Empowered to Connect is currently featuring a video series on their website entitled “What Every Adoptive Parent Should Know.”

We’ll be sharing one of these videos each month for the next few months here on the Be A Family blog. We hope you and your family will benefit from this valuable resource.

In light of National Foster Care Month, this month’s video is entitled “The Importance of Giving Voice to Children.” Neglect is one of the main reasons children are placed in foster care. As a result, they don’t know what it is to be heard, for someone to truly listen to and understand their needs. Listen in as Dr. Karyn Purvis discusses what it means to give a child voice and how it can ultimately change a child’s life.

“The very fundamental precept of the child learning that they’re safe, that they’re loved, that they’re cared for, that there’s meaning in their life even, that they can change their life by asking for their needs appropriately, is giving voice.” – Dr. Karyn Purvis

Don’t miss past videos: Children from Hard Places and The Impact of Fear

By Holly Garcia

“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4)
Almost four years ago, my husband and I went through one of the toughest things a married couple can go through.

We wanted children badly and were blessed with a pregnancy. Even better, it was twins! Then, just like that, we miscarried and they went to be with the Lord. No one had answers or explanations, just sorrow and grief.

A couple of years later, one of my co-workers was discussing foster parenting with me. My husband and I started praying and talking about the possibility of becoming foster parents ourselves. Read More

There are 400,000 children in foster care in the United States on any given day. These children have been neglected or abused by those closest to them — those who are supposed to love, care for and nurture them.

We are holding a prayer vigil for all children in foster care on May 21st and urge you to attend. Join with us to intercede for these precious children and cover them in prayer.

What: Prayer vigil for children in foster care
When: Tuesday, May 21, 7:15-8:00 p.m.
Where: The Maris Center at the Buckner Children’s Home Campus - 5200 S. Buckner Blvd., Dallas, Texas 75227

If you don’t live in the Dallas area, please set a reminder on your calendar and join us in prayer wherever you live!

Please pray for the following:

• Pray that our foster children will experience God’s love through the love and care they receive in the foster home and those who interact with them. Pray that God will comfort and protect these children as they heal from the abuse and neglect they have experienced.
• Pray that foster homes for larger sibling groups, older children and children of color are found.
• Pray that God would draw these foster children’s biological families to Himself and they would experience life transformation.
• Pray for the recruitment of foster families and adoptive families who see these children as gifts from God who deserve to be cared for in the best way possible. Pray that God will give courage to those who feel called to foster, but who are hesistating due to fear or uncertainty.
• Pray that our current foster families do not lose heart when things are tough. Pray that they would be diligent with meeting the vast needs of the foster children.

Download a PDF of the Dallas Prayer Vigil Flyer.

Dillon International Hosts Free Interest Meetings in Dallas May 30 and June 10

Contact: Lauri Ann Hanson
Marketing & Media Relations Coordinator
Buckner International
Phone: (214) 758-8171

DALLAS—Seven Colombian orphans will make the trip of a lifetime as they travel to Dallas for a three-week visit with American host families this December.

The Angels from Abroad program provides older children a chance to learn about American culture, share their Colombian culture, and experience living in a family. It also helps raise awareness about the need for adopting older children and children who are part of a sibling group, said Denise Schoborg, director of Dillon International’s Colombia program.

“Every night in Colombia, approximately 60,000 children in the care of the country’s child protection system fall asleep uncertain of what the future holds for their lives. Sadly, adoption for most of these children will never come true in their birth country where the majority of adoptions involve young, healthy children,” Schoborg said.
Read More

As part of National Foster Care Month, we would love to introduce you to a child who is currently in our care. It is important to us at Buckner for the public to know and love our children as much as we do!

While the information contained in this child profile is accurate, names and certain identifying information have been changed in order to protect the child’s privacy. Children are in care most often for their protection, and it is our responsibility at Buckner to keep them safe, both physically and emotionally. All of the information below was provided by the child and her Buckner caseworker. It is our hope that profiles like this help our readers have a better understanding of the types of children we care for at Buckner.

