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Calendar of Events
Covenant partners with Albertsons!
Please do your holiday shopping at your local Albertsons this holiday season! For every turkey purchased now through November 22nd, Albertsons will be donating a turkey to a former foster youth and their families.
There will also be bags of Thanksgiving dinner available for purchase at the registers for $10. Please support the youth so they may be blessed this season!!
November 21st The next Jeremiah Mentoring Huddle will be this month on the 21st at Parkside Church 9am-noon.
November 22nd Randy Martin will be speaking at the Bridge Bible Church on Sunday, November 22. The Bridge is located at 12225 Stockdale Highway (Stockdale Hwy and Jewetta)
Service times are:
8 a.m.; 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. |
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NEEDS!!!
We are in need of the following items to provide for the abused and negleted foster youth and former foster youth in our programs:
Oven and Stovetops
Christmas gift donations
Gift cards
~Vacuums
Grocery gift cards
CARENET ITEMS:
Toddler Beds
Twin beds
Queen beds
Dressers
Couches
Refrigerators
Dining Room Tables/Chairs
Dish & Dining sets
and
** A New Truck!!
ALL baby items:
Strollers, Cribs, High Chairs, Car seats, Swings, Clothes, Blankets, Diapers, Wipes, Toys, etc... |
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TEAM AWESOME!
Kim Martin, Manager of Operations
Thank you Kim for everything you do to keep Covenant running smoothly!!
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TEAM AWESOME!
Jill Vallejo, Administrative Assistant
Thank you Jill for all you do behind the scene to keep Covenant working smoothly! |
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JEREMIAH MENTORING PROJECT
Some mentors go to great lengths to continue a relationship with their mentees.
John's mentee moved back in with his mom and she lives an hour from Bakersfield. So John is learning the art of Text Messaging. His mentee communicates how he is doing; giving him updates on his football games and even sends him pictures. John texts back encouraging words. He knows that his mentee values their relationship even though they don't see each other as often as they would like.
Love finds a way to communicate. Jeremiah Mentoring makes a difference in the lives of abused and neglected Child in Kern County.
--John Payne, Jeremiah Mentoring |
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I first heard about Building Blocks through Leah Garza while I was actively seeking employment after graduating from Teen Challenge. The position they had in mind for me was at Building Blocks, which is a transitional facility for emancipated youth who have aged out of the foster care system. I was really excited to participate in this part of Covenant's ministry because as a teen, I was a ward of the court and spent a lot of time in different facilities and in a Boys home.
At the age of eighteen there were no programs or resources for young adults like myself, so I started down a road that led to drug and alcohol abuse which led to jail and prison. I see how my past experiences will now be used to help these young adults at Building Blocks make better choices and decisions than I did.
My role is to encourage and mentor to these kids and to assist them however possible. Whether it be physically, mentally or spiritually; and I also take care of any maintenance and landscaping needed at Building Blocks.
--Richard Arnold, Assistant Manager, Building Blocks
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Psalm 68:5-6
"A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation. God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains."
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Greetings!
The Power of Community
The power of community is amazing. Community can be a community of believers, a community of friends, a community of co-workers, a neighborhood group or the community at-large. Nonetheless, when we come together as one, issues suddenly become opportunities and lives are challenged and changed.
Thank you for making child abuse and neglect a community issue. Since 1995, Covenant has been a part of the community to change the future for children that have suffered child abuse and neglect. One constant has remained in all the years of shifting child welfare policy and practice and that is the power of community to engage and transform.
Thank you for helping Covenant fulfill the mission of "providing hope and love to abused and neglected children". We are striving to meet the needs of over 250 children, youth and families this holiday season and it will not be possible without the help of God and the help of communitry.
I know you will enjoy this update and the stories and opportunities our dedicated staff present. Have a blessed holiday season. Be thankful for all you have been provided. We are thankful for you!
For King and Kingdom,
Randy Martin, CEO |
 Last month we hosted our first CHOICES for Mother's Group. My main hope for this group is to get these ladies connected with each other. They are all in similar situations, young moms who have had a tough history and who are trying to be different moms than their moms were to them.
These young moms have a hard time finding jobs because it is hard to make more than minimum wage. Additionally, minimum wage is not enough to pay for child care, especially for those who have more than one child. We are excited because now these young moms can be a great support for each other. In addition to allowing these ladies to connect, our group also gives me an opportunity to share valuable parenting tips with them, as well as just sharing from my heart.
Last month, I did an open forum and allowed them to just share with me the kind of things they want to learn from this group. Most of it was very practical, like cooking and cleaning. One of them even asked if we could have an exercise class. The turn out was not spectacular, but my time with them was a blessing. We just sat around and talked about being moms, the good and the bad!!! They all feel like they have a lack of time for themselves, so we are going to talk about taking care of themselves in the future.
Because of some of their questions, I was able to share some of my values and to talk about depending on God to help me make good decisions and sometimes to just make it through the day.
The most touching thing for me was watching the girls interact with each other. Two of them were even talking about sharing child care as they left. The other thing was hearing them say how much they enjoyed the time together. Two of them asked if we could start meeting every other week instead of once a month.
Pray for my time with them, for me to seize the opportunity to be salt and light to these young ladies, and pray for a better turnout. I know this group could be so helpful to all of them! I am really excited about this opportunity that I have with these ladies.
