Foster Parenting

Did you know that this year:

• There are 10,353 children placed in foster care or relative care in Washington State (that is 1300 more children than last year).
  
  
• There are 6,400 children in licensed foster care in Washington State at any given time.
  
  
• In Pierce County there are 800 children in licensed foster care at any given time.
  
  
• There are over 500 children in Washington State that are legally free and waiting to be adopted.
  
  

We are privileged to partner with Youth For Christ and others to be advocates for the ministry of orphan care through the foster care system. We want to be a source of encouragement, information and resources for foster parents and those who may wish to become foster parents.

We believe Foster Parenting is a Calling…. We believe in the Restoration of children…. We believe in the Reconciliation of families….. We believe every Child deserves a permanent family….

If you are currently a foster parent and would like to be a part of our family; or, if you would like more information on supporting or becoming a foster parent, please e-mail Brian and Jamie Smith at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Safe Families

Safe Families for Children provides a safe and loving home where parents who are unable to support their children due to economic, health or other hardships can safely and voluntarily place their children. Safe Families partners with local churches and ministries, host agencies, and community and government agencies; and is comprised of over one thousand volunteer families. Safe Families is able to reach out and help support children and families that government and other agencies cannot.

Since its founding in 2002 by Chicago based LYDIA Home Association, Safe Families for Children has spread to more than 13 states and last year served more than 1000 children and families. Safe Families is able provide a safe alternative to the welfare system and overburdened government agencies. Because parents voluntarily place their children in a Safe Families home, there is no fear of losing custody. This support that Safe Families offers prevents possible abuse or neglect situations.

In Safe Families for Children, the biological parent maintains full custody. The children are cared for by volunteer families who are extensively screened and supported. Children stay with the family for an average of six weeks but the stay can range from two days to a year. The average age of children in Safe Families for Children is 4.5 years. Safe Families works closely with the local church and the referring organization and rare committed to reuniting the family as soon as possible.

The local affiliate for Safe Families for Children is Olive Crest, Pacific Northwest.

If you are a family in a time of need we encourage you to contact Safe Families for Children by visiting the SFFC website or calling 1-800-743-6783 for Olive Crest.

Lighthouse Christian Center is about strengthening families and communities. Supporting families during their times of need is one way we can strengthen those families in the long run- and you and your family will be blessed as well. If you are interested in being a Safe Family, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Adoption

We seek to provide resources and support for our families going through the adoption
process. Families can choose to go in one of three directions when adopting:

Private Domestic Adoption
International Adoption
Foster To Adopt and Adoption of Legally Free Children

Families can choose to partner with an agency or adopt independently. We encourage families to consider adopting from foster care as an alternative to private birth parent adoption simply because there are many children waiting for parents right now. Also, the Foster To Adopt process only requires minimal out of pocket expenses that are usually reimbursed once the adoption is finalized.

For more information on adoption, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or see
the Agencies drop down for a list of agencies which can give you information about the process.

Agencies

Antioch Adoptions

Antioch Adoptions is a licensed child placement agency that has been placing children in forever families for over 11 years without charging a fee for our services.
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: www.antiochadoptions.org

Bethany Christian Services

Bethany Northwest offers a variety of programs including International Adoption, Domestic Infant Adoption, State/Older Child Adoption, Foster Care, Full Service Counseling and Pregnancy Counseling for expectant mothers.
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: www.bethany.org/washington

Olive Crest

Olive Crest is working to strengthen families and keep kids safe through the following programs: Safe Families For Children, Family Preservation, Foster Care, Mental Health and Independent Living Skills and Fostering Together.
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: www.olivecrest.org

Washington DSHS Children’s Administration

Children adopted from foster care benefit greatly from your love and support. DSHS Children’s Administration provides home studies, pre-service and on going training, child and family matching and placement, financial supports, finalization and post-adoption supports at no cost to applicants.
Website: www.dshs.wa.gov/ca/general/index.asp

Youth For Christ

Our mission is to serve children in the foster care system whether it is for one night or permanently providing a family for them. YFC provides the initial PRIDE training for our families, as well as ongoing training, monthly support groups and cell phone accessibility evenings and weekends.
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Doorways To Hope

The Home For Every Orphan initiative works with families and churches across the globe to provide loving homes for orphans within their native country. For the cost of bringing one  child to the US through international adoption, you can place 60 children in loving Christian homes in their own country.
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: www.doorwaystohope.org

Volunteer Opportunities

Prayer Team Volunteer: Volunteers to be on an email prayer list to pray for the ministry and the needs of our foster and adoptive families.

Family Support Team: Volunteers to support foster and newly adoptive families with prayer, babysitting, meals, transportation, etc.

Extended Family Team: Volunteers who will partner with a foster family or adoptive family to be grandparents, uncles, aunts to the foster children in the home. Ideas might include taking the foster child out for ice cream or a movie or having him/her to your house for a cookie making lesson or craft.

Material Supports: Volunteers who will help organize coat drives or backpacks of supplies for children first coming into care.

Other: What is your passion for taking care of orphans? Tell us....

For information on any of these teams or to volunteer, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Support Groups

• Foster Family Support Group
• Adoptive Family Support Group

For more information about these groups, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Events