Foster Care & Adoption

How Can We Help?

The challenges of life can seem overwhelming at times. We know this and want to help.

I Need...

Help
Prayer
Support

We all need help with the stress of everyday life from time to time.

Call us at: 502.253.8144
or

CONTACT US

We firmly believe that prayer changes things, and we would love to join you in lifting your needs up to God.

REQUEST PRAYER

God did not make us to walk this journey alone. We offer a variety of in-person and online support groups that will connect you with others who are struggling.

FIND SUPPORT

The Foster Care & Adoption Ministry exists to inform, connect, and equip the body of Christ to care for vulnerable children and families. As a church, we want to be part of the solution for the hundreds of thousands of children, both locally and around the world, who need families. And we want to pursue God's heart for healing and restoration for all families—for biological families needing community and support, for foster and adoptive parents looking for connection and parenting skills, and for adoptees pursuing healing and hope.

What We Do

Inform

If you are curious about fostering or adopting, we want to help you get started. We offer monthly informational sessions called Considering Foster Care & Adoption that provide families with information about foster care, domestic adoption, and international adoption. You can register for an upcoming class HERE

Connect

We have a vibrant community of foster and adoptive families, and we want to provide encouragement, support, and meaningful connection with other families who share a similar journey. You can find upcoming events at many of our campuses HERE

Equip

Parenting can be a difficult journey, especially when trauma is involved. As a church, we want to equip you to thrive as a parent and family. For biological parents in crisis, we offer a 7-week parenting course throughout the year, called Families Count. For foster and adoptive parents, we host our annual Family is Forever Parenting Summit each February, featuring expert speakers and leaders. We also have foster and adoptive mentor families and partner with several local therapists who specialize in working with kids from hard places. If you are an adoptee, we would love to support you by connecting you with a local therapist or some of our online adoptee partners. For help getting connected at any stage of your family's journey, please contact us at the information below.

107

Attended Info Sessions Last Year

551

Families Connected to the Ministry

257

Attended Family is Forever Last Year

16

Parents Graduated Families Count

“Our experience with foster care has been full of ups and downs, and there were days we didn’t think we could keep saying yes. But God had other plans, and it’s incredible to look back and see the ways He was working even in the brokenness. We now have 5 amazing kids, as well as a huge extended family made up of many of our kids’ birth families too.”

The Reynolds Family

“As an adoptee, adoption was always the plan for our family, and as we prepared for an international adoption, the Lord revealed needs within our own family. The journey of kinship adoption was far different than expected, but the Lord blessed us far more than we could ever have imagined!”

The Szwed Family

“We believe all children belong in families, and God knit ours together from across the world. Each of our kids, with their own story and culture, uniquely and wonderfully reflect the image of God. We’re so humbled and grateful that God’s plan for our family was so much bigger and wider than we could have imagined!”

The Crowe Family

“We are humbled God chose us to be his parents. Our journey to parenthood has not been on our timeline or how we imagined. Yet God’s goodness is evident every time we look into his eyes, and His grace is evident in the blossoming relationship with his birth parents.”

The Clark Family

Resources

Local Resources

Online Resources

Books to Read

Just a FAD Podcast

Events

Foster Care & Adoption - Campus Events

We have a vibrant community of foster and adoptive families, and we want to provide encouragement, support, and meaningful connection with other families who share a similar journey. You can find upcoming events at many of our campuses. Please contact Callie Troyer at ctroyer@secc.org with general questions or the campus leader listed for questions about a specific event.

Wed, Jun 07
Recurring Event

See Upcoming Campus Events Doc for Locations

More Info

Camp Empower Volunteer Training

This training is for Camp Empower Buddies and key volunteers to prepare them for serving at Camp Empower 2023. Please register for one of our 3 training dates, May 11, May 16 or June 10.

Sat, Jun 10

Blankenbaker Campus

Children's
Programming

More Info

Camp Empower

Camp Empower is a fun-filled, action-packed Day Camp for children entering 1st through 5th grade who have been fostered or adopted. This camp is designed specifically with these kids in mind to help them build helpful self-regulation and life skills by focusing on 4 key areas: Move, Feel, Care & Learn. Camp Empower will kick off with a Buddy Meet & Greet on Sunday, June 11 from 5-6:30pm and then run daily June 12-14 from 9am-3pm.

