The mission of Embrace is to rally the members of our community to champion the needs of "waiting children" by becoming foster parents, adoptive families, or volunteers in our Resource Network. Waiting Children is a term now used to describe children in the foster care system, and those awaiting adoption. Founded in 2006 at Rhea's Mill Baptist Church, Embrace has now grown to involve a dozen families. Some are exploring the opportunity to grow their families through adoption. A few are families willing to open their homes and hearts to children in the foster care program. Many are individuals who have a heart for this cause, who commit to use their individual gifts and talents to benefit these children. We are working to expand the Embrace program in the Rhea's Mill congregation, while sharing with and encouraging the growth of similar ministries throughout our area.

 

Embrace Line (available 24 hours a day): (214)616-5630

Cindy Coffman, Director : cindy@embracetexas.org

Webmaster: denise@oncomingmedia.com

Rhea's Mill Baptist Church: bruce@rheasmill.org

 

More than 1/3 of American families say they have seriously considered adoption at one time. Of these families, less than 2% ever actually adopt. We recognize that many families considering adoption struggle to find quality, unbiased information. Few realize that there are over 1,000 children in just Collin and surrounding counties waiting for adoption today. We offer families interested in adoption access to our resources, professional contacts, and most importantly a network of support and prayer along the way.

We are not a childplacing agency, and we are not affiliated with any particular agency, attorney, or business. We arrange for training and programming from various agencies and CPS to be brought to our area for the convenience of local families. Feel free to contact us for more information on adoption. We respond confidentially to all requests, as we understand you may prefer time to explore your options anonymously. If you choose, we can put you in contact with families who are currently in the adoption process, have completed adoption, and several adult adoptees to discuss your questions and thoughts.

 

Foster parenting is an amazing opportunity to give children in need a safe and loving home. Although this endeavor is not for everyone, the rewards are worth any challenges you may face.

Fostering Basics... Families and individuals can use an agency, or work directly through Child Protective Services to become a foster parent. After a homestudy and training, families specify the age, gender and care level of children they are available to accept and wait for a call. When foster families are contacted by a child placing agency, they are given minimal information about the child requiring placement. This information almost always includes the child's age, gender, race, basic medical information, sibling information, and frequently an estimate of how long they may need to be in your home. The foster parent/s then decide if they will accept the placement, and the child arrives within 24 hours. Some families choose to foster in an effort to adopt, others are strictly fostering. Most foster parents are married (although this is NOT a requirement by any means), and many have biological children in the home as well. Children attend school in your district, and are provided with Medicaid, free school lunch program, Early Childhood Intervention, and a small daily stipend to limit financial burden to the foster family. You can choose to take a break from foster parenting by simply asking your name to be removed from the calling list at any time. Once children are placed in the home, they quickly become a part of the family and fall into the routine of everyday life. It is a gift of unparalleled value to give a child safety, love and encouragement.

Key Words:

Child Protective Services: a government agency created to investigate allegations of abuse and neglect of children, and if necessary, remove children from their home temporarily or permanently

Agency: a term loosely used to describe a private business or not-for-profit organization that acts a liaison between CPS and foster or adoptive families

Placement: a child's removal from one home and "placement" in another

Level of Care: a system of ranking children's requirement for care based on their emotional, behavioral and medical needs, most children are basic care, while some require therapeutic care for issues such as: profound mental impairment, feeding tube, psychological disorder, or requiring a wheelchair

Medicaid: free healthcare provided by the government through a network of approved providers

Early Childhood Intervention: a government program providing assessment and therapy for special needs children (this includes speech, assistive technology, etc.) up to age 3

 

Embrace was founded at Rhea's Mill Baptist Church in McKinney, Texas. Our goal is to partner with individuals and congregations in Region 3 (Collin and surrounding counties) to blanket our area with the resources, volunteers and families to reach all Waiting Children. We have carefully documented the process we took to develop this ministry at our church, and encourage others to accept the challenge and honor God's statement in James 1:27 "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and holy is this; to help widows and orphans in their distress, and keep oneself from being polluted by the world". We will gladly come along side anyone interested in building a similar program and offer our experience and encouragement.

 

 

 

• Informational Meeting for those interested in Foster Parenting or Fostering to Adopt
  • Tuesday, January 29 at 7:00 pm
  • Childcare provided with advanced notice: cindy@embracetexas.org
  • Located in Rhea's Mill Baptist Church, fellowship hall
• PRIDE: Foster Care Training and Licensing coming this Spring, times and days to be announced
  • This training will be provided by Child Protective Services, additional training may be necessary for those planning on working with a private child placement agency
• Family Fall Festival, October 31, 2007 was a great success! Thank you to everyone who helped out! Look at our new pictures below.

Pastor Phil, Rhea's Mill Baptist Church, stops by the Embrace Booth ................ Joey is caught sitting down on the job as we set up our game ........................ Lions, Cowboys and Spiderman..Oh my!

 

Embrace is always in need of volunteers to build our Resource Network. The Resource Network is a pool of resources, services, talents, and donations created to benefit Waiting Children. Here are a few examples of our Network Partners:

• A photographer willing to take yearly birthday photoshoots for foster children, donates his time and supplies
• A mother donates her children's outgrown clothes, toys, and carseats for the Resource Closet (available to foster and adoptive families)
• A grandmother gives foster children graduating highschool a college book scholarship in memory of her husband
• A highschooler meets a foster child once a week at a park to play football
• A teacher who uses his talents to tutor a newly adopted child who has some catching up to do in school
• An attorney who offers guidance and advice, as well as representation at a generous discount
• A couple who provides childcare, so parents can Christmas shop and enjoy dinner out together

Our database contains hundreds of "known needs" compiled by foster and adoptive families for their children. We are still looking for volunteers to fill many of these positions. We would love to offer a new resource based on your ideas and talents. We do not fund any of these individuals, we simply bring people together to meet the needs of the children. Volunteers providing childcare, and those working directly with children submit background checks, but it is the responsibility of the parents to appropriately supervise their children. Embrace Director Cindy Coffman observed many members of Rhea's Mill looking for opportunities to encourage foster and adoptive families, and to enrich the lives of their children. The Resource Network was born to offer waiting children and their families access and contact with those willing to help.