Families on the Front Lines!

We believe that families who adopt children or youth are answering a “calling.” Many of them agree that it takes more then just a fancy for children. They must be committed to the relationship. That is why we see families as the front lines of Project 1.27. The church, the foster care system, the case workers, the therapists, the doctors, the friends, and extended family are all deeply important and necessary. But nothing can replace the 24/7, 365 presence of a real life family. They are the full time therapists, advocates, hug givers, cooks, problem solvers, papas and mamas. Hats off to our wonderful families who make this all possible!

Do you feel called to adoption, do you long to be a parent to a child or youth and are you willing to offer your family to a child who desperately needs one? If you are led to both of these then it’s time for you to get started with the first step. Sign up for our next orientation and invite your family and friends to come and support you. After you signed up at an orientation you can register for your training classes.

How to become an official Project 1.27 Family:

1. Attend a Project 1.27 Orientation
2. Commit and pay the $50 administration fee following the Orientation
3. Complete the Spiritual Interview process with a pastor
4. Attend the required training (minimum of 38 hours)

Qualifications:

In general, families must be able to financially and physically provide for their children independent of government subsidies. They must also have a safe and stable home environment and supportive community. Disqualifying criminal history includes felonies involving child abuse, unlawful sexual behavior, domestic violence, physical assault, or battery. For more specific information see Volume 7.701.33 of the Colorado Department of Human Services Rules and Regulations.

Meet a Family:

The Johnson family writes about their journey:

Good morning, Patience has been the theme of our on-going adoption story. We are the Johnson’s: Bryan, Donna, Brandon, Kevin, Alicia and Jericho. And via God’s timing, the addition/adoption of Danasia into our family will take place next. Our idea for adoption started many years ago. Our 3 older children, Brandon, Kevin and Alicia are all now in college. Kevin graduates from Colorado State University (CSU) today, May 15th, 2008. Brandon is looking to graduate this September to December from Colorado University, and Alicia is on schedule to graduate from CSU next May, 2009. Thank the Lord. Off and on through the years I had considered adopting a child and Donna started slowly ‘adopting’ (smile) the idea during the past 5 years. Nearly 4 years ago Donna and I began looking for a new church. Well, we met a pastor, I won’t tell you what his name is, but he has a passion for adoption. In fact, this pastor has adopted 5 children himself. This pastor’s message is about helping the poor, the homeless, the widow and the orphan. We were/are very attracted to his commitment to Christ in this way and so, we joined this church in Jan 2005. Our interest in adoption kept being nurtured from then on, and Project 1:27 was being launched by our church, Colorado Community Church.

Donna and I began participating in Project 1:27 in November 2006 and started classes in Jan/Feb 2007. We completed Project 1:27 activities/classes in approximately June 2007. Our home study was the next small step and that action was being

accomplished/completed in August of 2007. Project 1:27 staff had indicated that as we completed our home study that we should begin thinking about which county that we would want to work with. I called all 4 of the counties that Project 1:27 had an agreement with at the time: Arapahoe, Jefferson, Adams, and Denver – to begin to get insight on which county might have a child in the age range that we were looking for.

Arapahoe, Jefferson and Adams counties all replied that it had been quite some time (approximately one year) since they had a single girl in the 4 to 6 year age range. These counties at that time had several children sibling groups of 2, 3, and 4 children that may have been available, but not single girls. When we contacted Denver County they told us to wait until Thursday if a child is available for you, after the case workers had met.

On that Thursday, a Denver County staff person did say that they might have a child for us. Donna and I both thought, “wow, this is going fast,” because we still had about one more week to complete our home study; and now we already may be lined up with a child – especially when the other 3 counties at that time had mentioned that it had been nearly one year since they last had a single 4- 6 year old girl that could possibly be adopted! Denver County did have a girl without siblings to be adopted, and her name was Danasia. However, Danasia was 7 years old at the time and our current child living in the house, Jericho, was 6 years old. This was our dilemma. We had wanted a child just younger than Jericho so that the parental training we had poured into him would ‘rub off’ on the new child that we would be adopting. We wanted Jericho to be leading her, instead of her possibly leading him maybe into… trouble? This is where prayer was/is really helpful. I believe one verse Donna and I frequently talk about kept coming up – “Be anxious for nothing.” But still…what do we do?

Their story is only beginning.