There’s a path with 1HOPE for kids and families in crisis
Since its first foster placement in
2015, 1HOPE has trained more than
800 people and placed nearly 400
kids in 165 loving homes.
Their team trains parents, licenses
homes, and places children. It is a
government licensed child placing
agency that provides all three services.
The process to become a licensed
foster home takes about three months
on average and is not for the faint of
heart. “We have to ensure we’re placing
children in good homes,” says John
Wilhelm, Program Director. “I’m only
going to license a home that I would
put my own child in.”
“Parents go through an orientation,
40 hours of classroom training,
background checks, and a home study
to evaluate the stability of the home,”
says Kristi Nnokam Parker, Executive
Director. Each home must also
provide several references, one of
which must come from a pastor or
spiritual leader. Foster parents learn,
through 1HOPE’s training sessions, to
love a child who’s been significantly
hurt by childhood trauma. All foster
parents receive knowledge of state
regulations and faith-based wisdom
for a challenging journey—restoring a
young but damaged soul. Most foster
parents will tell you the kids are
worth the process to help remove
them from a dire situation.
“We don’t believe every Christian
is called to be a foster or adoptive
parent, but every Christian is called to
do something,” says John. 1HOPE
relies on its volunteer program to
provide babysitting, daycare, tutoring,
transportation, and hand-written
notes of encouragement for their
families. 1HOPE uses donations to
provide diapers, camp experiences or
the opportunity to enjoy sports.
Government agencies provide for
many medical
issues, but they
exclude provision
for other vital
needs such as
forming helmets
or braces. Expensive
therapies
also get excluded—
and this is
where donors can
step up.
1HOPE has
Almost one third
of all 1HOPE
“foster-adopt”
parents (those
who have been
licensed to foster
and adopt) have
ended up adopting:
86 so far.
beaten the odds of the average foster
agency by continuing to employ its
faith-centered model despite its
growth. The all-Christian staff prays
and walks the spiritual path with the
families and kids, and allows the
gospel to inform their every decision.
“We do this for the love of the kids,”
says Kristi. “Every one of the kids has
felt like one of our own.”
“We encourage parents to look at
what they’re doing as a ministry, and
to connect with birth families, which is
pretty unique to our agency,” says John.
Many of the 1HOPE kids who were
previously unchurched have found
Christ through their foster parents,
and have gone on to share the love of
Jesus with their biological families.
“ We’re the bridge between the
government and the church.”
— John Wilhelm, Program Director
“The state is coming to the church
asking for help with this crisis because
they’re looking for stable, loving
homes. We’re the bridge between the
government and the church.”
This child knows the joy of being adopted into a
1HOPE family!
After five years and seven months in foster care, this
beautiful teen found her forever home with 1HOPE
parents Mike and Sue.
“ At Valcor, we believe God has given us talents, gifts, and
blessings that are to be stewarded carefully and used for
the good of others and the glory of God. We passionately
partner with 1HOPE for Kids because 1HOPE boldly brings
the one true hope of the gospel of Jesus to the crisis of
broken family relationships in San Antonio. 1HOPE
rescues hopeless, desperate, and orphaned
children and gives them love, resources,
and family. Please join us today in ending
the foster care crisis in our community.”
Charlie Malmberg, Partner, Co-Founder, Valcor Commercial Real Estate
May / June 2019 www.saBeacon.com 5