--Becky Colaw, Case Manager |
 Crystal is an 18 year old single mom of a 3 year old little boy. She is all alone with no support. The baby's father is not involved. When asked the question on the John Burton report "Does the participant report having a permanent connection to at least one adult to whom he/she can go to for support, advice or guidance?" she paused and thought and shook her head "No," almost looking ashamed.
When she began this program she did not know anything about living an independent life. She did not finish high school, didn't have a job or know how or where to search for one, didn't have income - no food stamps, cash aid or a child support case, and had no idea how to apply to rent a property.
In the 6 months that she has been in this program, she has transformed. She contacts me regularly and utilizes myself and the resources this program offers to the fullest. I have helped her to get financial assistance through food stamps, cash aid and she has recently submitted information regarding her son's father to open a child support case. She has a stable living situation and has been living in her own apartment.
Through the ACT program, she was placed at the Sears Portrait Studio and she did such a great job that she was hired on full time when her ACT hours were complete. She works, is on the waitlist for evening classes at Bakersfield Adult School so that she can get her GED, and stays in close contact with me.
Recently, she expressed interest in gaining custody of her four younger siblings - ages 10-15, but did not know how to do so. I assisted her in getting in contact with the siblings' social worker and she is currently in the application process. In mid-October, she gave her 30-day notice at her apartment and I have been helping her to find a 4 bedroom 2 bath home that will be large enough for her, her son and her siblings. It has been a difficult search as many landlords have not wanted to rent to someone so young, with so little rental history and with so many children in the home.
We have worked together for weeks and she just got approved for an affordable 4 bedroom house today! She called screaming with excitement and thanked me saying she would not have been able to do so without the support of this program. I have been working with CareNet and through personal contacts to help her secure the furniture (i.e. beds, dressers, etc.) that she will need for her 4 siblings. She is a young woman that I know without a doubt would not have a stable, independent future without this program. I also know that she has gone above and beyond minimum program requirements to help her be so successful.
It is has been an honor to watch her blossom in front of my very eyes. I am proud and inspired by her and think she is an excellent example of the transforming power of this program through its financial assistance and personal relationships we, as case managers, form with these youth.
--Leah Garza, Director of Family Services |
 The other day a CHOICES THP participant was linked up with a Mentor from our Jeremiah mentoring program. A little while back this participant's father and a brother had died. He has since only had a grandfather that had been only able to help with a roof over his head when he needed. It is always such a special event when this happens, because it is such a significant thing for a former foster youth.
Most of these transitional age youth have no natural support, meaning there is no one who is a positive support that they can go in times of need. If a individual does not have a life-long caregiver, their odds of success are very low. Think of all the times we receive assistance in some way or another from family or friends. Imagine not having any of those positive supports. Thus, it is a big win to see a current or former foster youth connect with a mentor!
--Jonah Long, Case Manager |
Dion moved into Building Blocks in June of 2008, Dion lost both parents to drug abuse and seven of his family members have died in the last few years. Dion had visited the mortuary so many times they had asked him if he would like to work there since he had experience with coping with the loss of loved ones. Dion took the job at the mortuary and set a goal of being a mortician.
Dion worked as an assitant for a year but business was slow, so he decided to seek new employment. Dion is now working for an organization that assists and mentors individuals with developmental disabilities. Dion is using his gift of compassion to bless others.
Dion also has another passion, which is ice hockey. Anyone who has been to the Bakersfield Ice Sports Center will most likely run into Dion, who is always there donating his time and skills teaching and training young ice hockey hopefuls. Currently, Dion play for the Junior Condor's and is seeking help for sponsorships. If you would like to help Dion simply call Covenant.
Dion has received many blessings throughout his time at Building Blocks including a vehicle which was donated by kind and generous family, the Wong's. Dion will complete the Building Blocks program this month and will receive his Section 8 voucher from the Housing Authority. During the next six months, Dion will transition out of Building Blocks through our aftercare services. Please pray that we find the right spot for him to begin the next stage of life.
We are so very proud of Dion. He has been a great example and inspiration to the other residents in the program and he has learned many life skills and believes in the power of prayer! Thank you for all the prayers and support, without them none of this would have been possible.
--Mark Williams, Building Blocks |
 A couple weeks ago, I was out providing goods and services to the Sanchez family. Just to give you some insight, I am going to briefly share the CARENET protocol when it comes to providing families and emancipated foster youth with services. Our hopes is that each recipient of the CARENET program knows that this is not just free stuff, but it is hope, encouragement, and momentum to keep making right decisions as well.
When the furniture or goods are moved into the home we then share about Covenant and who we are and what we do and why we do what we do, we also conduct a survey with each recipient of CARENET services. The last thing we ask before we leave is if the family or foster youth like us to pray for them and 90% of the time they more than welcome it, as they look at prayer as a very positive thing.
This time did not fall in that 90% category. When I asked if they would like prayer the reply was a cold blank stare and after a couple of seconds I asked if all was ok?? The response I got was "I am an atheist." My response was to thank them and promptly leave so I can pray on the way home because it was certainly needed. This incident helped me to see that we are dealing with wounded souls, hard hearts, and most of all an inability to comprehend that there is a God who loves and cares for all of creation.
This family is in dire need of Jesus and the gift of salvation, but the very thing they need, they deny. This is where we as Christians come in with the power of prayer, I believe that through our prayers somehow, someway this family will have a God encounter. We can look at this and be discouraged or look at it and say I NEED TO PRAY MORE THAN EVER!!!!! 1 Thessalonians 3:12
--Kevin Codd, CARENET | |
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