Mahoning County Children Services launch foster family recruitment program

Mahoning County Children Services is launching a local version of a national program called One Church, One Child with the goal of recruiting more foster families in the faith-based community.

According to a news release from the organization, the county is facing placement challenges due to a shortage of licensed foster homes available in the county and a lack of adoptive families to provide permanent homes for children in agency's permanent custody.

There are more than 300 children in foster care placement in Mahoning County Children Services. about 51 children are in the agency's permanent custody and of that, 34 children have what the agency calls 'permanency plans' in place. This is when a child has been matched with an adoptive family.

"[The program]... embodies our commitment to finding loving homes for every child in Mahoning County," said Richard Tvaroch, executive director of Mahoning County Children Services. "With the support of our local faith communities, we believe we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of our children, providing them with stable and caring environments." 

The OCOC concept was created by Father George Clements of Chicago, Illinois in the 1980s. Father Clements, an African-American Roman-Catholic priest became famous for being the first United States priest to legally adopt a child, according to the release.

Clements' OCOC program is based on his belief that if every congregation identifies one family who fosters or adopts one child, there would be more
placement options when a child enters foster care and fewer or no children waiting in foster care for a permanent adoptive family.