Connecting Congregations to Our 13 000 Michigan Kids

Connecting Congregations to Our 13, 000 Michigan Kids in Foster Care Find More Information at www. faithcommunitiescoalition. org

WHAT IS THE FAITH COMMUNITIES COALITION ON FOSTER CARE? A Connecting Catalyst • We are a growing grass roots collaboration to connect congregations of all faiths and service agencies on behalf of foster children. • We are a catalyst to educate and motivate faith communities to engage in at least one project or program that will support foster children in Michigan… Find More Information at Faith. Communities. Coalition. Org

Connecting in Our Common Compassion for Our Invisible, Vulnerable and Voiceless Children “All faith traditions turn to compassion as a guiding principle for living a good life. ” The Dalai Lama from Toward a True Kinship of Faiths: How the World’s Religions Can Come Together Find More Information at www. faithcommunitiescoalition. org

Congregations, Foster Caregivers and Child Welfare Agencies Connect Together at FCC Regional Meetings • Learn about urgent needs of foster children • Share inspiring stories and resources • Collaborate to form partnerships • Mobilize congregations • Help recruit foster, adoptive parents, mentors and respite care givers Find More Information at www. faithcommunitiescoalition. org

WHY CARE? Our invisible and vulnerable children among us • 788 children in foster care in Oakland County. • 4050 children in foster care in the Tri. County area of Oakland, Wayne and Macomb Counties • Approximately 13, 092 children in foster care in Michigan (recent stats from MDHHS-Oakland County) Find More Information at www. faithcommunitiescoalition. org

Foster Care Facts • Over 400, 000 young people in foster care in the U. S. • Michigan has the 8 th highest foster care population in the country – Wayne County has the 5 th highest foster care population by county in the country • 7, 716 children entered foster care in MI during 2013 • 26, 000 young people nationwide “age out” of the system each year (Information Originally Presented by Brittany Bartokowiak) Sources: U. S. Department of Health & Human Services Administration for Children and Families (2013), Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative (2013) Find More Information at www. faithcommunitiescoalition. org

What Happens When A Child Ages Out of the Foster Care System? Every year foster youth in Michigan will age out of the system, meaning they will be forced to live on their own with no family and few life skills. 1 in 5 or more will become homeless after age 18 71% of young women are pregnant by age 21 Just half will be employed at 24 1 in 4 will be involved in the criminal justice system within two years of aging out Sources: Day, Dworsky, & Feng (2011), Unrau et al. (2012), Salazar (2013), Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative, 2012 Find More Information at Faith. Communities. Coalition. Org

A SPECTRUM OF WAYS YOU CAN HELP A CHILD IN CARE Have a Minute? Pray! Have 5 Minutes? Ask your congregation/organization to run announcements about foster care in weekly bulletins and emails Have an Hour? Call 2 others to help coordinate a donation drive Have a Day? Host a Meet and Greet Party, a FCC meeting or a foster parent orientation Have a Lifetime? Foster/Adopt/Mentor/Advocate Find More Information at www. faithcommunitiescoalition. org

One small step, one small thing can change a life Imagine the impact it will have when every congregation will engage with social service agencies to care for at least one foster child, family or aging out youth. Connecting together we can alleviate the suffering of our most vulnerable and voiceless children in this area. 1 Small Step 1 Small Change Find More Information at www. faithcommunitiescoalition. org Change a Life

One Example of the Wide Spectrum of Ways To Support Have just a Minute? PRAY FOR A CHILD IN CARE Tiffany David Precious Jacob Pictures and brief descriptions of four Michigan children hoping forever families are sent out by Jessie Thompson. Direct Phone: 734. 528. 2070. She can also provide banners of our kids plus individual prayer cards with pictures and descriptions. Jessica_Thompson@Judson. Center. org of Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange (www. MARE. com), Take a minute to contact her and then ask people in your congregation to take a minute to pray daily for some of our kids in care. See suggestions for bulletin inserts and announcement at our web site link: Resources and Tools for Congregations Find More Information at www. faithcommunitiescoalition. org

One Example of the Wide Spectrum of Ways To Support Have 5 Minutes? Raise Awareness When Beth Munsell read a simple two sentence plea in her church’s announcements asking for more foster parents, she responded and has now fostered over 27 young people. Ideas for announcements to share with your congregation can be found on our web site. Find More Information at www. faithcommunitiescoalition. org

One Example of the Wide Spectrum of Ways To Support Have an Hour? HOLD DONATION DRIVES Dedication of 1 person resulted in a whole congregation giving wrap around support for a foster alum and children 1 Confirmation Class Donated and Blessed 300 Coats for Aging out Youth Find More Information at www. faithcommunitiescoalition. org

Examples of the Wide Spectrum of Ways To Support Have a Day? HOST A MEET AND GREET PARTY, MENTOR, FUN RUN, ETC. A MEET AND GREET PARTY through Michigan Adoption Resource Exchange (M. A. R. E. ) JUST A FEW IDEAS • • • Mentor Host Holiday Party for Youth Aging out of Care Do Fun Runs/walks Provide reading program for residential youth such as Vista Maria Reads Decorate a room or plant flowers at a local residential home Find More Information at www. faithcommunitiescoalition. org

One Example of the Wide Spectrum of Ways To Support Have a Lifetime? ADOPT Many Other Ways • • Develop a Foster/Adoptive Care Ministries in Local Congregation Advocate Offer Respite Care Mentor-Form lasting relationships Campus Support Volunteer Form wrap around support for aging out youth Aylesworth Family Find More Information at www. faithcommunitiescoalition. org

