Article Contributed on: 11/9/2007 1:58:49 PM
Last month,
Chris Padbury answered the phone at his office. The caller said, "This is the White House calling."
Padbury, executive director of Project 1.27, a localadoption program, was understandably pleased. The Office of Faith-based and Community Initiatives called to ask for a presentation from Project 1.27 on Nov. 16 in Washington D.C. Impressed with the project's work, they are considering it for replication in other places. Presumably, programs now at work in other locales will also present.
Project 1.27 is an Aurora-based ministry from the churches of Colorado to the orphans of Colorado. The goal is to produce successful adoptions between church members and children in the Colorado foster care system. The project is named for the biblical injunction to look after windows and orphans (Jas. 1.27).
Commening in 2005, Project 1.27 has placed 71 children to date, with finalized adoptions numbering 30. The proect's mission is "No waiting children in Colorado foster care."
The Padburys, Chris and
Sarah, are themselves parents to five adopted children.
"We've adopted every way you can," Chris said.
He said that when interested families learn of the support the project's churches will provide, many of the families' concerns are diminshed. There are now approximately 770 foster children in the state awaiting adoption. Acoording to Chris, in 2004, there were about 875 kids waiting to be adopted.
Perhaps the project, and other alike, are making inroads. Interested families can begin their search for only $50 because the generous donors help support the project. Project 1.27 recruits, trains and supports adoptive families. The state Department of Human Services and executive director
Karen Beye have actively cooperated, Padbury said.
Nov. 18 is National Adoption Day and Project 1.27 will celebrate with a potluck at the Colorado Community Church, from 5 to 8 p.m. For more information, call 303-256-1225 or go to
www.project127.com.