LAWTON, Okla_A local
minority adoption recruitment program said young African American children are
lingering in the foster care system. The "One
Church, One Child" organization of Lawton said they're in
need of more African American foster and adoptive families to help curb this
trend. They say the key to linking needy children with loving families is to
raise awareness about this heart wrenching issue.
The
organization's local recruiter said their plan is outlined in their name: one
church one child. This organization targets churches as a tool, for raising
awareness about the need for African American adoptive and foster families. Last
year, out of 100 children in state custody in Comanche County,
about a third were African American and some of them have still not been
placed.
Pastor Charles Ellington
said churches are a vital recruiting tool for finding African American families
for African American children.
"We can go
into the church community because most of the families are in a particular
church in the sanctuary, mom, dad, the children."
He said many in
the African American church community in Lawton
were unaware of the rising need for adoptive and foster families.
"Some say ‘well,
I had no idea about these children,' because when they think about their own
home, they don't think about the needs of children that don't have a home. That's
why this program is so important."
Ellington said
that is slowly changing. He said his group gives presentations about why
they're trying to place African American children in African American homes.
"When we
deal with languages, culture, religion, these children have some type of base
to follow when they go into a home. So, they'll be able to relate better
quicker with an African American family, with same norms, beliefs and values."
He said the
group now reaches out to more than just churches to raise awareness.
"We
contact these pastors in the community and civic leaders, city councilmen,
school officials, people in leadership positions that involve children."
Pastor Ellington
said the work may be hard, but the success stories like a recent foster mother
that adopted two children make it worth it.
"Knowing
that these kids have connected with her, knowing that she has connected with
them, they know her she knows them, and then she decided to adopt these
kids"
Pastor Ellington
said another challenge is finding families to adopt groups of siblings and
teenagers, especially boys. He said the group is planning a luncheon later this
month to spread awareness about their cause.
If you would
like to learn more information, you can go to OneChurchOneChildOKLA.org or call
580-248-3228.
