On Thursday, the White House convened a diverse group of foster care and adoption experts for a roundtable meeting with government leaders. Kellyanne Conway, senior counselor to President Donald Trump, introduced Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) officials and listened in as nonprofit leaders shared their insights.

“The number of children who cannot grow up in their families has been on the rise,” said Dr. Albert Reyes following the meeting. He serves as president of Buckner International in Dallas, Texas, one of the nation’s top faith-based adoption agencies. “Having the White House convene this roundtable was a good first step. We listened, we talked — it was productive.”

Others present included nonprofit leaders from Adoption-Share, Christian Alliance for Orphans, DC127, Focus on the Family, Harvest of Hope Family Services Network and the Jewish Children’s Adoption Network. Notably, public officials such as Andrew Bremberg, director of the Domestic Policy Council, Lynn Johnson, assistant secretary for children and family support at HHS, and Congressman Paul Mitchell (R-MI) joined in the dialogue.

In a phone interview, Reyes relayed the dialogue around adoption, his perspective on two child welfare bills recently debated in Congress… and why foster care is more complex than people think. The interview has been lightly edited for clarity.

Recap of White House Roundtable

Based on national statistics presented at the White House, are adoption trends on the right track or wrong track?

Dr. Albert Reyes: Trends on adoption and foster care are currently headed in the wrong direction. The number of children in out-of-home placement has increased five years in a row. More than 123,000 children in the U.S. are awaiting adoption.

The opioid crisis has made things worse. About 98,000 children are now in the system because of that. We discussed when children age out of foster care, what their life plan is. Solutions for families before they collapse were presented, as well as reforming the system to make it better. 

What other key points were discussed at the White House Foster Care and Adoption Roundtable?

Reyes: The meeting primarily focused on hearing from various government agencies such as HHS and the Domestic Policy Council, along with various expert voices. A number of bridge organizations participated. They aren’t actually adoption agencies, but they coalesce groups and connect churches with children who need to be adopted and fostered.

The roundtable made time to hear from parents who have adopted, regarding their frustrations and successes. Another thing that encouraged me was the time given to strengthening families. For families who are struggling but have not collapsed, what can we do to help them keep their children out of the foster care system? Understanding that aspect of foster care is vital.

How Congress is Addressing the Crisis

On that point of strengthening families, the Family First Prevention Services Act was enacted earlier this year. Were results and outcomes from this new law discussed?

Reyes: The Family First Act was mentioned several times. They concluded it will take more time to see it implemented across the country. But the focus on that topic is a move in the right direction.

On a related issue, we also discussed preserving capacity for faith-based organizations to not be eliminated. If we remove faith-based groups from serving families, it doesn’t help anybody. It only reduces the national capacity to serve children.

The bill you’re referencing, the Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act, has not yet passed in Congress. Is this a proposal you still support and does it have hope of being enacted?

Reyes: My hopes are high for passage of the Inclusion Act. In Texas, faith-based organizations like Buckner who are in social services represent one quarter of all providers. Nationally, with the opioid crisis and other things happening that affect children, it doesn’t make sense to reduce capacity.

We need the faith-based organizations in the mix and providing solutions, connecting with churches and other faith communities to step up. Children in foster care need families. We believe with faith communities across the nation, it’s possible to reduce those awaiting adoption to zero.

The Inclusion Act, which makes sure faith-based groups have a seat at the table, is critical and I am hopeful it will be passed.

@bucknerprez was invited to the White House to participate in a round table about U.S. foster care & adoption. He had the opportunity to share the impacts @buckner_intl has made in the lives of children and families in #Texas through #fostercare & #adoption. #HopeShinesHere pic.twitter.com/57IwqcG7ez

— Buckner International (@buckner_intl) November 29, 2018

Buckner Takes Holistic Approach

The foster care and adoption movement is multi-faceted, as you said was reflected in this meeting. How is Buckner’s approach unique?

Reyes: We’re unique in working both sides of the issue. Buckner has three major services that provide solutions for children and families. Two of those are more reactive, helping after the collapse of a stable family has happened.

Once a child is removed from their home due to abuse, abandonment or neglect, we assist with foster care and adoption. We placed 1,100 children last year in foster care in Texas, and about 150 in forever families through adoption placement.

Then we have Family Pathways where we work with single moms and dads, primarily moms. Many come out of domestic violence or abuse, while some struggle financially or are on the verge of homelessness. If they are college ready, this program helps them earn an associate’s degree. We provide a place for them to be away from the abuse they were in and with their children, until they are economically stable with an education and a job.

