Get Ready to Party

If you're close to RVA...PLEASE consider joining us!  This is meant to be a time of CELEBRATING with others who have a heart for orphan care, adoption or foster care!  AND...to add to the fun, it looks like all 8 of the kids being hosted from Ukraine will be there with their host families!  What a time to meet and celebrate THEM.
we're hoping our DJ will keep the party going for our kids...of all ages!
RSVP to: orphancare@wepc.org

Orphan Sunday Recap

The turnout for our Orphan Sunday event was so encouraging.  One of the things that was talked about is the fact that adopting is NOT the only way to care for orphans.  Each and every person who has prayed for us and for MJ, or brought us a meal when we returned home from Congo, or emailed to see how we were doing, or stopped to give her a high five and a smile has been involved in caring for orphans.  It would be ten times as difficult for us if we didn't have such amazing support and love from friends and family.  There are so many opportunities to care.  Take time to consider where your gifts lie and see how they can bless an orphan or someone pursuing adoption, fostering, or hosting.

Orphan Sunday- Nov 4, 2012

God invites us to join with him in caring for the fatherless.

Everyone is welcome on SUNDAY, NOV. 4TH AT NOON.

Come for orphan care myth busting and hear how God has met us.

Family-style chili and fixins will be provided.

Childcare for ages Kindergarten and under, will follow after lunch.

Click image below for Google doc sign up.

WEPC Partners with Lifesong for Orphans

Here at WEPC, adoption and orphan care reflect the heart of God. We seek to be missional in

our living as a community and individuals. One way many folks have decided to live out their

faith is through adoption. Whatever brings you to this place of considering adoption, as a

church, we want to come alongside you!

We know God is doing something special as he blesses children and families through adoption.

For many though, the upfront financial challenges may be one of the greatest hurdles to moving

forward. In response to this, WEPC has established the WEPC Adoption Assistance Fund.

Through matching grants and interest-free loans, the WEPC Fund is able to help qualified

families in a tangible way as they follow God’s leading.

Many adoption stories are unfolding here! We would like to be part of your adoption journey.

We pray regularly that God would allow us to be a community of faith expressing itself in love.

Our Love On a Mission group and deacons want you to know, you’re in good hands...HIS

HANDS that love you...and the fatherless!

WEPC partners with Lifesong for Orphans to administer the Adoption Fund. Lifesong for

Orphans is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt orphan care and adoption ministry that helps churches across

the country establish and administer adoption assistance funds.

Lifesong exclusively handles the application process (and all confidential information involved

in the application process) and provides the administrative and operational support needed to

evaluate applicants, make decisions regarding grants and loans and handle contributions and

disbursements for the WEPC Adoption Fund. WEPC, on the other hand, encourages those who

would like financial assistance to apply, walks alongside and prays with and for families. In

addition, WEPC encourages those that want to support adoptions to do so through donating to

the fund or directly to a family through their established Fund with Lifesong.

How the Adoption Fund Works

The Adoption Fund provides matching grants and/or interest-free covenant loans to applicants

who meet the established parameters described below. Lifesong makes all decisions regarding

whether qualified applicants are given funds for matching grants and/or interest-free covenant

loans based on various factors, including the amount of money in the WEPC Adoption Fund at

the time of application, the applicant’s financial situation and adoption-related needs, and the

way in which to best maximize the resources of the WEPC Adoption Fund.  Following approval

by Lifesong, all disbursements of matching grants and/or interest-free covenant loans are made

by LifeSong directly to the applicant’s adoption agency. 

In connection with the Adoption Fund, LifeSong handles all aspects of the application process,

including evaluation and verification of all financial and other confidential information.  No one

from WEPC has access to any of your confidential information, and all final decisions regarding

the award of any matching grant and/or interest-free covenant loan are made solely by LifeSong.

The requirements to be eligible for a matching grant or interest-free covenant loan from the

Tapestry Fund are:

• applicants need to provide a statement of their personal faith in Jesus Christ
• applicants must establish their need for financial assistance in connection with an
• adoption by fully completing the application process
• applicants need to have an approved home study conducted by a licensed social worker
• applicants must have a letter of recommendation from a member of the WEPC leadership
• team or a pastor in their church

The funds available in the WEPC Adoption Fund will be available to be allocated to qualified

applicants according to the following priority: first, to members of West End Presbyterian

Church; second, to those who are not members, but who are regular and active part of West End

Presbyterian Church; and third, to those who are affiliated as members or active with our sister

churches.

For application click here.

Help Families Meet the Financial Challenge of Adoption

The WEPC Adoption Fund is a great way to provide much needed financial support for Christian

families seeking to adopt.  All contributions to the WEPC Adoption Fund are made through

LifeSong and are fully tax deductible, with 100% of all contributions being used to provide

matching grants and interest-free covenant loans to qualified families.

