It takes just one caring adult in a child's life to make the difference for a successful and healthy life. This sentiment is the inspiration behind the
first annual IMPACT weekend, June 26 through 28, at Heartland Vineyard Church, 1405 Greenhill Rd., Cedar Falls.
"The weekend's events will focus on the urgent and growing need so many children have right here in Black Hawk County, for a healthy and caring adult relationship," says Reggie Hovenga, Associate Pastor, Heartland Vineyard Church. The vision and goal of the weekend is to identify and train 50 mentors, 50 foster/adopt parents and 50 CASA volunteers in 12 months following the IMPACT weekend.
"The difficult economy is causing emotional and financial disruption and upheaval nationwide," says Mary Foy, Family Resource Recruiter for Iowa KidsNet. "In Black Hawk County we are seeing the devastating, indirect effects as the number of children entering the system in crisis continues to increase at alarming rates."
Last year more than 290 children entered foster care in Black Hawk and surrounding counties but there were only 95 licensed foster families at any given time.
"I feel the urgency and the timing is right to encourage people to step out and make a difference," says Hovenga.
In addition five local, child-centered agencies and program coordinators will be on hand throughout the weekend manning booths and answering questions about how to get involved.
The participating Black Hawk County agencies include:
- Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Northeast Iowa*- Amachi -- Mentoring children of incarcerated parents
- CASA* -- Court Appointed Special Advocates
- Iowa KidsNet -- Foster/adopt family recruitment
- Prime Time Volunteers -- Individuals 55 years and older volunteering their time in the Waterloo Community Schools
The Forgotten Children's exhibit, a collection of 350+ life size, cut-outs of children bearing messages from foster children across the nation, will be on display on the Heartland Vineyard campus beginning Saturday afternoon. Foster kids from across Iowa participating in a statewide Elevate conference at Orchard Hill Church will assist with the setup of the 350 cutouts. Youth from the Vineyard Church will camp out Saturday night to keep watch over the "children."
The Iowa Heart Gallery, a traveling photography exhibit of Iowa children who are currently in foster care and waiting to be adopted into a permanent family, will be on display in the Vineyard's lobby throughout the weekend.
All weekend events are open to the public. "Ultimately we hope other faith communities in Black Hawk County will be inspired to do the same kind of thing in their congregations," says Hovenga.
Hovenga adds that the Heartland Vineyard is willing to share any and all materials from the IMPACT weekend in an effort to "pay it forward" and impact as many children as possible.
