15 minutes of your time is all it takes to change a child's life. 

Share this email with someone you think would like to join us!

Light refreshments provided.

 Can't make it? Give the office a call at 779-994-4398 or email kelly@casamchenrycounty.org.

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Please visit our website at www.casamchenrycounty.org

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.

 
Rooted: Gospel Driven Parenting for Struggling Families from Hope for Orphans on Vimeo.

“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.