Presentation by FAM (the Foster Care & Adoption Ministry at The Village church) teaching about foster care, adoption and other ways to serve these children and their families.

1. INFORMATIONAL

2. WHAT IS FAM?

3. EDUCATION & TRAINING
FAM Events in 2010
Adoption: Talking With Biblical
Myths & Kids About Hospitality &
Realities Adoption Foster Care
Matt & Kristin Michael & Amy Greg & Tracey
Donovan Monroe Fields
Saturday, February 27 & Saturday, May 22 Saturday, November 13
Saturday, August 28 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

4. EDUCATION & TRAINING
www.dfwalliance.org – over 20 ministries

5. COMMUNITY
The journey of foster care or adoption is
challenging and sometimes very long,
but it’s absolutely worth it and you
don’t have to go it alone.

6. COMMUNITY
FAM Small Groups
Ladies’ Coffee Guys’ Burger Waiting
Nights Nights Families
Every 2nd Wednesday Every 4th Wednesday Every 3rd Saturday
7:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m.

7. Parenting adoptive or foster children is
95%
“NORMAL” PARENTING

8. Attachment Biological Ki
ds
Hurdles + Adopted
Kids
5%
ace & Foster
R
ntity System
Ide
Question
Devel opment s of
al Ch allenges IS UNIQUE Origin

9. WHY IS FAM?

10. ADOPTION IS BIGGER
THAN THE UNIVERSE

11. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ
with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly
places, even as he chose us in him before the
foundation of the world, that we should be
holy and blameless before him.
In love he predestined us for adoption as
sons through Jesus Christ,
according to the purpose of his will, to the
praise of his glorious grace, with which he
has blessed us in the Beloved.
—Ephesians 1:3–6

12. Adoption and foster care are not for everyone...
but God’s heart for these kids is for all of us.
...learn to do good; seek justice, correct
oppression; bring justice to the fatherless,
plead the widow's cause.
—Isaiah 1:17

13. Adoption and foster care are not for everyone...
but God’s heart for these kids is for all of us.
Religion that is pure and undefiled before
God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and
widows in their affliction, and to keep
oneself unstained from the world.
—James 1:27

14. WHERE TO START?

15. EMOTIONAL COST

16. EXPECTATIONS &
MOTIVATIONS
Download: Ten Questions to Consider As You Explore Adoption
EXAMPLES:
• What are my biggest fears regarding adoption?
• Do/will my close family and friends support my decision to adopt? If not, why?
• How do I define the concept of family? In other words, what is a family?
Talk through these questions with another adoptive family too.

17. FINANCIAL COST

18. Paying for services, not for kids.*
Birthmother Agency Legal Fees
Care Overhead
*Note: Corruption is real. Use a reputable agency or adoption attorney.

19. FUNDING OPTIONS
Grants & Loans
• Lifesong For Orphans www.lifesongfororphans.org
• Abba Fund www.abbafund.org
• Life International (matching grants) www.lifeintl.org
• Shaohannah’s Hope www.shaohannahshope.org
• God’s Grace Adoption Ministries http://www.ggam.org
• International Children’s Adoption Resource Effort www.intlcare.org
• National Adoption Foundation www.nafadopt.org
• Fore Adoption Foundation www.foreadoption.com
• Kingdom Kids www.kingdomkidsadoption.org

20. FUNDING OPTIONS
2009 Federal Adoption Tax Credit up to...
$12,150 http://www.irs.gov/formspubs/article/0,,id=177982,00.html
Note: This credit covers “qualified” adoption expenses. Visit irs.gov for
more information.

21. FUNDING OPTIONS
Fundraising, Gifts, and Employer Assistance

22. TYPES OF ADOPTION

23. INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION
Joint Council on International Children’s Services
Download: Questions to ask when selecting an International Agency

24. HAITI IS CLOSED
But there are other ways to help...

25. HORT
www.haitiorphanrelief.org
HORT will help Haitian churches to provide direct care in
home environments, not institutional orphanages.

26. PROVIDE SHELTER
www.ahomeinhaiti.org
Rainy Season begins in a matter of days.

27. DOMESTIC ADOPTION
Three Methods
Private Private Public
Agency Independent
Agency works Adoption attorney Adopting children
with you & pairs guides you who have been
you with a through the relinquished to
birthmother process the state
(Foster-to-Adopt)
Download: Questions to ask when selecting an Domestic Agency

28. FOSTER CARE

29. JOINT INFORMATIONAL
MEETINGS
View the J.I.M. Calendar Online

30. STAGES OF CARE
Reunited with Reunited with Placed with Placed with
biological biological relatives or adoptive
parents. parents. kin. family.
Yes Yes Yes
Removed from home Remains in
and placed into foster care...
Parents No
Abused, foster care. Home is Willing Permanency
fulfill
abandoned, or determined relatives or kin plan
reunification
neglected. safe. are found. developed
goals.
No No
Remains in
Plan is made Relinquished to
foster care. Parental rights
for parents to conservatorship
terminated. of the state.
regain custody.
Reunification Efforts Legal Risk Adoptable
This process may take 1day or 18 years.

31. FOSTER CARE &
ADOPTION ARE NOT
FOR EVERYONE.
But God’s heart for these kids is for all of us.

32. OTHER WAYS TO SERVE

33. TRAC MENTORS
Transitional Resource Action Center
Within 12-18 months of leaving foster care:
33%
of foster grads will be on public assistance.

34. TRAC MENTORS
Transitional Resource Action Center
Within 12-18 months of leaving foster care:
40%
of foster grads will not have completed high school.

35. TRAC MENTORS
Transitional Resource Action Center
Within 12-18 months of leaving foster care:
50%of foster grads will be unemployed.

36. RTC MENTORS
Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home

37. RTC MENTORS
Nelson Children’s Center

38. TRAVELING COMPANIONS
Respite Providers, Baby Sitters, Placement Champions

39. QUESTIONS?
FAM@THEVILLAGECHURCH.NET