ABOUT every CHILD
With a shared vision for aiding the thousands of boys and girls in the custody of North Carolina's foster care system, Baptist Children's Homes of North Carolina and the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina have partnered together for EVERY CHILD Foster & Adoption Ministry. We believe the church is the answer for ensuring every child receives the caring home he or she deserves.
Our Story
Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina (BCH) and the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina (BSCNC) have partnered together for EVERY CHILD Foster & Adoption Ministry. Launched in November 2021, BCH and BSCNC desire to see every child receive the caring home that he or she deserves through the direct involvement of North Carolina Baptists.
It is this model of working directly with churches that is the heart of the EVERY CHILD Foster & Adoption Ministry.
As liaison to 77 local Baptist Associations, BSCNC is able to help cast the vision for the EVERY CHILD initiative throughout its statewide network of almost 4,400 churches in order to connect them with BCH’s foster/adopt staff.
In total, BCH has licensed 276 family foster care homes and served 586 children in those homes. Currently, there are 149 active statewide foster homes serving 151 children. There are 54 families throughout North Carolina in the process of becoming licensed foster homes. Numbers of active homes change as some families adopt the children they foster (when applicable) and others are no longer fostering.
NOTE: numbers are current as of August 2022.
By The Numbers...
children in the North Carolina foster care system
16,000
Dr. Michael Blackwell
President of Baptist Children's Homes of NC
“When you look at the number of children in foster care (16,000 children) it seems overwhelming, but we serve a God in Whom all things are possible. If you divide 16,000 by 4,400 churches, that equates to four children per church. If every NC Baptist church stepped forward to care for four children, the number of NC foster children becomes zero.”
Todd Unzicker
Executive Director of Baptist State Convention
“The church is the answer, and over 16,000 children await. II believe NC Baptists can help every child in our state. Imagine if North Carolina were a state where no child experiences homelessness and every child in need had a safe, loving home where they could learn of Jesus’ great love. With God’s help, I believe such a vision can become a reality as our family of NC Baptist churches work toward this goal with BCH.”
Through EVERY CHILD, BCH’s statewide foster and adopt staff provide the following:
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Training and licensing for couples in churches who desire to foster or foster-to-adopt—training takes place at the time and place convenient for the participating church
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Working with couples and individuals to foster-to-adopt or adopt domestically or internationally
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Equipping churches to provide ongoing ministry and support for foster and adoptive parents and their children in their congregation
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Providing ongoing support to participating churches and families
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Offering trauma-informed training to help with boys and girls who come from traumatic circumstances