Our 2017 Print is: When Joy is a Habit, Love is a Reflex – Bob Goff

Interested in our 2016 Print? Do Small Things with Great Love?

1 Peter 1:8-9 tells us this: “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

If there were ever an issue that require a habitual posture of joy, it’s foster care. The ups and downs of family restoration can take a toll on even the most dedicated, joyful people in our midst. From case workers and OKDHS administrators doing their best to make the right and safe decisions for families; to biological families aching to bring their kids home; to foster families stepping in to bridge the gap for children; to the local church and community seeking to help shoulder the burden of all involved, the issue of foster care in our state is one riddled with joy and heartache; uncertainty and grace; restoration and love.

The 111Project exists to mobilize the local Church to see to it that no child is without a home.  One of the best ways we are able to do that now is through our tool the CarePortal. CarePortal brings the needs of hurting children and families in your community to your attention. Child welfare workers uncover the needs. CarePortal makes local churches aware, giving them a real-time opportunity to respond.

With your donation today and commitment to #forgettheflowers, we can continue to spread the CarePortal across all 77 counties of Oklahoma. Already, in 15 short months and only in 10 counties in our state, we have met the needs of 2,240 children from 1,027 families through the efforts of 281 churches and small groups who are a part of our network.

Can you imagine the impact the CarePortal can have on our entire state?

If we make joy a habit, love will be a reflex. If we give with joy, we put that love into action.

Donate today and support foster care in Oklahoma.

This Mother’s Day, we want to share how the CarePortal is helping mothers across Oklahoma. The CarePortal is an online platform that allows OKDHS caseworkers to enter needs of families and children and have them blasted out to the local church. We are so honored to have served more than 1,000 families in less than two years.
In April we heard about Jerika through a CarePortal request. Jerika is a young single mother to 2-year-old Kiera. While Kiera has been living with a foster family, Jerika has been working hard to do everything necessary to regain custody of Kiera. Jerika has faced many obstacles, but has persisted. Providing a safe place for her child to live was the last hurdle Jerika needed to clear before bringing Kiera home, and she was just approved for her very own apartment!

Jerika’s caseworker sent a request out to local churches through CarePortal. She shared the progress Jerika has made and asked if anyone would be able to help furnish Jerika’s apartment.

Quickly, a woman from a local church responded. This woman worked with her community to gather furniture and many household items for this young mom. They delivered everything to Jerika’s new home. Jerika was filled with joy. She saw that she was not alone.

When 8 year old Mark had to be removed from his biological parents, his caseworker found a family member that was happy to bring Mark into her home. However, this kinship foster mother did not have a bed for Mark. In order for Mark to stay in her home, she would need a new bed.

The caseworker sent out a CarePortal request to see if any local churches could provide a bed for Mark. Almost immediately a church responded – they had a bed!

When church members delivered the bed, they talk and prayed with this new foster mom. She was grateful for the bed and encouraged by their prayers and support!
Sharon is a single mother who has been working to regain custody of her children. At the beginning of her case, Sharon had a car that she was using to get to meetings and appointments required by the court. Unfortunately Sharon’s car broke down around Christmas and she was unable to get it fixed.

Without a car, Sharon struggled to get to her appointments and this led to a set-back in the case. While talking with her caseworker, she shared that a bus pass would be a huge help to her. Her caseworker sent out a CarePortal request for a month-long bus pass and it was met by a local church. That month Sharon did not miss a single class.

The next month she still needed help purchasing the bus pass. She only had a month and half of required classes left – she was so close! The same church provided a second bus pass for Sharon. Here’s what her caseworker said in response:

This was the second bus pass I have received from the church for the same mother and it has really helped this mom see that we are on her side and not working against her. Since she received it she has not missed any of her classes and is really working hard to get her children back.