Churches, are you preparing for summer VBS or Sports Camps? Or a Middle or High School retreat? We have two opportunities to help you as you prepare for your summer kids’ and youth ministries! We would love to provide Trauma Informed Training and an idea for a Project 1.27 Service Project.   We can all agree that “children are valuable image-bearers of God and deserve to be cared for in a way that their brand and body can receive.” We all want to put this into practice with each child we come in contact with, but do we have the tools to do so? I know that before becoming a foster p ..read more

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and Project 1.27 is joining the pinwheel campaign along with hundreds of other organizations, churches, and government agencies to plant or display pinwheels in remembrance of abused and neglected children.  In 2008, Prevent Child Abuse America introduced the pinwheel as the new national symbol for child abuse prevention through Pinwheels for Prevention®. Research has shown that people respond to the pinwheel. By its very nature, the blue pinwheel signifies whimsy and childlike notions. Planting a pinwheel represents the bright childhoods we a ..read more

In 2020, my husband and I fell into foster care as a kinship placement. Together with our three biological children, we fell in love with four-month-old "Little Miss" and loved on her for over a year. As a first-time foster family, we got a crash course on the system, on being trauma-informed, and on navigating virtual visits with an infant during Covid. And I'll be honest, I was judgey. I remember thinking, "Why can't her parents just get it together?". I recall the frustration and anger I felt when they would not show for a visit or use the little time they had to criticize me or argue wit ..read more

Project 1.27 helps churches and families in Colorado serve children through faith-based family preservation, ​kinship care, foster care & adoption since 2004. The church is called to preach the Gospel and make disciples. As a pastor, I had to ask myself, “How do those two things go together?”  As a FamiliesCare Manager, I regularly meet with pastors, and this is often a question that comes up in our conversations. So, how does serving families and children make disciples and spread the good news of Jesus Christ?   First, when we serve families and children, we demonstrate ..read more

What brings you to this resource today? Are you a friend, neighbor, or family member to someone offering foster care in their home? If yes, this is for you! As we enter a new season in Colorado, at least we think we are, it is an excellent time to check in with those around you to see what kind of support they might need. Using our five senses, here are some suggestions and resources you could offer or share with those you are companioning on their journey! SEE – What places are out there specifically for kids? This website provides a list of places with all the details needed. Check out the ..read more

Becoming a foster, kinship, or adoptive family affects every part of your marriage, your life, and the kids you decide to care for. How do you keep your marriage a priority when a crisis is always at your door? It can be hard on both of you as individuals and as a family. Here are four tips to try with your partner during this month of love!  Open communication. Deciding to become foster parents should not be only one spouse's decision. Please make sure you talk about it together and that you both feel comfortable moving forward. Keep this communication going as you start taking p ..read more

Foster parenting presents a complex set of challenges due to the trauma and neglect children have experienced in their families of origin.  Like all parenting, fostering is a deeply rewarding experience and like parenting can be challenging.  You put so much energy and love into being a foster parent and providing a stable home you forget about your own needs. In February, a month when we celebrate love for others, remember it’s important to be proactive in showing love for yourself through self-care.  Self-care is essential for anyone balancing parenthood with life’s other de ..read more

​Statistics show that 50% of foster families quit after the first year, so what allows one family to continue fostering for more than 20 years? Lisa and Paul McGinnett always knew they would adopt. Early in their marriage, they planned to serve orphaned street children in Bolivia. However, an illness prevented Lisa from living in a third-world country. Their pastor then encouraged them to look for ways to serve children in the United States.  After trying to conceive for ten years, the McGinnetts began exploring the adoption process, which led them to become foster parents. Over their ..read more

It is rare these days to have someone knock on a literal church door asking for help. We can put “All are welcome” on the reader board out front, but alas, “all” don’t show up on a Sunday morning. So how does a congregation who wants to serve its neighbors, make those initial connection points? How does a church get to the business of loving its neighbors if they have a hard time meeting the neighbors who would welcome their care? ​ At Project 1.27 we talk with churches around our state about how they are making connections with families in their communities. And not just any families, t ..read more

It’s a New Year and time for, you guessed it, Resolutions!  Or. Maybe not.  I know before becoming a parent, resolutions were much easier to make and keep past Valentine’s Day.  Children challenge our desire to have order, peace, and CONTROL.  So, what can we do when we want to make improvements in ourselves, our homes, and our families, but also don’t want to be disappointed when things go off the rails?  I spent some time researching this and thinking about how I can set my family and me up for success with any goals, not resolutions, we have for 2024.    ..read more