It’s late August and John Bel is working with the federal government and state officials to make sure our Louisiana people receive the help and support they need in fighting the wildfires. Yes, you read it correctly, wildfires here in Louisiana. This has been an unbelievable summer of heat. We have a prayer chain going around now, praying for the people in those areas and the loss that many of them are seeing in their communities. Please stay alert to the burn ban and make sure others know about the ban so we can avoid any more destruction in our state.
Last month is the hottest month on record since 1880 per NASA reports. Friends, I can believe it. Like so many of you, we have stayed inside a good bit this month due to the heat.
https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-clocks-july-2023-as-hottest-month-on-record-ever-since-1880
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/summer-of-record-breaking-heat-paints-story-of-a-warming-world-scientists-say
As this unusual weather continues to bear down on us, let’s remember the homeless and those who may not have air-conditioning in their homes. Ask your local homeless shelter and food pantries how you can assist those in your community who need a little extra help. Below are a few ways and ideas of how to stay safe during these last hot days of Summer.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/how-to-stay-cool-and-safe-during-a-heat-wave
I’m so excited to share with you one of the huge blessings that has happened this August.
In November 2022, we had a convening at the Governor’s Mansion. We discussed how churches could step into the gap to support and help the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). We offered ideas for those in attendance to take back to their communities and churches about how they could be involved in the solution. We had speakers from all over the state share ideas of how we could all be a part of caring and loving for the children of our state who are in foster care. These are Louisiana children, and as John Bel and I have said many times, we believe that these are our children. Therefore, we have a responsibility to take care of them, love them and help provide safe and nurturing environments that will help them grow and reach their full potential and become productive adults. We also believe that great things can happen when we work together. If we look at our challenges as opportunities and focus on finding solutions, there isn’t anything we can’t accomplish.
I’m especially proud of the work that has been done with Louisiana Fosters. This initiative connecting state-wide resources, government, non-profits, businesses, and faith-based organizations to support our foster children, parents, grandparents, and other family members is making a difference.
When John Bel first came into office in 2016 and learned about the needs of our foster care system, there was no way we weren’t going to do everything we could to make it work better for everyone involved. We also knew we needed to get MORE people involved. So, we got busy working with the Department of Children and Family Services and other community and national groups. Louisiana has had record-breaking numbers of foster children adopted during our first seven years in office. We have also brought almost 5,300 children together with their forever families.
In addition, the legislature passed, and John Bel signed into law, the Foster Family and Youth Bill of Rights. Through Extended Foster Care, we have raised the age of our foster care program to 21. In 2022, we had 364 youth, aged 18-21, participate in the program. I have had the honor of hosting several foster care summits and partnered with amazing people who share this same passion. Louisiana Fosters is one of three main initiatives that fall under her Louisiana First Foundation, and there is a connection between all three.
During this convening in November, we shared this information and asked those in attendance and churches to step into the arena, the Foster Care area, and help our children. At the end of that gathering Pastor Jonathan Stockstill and his wife, Angie, took time to speak about the immediate needs in foster care. On that day, they said YES to supporting and believing in this cause and expressed their desire to want to help our foster children. The journey began with deciding on a day, time and place for a larger convening and inviting as many churches as possible to become involved in this ministry of “One Church, One Family, One Child,” the signature program under Louisiana Fosters that connects churches to foster parents and children.
https://1c1f1c.org/
There are so many ways that we all can help, from doing big things to small things to everything in between. We have seen the power of prayer and the good things that can happen when we work together. We have had record-breaking numbers of children adopted into their forever families and reunited with their biological families. In 2022, 700 children from the foster care system found loving, permanent homes, nearly 6,300 children were served in foster care, and more than 1,700 children were reunified with their families. This happened because of that partnership.
Please consider how you and your church or organization can help our foster parents, biological parents and our foster children, our children. The most important thing to remember is that we don’t have to make this complicated at all. It means so much to our children when they know an adult truly has their best interest at heart and cares for them. It will mean so much to the foster parents in your congregations and communities when they know they have your support.
I pray that you will accept this call to action, look at it as an opportunity and focus on the ways you can be a blessing to others. One church, one family and one child at a time will add up to make a tremendous difference in that child, that family, your congregations, and communities.
May God bless our Children!
Love to you all,
