I first heard the term “aging out” six years ago inside an orphanage in Ethiopia. I was talking with a young man at the orphanage who was 18. I asked him what his goals were for the future, and he told me that he didn’t have any because he was about to age out.

A week later, talking to a group of 18 year old’s from that same orphanage, I learned what aging out means.

In 2018, Seaton and a local adoptive mom started Project Belong Virginia to help churches in northern Virginia support adoptive and fostering families.

One initiative that they encourage churches to consider is “care communities,” in which a small group of designated people wrap around a family to offer whatever support they might need. Seaton says families who have this kind of support often keep fostering longer, and are less likely to burn out.

Self-care is a word we hear a lot these days that doesn’t come with a clear definition or instructions on how to practice it. When I started practicing what I thought was self-care, I only became more frustrated because having a “mom’s night out” periodically wasn’t working the magic I had hoped it would.

Project Belong sat down with Heidi Ivey, a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Winchester, Virginia to talk about what it means to be “trauma-informed.”

Heidi has ten years of experience providing mental health services and six of counseling children and families who have experienced trauma, including foster and adoptive children.

Project Belong sat down to talk with a Christian child welfare social worker in the Northern Virginia region. These are ten takeaways that she would like to share with you!

“I find that the general population has no idea what social work is or what social workers do. Social work is not something often depicted in Hollywood TV shows or movies (when it is depicted, it is usually inaccurate), and frankly, the tasks of social work are so varied that the work can be hard to categorize.”

When he had to walk through challenging times, Chandler had a stabilizing foundation through his grandmothers. Now Chandler's aim in life is to make sure vulnerable young people find that same stabilizing force in their lives.

Before volunteering with this family, I had no proximity to the American foster care system. When I was given an opportunity to provide a small amount of help, little did I know a simple “yes” would become a life-changing and empowering experience. 

Jason Johnson, an author and adoptive father suggests,

“Christmas is the story of a good Father going to extravagant lengths to adopt those who were once separated from Him. It is the celebration of God seeing the plight of His people and responding with the greatest gift of love this world has ever known - Jesus.”

Do you want to learn more about adoption and the foster care system? Are you on the fence about fostering or adopting?

Hear from Amber Cooper, Winchester County foster and adoptive mom. Amber tells the story of what led her to adoption and foster care and shares words of encouragement for those who may be thinking about it themselves.

As the Church, we should be stirred by God’s heart for adoption. Let’s not forget that we ourselves are an adopted family of brothers and sisters! We were once estranged, but now we are adopted into God’s family. This should have pretty big implications on how we view earthly adoption. We believe each member of God’s family is called to participate. And yes, there are ways you can participate that don’t involve adopting.

Many families impacted by disability are not able to control the extra sounds and movements that their loved ones with disabilities make or need. To many in your congregation, this may be distracting.

To those with disabilities, the extra noise and movements are means of communication and ways of coping with the environment.

Hear from a friend of Project Belong who chose to create belonging for an older young man. They're a kinship family who worked with a therapeutic foster agency called United Methodist Family Services (UMFS). Kinship Care is when a family member or close family friend steps in to care for a child. This is a great 30 minute interview that shines a light on what blending a family and working with an older child is like.

"I got to sit down with my friend and fellow blogger/speaker Jamie Finn from Foster the Family and ask her some questions about life, family and ministry. I also learned a thing or two about "Jersey" geography and stereotypes, as well as the dangers of the KFC drivethru. I hope you enjoy!" - Jason Johnson

There's a harsh and heart-breaking reality in working with children and youth from foster care. Adverse childhood experiences harm the developing child and it often shows up through confusing or negative behaviors. But even though the pathways in the brain may be wired together in an unhealthy way, through relationship and understanding in both the child AND the caregiver, a healthy rewiring can take place.

The Gentrys discuss their experience with foster care, the ways their church showed up for them, and the lessons God taught them through their journey.

The local church can be a part of that restoration as they serve hard working foster/adoptive parents. One way is by providing a free Parent Night Out. The Fairfax PNO served 25 children who played, enjoyed pizza, games, art projects, and a movie, while adults, sensitive to their situations, cared for them. Those foster parents enjoyed four hours of rest.