Just a few years ago, 875 Colorado children were waiting to be adopted. Now, thanks in part to Focus on the Family, that number has dropped to 550.
Last November, close to 1,300 people representing 150 churches gathered at New Life Church in Colorado Springs for Focus on the Family's premiere Wait No More conference. More than 250 families stepped forward that day to begin the adoption process.
Dr. Sharen Ford, the permanency manager at the Colorado Department of Human Services' Division of Child Welfare, recently thanked Focus on the Family for its significant role in finding homes for Colorado's kids.
"This collaboration has been unprecedented in the history of state and local government during my 25-year tenure," Ford wrote to Kelly Rosati, senior director of the Sanctity of Human Life division at Focus. "The combination of partnerships — state, local, faith-based organizations, private agencies — media recognition and speaking opportunities has increased the number of families inquiring and taking ACTION to make a difference in CO's children finding their forever families."
Rosati said the news from Ford "is an answer to our prayers and to the prayers of many kids who've been waiting and longing for a family to come for them."
"We look forward to continuing to use our voice and reach," she said, "on behalf of the voiceless and forgotten legal orphans in foster care who are still waiting for adoptive families to call their own."
Ford also expressed thanks to Project 1:27, a Colorado ministry that recruits, trains and supports adoptive parents, support teams, churches, counties and other partners.
"The Department wouldn't have been able to accomplish this alone," Ford continued. "Focus and Project 1:27 have played significant roles in our achieving the outcome of 550 waiting children. Our agency looks forward to continuing our work together for the 'good of the children.' "
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Learn more about Focus on the Family's Wait No More initiative. The next conference takes place in September in Southern California.
Jim Daly, president and CEO of Focus on the Family, knows what it's like to be an orphan. He shares his story in Finding Home.
