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November 30, 2007
Dear Friends,
The office is a-buzz with activity, as volunteers and gifts pour in to help with the annual Christmas party for foster children. To add to this excitement, four Help One Child families finalized adoption of six children in November. The little boys pictured above show the essence of the work of the ministry: Michael, on adoption day, expresses the fear and confusion that all foster children feel, while his new brother's face displays the joy and hope that is offered by our foster and adoptive families. Every child in foster care has special needs, but the biggest need they have is for a family!
For 14 years, Help One Child has sought Christian families for hundreds of local children who do not have a home. We hope you will find time to read the year-end report to learn where your partnership with us has led the ministry during the past fiscal year. We have been busy! Communication has been opened with 342 churches, leading 80 churches to join our "A Home for Every Child" recruitment campaign.
Recently, four members have been added to the Help One Child board. A power team, Dan and Judi Van Elderen, have agreed to be the co-chairs, putting their outstanding management skills and extensive experience as foster and adoptive parents to work on behalf of all foster children. And, representing both ends of the foster care spectrum, Sandi Orlando, a nurse, is foster mother to medically fragile infants, while Cris Goodman, an attorney, is mom to a teen transitioning from foster care. As before, the two of us continue to serve on the board, emphasizing our interests in parent education and Christian community awareness of the needs of foster children.
In 2008 we would like to multiply the efforts of our volunteers and increase the staff by at least one person. Susan Kammerer, ED, has proven that she has the skill to build the ministry's momentum, but it can't continue to grow without more staff support. Your prayers, your volunteering, your material gifts, your foster parenting, your professional help, and your financial contributions are the foundation of Help One Child.
We are grateful to God for your faithfulness and hope you will be able to give generously again this year.
Continuing in His Service,
858 University Ave. • Los Altos, CA 94024 • (650) 917-1210 • Fax: (650) 917-5796 • www.helponechild.org
Year End Report For the year ending June 30, 2007
858 University Ave., Los Altos, CA 94024 • (888) KID-HOPE • helponechild.org
"A Home for Every Child" Campaign is Help One Child's foster home recruitment campaign designed to increase awareness of the many at-risk children in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties who are waiting for a foster or adoptive home or lifelong connection with a volunteer. Leveraging 14 years of working with hundreds of churches, Help One Child is systematically calling Christian churches into action. Of the 2600 children who enter foster care each year in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties (4 per day), 50% will never be reunited with their biological parents, at best 25% will be placed with relative or non-related "family members" and approximately 25% or 500 children will be moved from foster home to foster home, waiting for and wanting a loving home, but not finding one before they emancipate at age 18.
If every church raised-up one home, there would be no waiting children.
The goal of the Campaign is to find 500 homes through 500 churches in 1000 days.
As of the 200th day, 250 churches were contacted with more than 80 churches participating in the Campaign and approximately 325 people contacting Help One Child as prospective foster parents, volunteers or donors.
Susan Kammerer
Executive Director
Judy Holmes
Parent/Volunteer Coordinator
Beth Fraker
Director, Community
Development
Beth Walker
Fund/Program Development
Board
Mark Morris, Chairman
Jo Anne Morris, Secretary
Sarah Carlson, MS, LMFT
Linda Ikeda, RN, LMFT
June Darmanian,
Staff Advisor
| Finances 06-07 | Your funds are used to recruit, train and support those willing to provide a home or services for foster children. |
| Total Income $364,000  |
Total Expenditures $362,700  |
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Income Fiscal Year 05-06 |
$381,000 |
| Income Fiscal Year 06-07 |
$364,000 |
| Budget 07-08 | $400,000 |
Union Presbyterian Church of Los Altos donates the ministry's full-service corporate offices and facilities use for ministry programs. Menlo Park Presbyterian Church provides discounted printing services. Volunteers provide thousands of hours of administrative and in home support. |
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| Recruiting | Help One Child is dedicated to recruiting, training and supporting those willing to provide a home or services for foster children. |
St. Mary pastoral, staff and volunteer support, enthusiastically led by Rose Barry, has enabled the ministry to expand and effectively collaborate throughout the Gilroy area where its services are needed most. Member Shelda Reynolds facilitated the formation of our South County monthly Parent Child Connection support group, which naturally led to her current foster parent recruitment position with Santa Clara County, where she serves as our ministry liaison.
