Adoption Option, Number 1

In the next few days, or weeks, we are going to give you the Adoption Options as they stand in Oklahoma. So today, the first option available to families, is through the Department of Human Services. To make it simple and to the point. There are mainly two ways in which you may adopt children through DHS.

The first way to adopt a child through the Department of Human Services (hereinafter DHS) is to foster children. Click HERE to find out how to become a foster parent. The good side of this is that you do not have to pay to become a foster parent, in fact, you are paid to foster children in the State of Oklahoma. In addition, the children will have their own health insurance, DHS will pay for daycare if it is needed, and you will receive a monthly stipend. The downside to this, you have DHS in your home, you are restricted in your parenting methods (such as discipline) and you MUST take a training course, which is about seven weeks. But again, I must point out....it is biblical, and it is FREE. In addition, if the child placed in your home becomes eligible for adoption, the legal services finalizing the adoption are paid for by OKDHS. Therefore, this is really the only FREE method of adoption in Oklahoma.

The second way is to apply to adopt a "waiting child". These children are typically older children, mixed races, sibling groups or special needs. But wonderful, beautiful, loving little creations that need a home and a forever family. Click HERE on how to adopt through DHS. The only expense to the family is the medical exam that each family member must have prior to finalization. Click HERE to see some of the precious children right here in Oklahoma, waiting on a family.

So that is lesson number one on adoption options....please ask questions and check back for updates and answers to those questions.

***It was brought to my attention that you may have to pay for a physical which costs approximately $50. You will incur this cost!

Adopt(ed)

I recently found a blog that shares our passion for adoption and asked if I could share this post. Please read as this is very powerful. I am proud to say that these mama's are from Oklahoma too!

Here it is:

"Recently I was made aware of a situation where two siblings locally were removed from their home for child abuse. A group of over 3,000 people were presented with this situation and asked whether anyone in the room could take these children in. I was thankful to find out a couple stepped forward........ but saddened and a little perplexed to find out that only one couple, out of a group of over 3,000 christian people.....stepped forward.

I wish I could remember where I read this so I could quote it accurately as well as give them proper credit, but somewhere recently I read a statement that said something like this: "In a city where there are Christians, there should be no unwanted children."


Ouch.


Which makes me wonder why this is so. WHY, if there are 450,000 churches in the U.S.A., WHY are there 129,000 children in the U.S. waiting for families?


My pastor, Alex Himaya, did a sermon series explaining WHY God has such a heart for adoption. I encourage every believer to hear it (Click here to hear). Out of that sermon came an orphan ministry that John and I are so thankful to be a part of. I am working on a new blog,
adopt-ed.blogspot.com where I hope to share stories related to orphans and vulnerable children, connect adoptive families, highlight events, share some of the outreaches of our church adoption ministry, etc. I do hope you'll come visit it, set your google reader, and be a part of the Adopt(Ed) ministry at The Church at Battle Creek.

May is Foster Care Month

I keep hearing this statistic on the radio and I can't shake it.

There are over 10,000 children in foster care in Oklahoma alone.

I can't seem to get that thought out of my head that these are the "orphans" that God meant for us to look after.

Please pray for these children that they may find their forever family and will no longer have to question God's purpose for their life.

(Remember to turn off the music on the blog to hear the sound on the video)



Although they didn't mention the two adoptions we love to talk about, Jesus and Moses, I think it's a wonderful video to make us all think!

Edumucation....and To Do's....

We have had a lot of great feedback. So I want to give you a few "homework" assignments because people keep asking how they can help us.

First, we would like you to "edumucate" yourself on the current law. Click HERE to read what the current law is in Oklahoma with regard to relinquishment of parental rights. Just educate yourself, and please know this, we are NOT suggesting that we get rid of any portion of this law. We are proposing ADDING to it to give both birth mothers and adoptive families alternatives to the way it has "always" been done. So please, take time to read and understand.

Second, please take our new "button" on the upper right hand side of the blog and put it on your blog or website. If you have "install" questions on how to install it, email us and we will be glad to provide that info for you!

Third, become a "follower" of the blog. On the right hand side of the page, all you have to do is "sign in" and become a follower. We need to be able to show the legislature that we have a huge following of people supporting the change in the law. So "follow" and e-mail out our new fancy shmancy blog to everyone you know. They don't have to be adoptive families.

Fourth, join our cause on facebook. It is called, Promote Oklahoma Adoption. If you need us to request you join, just send a friend request to Molly Shockley and she will send you one right back.

Fifth, leave a comment. Even if it just says....Rock on with your socks on! If you don't have an account, click Anonymous....

All homework is do on Monday! Get to it kids, put your money (aka blogs) where your mouth is and show this new thing off....

Also - a big THANKS to Murphy Resources and The Francy Law Firm for sponsoring our new bloggie page!!!!!