Ministries
Foster
Children Ministry
Jimmy’s Story
On June 30, a 14-year-old boy named Jimmy was removed from his parents’ custody and handed over to the City of Alexandria. Jimmy is confined to a wheelchair, with a lot of physical needs that aren’t being met at home. He had been attending a great school in Arlington he enjoyed very much. But, the city had to send Jimmy to Norfolk, because they could not identify a foster family willing to take him into their home. He was moved 200 miles away from his school, his family, his friends and his brother, because the City has no alternatives. Most of the children in the City’s foster care system are being sent out of the City, because there aren’t enough foster parents.
The Options
When you are talking about adoption, it’s all or nothing. You either adopt a child or you don’t. Foster care is different. There are a variety of ways to help. Some in our churches will be called to be foster parents who care for children for months at a time. Others will be respite or emergency-care families, who receive the same training, but only bring children into their homes for short periods. Others will simply go through a background check so they can provide babysitting. Others might work with young adults over age 18, who have “aged out” of the foster care system. These young people need help learning how live independently, they need job training, tuition assistance, or a place to stay when they’re home from college over Christmas break.
The wonderful thing about working through our local churches is that each congregation is a community with a wealth of resources. Foster parents don’t need to feel that they are tackling this alone. Youth leaders, pastors, counselors, legal and medical professionals, folks with no title at all—each can have a role to play in the lives of these children.
Also, the City has recently been working to build better relationships between a child’s biological family and their foster family. Significant opportunities exist for the church to do ministry with entire families—not just children.
Next Steps
This fall, the City will conduct an information session just for members of Alexandria churches. Then, those who are interested in taking the next step will receive the 27 hours of required training in October and November, so we will have new foster families ready to receive children for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Please pray with us that the Lord will go ahead of us, and that He will bless these efforts to love children in His name.
Learn More
For more information, please contact Chris Sicks, Director of Mercy Ministries, at the church office.
Downloads:
Overview of Vision for Alexandria
Data About VA Foster Children
Article: Pastor Promotes Foster Care
Links:
Alexandria's Foster Care Page
4Kids of South Florida
Foster Care Ministry in Arkansas
Jimmy’s Story
On June 30, a 14-year-old boy named Jimmy was removed from his parents’ custody and handed over to the City of Alexandria. Jimmy is confined to a wheelchair, with a lot of physical needs that aren’t being met at home. He had been attending a great school in Arlington he enjoyed very much. But, the city had to send Jimmy to Norfolk, because they could not identify a foster family willing to take him into their home. He was moved 200 miles away from his school, his family, his friends and his brother, because the City has no alternatives. Most of the children in the City’s foster care system are being sent out of the City, because there aren’t enough foster parents.
The Options
When you are talking about adoption, it’s all or nothing. You either adopt a child or you don’t. Foster care is different. There are a variety of ways to help. Some in our churches will be called to be foster parents who care for children for months at a time. Others will be respite or emergency-care families, who receive the same training, but only bring children into their homes for short periods. Others will simply go through a background check so they can provide babysitting. Others might work with young adults over age 18, who have “aged out” of the foster care system. These young people need help learning how live independently, they need job training, tuition assistance, or a place to stay when they’re home from college over Christmas break.
The wonderful thing about working through our local churches is that each congregation is a community with a wealth of resources. Foster parents don’t need to feel that they are tackling this alone. Youth leaders, pastors, counselors, legal and medical professionals, folks with no title at all—each can have a role to play in the lives of these children.
Also, the City has recently been working to build better relationships between a child’s biological family and their foster family. Significant opportunities exist for the church to do ministry with entire families—not just children.
Next Steps
This fall, the City will conduct an information session just for members of Alexandria churches. Then, those who are interested in taking the next step will receive the 27 hours of required training in October and November, so we will have new foster families ready to receive children for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Please pray with us that the Lord will go ahead of us, and that He will bless these efforts to love children in His name.
Learn More
For more information, please contact Chris Sicks, Director of Mercy Ministries, at the church office.
Downloads:
Overview of Vision for Alexandria
Data About VA Foster Children
Article: Pastor Promotes Foster Care
Links:
Alexandria's Foster Care Page
4Kids of South Florida
Foster Care Ministry in Arkansas