Visiting Orphans is committed to an orphan-care philosophy of moving children out of orphanages and into loving homes.  We seek to partner with churches who not only work to ensure that the daily physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the children at their "adoptive" orphanage are met, but that they are also working with us to find every means possible of moving children out of the orphanage and into a family.  We understand that this process will not take take place during a week long mission trip, or even a year long one for that matter.  But over time, with a strong commitment, change can take place and children's lives can be changed forever.


Long ago the United States abandoned the institutional orphanage model for the foster care system.  Although the foster care model is indeed flawed itself, it is a much better place for a child to live than an orphanage.  So if the United States stopped building institutional orphanages on its home soil 30 years ago, why do so many churches and organizations continue to build them overseas?  We want to change that way of thinking and we know the only way to do so is to mobilize the church to become actively involved in the process. 

1 Reunification: Restored to the Biological Home

We can all agree that reunification of a child with his or her biological family, under the correct circumstances, is the best option for an orphaned child.  It provides the “roots” that the child needs.  Although the percentage of children already living in an orphanage that would be eligible for this type of reunification with family members is small, we believe that it is worth a shot.  All that would be necessary is some simple investigation by a social worker.

Steps needed to be taken:       
    •    Support a social worker to counsel children and families through the reunification process.
    •    If it is not an option for any of the children, then the social worker looks into the other 2 options.

2  Transitional Services

Group Home Care:  Moved into a group run home

Many children living in institutional orphanages will never fall into any of the other categories.  Many times it has to do with a mental or physical disability.  We believe that getting these children out of large orphanages into smaller group home settings where they will be able to receive more personal care and attention, is the best possible option for them to experience the blessing of family.

Steps needed to be taken
    •    Support in-country social worker salary.
    •    Identify group home parents/workers.
    •    Identify proper group home site.
    •    Identify children that would fit best this situation.
    •    Church helps support the building and funding of the home if needed.
    •    Identify in-country church partner to support home.
    •    Once children are placed, follow-up is necessary by social worker and church.

Foster Care: Moved into a temporary Foster Care Home

Studies have shown that temporary foster care is a better alternative for a child to be cared for in than an orphanage.

Steps needed to be taken
    •    Support for in-country social worker salary.
    •    Identify foster families.
    •    Identify children that would fit best this situation.
    •    Church (American) helps support the building and funding of the home if needed.
    •    Identify in-country church partner to support home.
    •    Once children are placed, follow-up is necessary by social worker and church.

3 Adoption

Domestic Adoption:

Advocating for and supporting domestic adoption.  Work with government or local adoption organization.  Partner with “Identity for Children” to get the children’s paperwork complete.

Steps needed to be taken:
    •    Recruit domestic families through media.
    •    Support for in-country social worker salary to qualify families.
    •    Identify children that would fit best this situation.
    •    Church (American) helps the social workers and media campaigns.
    •    Church(in-country) hosts adoption seminars.
 
International Adoption: Placed in a permanent family through international adoption

Advocating for and supporting international adoption.  Partner with "Identity for Children" to get the children’s paperwork complete.  Partner with America World Adoption to place children in families.

Steps needed to be taken:
    •    Recruit adoptive families through U.S. church partners.
    •    Identify children that would best fit this situation.
    •    American church hosts adoption seminars.


Once again, we understand that these are lofty goals and cannot be done in a day, week, or even a year.  We believe that mobilizing the church to advocate for the orphan just like it says in Isaiah 1:17 means advocating for their right for a family by actively participating in finding orphans homes. 

We would love to work with you towards these goals!