One Church One Child of Florida, Inc. invited all churches, pastors, businesses, community leaders, organizations, agencies and individuals to the citywide community outreach event on April 24th.
Linking Partnerships for Children in Pensacola: Watch-Care Project is a community outreach Ministry initiative (HELP ME STAND) for children aging out of foster care which includes a free and open forum held on April 24, 10 to 12 a.m. at the Good Hope African Methodist Episcopal Church, 208 Gulf Beach Highway, Pensacola, Florida.
Local partnership organizations consist of Good Hope African Methodist Episcopal Church, FamiliesFirst Network of Lakeview and Florida Department of Children and Families.
“The Watch-Care: Help Me Stand Ministry is designed to engage the faith community and improving transitional outcomes for youth who are aging out of the foster care system. Churches are the missing link that can connect to and help bring ongoing hope to our children and support to strengthen our families” noted Executive Director of One Church One Child Dr. Arie Sailor.
According to the Florida Department of Children and Families, there are approximately 750 children currently in foster care with no identified family to adopt them. Of the children in need of adoption, 52 percent are African American and 95 percent are over the age of five. Every year, a percentage of these children will reach their 18th birthday without ever knowing what it is like to have a loving forever family.
One Church One Child of Florida is a statewide, non-profit, faith-based organization that provides prevention, intervention, adoption promotion and support for families to help increase permanency for children and strengthen families.
For additional information contact One Church One Child of Florida, Inc. at 850-414-5620, 1-888-283-0886 or website www.ococfl.org.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: One Church One Child of Florida Faith Community Event a success