OKDHS settled a class action, civil rights lawsuit against its foster care system by agreeing to make improvements in targeted areas of the state's Child Welfare system. As part of this settlement agreement OKDHS is developing an improvement plan, called the Oklahoma Pinnacle Plan, which will guide the agency in the years ahead as it works to make improvements in the way it cares for children in foster care.

Walk A Mile will be held this year on April 26th! It is a free event. The 1 mile family-oriented walk to promote awareness and response to the crisis faced by Oklahoma's 8000+ Foster Children due to the shortage of good foster homes and lack of community involvement.   
Information will be available on 3 ways to bring solutions to this crisis through prayer, volunteering, adoption and fostering. We encourage the entire Oklahoma community to participate in "defending the fatherless", our own Oklahoma children who desperately need the love and support of the body of Christ. 

There will be many locations all over the state participating at the same time to bring awareness and make an impact in each community. The largest walk will be at the Oklahoma City Bricktown Ballpark. 

Have you ever tried to imagine what it would be like to grow up without parents?

I have.

I'm guessing that I'd ache inside every night without a mother or father to tuck me into bed. I'd likely dread every holiday knowing I'd never spend one with my folks. If I were a foster child, I'm certain I'd continually worry about my siblings whom were separated from me months before.

As hard as I try, I still can't imagine the experiences and depths of emotions in the lives of these precious children. I haven't lived in their shoes. But God knows. He understands their heartache, prayers and unrealized dreams.

Those of us who have been forgiven and made new by faith in Jesus Christ are called to advocate and care for orphans (and all at-risk children). I want to follow Christ and meet this need. I believe you do as well or you wouldn't be reading this.

You and I can potentially be the answer to a child's prayer.

One of my current callings from God is to be a child advocate, a voice of influence to alert the Church of the massive needs and their responsibility to look after the orphan. I am also honored to support wonderful ministries such as OKFosterWishes, Komeo International Ministry, Compassion International, Back 2 Back Ministries, and Family Legacy Missions. And it's always a joy when I'm able to be a supportive role to a fostering or adopting family!

I have dreams stirring in me too. I have a dream to see Oklahoma emergency shelters quickly and continually emptied due to a surplus of Christian families opening their hearts and homes to children who need temporary or permanent family placements.

I have a dream to see a dramatic increase in Oklahoma foster children reunited with their healthy and spiritually healed biological parents.

Admittedly, these are big dreams. They are prayers. And I believe God is and will raise up His Church to help bridge these great gaps.

So what are you called to do? What dream has God birthed inside you to help fulfill the needs of a hurting child?

Believer, you and I are needed. We are called by God and He will empower us with the "What?" and the "How?" if we will ask and set our hearts to listen.

Click HERE to find your call to action!