WestGate leadership remains strong in their commitment to encourage families to adopt from foster care with 7 church families already caring for children. Lovingly shepherded by fost-adopt parent Sharon Langmead, the church hosted the ministry's Mother's Day Brunch this past year and welcomed foster parent training sessions with Help One Child and Hand in Hand. 
South Valley Christian Church foster parents Don and Robyn Dequine and adoptive parents Don and Caroline Taylor at Los Gatos Christian Church (LGCC) kept ministry to orphans at the forefront before the two churches merged to form Venture Christian Church. Last November, LGCC dedicated their service on Adoption Sunday and hosted Help One Child during a special class hour in May.
Peninsula Bible Church foster parents Dan and Judi Van Elderen hosted a six-week class examining the plight of the "fatherless," which was attended by more than 30 members. Their group has grown to more than 50 families exploring ministry to foster children either through volunteering, fostering or adoption. | Church Recruitment | |
| Individual Church Presentations | 21 |
| Mission Fairs/Special Events | 10 |
| Home Church Orientations | 25 |
| Community Based Orientations: | 8 |
Menlo Park, Morgan Hill, East Palo Alto, Saratoga, San Jose (2), Los Gatos, Palo Alto |
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| Individual Recruitment | |
| Orientation Attendees | 105 |
| New Prospective and In-Process Foster Parents | 58 |
| New Volunteers | 80 |
The following churches have been directly involved in recruiting and supporting foster and adoptive parents over the past fiscal year.
Belmont Church of Immaculate Heart of Mary, Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Cross Cupertino Peninsula Bible Church Cupertino, Bethel Lutheran Church, St Joseph of Cupertino East Palo Alto New Sweet Home Church of God in Christ, St Francis of Assisi Church, St Samuel Church of God in Christ, Walls of Faith Ministries Foster City Central Peninsula Church Gilroy Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Gilroy Bible Church, St Mary Parish, United Methodist Church Gilroy, New Hope Community Church, Gilroy Presbyterian Church, South Valley Community Church, Calvary Chapel Gilroy Half Moon Bay Coastside Baptist Church Los Altos Foothill Covenant Church, Los Altos Lutheran Church, St Nicholas Catholic Church, St William Catholic Church, United Methodist Church of Los Altos, First Baptist Church of Los Altos, Union Presbyterian Church Los Gatos Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Los Gatos Christian Church Menlo Park Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, Church of the Nativity, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church Milpitas Calvary Bible Church Morgan Hill Beth-El Baptist Church, Morgan Hill Presbyterian Church, United Methodist Church Morgan Hill, St Catherine Parish, Advent Lutheran Church, West Hills Community Church, Sovereign Grace Baptist Church of Silicon Valley Mountain View Abundant Life Christian Fellowship, St Athanasius Catholic Church, First Presbyterian Church Mountain View Palo Alto Grace Lutheran Church Palo Alto, Jerusalem Baptist Church, Peninsula Bible Church North, Grace Presbyterian Church Redwood City Messiah Lutheran Church, Our Lady of Mt Carmel Parish, Peninsula Covenant Church, St Matthias Catholic Church San Carlos Church of the Epiphany, St Charles Church San Jose Church of the Chimes, Christ the Good Shepherd Lutheran, Crossroads Bible Church, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Holy Family Parish, Holy Redeemer Lutheran Church, St Andrew Lutheran Church (Next Generation Church), St Timothy's Lutheran Church, New Creation Lutheran Church, WestGate Church, The River Church Community, South Valley Christian Church, Jubilee Christian Center, The Journey San Mateo St Bartholomew Catholic Church, Sturge Presbyterian Church, Western Hills Church, St Andrew's Lutheran Church Santa Clara Hope Lutheran Church Saratoga Church of the Ascension, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Sacred Heart Parish Saratoga, Saratoga Federated Church, Saratoga Presbyterian Church, St Andrew's Episcopal Church Sunnyvale St John Lutheran Church, Trinity United Methodist Church, Crosswalk Community Church, New Venture Church, First United Methodist Church Sunnyvale
| Training | Help One Child is dedicated to recruiting, training and supporting those willing to provide a home or services for foster children. |
Camp Connection at Mt. Cross Lutheran Camp August 20-26, 2006
16 adoptive families learned therapeutic parenting for challenging children. Led by Nancy Thomas
The Maltreated Child October 14, 2006
Diagnosis of children's neurological conditions that stimulate difficult behaviors and when psychotropic medications are helpful. Led by Dr. Steven Gray
Camp Reunion
January 6, 2007
14 families attended a refresher course on skill-based parenting techniques. Led by Dr. Don Williams
Neurofeedback Training Jan. 24-Feb. 2, 2007
The Learning Curve approach to brain training for success. Led by Peter Van Deusen
The Wise and Skillful Parent
February 3, 2007
Workshop on parent self-awareness, self-regulation and validation skills to help children dealing with anxiety or oppositional behavior. Led by Dr. Don Williams
Parenting the Hurt Child May 19, 2007
Helping the adopted child develop a coherent narrative through the creation of lifebooks and timelines. Led by Regina Kupecky, MSW
| Regular Trainings | |
| CPR/1st Aid Classes (provided at cost) | 11 |
| TB Tests/Health Screens (no cost) | 11 |
| Parent Child Connection Meetings | 18 |
| Special Trainings | |
| Education Seminars/Trainings | 7 |
| Seminar Attendees | 334 |
| CEU Hours obtained by Therapists | 78 |
| Help One Child is certified by the CA Board of Behavioral Sciences to grant Continuing Education Units | |
...so that families can be preserved and children can heal
"I am very thankful for Help One Child's support group because I see I'm not alone in my world of raising an emotionally damaged child and that there is a reason I am being her container for grief."