Today, we are thrilled to introduce you to Lainy, a 3-year-old girl in foster care. Here are a few things Lainy wants you to know about her:

I’m most proud of the fact that I get to go to school. I love my teacher and friends there. They are sad if I don’t come one day. Read More

May is recognized as National Foster Care Month, an opportunity to raise awareness about the urgent needs of the approximately 400,000 children and youth under the age of 18 in our country’s foster care system.

In Texas alone, there are roughly 30,000 children in foster care who need loving adults to provide a family atmosphere for them while their own families are in crisis and unable to care for them.

Below is a poem written by Andrea Chambers, one of our very own foster parents, about the incredible experience of loving a child in foster care.

“How much time do I have, Little One?”

I met you just today…what excitement and what pleasure!
This little outfit that you wear will become a special treasure.

I don’t know what you’ve endured in your short little life,
Or what haunting memories flood your mind when you close your eyes at night. Read More

When you think of child abuse, what image comes to mind?

For most people, they are the same images that come up when you type in “child abuse” into any search engine. Pictures of young children, the majority under the age of 5, appear all over the screen. It’s disheartening to see and think about all the children out there that have suffered and will suffer in the future.

One picture that doesn’t appear quite as often is that of an older teenager, a child that has been in the system and knows little to nothing about the world they are about to enter.

According to an article by Casey Family Programs, youth who age out of the foster care system struggle to support themselves financially and maintain employment. They are also more likely to rely on public assistance programs. The cycle of abuse/neglect repeats due to the propensity of these kids to become parents at an earlier age; young women in foster care are twice as likely to have been pregnant by age 19.

Most of these teens have never opened a checking account, had a job or even been grocery shopping. They don’t have anyone to call if they need help with their bills, if they want a home-cooked meal or if they don’t have anywhere to go for Christmas.

Breaking the cycle of abuse can be as simple as showing kindness to a young adult through mentorship, tutoring and providing a support system for someone that needs it.

Wendy McMillan is the foster care and adoption supervisor for Buckner Children and Family Services in Lufkin. As foster care and adoption supervisor, she coordinates the development of foster and adoptive homes and provides training and support to foster and adoptive families. She has been with Buckner since 2011.

Empowered to Connect is currently featuring a video series on their website entitled “What Every Adoptive Parent Should Know.”

We’ll be sharing one of these videos each month for the next few months here on the Be A Family blog. We hope you and your family will benefit from this valuable resource.

In light of Child Abuse Prevention month, this month’s video is entitled “The Impact of Fear.”

Fear is a common struggle for many children coming out of abusive situations into foster or adoptive homes. Listen in as Dr. Karyn Purvis discusses signs of fear in children and healthy ways to dispel fear and build trust.

“At the heart of our work is understanding how deep the fear level is in our children. As a matter of fact, most of our kids have been afraid so long they don’t even realize that it’s fear they’re experiencing.” – Dr. Karyn Purvis

Don’t miss last month’s video: Children from Hard Places.

It is our hope to occasionally use this blog to introduce you to children who are currently in our care. It is important to us at Buckner for the public to know and love these children as much as we do!

While the information contained in this child profile is accurate, names and certain identifying information have been changed in order to protect the child’s privacy. Children are in care most often for their protection, and it is our responsibility at Buckner to keep them safe, both physically and emotionally. All of the information below was provided by the child and her Buckner caseworker. It is our hope that profiles like this help our readers have a better understanding of the types of children we care for at Buckner.

Today, we are pleased to introduce you to Jesse, who is 9 years old. Here are some things Jesse wants you to know about her: Read More

Child abuse and neglect continue to be of concern each day in the United States.

Today, April 4, 2013, is designated as ‘Go Blue’ Day. Everyone is encouraged to wear blue in hopes to raise awareness of child abuse. Wear your blue and help us spread the word to end child abuse.

Have you ever wondered about the origins of Child Abuse Prevention Month? Here’s a little history from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:

Increasing public awareness of the need to ensure the safety and welfare of children led to the passage of the first Federal child protection legislation, the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), in 1974. Read More