“…for I know the plans I have for you” says the Lord. “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
A BIG PROBLEM...
According to Oklahoma DHS statistics, in January of 2013 there were over 9000 children in foster care in the state of Oklahoma; of those 9000 over 49% were under the age of five. Some 1,067 of these little ones are in Oklahoma County alone. Currently, there are just 282 foster families in Oklahoma County; not nearly enough. The need is great.
"The harvest is plenty, the workers are few." Matthew 9:37 NIV
Unfortunately, the journey these precious little ones make can be a long one filled with many disapointments and much frustration. They often spend time in county shelters, move from foster home to foster home, change schools, lose connections with friends and extended family and thus begins a cycle that can have a very disappointing end. Infants often stay in hospitals long after birth because there is no room in the shelter and emergency foster homes are few. This constant instability can, and often does lead to children facing as much emotional damage in the system as staying in the unhealthy environment from which they were removed.
Disrupted attachment disorders arecommonamong these children when they do not bond with a caregiver from the earliest days. Some estimates indicate that as many as 70% of the American children suffering from some type of attachment disorder today are children in the foster system.This can lead to lifelong issues of destructive behavior and an inablity to form healthy relationships into adulthood. The Anna's House Foundation strives to make a difference for these kids by working hard to combat these statistics with love, nurture and consistent care within a caring community of families.
A TINY SOLUTION...
The Anna's House Foundation was formed to combat the damage caused from the continually changing living environments the some 1067 Oklahoma County babies and foster children under the age of four face in the foster care system.
Our first priority is to provide stable and loving homes for the youngest of the young in foster care. We believe that by providing these precious little ones a solid, nurturing foundation from the beginning, they will be able to form healthy bonds with caregivers, thereby enabling them to develop healthy attachment behavior long into adulthood.
Whether reunited with their birth family or adopted into a loving Christ centered home, the Anna's House Foundation exists to give these youngest Oklahomans a fighting chance.
"Let the little children come to me, do not hinder them. For the kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14
