PRESS RELEASE:
One Church One Child of Florida reaches out to local communities in efforts to help change the situation for Children in Florida. On any given day, there are over 700 children in Florida’s foster care system waiting with on family identified to adopt them. More than half of the children waiting are minorities. Further, the number of children coming into foster care is increasing which means that additional families and individuals are needed to foster or temporarily care for these children until they can be safely returned to their homes and families. This situation also increases the need for additional mentors and volunteers to get involved and help guide, support and encourage children and local families.
One Church One Child was founded in 1980 to help the state of Illinois successfully address the disproportionate number of African American children lingering in the foster care system. Florida was fortunate to have One Church One Child implemented as a statewide program in March of 1988 to address the state’s overrepresentation problem. Today, One Church One Child partners with the Department of Children and Families, local community based care lead agencies and organizations, churches, businesses and individuals in aggressive efforts to help raise awareness and recruit individuals and families to serve as foster and adoptive families and mentors for these children.
Rev. Beverly H. Lane who serves as President for Florida’s One Church One Child State Board of Directors and Regional Vice-President for National One Church One Child leads the challenge for the village (that’s everyone) to get involved and make a positive difference for Florida’s children in foster care.
A Village Response is needed. The entire community is invited to come out and hear information regarding becoming an adoptive or foster parent, mentor, community partner or volunteer by attending a One Church One Child Education Training. The next education training is scheduled for Thursday, December 28, 2017 from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., at Mt. Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church, located at 5920 Robert Tolle Drive in Riverview.
Come as you are. Refreshments will be served. RSVP with LaKay Fayson, Recruitment Coordinator for One Church One Child of Florida’s SunCoast Region, at 813-740-0210 or lakay_fayson@ococfl.org. The website for One Church One Child of Florida is www.ococfl.org.