There are over 7,000 children in Oklahoma's foster care system. On any given day there are 150 children in need of a foster home, which has yet to be found. When a foster or adoptive home is not available, these children stay in county shelters. The Oklahoma United Methodist Circle of Care found a solution through a national program called Child S.H.A.R.E. (Shelter Homes—A Rescue Effort).  Child S.H.A.R.E. works with licensing agencies, faith communities and volunteers to recruit and support full time foster families, as well as adoptive and respite families. This network helps provide their physical, emotional, spiritual and financial needs. Child S.H.A.R.E. provides families with clothing and equipment, support groups, and family events.  If you don’t feel called to be a foster or adoptive parent now, you can help in so many other ways!

CIRCLE OF CARE: A Worthy Addition to Your List of Giving

Circle of Care is an outreach of the Oklahoma United Methodist Church. Six different ministries make up the Circle of Care umbrella: United Methodist Children’s Home in Tahlequah; United Methodist Boy’s Ranch near Gore; Holsinger Home in Enid; Frances Willard Ministry Center in Tulsa; ChildSHARE in Oklahoma City and Tulsa; and of course, Circle of Care’s community and staff training programs.

Although it is sponsored by the Oklahoma United Methodist Conference, Circle of Care receives only about a quarter of its support from Conference apportionments. For all the rest, we depend on people like you. That’s right, ¾ of Circle of Care’s support comes from individual contributions. In recent years, contributions have lagged, and we’ve had to limit our capacity. At the same time, the need for Christian foster and residential care is exploding. Quite often Oklahoma shelters for displaced children are overloaded. Problems resulting from broken homes and other parental difficulties regularly strain the system.  DHS can’t do it all.  We are called to make the Christian difference through Circle of Care.

For more information or if you want to get involved, contact Don Bowen at 692-0707, or go to our website, www.circleofcare.org. There are numerous opportunities for you to help directly throughout the Circle of Care, including opportunities within 20 minutes of St. Andrew’s Church. But we’d love to have your financial assistance as well.  You may send donations to:

Oklahoma United Methodist Circle of Care
1501 NW 24th Street, Suite 214
Oklahoma City, OK  73106-3835

Feeling a Tug on Your Heart Strings Toward Foster Care?

There are more than 9,000 children in Oklahoma’s foster care system. On any given day, there are 150 children in need of a foster home, which has yet to be found. When a foster or adoptive home is not available, these children stay in county shelters. The Oklahoma United Methodist Circle of Care has found a solution in a national program known as “Child S.H.A.R.E.” (“Shelter Homes: A Rescue Effort”).

You may answer that tug on your heart strings in a variety of ways through Child SHARE. Your family can become a full-time foster family or a respite foster family (backup caregivers). You can be a special friend, mentor, or babysitter, a foster family support group facilitator, or support foster caregivers by volunteering your time or your money in numerous ways. The need in Oklahoma is great and growing.

Bob Brooke of Circle of Care's Child SHARE program will be delighted to talk just about any time to any group interested in learning more about this very timely and effective ministry. Contact Don Bowen at 204-4366 to arrange for Bob to come to your class or group.

Circle of Care...serving the children and youth of Oklahoma

We do not see the children and youth who come our way as "at-risk." Rather, we see them as "at promise," filled with God-given potential. These children and youth find help, healing, and hope through our continuum of Christ-centered services. Since 1917, the Oklahoma United Methodist Circle of Care has been helping people make better choices, live happier lives, and find hope and promise in their tomorrows. All our services are available to Oklahoman residents without regard to race, gender, age, marital, or financial status.

Our ministries include two residential group homes: the United Methodist Children's Home in Tahlequah and the United Methodist Boy's Ranch in Gore. Our foster care ministries include: Child S.H.A.R.E. in the Oklahoma City and Tulsa metro areas, as well as the Holsinger Home in Enid, designed for foster placements of sibling groups or special needs children. Frances E. Willard Ministry Center in Tulsa serves as the headquarters for our foster care programs, as well as a ministry center for small group retreats and activities.

Being loved and accepted heals hurts that can be healed by no other means. "Whoever welcomes a little child in my name welcomes me."---Matthew 18:5

"Circle of Care is a not-for-profit agency with historic roots in the Oklahoma United Methodist Church. Our mission is to provide help, healing and wholeness to children, youth and families who are hurting or in need. Since 1917, Circle of Care has been helping people make better choices, live happier lives, and find hope and promise in their tomorrows.

We combine Christian influence with a therapeutic continuum of professional services. Our residential group homes and foster care services minister to the changing physical, emotional and spiritual needs of individuals. (Taken from the Circle of Care website.) To contribute please call (405) 530-2078 or email msmith@okumc.org. Credit cards are accepted and monthly donations can be set up for your convenience. Please prayerfully consider helping the children.

For more information, please visit their official website or contact Don Bowen, Circle of Care Representative or David Johnson at 692-4242 ext. #105.