Introducing the One Church One Child Practice Model Increasing Permanency, through the church providing:
- Support to children in foster care
- Support to children aging out of foster care
- Support to adoptive families, foster families and families in reunification or at-risk of children coming into care
Download Watch Care Brochure OCOC Linking Partnership for Children Brochure
Why Should Churches Get Involved?
- Churches are uniquely suited to serve the community, especially children in foster care.
- God commands the CHURCH to take care of the Orphans and widows (Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27)
- The Church is the focal point of the community, point of leadership, support and trust. The church has the POWER to successfully open doors and homes for children to be adopted into permanent families and to adopt children under Watch Care Ministry for support.
- Watch Care is a fundamental part of historical church ministry, in which church leaders and members accept and support non-members, as a part of the church family
What Does the Church Do?
- Churches collaborate with One Church One Child and the Community Based Care Agency in order to link children in care with Watch Care Ministry support
- Churches put their arms around child(ren) and be that added support for them
- Welcome the child(ren) into the membership (perhaps, hosting a welcome party/reception)
- Be there for the child(ren) as a supporter or mentor, provide encouragement and direction
- Offer opportunity for child(ren) to be a part or participate in the youth and/or other ministries
ONE CHURCH ONE CHILD
- Offers opportunities for Churches to expand their Outreach Ministries by:
- Engaging in dialogue with local pastors on the importance of adoption and their role in the community as being critical to addressing the need for adoptive and foster families and homes.
- Reaching out to Churches in local communities to adopt children, under Watch Care, who are waiting in foster care with no family identified to adopt them.
- Introducing Watch Care for youth aging out of foster care through the “Help Me Stand Ministry” – in Florida 100 youth age out of foster care monthly, with no family support.
- Introducing Watch Care for adoptive families, foster families and families in reunification or at-risk of children coming into care, through the “Family Support Ministry”.
- Works with the church to mutually sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the church and provide needed information and recruitment materials
- Conducts a Ministry Assessment and Follow up with the Church monthly or as needed
- Works with Pastors as they choose the support level in working with One Church One Child based on church size and capacity
- Connects the partner church with the local Community Based Care Agency (CBC) to work together on behalf of the children
- Continues to support the ongoing faith partnership
- Develops and maintains a working partnership with the CBCs in each of the six (6) DCF Regions
- Works closely with the CBC in recruitment of adoptive and foster families and coordinating special events in regions with CBCs and DCF
- Works collaboratively in linking the CBC with the churches who desire to participate in the Watch Care project or provide general support to children in care.
- Just imagine the excitement on the face of a child(ren) when all of the partners focus on the safety and wellbeing of all children in foster care to ensure they have a forever loving family to call their own.
Ways to Contribute to OCOC
Make a Donation
Every child deserves a forever, permanent home and family. You can make a difference - a child is waiting for adoption or foster care in Florida.
Partner with OCOC
Our Partnership Program provides opportunities for businesses, organizations and individuals to join with OCOC in lending support to families.
Volunteer with Us
Please consider donating your time and experience with us. Opportunities vary throughout the state but we can use any services you have to offer.