Compassion Church works to boost fostering, adoption
PLAIN TWP. − The Rev. Noah Schumacher said that after he attended an informational meeting about the state of foster care and adoption, he came away so stunned by the need that he endeavored to create a mission to help.
The lead pastor of Compassion Church at 1921 Schneider St. NE said the mission to assist children currently in the foster care system, those awaiting adoption, and families who have an interest in providing a home, is in keeping with the faith.
The ministry plans a question-and-answer event at 1 p.m. Sept. 18 with panelists Leah McMullin, Scott and Shannon Radcliff and Michael Vandevort. There also will be representatives on hand from the Early Childhood Resource Center, Stark County Job & Family Services, and the nonprofit Foster Our Community.
A free catered lunch will be served at noon.
"The Q & A is for anyone interested," Schumacher said. "For anyone wondering 'Am I called to this?'"
More:https://www.cantonrep.com/story/news/local/plain/2019/01/21/no-match-for-mom-plain/6239386007/
Schumacher said he became aware of the crisis during a spring meeting of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance.
"I reached out to Leah, knowing she had a passion for fostering and adoption," he said. "This is gospel. This is what we're called to do."
McMillen, a church worship leader, and her husband, Nate, became adoptive parents when they lived in Michigan. The couple fostered a total of 14 children and adopted three.
More kids than available homes
She noted there are far more children in need than there are available foster homes.
"When I was younger, a lot of it really was modeled before me," she said. "My grandparents had adopted, and then my aunt fostered, and so it was something that was part of daily life for me, and I just really had a passion for it. I had a heart for children who needed a home. And so my husband and I decided to foster. We fostered for four years while were in in Michigan."
Schumacher said he initially was unaware of the scale of the problem.
"I'm embarrassed to say this, but when Leah and others shared about their experiences, I wasn't aware of the need," he said. "I don't know any other entity like it for the church. We should be the ones leading the way to alleviate the crisis and situations. It was a no-brainer. We earned that, even if one family in every church were to step forward and say 'Yes, I will foster and/or adopt a child that is waiting for a family,' we would not be in crisis right now. Learning that is very sobering."
The Ohio Defense Fund reports that 24,267 children were in foster care in 2021, or 9.4 children per 1,000 in the state. The statistics include children in the Multi-County Juvenile Attention System.
Every year, 1,000 children in the state's system "age out," that is, they turn 18.
Locally, there are three children in foster care for every available home.
Adoption is affordable
McMillen said it's a myth that adopting children out of foster care is expensive, adding that adoptive families receive a monthly stipend from the state.
"When you adopt a child out of foster care, the state covers almost every single penny," she said. "So, you pay up front, court fees and for new birth certificate, but all of that is refunded to you."
The basic criteria, she said, is the ability to provide a safe home, and the ability to prove financial stability.
"The biggest thing that hit me were stats and truths like that because I was one of those who really was ignorant because you just don't know what you don't know." Schumacher said. "And learning how many programs and assistance that does exist for people to provide a home for children; it blew my mind. So, really, what's missing? What's missing is the heart and minds of individuals and families to step up to the plate to provide that presence for children."
McMillen said the second-biggest hurdle is that people often are afraid to get "attached" to foster children.
Focus on Youth reports that the average foster care residency in Ohio is 25 months.
"Yes, it is hard. Yes, it is scary," McMillen said. "It's a great area of the unknown. And, so, there's automatically a risk, right? You're putting your heart on the line. But one of my favorite quotes is 'Children in foster care need attachment far more than adults need to be protected from it.'"
Schumacher said McMillen and Shannon Radcliff are spearheading the development of an in-house resource center that will include a "foster closet" where adoptive and foster families can acquire new and gently used clothing, baby formula, furniture and diapers, toiletries, food, and other necessities free of cost.
What we want is to be a blessing to families in our community, especially Stark County," he said.
McMillen said they also are considering organizing a a support group for fostering and adoptive families.
McMillen strongly advises adoptive and foster families to form a support system.
"The statistics are insane for the amount of people that quit fostering within the first year," she said. "And the majority of them say that is due to a lack of support, which is why we want to do this as well. I think about the damage done to individuals coming into a home ... and, really, when the church steps up, it helps to break the cycle. It helps the entire system. If you set your pride aside and you just ask for help, you might be surprised who shoes up."
Shannon Radcliff added that Compassion is working in partnership with two other churches, The Chapel in North Canton, and Evermore in Hartville and Foster Our Community.
"It's not just a Compassion thing," she said.
Radcliff and her husband are parents of three, including a son they adopted as a newborn through a private agency.
"He knows he's adopted," she said. "We read him kids books about adoption. We never shied away from it."
Radcliff said her son has pictures and information about his birth parents, and that they're letting him decide if and when he wants to make contact.
Radcliff said some people fear they won't be emotionally attached to an adoptive child.
"He's part of our family. From personal view, there's absolutely no difference," she said. "Never let that be the thing that makes you not want to do it."
Fight or flight
McMillen said families should talk to their adopted children about their story even before they're old enough to fully understand so they'll be used to it.
"It's never been hush-hush in our family," she said.
Radcliff added that there's also a crucial need for volunteer respite care providers.
"Even if you don't want to do long-term foster care placement, you can be a respite care provider for a family where you can do a day or two or three," she said. "I don't think people realize that piece of it, which can be a huge help as a support to the family."
McMillen said children in the foster care system, who often are in a fight-or-flight mode, need grace and understanding.
"They need encouragement," she said. "They need somebody to come beside them and tell them they're worth it."
Noting that the ultimate goal is to provide care for a child in hopes of family reconciliation, Schumacher said not everyone is called to be a foster or adoptive parent − but every Christian "ought to feel compelled by the gospel to be part of the solution."
"That can be as simple as, my gosh, encouragement," he said. "It can be as simple as being educated so that you can push back on the stigma."
For more information or to register for the Sept.18 program, contact McMullin at CompassionFosterMinistryOH@gmail.com or call the church office at 330-497-3166. Find the church on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CompassionChurchOH.
Reach Charita at 330-580-8313 or charita.goshay@cantonrep.com. On Twitter: @cgoshayREP.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Plain Township church forms mission to serve foster/adoption system
