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P R O J E C T 1 . 2 7HOMEH O P E L I G H T S T H E W A Yannual report2021-2022

THE CRISISThrough no fault of their own, these children are in carebecause they have experienced significant neglect andphysical abuse by their biological family. This trauma, as well as the physical removal of a childfrom biological family, significantly impacts a child'sability to grow, learn, build healthy relationships, trust,and hope for a better future. Feeling hopeless can lead toanxiety, depression, difficulty in school, and struggle tomanage their behaviors. The effects of this trauma can impact children for the restof their lives, and without the support of trusted adults,therapeutic resources, and trauma-informed parenting,will follow them into their teen years and even intoadulthood.About 200 Colorado youth exit foster care every yearwithout a permanent family. Of these 200, more than 1/3will become homeless, more than 50% will beincarcerated, and only 53% will be employed by age 21.The foster care crisis often feels hopeless for the childrenand families involved.10 children enter foster care everyday in Colorado.

Dear Friends,Have you ever lost your way? Maybe you were hiking, anddarkness fell, causing you to miss the path back to thecampsite. Or life threw some unexpected curveballs, andyou couldn’t find a way forward. Perhaps poor life choicestook you to a dark place where there seemed no light. Wasthere someone who offered you hope in those dark places,guiding you to a path forward?Lost, dark, hopeless- words describing how at-risk childrenin foster care can feel. In 2022, Project 1.27 focused onbringing hope to these children. Hope through recruitingand training Christian foster and adoptive families. Hopethrough resourcing churches to support and encouragefoster and adoptive families in their congregations. Andhope through a new program, Families Care, that helpsvulnerable families before the children are removed. Lights the Way HomeSHELLY RADICProject 1.27 PresidentWe know that our God is a God ofhope and He has great plans forthese children. We couldn't havedone any of this without yourcommitment and support.

BEFORE KIDS ARE REMOVEDFamiliesCare will connectstruggling families with a well-trained group from a local church.FamiliesCare is a new program launching in the spring of2023 that will expand the work Project 1.27 has been doingby moving into prevention. The goal is to reduce thenumber of children entering the foster care system byequipping churches to come alongside a struggling familybefore a child is removed from the home. How the group serves the family will depend on the needsof that family and parent's goals, but may includeproviding a meal or childcare, helping parents findemployment or reliable transportation, and buildingsupportive relationships by connecting regularly throughactivities and meals.FamiliesCare is starting in 3 counties, Arapahoe, Weld, andMesa, where hundreds of families could use help andsupport. We expect this program to prevent out-of-homeplacements and be a great opportunity for relationshipsbetween the church and community members.Project 1.27 will launch FamiliesCare in 3 Counties in Spring 2023

From the beginning of their foster care journey, Micahand Julie Sanchez made an effort to support biologicalfamilies. The Sanchez family was placed with a baby girlnamed Mina for eight months. Micah and Julie sentpictures and videos to her biological family and took timeto chat with them before and after visits. When Mina reunified with her biological grandmother,the Sanchez's were like a second family. They still seeMina weekly and have become the go-to call wheneverher biological family needs help. “We found comfort inthe fact that we fulfilled the piece of the mission we setout to do. We were faithful to God’s calling in our life andfaithful to Mina and her family to show up in their timeof need.”Of course, saying goodbye to Mina didn’t come withoutpain, “There are moments of grief still, but I get toremind myself that we did a good job. Mina knowsattachment, she knows security, she was safe, and thatmatters more to us.” FOR WELL-RESOURCED FOSTER FAMILIES"We are choosing to show up for[these kids] and that meansshowing up for their family."391 children served this year69 new foster care placements

The O’Keefe family felt called to foster care in 2015,attending a Project 1.27 info meeting in December, thencompleting the rest of their training throughout 2016.David and Lori chose Project 1.27 because they wanted aBiblical Worldview and a Christian perspective. Josiah joined the O’Keefe family just past his 6thbirthday. In the early days with Josiah, many catch-upswere needed. The O’Keefe’s worked hard to meet hismedical and dental needs and help him in school. Theysigned Josiah up for soccer, which he loves and still playstoday, and taught him how to swim and ride a bike. Reflecting on their life with Josiah, Lori stated, “He isthriving. He is very joyful and inclusive and loved byeveryone. [We had to] trust that God had a plan for ourfamily, and he would see us through it and walk with usalong the way.”THROUGH TRAUMA-INFORMEDADOPTIVE HOMES"I can't wait to see what God isgoing to do with his life."Project 1.27 families finalized 20 adoptionsthis year and 502 adoptions since 2005188 hours of trauma-informed parent training

Jen and Mark Oshman, pastors of Redemption ParkerChurch and adoptive parents, know first-hand theimportance of a church community that is well-equipped to care for vulnerable children and families.They partnered with Project 1.27 to host a trauma-informed church training for all of their children'sministry leaders and volunteers. Jen noted, "Thistraining helped our volunteers understand how traumaimpacts the brain and emotions so that we all have abetter understanding of why a child may react acertain way in our children’s ministry settings. [Thetraining] equipped us with many practical tools—bothpreventative and responsive—so that our volunteerscan minister to all children, especially those who’veexperienced trauma."THROUGH FOSTER FRIENDLY CHURCHES"We want to be sensitive to,educated about, and proactive inaddressing the particularstresses and joys that our fosterand adopt families feel."Project 1.27 resourced 122 churches including 7 trauma-informed church trainings

The 1.27 National Network members work to bridge thelocal church in their state with children in foster care.The network has twelve active member organizations.Each operates independently as a “bridge ministry” intheir local communities bringing hope by engaging localchurches to serve children in care, local social workers,biological, kinship, foster and adoptive families, andrecruiting and training foster and adoptive families.Project 1.27 offers support to network organizationsthrough coaching, monthly Mastermind sessions,learning cohorts, events and networking. Serving 3500 children through the 1.27National NetworkSPREADING THROUGH THE 1.27NATIONAL NETWORKCommitted to bridging the churchto the local foster care system.

Thank you for giving!Because every child needs HOPE.Because every child needs a HOME.THROUGH GIVINGCOLORADO PROGRAM75.7%MANAGEMENT10.3%NATIONAL PROGRAM8.6%FUNDRAISING5.4%Expenses$669,939GENERAL DONATIONS51.5%PROGRAM19%EVENTS (NET)15.6%GRANTS/FOUNDATIONS10%CHURCHES2.4%IN-KIND1.5%Revenue$664,726

read 3 great foster and adoption stories and donate at project127.org/donate