Successful Life Transitions for
Aging-Out Orphans
As older orphans age out of care, international trends are
heartbreaking: homelessness, substance abuse, prostitution,
crime and incarceration await many who lack adequate support
networks. The Church is called to step into this gap, aiding
orphans into adulthood through holistic life transition support.
This webinar will examine information and models useful to
Christian leaders, churches and para-church organizations as
they work to create health life transitions to aging out orphans
Presenter: W. Scott Brown, CAFO “Aging-Out” Initiative
Coordinator and Vice-President of Communication and Lifelong
Learning, Christian Leadership Alliance
Deuteronomy 10:18
He defends the cause of the
fatherless and the widow, and
loves the alien, giving him food
and clothing.
Proverbs 31: 8, 9
Speak up for those who cannot
speak for themselves, for the
rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly; defend
the rights of the poor and needy.
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for
you, declares the LORD, plans to
prosper you and not to
harm you, plans to
give you hope and a future.
Successful Life Transition: 5 Keys
1.
2.
3.
4.
Life Skills Training
Spiritual Care and Mentoring
Transitional Housing
Vocational Training/Entrepreneurship/Job
Placement
5. Church and Community Support Networks
Aging-Out Initiative
Kingdom Collaboration
Example: The Jesus Film
Example: Cape Town 2010
Life Skills: Case Study
Orphan’s Promise
Spiritual Care & Mentoring
Case Study: LifeSong for Orphans
To transition successfully into adult life, aging-out
orphans need the support and accountability of a
church family. LifeSong through its Constant Christian
Presence (CCP) program provides mentorship,
discipleship, weekly Bible studies, one-on-one
counseling, transitional housing, job skills training and
transportation to church activities.
Spiritual Care and Mentoring:
Case Study: Teen Leadership Foundation
TeenLeadershipFoundation.org
Based in Newport Beach, California, this
organization builds strong one-on-one
mentoring relationships with aging-out foster
children.
Transitional Housing:
Case Study: Heart for Orphans
Heart for Orphans (HeartforOrphans.com)
shares Christ through small, family-style group
Christian group homes where young people
learn to live with love, respect and dignity.
Vocational Training:
Case Study: Hope Unlimited
Hope Unlimited (HopeUnlimited.org) based in
Brazil provides vocational training programs that
are designed to help move graduates to
successful independent livng.
Church/Community Support Networks:
Case Study: Orphan Care Alliance
The Orphan Care Alliance of Louisville, Kentucky
brings together churches and Christians in
Kentucky and southern Indiana to provide life
coaching support to children aging-out of the
foster system.
Key Lessons: Life Skills Training
• Aging-out youth need basic life-skills training.
• It is advisable to utilize a well-designed,
biblically-based manual or strategy for
consistent training.
• Start as early as possible to begin equipping
children.
• Mentoring and church partnerships are vital.
Key Lessons: Spiritual Care and Mentoring
• The key to restoring hope is introducing these
kids to Christ, the source of ultimate hope.
• Engaging local churches is a key to a successful
program
• One-on-one spiritual counseling is vital
• Group Bible study is key
• Getting kids involved in their local church
Key Lessons: Transitional Housing
•
•
•
•
Relationship before real estate
Location is everything!
Being a house parent is not a job, it’s a calling.
Discipleship program is essential for real life
change.
• Keep it small and family-like.
• House parent should be national whenever
possible.
• Cultivate partnerships .
•
Key Lessons: Vocational Training
• Begin with the end in mind.
• Help the children envision their future.
• Be adaptable and sensitive to the needs of the
market.
• Enlist other aged-out orphans or foster kids to
share insight on succeeding in work and life.
• Encourage them to do more than they even
imagine for themselves
Key Lessons: Church/Community Support
Networks
• Lifelong systems of support are vital for the
successful life transition of aging-out orphans
or foster children
• The Church is the key place to make that
happen.
• We must be intentional to create
opportunities and safe spaces for Christians in
churches to invest the lives of these children.
To Ask a Question:
Use the “Questions” bar on your webinar dashboard
For more information, visit:
www.cafo.org/aging-out
Save the date for the next webinar…
Adoption from Both Sides
Date: Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Time: 2pm EST
REGISTRATION OPEN SOON!