Individuals in Congregations Making a Big Difference Care Kits for Kids from Foster Care Going to Camp as well as Camperships Provided Hundreds of Back Packs and School Supplies for Kids in Foster Care Find More Information at www. faithcommunitiescoalition. org

Over 150 Care Packages for College Students from Foster Care System Find More Information at www. faithcommunitiescoalition. org

Response of Our Kids to Our Care “This was my first semester in college and it was so hard. I wanted to quit. But then the care package came during exam time and I realized that there are others who really care about me. So I’ve enrolled for next semester. ” A student from Wayne State University's Transitioning into Independence Program (T. I. P. ) exclaimed after she received her FCC care package Find More Information at www. faithcommunitiescoalition. org

Response from Our Community Partners Warrior Banquet “Thank You Faith Communities Coalition on Foster Care for working with TIP Wayne State to improve the lives of college students who have been in foster care!” Jeremy Mitchell Wayne State University T. I. P. Honoring Students Find More Information at www. faithcommunitiescoalition. org

Response from a Foster Grandmother “The generosity of strangers has changed my life. I want to pass this along to others” From a Grandmother in Southwest, Michigan suddenly responsible for 3 grandchildren who received needed supplies, diapers, clothing, formula and other emergency needs met. Find More Information at www. faithcommunitiescoalition. org

Response from a Case Worker A case worker was given emergency funds to take a 12 year old shopping for a new bike. He was also able to buy equipment for his brother and sister who live in other foster homes. Later she wrote this email: “He said it was one of his best days ever and he is very appreciative of your help and generosity. I wanted to say thank you to both of you for helping with this! In the 2 ½ years I’ve been doing this job, I think today was one of my favorite days!” Find More Information at www. faithcommunitiescoalition. org

Response from a FCC Meeting Presenter “I want to say how deeply moved I was by the Faith Community effort. I came away knowing for sure that there are many people who care for the children. We were like a big extended family! Thank you for the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people who radiate love and understanding at a level I have rarely experienced. I felt a deep spiritual connection with you all. ” Joanne Riebschleger, Ph. D, LMSW Recent Presenter & Associate Professor Joint Appointment with MSU Ag. Bio. Research MSU Summer Camp for Aging Out Youth Find More Information at www. faithcommunitiescoalition. org

CONGREGATIONS IN FCC REGIONS HOSTED OVER 75 FCC GATHERINGS in 2013 -2015 ON BEHALF OF KIDS IN FOSTER CARE—EACH ONE MAKING HUGE DIFFERENCE u u u Faith Community Presbyterian Church, Novi Grosse Pointe Memorial Presbyterian Bharatiya Hindu Temple, Troy Greater Grace Temple, Detroit Kirk in the Hills, Bloomfield Hills Hartford Memorial Baptist Church, Detroit Westminster Presbyterian, Detroit Islamic Association of Ann Arbor First Presbyterian Church, Gaylord Renewal Church, Warren Capital Congregation—Community of Christ, Lansing u u u u St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran, Grosse Pointe Paw United Methodist Church First Presbyterian Church, Ypsilanti East Jordan Community Church St. James Episcopal in Grosse Pointe Woods First Presbyterian Church, East Jordan First Presbyterian Church, Birmingham Sacred Heart, Detroit 242 Community Church, Ann Arbor Milwood United Methodist Church, Kalamazoo Radiant Church, Richland Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Portage Almena United Methodist Church, Paw Find More Information at www. faithcommunitiescoalition. org

List of FCC Leaders, Hosts and Contributors! Antrim, Charlevoix and Emmett Counties: Karlee Philip, Debra Chappuies, Sharie Jo Plain, Gayle Gotts Eastern Market, Detroit Sacred Heart Church: Annette Howard Marc Morrell, Jim Bates, Suzanne Bates, Donna Von Brocklin , Lori Hunt, Jammie Truax Northwestern Wayne County: Eastern Wayne County: Dr. Angelique Day, Pat Dyble , Rev. Jimmie Sue Depp, Sue Acton, Beth Dionne, Rev. Sarah Godbehere, Dr. David Benjamins , Marsialle Arbuckle, Keenna Bell, Deborah Fair, Rev. Mary Austin Southwest Michigan: Jennifer Nette , Jennifer Patrick Ingham County: Dan and Abby Nowiski Washtenaw County: Livingston County: Rhonda Trask Rev. Heidi Church, Katie Page Sander Macomb County: Susan Foster, Pastor Wayne Stapleton, Tonya Stapleton Mid Oakland County: Northern Michigan (Otsego, Crawford and Oscoda Counties): Yvonne Rundell, Sheri Falvay, Rev. Joanna Dunn, Nina Macri, Rev. Kate Thoresen Western Wayne/Oakland Counties: Sheila Henderson, Peggy Fischer-Kmieciak, Chris Stirling, Sue Rakay, Val Kushman, Lynn Jarrett, Maureen Boyd Find More Information at www. faithcommunitiescoalition. org

WIDE SPECTRUM: FIND YOUR PIECE IN THE BIG JIGSAW PUZZLE • • • Raise awareness through regular items in bulletins, announcements and prayer cards Hold donation drive of items needed by foster families, agencies and “Foster Closets” Provide educational opportunities and camperships for foster children and youth Host foster parent orientations, training, support groups, Maeet and Greet parties and Holiday parties Establish a foster care ministries program in congregation Provide wrap around support for foster/adopt families within their congregations Mentor and support foster youth Provide needed household items & clothing for older youth who are transitioning out of foster care Meet some emergency needs unmet by other sources Find More Information at www. faithcommunitiescoalition. org

THANK YOU What a Difference YOU are Making! Find More Information at www. faithcommunitiescoalition. org