WASHINGTON  --  Recognizing that the national foster care system is widely considered to be in a state of crisis, Congressman Artur Davis has spearheaded a local initiative focused on finding homes for Alabama’s waiting children. 

Thursday, Congressman Davis will host “One Church One Child,” a community meeting to discuss how churches can play a central role in identifying loving families who are willing to adopt or serve as foster parents.  Currently, the Alabama foster care system includes more than 5,800 children.  Of this staggering number, over 60 percent are of African-American descent.  By encouraging a dialogue among churches, social service agencies, child welfare organizations and the general public, the Congressman hopes to raise awareness about foster care issues and encourage the community to take action.                                                                                                                                                       
“It is well documented that children who languish in the foster care system are more likely to drop out of school, get in trouble with the law, and become teen parents,” Davis said.  “I believe that we can help many children avoid these paths by using networks already in place in our communities to locate loving homes for them.”

Founded by Reverend George Clements in 1980 to identify adoptive families for African-American children, the One Church One Child strategy is based on the concept that if each church could successfully recruit one family to build a home for one child in the foster care system, the possibilities for success would be great. Today there are thirty-two chapters in operation across the nation.  Congressman Davis has begun a dialogue about the One Church One Child model amongst local African-American church leaders and hopes to see the program’s success replicated in Alabama.

Additionally, the Congressman has arranged for a public conversation about adoption in order to engage the wider community at large in the solution.  The public is invited to attend a panel discussion at 5:30 p.m. at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute.  The discussion will begin with an address from Reverend Wilber Talley, Project Director for the National Network of Adoption Advocacy Programs (NNAAP), and will be followed by a question and answer session with social services representatives, child welfare advocates, and foster parents.

Following the panel discussion, families interested in adoption will have the opportunity to meet with representatives from various agencies and organizations to learn more about the process and obtain informational materials.  Organizations who would like to reserve a booth free of charge should contact Paulette Rowe in the Birmingham Office of Congressman Davis at 205-254-1960.

DETAILS:

Event: One Church, One Child
A Community Conversation on Adoption and the Foster Care 
Date: Thursday, December 4, 2008
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
520 16th Street North
Birmingham, AL 35203