July 2019 Newsletter

EDUCATION NEWS

SAVE THE DATE: 2020 CHOOSING TO CARE ADOPTION AND FOSTER CARE CONFERENCE

We are excited to announce that our 2020 Choosing to Care Conference will be held on Saturday, February 1, at Prince Avenue Baptist Church from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Dr. Sharen Ford will be joining us as our speaker for main session, and as always we will offer breakouts covering various topics related to adoption and foster care, allowing you to customize your experience to best meet your needs.

Dr. Sharen Ford is the program director for Focus on the Family’s adoption and orphan care efforts. She helps raise awareness of the need for adoptive families to provide loving and stable homes for the more than 100,000 waiting children in the U.S. foster care system. She also makes post-placement resources available for adoptive families.

Ford has spoken at a variety of conferences on adoption and orphan care issues including the Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO) annual conference, Bethany Christian Services’ annual conference, the White House Conference on Adoption and the Federal Children’s Bureau Child Welfare Conference.

Please save the date and make plans to join us. As always, this is a free event, and free (but limited) childcare will be available. Registration will open later this fall. We look forward to serving you and your family at conference in 2020!

 

ADOPTION SUPPORT NEWS

NEW ADOPTIVE PARENT GATHERINGS

Chosen for Life Ministries began as a small group of couples who met in the living room of our Chair and Vice Chairwoman of the Board to discuss and address the need for resources and support for adoptive parents in our community. In the past, this support for adoptive families primarily came in the form of financial support through our Adoption Assistance Grant. However, we have always believed that the adoption journey does not end when you welcome your son or daughter home; the journey is just beginning.

With that in mind, CFLM is excited to begin offering additional forms of support for adoptive families. This fall we will be offering monthly Adoptive Parent Gatherings. These informal evenings will provide an opportunity for local adoptive parents to find community and share with one another. Adoptive Parents Gatherings will occur on the fourth Monday of each month, beginning Monday, August 26. To register, follow this link.

 

FOSTER CARE NEWS

CREATIVE WAYS TO SERVE IN FOSTER CARE

We so encouraged when local churches find ways to serve and love the foster care community. This summer two local churches found opportunities to through Vacation Bible School. Faith Presbyterian and Redeemer Presbyterian saw the opportunity that VBS provided and chose to talk to the kids about the value of our local DFCS staff and what they do for kids. Both groups made gifts and cards for our Compassionate Listening team.

Once Resurrection Presbyterian heard about the Compassionate Listening ministry, they asked if they could send a gift or snack once a month with the volunteers to encourage the local DFCS staff. We are so encouraged by the creative ways that churches find to engage in caring for vulnerable children and the people who serve them.

If you are interested in helping your church find a way to serve the foster care community and share Christ’s love, contact us. We would love to help you. If your church is located in Clarke or Oconee county, contact Kelly Brooks. If your church is in Region 5, but not in Clarke or Oconee county, contact Jessi Williams.

Chosen for Life