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One Church, One Child (OCOC) is a program that was created by
Father George Clements of Chicago, IL. in 1980 which encourages the religious
community to help recruit adoptive parents for children who are out of their natural homes. It is a concept that
incorporates the leadership of the religious community with the experience and
resources of an adoption agency into a partnership to secure homes for waiting
children.
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Mahoning County Children Services became a national member of the One Church, One Child
program for Ohio on May 17, 2008. On November 8, 2008 MCCSB hosted a National Adoption Celebration Banquet
where the One Church, One Child was celebrated and its founder, Father Clements, was the guest speaker.
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From left to right: Radhika Cruz, John Jemison, Father George Clements,
Anita Wainwright, and Gail Waters
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- The Mission:
- To provide a safe, caring and loving home for all children in the child welfare system
by partnering with the faith-based organizations and churches to recruit families
willing to foster and/or adopt.
Four Key Roles:
- Agency Recruiter's Role
Identifies/confirms churches to become involved in OCOC.
Makes initial contact with the pastor or designated lay leader.
Becomes familiar with the church's structure, practices and protocol.
Organizes/disseminates recruitment material.
Educates the community about the adoption process and dispels adoption "myths".
Pastor's Role
Endorses the One Church, One Child program and welcomes it into the church.
Appoints a liaison between the local church and agency recruiters (Church Coordinator).
Supports the Church Coordinator.
Makes appeals for adoptive families from the pulpit.
Uses other opportunities within the church to promote the need for adoptive families.
Supports the adoptive family once the placement has transpired.
Church Coordinator's Role
Keeps the need for adoptive families before the congregation.
Maintains a supply of adoption literature.
Makes the OCOC display visible and accessible and makes presentations.
Becomes familiar with the adoption process.
Coordinates the planning of an annual recruitment activity.
Remains alert to the recruitment opportunities within the church.
Collects names, addresses, and telephone numbers of potential adoptive families and relays
this information to the appropriate agency staff.
Church Member's Role
Seriously considers adoption as a way to build his/her family.
Seriously considers becoming a foster parent.
Be supportive of friends, family members, congregation members and colleagues who are considering adoption
or who are involved in the adoption process.
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For more information about the One Church, One Child program please contact John Jemison, Gail Waters, Valerie McGuire, Anita Wainwright, or Radhika Cruz at 330-941-8888 or visit the National OCOC website.
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