Community Impact

Christapher, Elicia, Kayla, Tina and Tiffani are in search of a forever family that will provide them with a safe, loving and caring home. Christapher is a great artist and can sketch just about anything. He enjoys lifting weights playing football and playing the guitar. Christapher does very well in school and makes good grades. He is a very polite and respectful young man. He makes friends easily and everyone likes him. He would like a home that shares his interests in sports, working on cars and music. Elicia is very lovable and wants to please others. She enjoys (more…)

Meet Mary, a playful and energetic young lady. When the weather turns nice, Mary is ready to go outdoors and go swimming. She also enjoys listening to music, singing, and playing with her dolls. Mary has difficulty with boundaries with peers. She will need to be supervised at all times when she is around other children. She will require continued mental health services and specialized educational services. Mary needs a patient and committed family that can provide her with a lot of one-on-one attention in a very structured environment.

Next week this Community Impact blog will be replaced by a new all-Westside blog at http://wfcnews.com/. So, if you are subscribed to this Community Impact blog, go to wfcnews.com and signup to receive that blog so you’ll be sure to keep up with all the information. Another great place to connect with people and get adoption ministry updates is our facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/OneLifeAdoption. And our calendar won’t be linked on the side of this blog anymore, so, if you use google calendar, add the ministry calendars with these links (Under “Other calendars” click on “Add” “by URL” and paste in these iCal links):
Adoption Ministry: http://www.google.com/calendar/ical/5gbte6193es26eumfglds3bqi4%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics
Local Community Impact: http://www.google.com/calendar/ical/su274ohkrov7tjm9vjnv2cddfc%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics

Martress is a creative young man who enjoys building things and drawing. He likes building things so much that he aspires to be a builder one day. Martress is very affectionate and bonds well with adults. His favorite class in school is art, and he does very well in his math class. Martress struggles most with physical aggression and maintaining appropriate boundaries. At times he can antagonize his peers and lash out if he does not get his way. He continues to work on these issues at home and in school. Martress will require continued mental health and medication management services. He needs a family that has the experience and the skills to care for children with delays and challenges.

Samantha’s hobbies include drawing and working on arts and crafts. She also enjoys playing with her dolls and watching cartoons. Her favorite class in school is reading. Samantha needs a family that is willing to provide her with lots of one-on-one attention. She would probably do best in a home with no other children. Samantha relates better with adults and younger children; she struggles with getting along with peers close to her age. Samantha’s thought processes and behaviors are consistent with that of a six to nine year old girl. She will need a family that will provide her with unconditional love and have realistic expectations of her.

Beginning September 2nd, a support group for international and interracial adoptive families will be meeting the first Thursday of each month, 7pm-8:30pm in room 217. Jen Decker will be facilitating this group for parents. Childcare will not be provided, so please make other arrangements for your children. Registration will be available soon at http://www.westsidefamilychurch.com/Events.aspx.

We’ll be holding another If You Were Mine workshop on Saturday, October 2nd, 8:30am-4:30pm. This workshop is perfect for anyone considering adopting and will be led by Russ and Tiffany Hightower. You will explore God’s heart for the orphan, the processes and challenges of adoption, agency selection and funding options, how to prepare, and what to expect when your child comes home.  You can check out a preview video at http://ifyouweremine.org/Display.asp?Page=ifyouweremine. (more…)

Meet Javell! He can be a very loving and nurturing child. Javell likes to play sports, swim and participate in family activities. Javell will need to be supervised consistently to make sure that he does not act out verbally or physically against others. Javell enjoys attending school but has extensive educational needs that will continue to need to be addressed. He will need a forever family that is willing to advocate for him and his educational needs. Javell has a hard time with relating to both peers and adults. He struggles to make significant and lasting bonds with those around him. Javell will need a family that will allow and encourage continued contact with his two siblings who are going to be adopted into other families. A two parent home with strong boundaries and consistent discipline in place would be a great family for Javell.

A loving, patient forever family is needed for this great young man! James likes to ride his bike, play outside, and build things with his hands. He enjoys watching funny movies, and he likes to laugh. He would like to grow up to be an EMT or a professional gamer. James needs a home that is able to redirect him in a calm and patient manner. He can struggle in his relationships with both peers and adults, so he will need a family that is able to model appropriate interactions with others. His forever family will also need to be willing to provide James with the one-on-one attention that he needs.

Westside will be hosting KCSL’s October MAPP class! The KCSL MAPP teachers will be coming to Westside to teach this free class which is required to become a foster parent or adopt from foster care. The October class will be Thursdays 6-9pm for 10 weeks (skipping Thanksgiving) starting October 7th: Oct 7, Oct 14, Oct 21, Oct 28, Nov 4, Nov 11, Nov 18, (skip Nov 25), Dec 2, Dec 9. Please contact Rachel to sign up.

Other upcoming area MAPP classes:

• KCSL Tuesdays August 10th Lenexa (free childcare)
• KVC Mondays August 16th Kansas City
• KVC Thursdays August 19th Leavenworth
• KCSL Wedesdays September 15th Lenexa
• KCSL Thursdays October 7th Lenexa Westside