KY One Church One Child Adoption Agency

Can I Really Adopt?

Jul 10, 2001

GOD IS GOOD . . . ALL THE TIME . . .
AND ALL THE TIME . . . GOD IS GOOD!
Greetings from Kentucky One Church One Child Adoption Agency!

We are doing wonderful things in Kentucky for the families and children. Recruitment is on the upswing as we plan to begin our 19th Year of providing services. This fiscal year we were awarded a grant from the WHAS Crusade for Children to host three Kidz Kamps. These camps are designed for children ages 8-14 across the state of Kentucky who have been adopted to share with others who have been adopted. The camps include fun, exercise and therapy to help our children realize they are unique and, most of all, loved. We are also helping families during a monthly support group in which adoptive, foster and prospective families come together to share and to learn about the challenges of adoption and the joys of parenting. Topics such as Crisis Intervention, Attachment Issues, and African American Hair and Skin Care are discussed with professionals in the field. A children?’s support group is also provided during the same time as the adults to help children talk about their own issues, their joys and encouragement to ask questions to help adjust to their new family. It has proven most helpful for everyone involved ?– especially when we get off to an exciting round of Family Feud or Jeopardy! We have recently received a grant from the Cabinet for Families and Children to continue support to families in creating a position to work more directly in providing services before and after placement. This person will provide educational and inspiring activities to help prevent disruptions and promote healthy living for all. An adoptive parent is being sought for this position.

Other statewide recruitment efforts are being maintained such as church presentation and education, exhibits, seminars and frequent collaborative efforts with the Department for Social Services.

On the financial front, we are pleased to continue our contracts with the Department for Social Services as an Adoption and Foster Care Placement facility. Our progress has allowed us to work in collaboration statewide to provide more services to approve and certify more families. We have recently applied for a Federal Grant to enable us to target more families in recruitment efforts with emphasis on African American males and single parent families to mentor and inevitably adopt.

Families need to stick together and put more time into our children. Every day, hundreds of children are abused, neglected or sent away to live with relatives who are unprepared for the outcome. We as citizens are blind to what difficulties children in today?’s society face. Every man and woman can make a difference by stepping up to the plate and continually assuring our children every time a good deed is done. Let?’s remember each time we raise our heads from our morning slumber, pass a stranger on the street or even take our daily lives for granted, thank God for the miracle of children and the blessings they leave with us. They?’re watching us as we pass them by. Find out what you can do in your neighborhood to make a child?’s day . . . we sure are!
A hug is a terrible thing to waste.

Karen L. Henderson
Recruitment/ Retention Coordinator
1-800-248-8671