Sun, Jun 11

Blankenbaker Campus

More Info

Contact

Blaine Hamilton
Foster Care & Adoption Ministry Leader
502.253.8091
bhamilton@secc.org

Callie Troyer
Foster Care & Adoption Ministry Associate
502.253.8428
ctroyer@secc.org

Frequently Asked Questions

I am already a foster or adoptive parent. How do I get involved in the ministry?

Please use THIS LINK to provide us with your contact information, and we’ll get you added to our mailing list. From there, you’ll be in the loop for all upcoming events, trainings, and groups. You can also join us at one of our upcoming Campus Events too.

I want to get connected with a mentor family to help answer questions about foster care, adoption, or parenting. How do I get connected?

We’d love to get you connected! Reach out to us at the contact information listed above.

Does Southeast provide funding for adoption costs?

Yes. A part of our Widows and Orphans Fund goes to a Lifesong for Orphans adoption fund, which is facilitated by Orphan Care Alliance (OCA). You can find an application for the OCA/Lifesong for Orphans fund HERE. If you are a Southeast member or attendee, we also match funds for a Both Hands fundraiser. Both Hands allows you to serve a widow in our community and fund your adoption with the same project. Let us know once you’ve applied for a Both Hands project and we will match the first $5000 you raise. If you need help identifying a widow in our community who needs assistance, we can help with that as well. Visit BOTH HANDS or contact us for more information.

Does Southeast license families for foster care and adoption, or provide placement of children into families?

No. We do not license foster or adoptive families or place children for adoption. We minister to the families who are fostering or adopting. If you are interested in learning more about foster care or adoption, our Considering Foster Care & Adoption sessions are designed to help families decide which avenue of adoption is the best fit and then direct them to the appropriate organization. You can find information about upcoming sessions here.

How do I get connected with a Families Count class?

Families Count is a 7-week class for struggling parents to provide basic parenting skills and connect the family with a mentor. Please visit the Families Count website for more information on our Families Count program.

What books or online resources do you recommend?

We’re so glad you asked. You can find our recommended list of books and online resources HERE.

What local resources do you recommend?

You can find our recommended list of local resources HERE. If you need any assistance with identifying a counselor or group specific to your family, please reach out to us at the contact information listed above. We’d love to get you connected!

Still need help?

We’d love to chat! Reach out to us at the contact information listed above.

Foster Care & Adoption

Overview

What We Do

Inform

Connect

Equip

Testimonies

Reynolds Family

Szwed Family

Crowe Family

Clark Family

Resources

Local Resources

Online Resources

Books to Read

Just a FAD Podcast

Events

Foster Care & Adoption - Campus Events

Wed, Jun 07 Recurring Event

See Upcoming Campus Events Doc for Locations

More Info

Camp Empower Volunteer Training

Sat, Jun 10

Blankenbaker Campus

Children'sProgramming

More Info

Camp Empower

Sun, Jun 11

Blankenbaker Campus

More Info

Contact

Blaine Hamilton Foster Care & Adoption Ministry Leader 502.253.8091 bhamilton@secc.org

Callie Troyer Foster Care & Adoption Ministry Associate 502.253.8428 ctroyer@secc.org

Frequently Asked Questions

I am already a foster or adoptive parent. How do I get involved in the ministry?

I want to get connected with a mentor family to help answer questions about foster care, adoption, or parenting. How do I get connected?

Does Southeast provide funding for adoption costs?

Does Southeast license families for foster care and adoption, or provide placement of children into families?

How do I get connected with a Families Count class?

What books or online resources do you recommend?

What local resources do you recommend?

Still need help?

Wed, Jun 07
Recurring Event

Children's
Programming

Blaine Hamilton
Foster Care & Adoption Ministry Leader
502.253.8091
bhamilton@secc.org

Callie Troyer
Foster Care & Adoption Ministry Associate
502.253.8428
ctroyer@secc.org