The CALL and five other nonprofits from around the United States spoke to White House representatives about the work they do, the impact they’ve made on the foster care system and challenges they experience, according to a press release.
The CALL is a faith-based nonprofit organization whose mission is to educate, equip and encourage the Christian community to provide a future and hope for children in foster care in Arkansas, according to their website.
Karen Langston, Union County coordinator for The CALL, said in the past three years, 34 children have been placed in adoptive homes in Union County after being fostered by The CALL families. Over 11,000 children in Arkansas have received care from foster families recruited by The CALL.
“I think that really shows that we have a credibility and we have a voice,” Langston said about the invitation to the listening session. “I’m really proud of the fact that we’re not only being recognized by our own governor, but now we’ve just been recognized by the White House. The church is having a voice.”
Michelle Douglas, program director for The CALL, attended the listening session. She said the White House staff at the meeting hoped to learn about foster care and adoption around the nation and identify challenges faced by organizations that recruit foster and adoptive families.
She noted that most of the organizations invited to the listening session were also faith-based. Other organizations involved in the listening session included The Christian Alliance for Orphans, Promise 686, DC127, Focus on the Family, Jewish Children’s Adoption Network, Harvest for Hope and Adoption-Share.
“I believe the session did an incredible job of showing what the faith community is capable of doing when working in partnership with government agencies to solve problems,” Douglas said in an email correspondence. “That sentiment was shared by both federal staff as well as leaders of faith-based organizations, both Christian and Jewish.”
According to the press release, federal staff included in the meeting were Andrew Bremberg, director of Domestic Policy Council; Lynn Johnson, assistant secretary for Children and Family Services with the Department of Health and Human Services; Jim Carroll, director of the US Office of National Drug Control Policy; Kellyann Conway, senior counselor to the president; and Congressman Phil Mitchell of Michigan, who is himself an adoptive father.
“I am pleased that The CALL is receiving national recognition for the difference that it is making throughout Arkansas,” Gov. Asa Hutchinson said in the release. “I am delighted that The CALL is receiving due recognition from the White House and serving as an example for other organizations in other states to follow.”
The listening session took place on Nov. 29 and was facilitated by the Domestic Policy Council. According to the press release, the White House will expand their focus on adoption and foster care in 2019.
The CALL works in partnership with the Arkansas Division of Children and Family Services. They train foster and adoptive families through a certification process of DCFS. Additionally, they partner with local churches; the organization helps equip and mobilize the churches to also help with foster care in their communities.
“Just the fact that the meeting is happening is a big deal. … The fact that the foster care system is being focused on and there’s real concern about next steps for these kids in care, I think is just a really great focus of the White House,” said Lauri Currier, executive director for The CALL. “And it’s exciting because oftentimes, children and youth in foster care are just sort of invisible and we tend to ignore the things that we don’t see, and so raising the level of awareness, even to the highest level of governments is good for those kids.”
The CALL is currently located in 47 counties around Arkansas. The organization, which was founded in 2007, has helped over 2,050 foster and adoptive homes open since their founding. Over 1,000 children have been adopted by families recruited by The CALL.
About 67 percent of currently serving foster families in Arkansas were recruited by The CALL, according to the press release. The organization works exclusively with Christians, Langston said.
“You couldn’t do it without [faith]. The mercy and grace and compassion that you have to have to do this work is found in its truest form through Jesus Christ,” Langston said. “I’ve heard one person say before: foster care and adoption is the tangible love of Christ.”
An information session for families interested in becoming involved in The CALL will take place at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 7 at Immanuel Baptist Church, 3209 W. Hillsboro. For more information about the session, visit facebook.com/thecallinunioncounty.
Caitlan Butler can be reached at 870-862-6611 or [email protected].