The third one gets ahead of the problem by strengthening and preserving families. Our Family Hope Centers serve struggling families before the collapse happens. Based on five protective factors every family needs to succeed, we help families identify key issues and find solutions. We’re also faith-based, so we provide spiritual activities on a volunteer basis. Families need spiritual development support, which we believe is the core of transformation.

Buckner offers a broad continuum of services. We get families to the point that they don’t need our help anymore. They turn around and help others who are in the same position.

Overcoming Barriers Through Faith

How does your faith motivate your involvement in child welfare?

Reyes: We do not back off our confession that we follow the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. He’s the one who said, Bring the children to me so that I can bless them. Then the half-brother of Jesus, James, wrote our mandate. He said that “pure religion that the Father accepts is to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself undefiled from the world.”

Buckner has been providing services since 1879, right after the Civil War. Our founder R.C. Buckner lifted up that verse in James 1:27. He said, “If you were to go off to the Civil War to fight and if you died, what would you want the church to do with your wife and children?” That rallying cry brought together 200 people to raise $2,000 to start the Buckner Orphans Home.

From the beginning, everything we’ve done has been motivated by the witness of Scripture and example of Jesus. When we go to other countries, we only come by invitation. I’ll tell heads of state, I want you to know, we’re doing this because Jesus told us to. We’re here to do what Jesus said. If that’s a problem, we may not be the best match for your country.

We have yet for anyone to refuse us. After 140 years, we have a reputation of being people of excellence. I’ve been in Muslim countries and others that do not have a Judeo-Christian worldview. They welcome us because our standard is to serve people well.

What assumptions about foster care do you and your team often address?

Reyes: People assume foster care is as simple as “Let’s get everybody involved.” But there are cultural challenges to overcome. A great percentage of children in foster care are of minority ethnic backgrounds, whether Hispanic, African American, etc. Yet the lowest number of families available to step up and provide solutions are also of minority ethnicities.

We do not have enough families not to make culture an issue for the children being placed in families. It’s another part of the trauma kids are going through. They are taken out of their family and community, and placed in a cross-cultural situation. On the other side of the equation, it’s not a normal pattern for Hispanic families to assume the care of a child not in their family system. I believe the same is true of African American families.

These cultural barriers can be overcome. People of faith like us can share clearly what the Kingdom of God is about. When people of all cultures hear biblical truth — the mandate to care for the orphan and widow — then people step up. It’s about making it a focused priority.

Foster Care and Adoption in Popular Culture

Some in the foster care movement are encouraged by the movie Instant Family currently in theaters. What is your view of the film?

Reyes: I have not yet seen it and plan to soon. I know it focuses on adoption, which we need to see as one option in a broader spectrum of solutions. We believe the best place for a child to grow, thrive and succeed is in a family — ideally, the family of origin.

If that’s not possible for a period of time, then we need to focus on family reunification. What can we do to address the issues families have, that cause their children to be removed from the home? Can we remedy those situations and see them reunified? We can’t have throwaway families just because they had a problem. Can we get that family stable to the point where they can provide a safe, healthy, secure environment for their children?

Kinship care is another option, if the family of origin is not presently doable. What about uncles, aunts, grandparents and others in their extended family? If family reunification and kinship care are not possible, then you may have to go to a foster or adoptive family.

Maybe a movie just needs to focus on one solution. But our practice suggests there are lots of ways to take care of kids.

What People of Faith Can Do

What are practical steps that believers can take to help our nation’s foster children?

Reyes: People of Christian faith should start with prayer. We cannot get much done apart from getting on our knees and going to God the Father on behalf of children who need help, families who are struggling and those who need to be awakened to this ministry. Churches should wrap around foster and adoptive families, because it’s a hard thing to do.

Some families will be called to be trained, get certified and become foster parents. Possibly they will even make room at the table to adopt a child. But there are lots of ways to volunteer without being a foster family. You can volunteer for respite care or support. Some families might have enough money to pay for the application fee for another family.

At Buckner, we have a program called Shoes for Orphan Souls. In 15 years, we’ve provided three million pairs of shoes to children. Whether here in the U.S. or in other countries, a child needs a pair of shoes to go to school. If kids are barefoot, they get cuts, scratches and infections. The simple act of donating a brand-new $25 pair of shoes can change their health and future.

Everyone can do something. We think the faith community ought to be leading the way.

 

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