ASHLAND — There is a national crisis with over 400,000 abused and neglected children in need of a loving home. One ministry is providing an effective template with the message: “It takes the church to foster a child.”
This past week, Sherry Bouquet of Fostering Family Ministries (FFM) held a press conference at Corner Park recognizing the impact of its twelve- church partnership collaborating with county government over the past three years.
“Psalm 68:6 promises that ‘God sets the lonely in families,” says Bouquet. “Based on this promise, the development of local church foster care ministries and recruitment messaging have raised awareness contributing to the doubling of the number of foster families in Ashland County between 2016-2019.”
(Photo courtesy of Jimmi Delay)
Bouquet told community leaders and volunteers at the press conference that long-term effects of children growing up without a caring and stable family is staggering.
In some states over half the population in prison comes from foster care. Sixty percent of those trapped in sex trafficking are from foster care. Up to one-third of youth become homeless after aging out of the foster-care system. And more than ninety-seven percent of foster youth will not earn a college degree.
“For perspective, in the wake of the Opioid Crisis, today we have 181 children in agency custody; at the end of 2016, we had only 73,” Ashland County Job & Family Services Director Peter Stefaniuk told those in attendance. “We are losing the ability to keep our children in our community.”
But thru the efforts of Fostering Family Ministries (FFM), local churches are meeting the challenge.
“In the past three years we have grown to ten partnering churches who have volunteers and/or a foster family as well as foster care ministry in formation at their church,” Bouquet reported.
“In addition, there have been fourteen care teams serving foster and kinship families with nearly one-hundred volunteers trained. With the financial support of local churches and charitable foundations, this work could not happen.”
(Photo courtesy of Jimmi Delay)
Stefaniuk commented, “I want to thank FFM for the incredible job they have done in raising awareness of the need for local foster homes in Ashland County. We have almost tripled the number of foster homes since 2016. We have added thirteen foster homes and now have a total of twenty-two.”
The strategy of FFM is to inspire and equip churches to raise up at least one foster family with a team of support friends until there are more than enough families to meet the need.
The idea has caught on and Richland County Job & Family Services has asked FFM to build the same network with foster care ministry inside local churches in the Mansfield area.
“For ten weeks, from September 8th to November 17th we are calling our community to step up and be the neighbor, help foster a child, and find a way to get involved. One foster family cannot meet the needs of all the children, but one foster family can change the world for one child.”
Sherry Bouquet
Executive Director of FosteRing Family Ministries
“For ten weeks, from September 8th to November 17th we are calling our community to step up and be the neighbor, help foster a child, find a way to get involved. One foster family cannot meet the needs of all the children, but one foster family can change the world for one child. Become a foster parent, a care team member, take a yard sign, pick up a prayer guide, and utilize our digital media kit for your local church to share the need and ways to be involved.”
The campaign will close on “Stand Sunday,” on November 17th at 4:30 pm with a community rally at Jack’s Place, located at Trinity Lutheran. For more information, Fostering Family Ministries can be reached at 419.496.2507.
Attending the press conference were Ashland County Commissioners: Denny Bittle and Emmit Justice, Ashland Mayor Matt Miller, representatives from the Sheriff’s Department, City Police, and Ashland County CASA, foster volunteers, and fifteen area pastors.
View the video link below about the importance of foster care.
