Want to know more about the issues and struggles surrounding orphan care, welfare homes, and aging-out youth? The following books, videos, news articles, and organizational information describe many of the issues as well as possible solutions. Contact us for more information.
BOOKS
She Is Mine: A War Orphan’s Incredible Journey of Survival – by Stephanie Fast. “Stephanie Fast is the name she was given in America. She does not know her original name, birth date, or place of birth, other than that she is Korean. Because she is biracial, Stephanie Fast was abandoned, left in a strange place to fend for herself, likely to die of starvation, disease—or worse.” http://stephaniefast.org/?doing_wp_cron=1567176559.8207540512084960937500
Orphan Justice: How to Care for Orphans Beyond Adopting – by Johnny Carr
Orphanology: Awakening to Gospel-Centered Adoption and Orphan Care – by Tony Merida
All In Orphan Care: Equipping the Church to Help Kids and Strengthen Families – by Jason Johnson
KnowOrphans: Mobilizing the Church for Global Orphanology – by Rick Morton
VIDEOS
“The Drop Box documentary tells the true story of South Korean pastor Lee Jong-rak and his heroic efforts to embrace and protect abandoned children. It is a story about the forgotten, the disabled, the discarded, and the man who gives everything to protect them.”
“Mental Health and School Achievement among Youth in Child Welfare Facilities and Adoptive Families” – Hollee McGinnis, Fulbright Forum: https://vimeo.com/111422817
NEWS
“What Happens at 18?” – https://medium.com/slow-travel/what-happens-at-18-1f90283ea3f9
“Life of Orphans Aging-Out in Korea” – http://mpakusa.blogspot.com/2016/05/life-of-orphans-aging-out-in-korea.html
“Parents Show Up Suddenly and Snatch Away the Orphanage Separation Funds from Aging-Out Orphans” – http://mpakusa.blogspot.com/
“Child Abandonment” – http://english.khan.co.kr/khan_art_view.html?code=710100&artid=201609072332217&medid=enkh
“Korean Orphans…” – https://thegroundtruthproject.org/korean-orphans-languish-system-tradition-new-laws-make-adoption-difficult/
ORGANIZATIONS & INSTITUTIONS
Care for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) is not only a local and national issue, but also an international concern. Providing comprehensive support to young adults making the transition from living in a welfare home to independent living is a task that calls for assistance from a wide range of professionals, organizations, and individuals. The following organizations and institutions are committed to helping in one or more aspects of this critical transition.
TAYLOR UNIVERSITY – offers a university degree in “Orphans and Vulnerable Children”. Students from this program have interned with LifeTogether during their summer vacations. https://www.taylor.edu/majors/orphans-and-vulnerable-children
THE CHRISTIAN ALLIANCE FOR ORPHANS (CAFO) – Aging-out Initiative works to “identify and share successful models from CAFO member organizations that show how the Church can help create healthy life transitions for those aging out of international orphan care and U.S. foster care”. https://cafo.org/aging-out/
OPEN ARMS – “provides personalized English education to abandoned children in South Korean welfare homes. Open Arms offers three programs, progressively starting from 2 to 15. The successive nature of [their] program will provide on-going education with a personalized curriculum, built upon a promising one-to-one relationship.” https://www.theopenarms.org/
MPAK (Mission to Promote Adoption of Kids) – “MPAK has been a voice for homeless children, and has worked tirelessly to bring about positive changes to the otherwise negative Korean adoption culture, and to advocate the needs of homeless children to have homes of their own.” https://www.mpak.com/about_us
OPEN ARMS TORONTO (OAT) – Provides scholarships, mentoring, and homestays for South Korean students who want to continue their education after aging out of a welfare home. https://openarmstoronto.org/about-us/ This video describes their program: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tRzdk32LaI
KKOOM (Korean Kids and Orphanage Outreach Mission) – Supports children education for Korean children from welfare homes and provides supplies and activities for children. https://kkoom.org/our-mission/
LOVE BEYOND THE ORPHANAGE – Provides ongoing support, activities and scholarships for Korean adults who have aged-out of the welfare home system. http://www.lovebeyondtheorphanage.org/
OAK TREE PROJECT and JERUSALEM MINISTRY – Support children from South Korean welfare homes with volunteer teaching, activities, and camps, and by providing educational scholarships for orphans who want to pursue higher education. http://www.oaktreeproject.com/our-mission/, http://www.jerusalemministry.org/content/work/what.html
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