You can make a tax-deductible contribution to the WEPC Adoption Fund by sending your check to:

Lifesong for Orphans

c/o WEPC Adoption Fund (West End Presbyterian Church)

P.O. Box 40

Gridley, IL 61744

“WEPC Fund (West End Presbyterian Church)” in the description field so that your contribution

is properly directed to the general fund. 

Or write a specific family's name (if they have been have applied and been approved) in the description field so that your contribution is properly directed to that family.

Local Foster Care Programs

We wanted to provide a place to see many of the upcoming training opportunities in RVA to reach out to children who need the love of Jesus and  someone who cares about them! By no means is this a comprehensive list, but includes where we have contacts and experience. Each meets a unique need in the community so note their area of focus. There are some wonderful folks in these organizations advocating for kids and need folks to come alongside them!

The basic requirements for becoming a foster parent are as follows:

• Be 21 years of age and older, single or married

• Be financially self-sustaining 

• Participate in a home study 

• Have adequate space for sleeping and indoor activities 

• Attend specialized training for dealing with abused or neglected children 

• Agree to background checks for criminal history and child abuse and neglect
• Obtain a tuberculosis test (TB)
• Permit home fire and health inspections
• Have pets vaccinated annually

Adoptive families go through chosen adoption agency for home study and adoption process.

Henrico County Social Services
Sharon Wilkerson-Gilpin, B.S.Foster Care & Adoptions Assistant
8600 Dixon Powers DR Henrico, VA 23273(804) 501-5518
wil29@co.henrico.va.us

Offer PRIDE training to be eligible for Fostering with ability to proceed to foster to adopt.

We have a great need for prospective foster parents willing to parent tweens and teens.

Henrico County's CASA program
CASA volunteers are Court-Appointed Special Advocates, trained communityvolunteers appointed by a Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court Judge to advocate in court for children who are abused, neglected and otherwise in need of services. CASA volunteers offer children encouragement, stability, and hope during a complex and critical time in their lives.

UMFS - United Methodist Family Services
3900 West Broad Street
Anyone interested in learning more about Treatment Foster Care can contact:Tammy Franges, Resource Parent Liaison
(804) 353-4461 ext. 1310
tfranges@umfs.org

Adoption and foster care agency that offers PRIDE training; Will conduct a MA (mutual assessment) where families can ask ?s and determine if this is a good fit.
*need is for preteen and older teen families

Upcoming Richmond Training:

Sat. 10/27           9am-5 pm

Sat. 11/3             9am-5 pm

Tues. 11/6           6 pm- 9pm

Sat. 12/8             9am-5pm
Sat. 12/15           9am-5 pm

Tues. 12/18        6pm-9pm

Chester Training:
Sat. 11/3             9am-5pm
Sat. 11/10           9am-5pm
Tues. 11/13        6pm-9pm

Lutheran Family Services

Katie Sitterson, Adoption Worker(804) 288-0122
Email: ksitterson@lfsva.org

Offers adoption and treatment foster care services
*need families for children 10 years and older

CHSVA - Children!s Home Society of VA
Laura Ash-Brackley
4200 Fitzhugh Ave, Richmond, VA 23230-3829
(804) 353-0191

Adoption agency focused on adoption of children from foster care*need families for adoption of older children

CHS typically schedules training 6 sessions in a row. Families are invited to participate in training and we scheduled trainings in the fall and spring depending on the need. When families complete our training/home study they are eligible for foster to adopt. If families want to provide foster care they need to participate in DSS's training.

BAIR foundation
Kara Brooks
(804) 288-8210

Christian Foster Care

Classes are offered free of charge and there is no obligation to become certified if you attend the courses. Both parents are required to attend all classes to become certified with Bair, however classes do not have to be taken in order. Please have people call the office at 804-288-8210 or email kbrooks@bair.org with questions about the classes or to RSVP.

RVA Community: Come to a Movie Night!!

FREE MOVIE NIGHT 

The Orphan Care Ministries of WEPC and HOPE Church are partnering together to bring this movie night to the Richmond community.  All are welcome to attend!

Friday, October 5, 2012
7 pm
HOPE Church @ 12445 Patterson Ave.

Free popcorn will be served!  Candy and drinks will be available for purchase. 

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October Baby will be shown for teens and adults.
You won’t want to miss this inspiring adoption story with a beautiful pro-life message.

 Chimpanzee will be shown for children (with teen supervision).  Please make childcare arrangements for little ones who may not be able to sit through the show.




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Please register your family here :

http://hopecentral.com/family-movie-night-october-baby-viewing/