Local Issues

Statistics & Information about Programs / Initiatives

  • Prophetic Tagging

    “Prophetic Tagging” by Caleb Parker I love the moments a teenager thinks they are getting away with something, with little awareness that the adult standing nearby is actually fully aware and actively engaged in the choices they are making. I am the kind of leader who tends to take a step back, collecting the stories […]

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  • Young Adults from Foster Care

    Young Adults from Foster Care Navigating the COVID-19 Pandemic COVID-19 has greatly impacted us all. It has brought emotional devastation, financial hardship, and relational isolation that will have lasting effects on our entire society. Our THRIVE young adults are unfortunately no exception. Firstly, like so many, most of them have lost their jobs which have […]

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  • A Painful Mothers Day Redeemed

    We See You, Mothers. The image said “You are Invited to Join Us for a No-Stress Gathering!” It went on to describe a pampering environment with haircuts, nails, and other surprises. No one, not even me, could have predicted what those surprises were going to be. See, for foster, adoptive, and kinship mothers, Mother’s Day […]

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  • Home for the Holidays?

    For many current and former foster youth, the holidays are not looked upon with joyful anticipation, but rather as a sad time of year that triggers traumatic memories of absence, loss, abandonment and abuse. A time of year that traditionally brings intact families together to shareGod’s blessings, kindness and love with one another may have little meaning to a foster youth who has not experienced the holidays this way, and instead senses a season filled with pain and hurt. Many youth wish simply for the season to pass quickly and their feelings of loss and sadness to diminish. Instead of dwelling on what might have been and longing for something more now, they would rather put it behind them and move on into the New Year.

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  • You Find What You’re Looking For

    I saw her this morning. Slowly walking through an empty parking lot, pushing a shopping cart filled with a wide-ranging combination of items that had seemingly little or no worth. Yelling at everyone – at someone – at no one. Her monologue was wholehearted, pleading, vulgar and absolute. All at the same time. As I […]

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  • Jesus KNOWS my Abuse

    He was betrayed by intimate physical contact from his close friend. He was beaten, blamed, and forced to answer why he was being victimized. His identity and future was taken. His name was tarnished. He was forcefully stripped naked, His abusers laughed as they whipped Him.

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  • Keeping Relationships Healthy

    Domestic Abuse is a pattern of behavior used by one partner over another to establish and maintain power and control.  This includes physical, sexual, verbal, emotional, psychological, economical and spiritual abuse as well as stalking or cyber stalking behavior.  Both men and women experience domestic abuse, but at this point, our efforts and classes are […]

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  • So What? May is National Foster Care Month… and???

    With several nationally acknowledged days, weeks and months, proclaimed throughout the year, it would be easy to regard National Foster Care Month as just another period of earmarked time that comes and goes.  Why take notice of it to begin with? What’s so important to bring up? Does it simply serve as a marketing launch […]

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  • What if we engaged men and women with the prospect of employment?

    Last month, we launched our Jobs for Life program at the Orange County Homeless Shelter called “Bridges at Kraemer Place”. Through Jobs for Life, we engage underemployed and unemployed men and women in training and preparation for a lifetime of work. While the issues revolving around homelessness are complex, one primary contributing factor is joblessness. […]

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  • 4 Reasons Why Foster Parents Quit

      Click Here to Download the Infographic  

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