Adoption: One Church, One Child
By: Arie Sailor

Local and state officials, and adoptive parents, joined Gov. Charlie Crist at events throughout Florida in celebration of Explore Adoption Day this week. Explore Adoption has been an effective campaign, and Florida's recent adoption successes should be acknowledged and applauded. Awareness campaigns and financial incentives seem to be moving more people to explore adoption - but for approximately 1,000 Florida children still in state care, there is little cause for celebration. On behalf of these children, we are appealing to religious congregations throughout Florida to answer the governor's call to explore adoption.

There are more than 10 religious congregations in Florida for every one of our children currently awaiting adoption. Most of these children are older than 8 years. Many, such as brothers Shakeem and Raymond, are part of sibling groups that would like to stay together.

Others, such as 8-year-old Westly, are still waiting for a family after all their siblings have been adopted. There are also children, such as 9-year-old Brittany, with special needs because of physical disabilities or other disabilities. Brittany has difficulty with speech, but is learning sign language. These children, like all children, have unique strengths and needs, and each deserves a forever family that will provide love, support and a permanent home.

One Church One Child of Florida combines the leadership of the religious community with the expertise and resources of an adoption organization in a collaborative effort to secure homes for children. We work with churches, synagogues and faith-based organizations of all denominations to promote awareness of adoption, generate community resources and support for children in foster care, and increase the potential for successful family placements. Together, we are able to identify families interested in adoption and provide them with support before, during and after placement.

You can partner with One Church One Child to help children awaiting adoption by:

Praying daily for children waiting for families, and for the families who will adopt them.

Organizing back-to-school or holiday events for foster children.

Offering a support group for adoptive families in your community.

Participating in adoption awareness events such as One Church One Child Sunday, an annual event held on the third Sunday in November.

Promoting adoption as part your overall ministry through sermons, bulletins, newsletters or a link to www.ococfl.org or www.adoptflorida.org on your Web site.

You can also contact One Church One Child toll free at 888-283-0886, or by clicking here, to explore adoption as a way to create or grow your own family, to schedule an educational presentation on adoption for your congregation or group of community faith-based leaders, or to express your interest in serving on One Church One Child of Florida's board of directors or your local advisory committee.

While everyone may not adopt, everyone can explore adoption and find ways to contribute to finding families for Florida's kids.

[ Arie Sailor, MSW, DBS, is executive director of One Church One Child of Florida, and adoptive mother of Betty, a special-needs child with Down syndrome, adopted by Dr. Sailor and her husband more than 24 years ago. ]