-Adoptive mom Rebecca
"We stay involved because these parents are our heroes. Day in and day out, they are hanging in there with some really challenging kids. Their dedication fills me with passion for this amazing, transformative work God allows us to participate in."
-Therapist Linda Ikeda
The Parent Child Connection (PCC) support group began in 1999 with a handful of families looking for resources beyond individual therapy to assist them in healing their children's trauma. Dr. Donald Williams, a Bay Area psychologist, launched this monthly group and continues to volunteer his teaching time and expertise. For the past three years, Linda Ikeda, an RN, MFT, who is affiliated with Hope Counseling Center, has joined Dr. Williams in donating teaching time.
Expansion
In January 2007 in partnership with Advent Group Ministries, Help One Child launched a second support group in Gilroy. Tammy Greer, MSW, leads the new South County PCC group as a social worker from Advent and an adoptive mom.
Monthly Meetings
The meetings, attended by over 500 families to date, are free and open to the public with childcare by reservation. Participants share their answers to a "check-in" question followed by an hour of professional teaching on that month's topic, both of which are emailed to the group in advance. Each meeting ends with an opportunity for parents to socialize, grab a snack, and access the lending library.
| Supporting | Help One Child is dedicated to recruiting, training and supporting those willing to provide a home or services for foster children. |
Christmas Party
On December 9th, families of 170 children enjoyed dinner, crafts, games, and pageant.
Easter Eggstravaganza
On April 15th, families of 40 children heard the Easter Story and created holiday crafts and reveled in an Easter egg hunt.
Mother's Day Brunch
On May 12th, 35 moms enjoyed a delicious brunch and each other's company while listening to co-founder JoAnne Morris's inspirational message.
FoFoPa (For Foster Parents)
Our e-letter offers information and advertises donated goods and services available to interested foster and adoptive parents in our network.
Dividends
Our quarterly newsletter provides information on upcoming events and trainings as well as human interest stories that depict the home ministry at work.
Prayer Team Emails
Weekly emails alert prayer team leaders at churches throughout our region about current prayer requests and praises from Help One Child network families.
| Ministry Network | |
| Network Families | 615 |
| FoFoPa Families | 159 |
| Parent Child Connection Families | 214 |
| Network Volunteers | 821 |
| Volunteer Hours* | 4000 |
| *does not include in-home service hours |
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| Churches | 815 |
| Foster and Adoption Agencies | 89 |
| Friends of Help One Child | 3407 |
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Donate online using JustGive to help the ministry continue its important work. |
Parent/Volunteer Coordinator
Judy Holmes is not only the voice of encouragement to countless foster and adoptive parents, but after nine years on staff at Help One Child, Judy quickly identifies other resources and referrals tailor-made for each caller. Matching volunteers' gifts with foster families' needs, finding homes or cars for emancipating teens and helping meet families special needs are what make Judy's job a joy.
Volunteer Deborah Grace has supplied and led Help One Child's arts and crafts activities for many years. From that vantage point, she has watched children creatively express themselves and seen budding artists in the making. Not only does she organize crafts at special events, she donates the art supplies as well. "I am too old to adopt, but I can still help children," she says. Deborah hopes that her involvement may lead a child to find his or her own unique gifts. "I want to reach that seed within the person."