How Foster Families Can Change the World
We believe that foster and adoptive parents are world changers. As a Christian organization, we believe that the gospel of Jesus is what changes lives and communities. We especially believe that caring for children from hard places, giving them hope and stability, will help heal and prevent abuse, neglect, sickness, malnutrition, trafficking, substance abuse, and much more. And the stats back this up.
The foster crisis is a pipeline to sex trafficking, substance abuse, and incarceration. If children do not have stable and loving homes when they enter the foster system, the chances are increased that they will suffer in one of these ways:
“The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) estimates that 19 percent of children and youth who ran away from foster care likely experienced sex trafficking.”
“In fact, the National Foster Youth Institute recently estimated that 60 percent of child sex trafficking victims have been within foster care (or another part of the larger child welfare system).”
In Texas: “There were 1,972 unique children recovered from missing status in Fiscal Year 2020. Of the 1,972 children and youth who were recovered in Fiscal Year 2020, 136 (7%) reported being victimized while missing, 68 (3.4%) of whom reported being a victim of sex trafficking.”
“Youth placed in group homes are 2.5x more likely to get involved in the justice system. 90% of youth with 5+ foster placements will enter the justice system.”
“Up to 80 percent of children in foster care have significant mental health issues, compared to approximately 18-22 percent of the general population.”
Image: Juvenile Law Center
The answer isn’t just foster care. It is to provide loving and safe homes where a child is nurtured as a child should. We believe this is best done through Christian homes. We recruit through churches so that the children placed in our families’ homes have the greatest chance of healing and joy in Christ. These families have a natural support system with their church community, which helps support our goal to have one or fewer placement changes per child.
Here are three main ways you can help:
Become a 1HOPE Defender
Defenders answer a call from the Lord to serve children in foster care through prayer and recurring monthly donations. For $30 a month or more, you can be a 1HOPE Defender and help provide cranial forming helmets, braces and orthodontia, additional therapy, diapers, and medical expenses.
Volunteer
Not everyone is called to foster, but everyone can help. We have an amazing team of volunteers who help foster families and children through:
Prayer
Tutoring
Notes of encouragement to families
Meal ministry and Door Dash gift cards for when life makes it especially tough
Certified babysitting
Transportation
Diaper delivery
Open your home
We need safe and loving homes in which to place children in the foster system. We need families to get licensed so they can be the light of Christ to children in need. Interested in learning more? Start here.
-Although Big Give isn't until Sept 20-21, donations are open NOW. Please consider donating any amount at our Big Give giving page.