“CUTS AND CURLS”

One Church One Child of Maryland Inc, the states leading non-profit organization created to recruit adoptive and foster care parents for homeless children is calling on all hair salons and barber shops in the state to partner with One Church One Child of Maryland Inc for a day of CUTS and CURLS.  

We are in need of salons and barber shops that are willing to donate 2 hair cuts or 2 regular hair styles at a minimum. This all important fresh hair style will warm the hearts of children that without your help, may suffer the ills of being looked upon as homeless. Your gift will assist in making the first day of school a great day for hundreds of children in the State of Maryland. Please contact One Churc h One Child to register your organization today @ (410) 669-7030 and please remember that “Together We Can”.

<< Click here to VIEW & PRINT the Registration Form >>

May was National Foster Care Month!

National Foster Care Month was in May. It provided an opportunity for people nationwide to get involved as foster parents, volunteers, mentors, employers, or in other ways. It was also an opportunity to show our appreciation for the dedication of the foster families who care for these children and youth, and the social workers who support them.

One Church One Child of Maryland, Inc is celebrating its Twentieth anniversary. May was Foster Care month and we salute all of the Maryland Foster Care parents. In May 2008 OCOCMD saluted the Prince Georges/Montgomery County Foster Parents at Reid Temple AME Church in Glen Dale Maryland which was held on Friday. May , 2008. In June 2008 OCOCMD will salute the Baltimore County Foster Parents in a Dinner celebration at Rising Sun First Baptist Church on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 at 7:00 PM.  In July and August,  OCOCMD will salute the Foster Parents of Frederick/Washington Counties and Worcester/Wicomico/Somerset Counties.

SHARE GOD’S LOVE ... BECOME A FOSTER PARENT!

<< Click here to view the Reid Temple Luncheon Flyer >>

<< Click here to view the Rising Sun Luncheon Flyer >>

Adoption Matching Event

Please join One Church One Child on Saturday, March 1st, from 9-am to 11:30-am @ Dave & Buster's Arcade located inside the Arundel Mills Mall. This an Adoption Matching Event designed with food, fun and above all, it's an opportunity for potential adoptive parents to meet and connect with children in need of a place to call "home." For additional info, please call Diane Scurry, 410-669-7030.

After all, a "PLACE" does "MATTER!"

When: Saturday, March 1st, 2008
Time: from 9am - 11:30 am
Where: Dave & Buster's Arcade (Arundel Mills Mall)

<< Click here to view brochure >>

OCOC of Maryland is celebrating 20 years of service to the state of Maryland

YOU have made a difference in our program. YOU are invited to Celebrate this major milestone with us on this coming Sunday, January 27, 2008 . Spread the Word!

January 27, 2007 is the kick-off of the 20oth anniversary of the One church One Child of Maryland, Inc program.  We will be having a year of activities, events and the annual adoption conference.

Speaker: Rev. Jimmy C Baldwin, Pastor of Shiloh Christian Community Church

When: Sunday, January 26, 2008
Time: 4:30pm
Where: Miracle Temple Seven Day Adventist Church
Address: 100 S. Rock Glenn Road, Baltimore, MD 21223

<< Click here to view brochure >>

2008 Upcoming Informational Meetings

Baltimore City/Baltimore County
Anne Arundel County
Prince Georges County
Montgomery County
Fredrick/Washington Counties
Tri-County ( Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland Wicomico, Somerset and           Worcester Counties)

• Tuesday, January 22nd @ 7:00 PM
• Tuesday, February 27th@ 7:00 PM
• Tuesday, March 25th @ 7:00 PM 
• Tuesday, April 22nd @ 7:00 PM 
• Tuesday, May27th @ 7:00 PM 
• Tuesday, June 24th @ 7:00 PM 
• Tuesday, July 22nd @ 7:00 PM 
• Tuesday, August 26th @ 700 PM 
• Tuesday, September 23rd @ 7:00 PM 
• Tuesday, October 28th @ 7:00 PM 
• Tuesday, November 25th @ 7:00 PM  
• Tuesday, December 16th @ 7:00 PM 

2008 OCOC Board of Directors Meeting

• Thursday, January 17th @ 9:00 AM
• Thursday, February 21st @ 9:00 AM
• Thursday, March 20th @ 9:00 AM  Quarterly Update with Juls Enterprise
• Thursday, April 17th @ 9:00 AM 
• Thursday, May 15th @ 9:00 AM 
• Thursday, June 19th @ 9:00 AM  Quarterly Update with Juls Enterprise
• Thursday, July 17th @ 9:00 AM 
• Thursday, August 21st @ 9:00 AM 
• Thursday, September 18th @ 9:00 AM  Quarterly Update with Juls Enterprise
• Thursday, October 16th @ 9:00 AM 
• Thursday, November 20th @ 9:00 AM  
• ANNUAL BOD RETREAT - December 4 - 5, 2008 
• Thursday, December 18th @ 6:00 PM Annual Christmas Celebration Event at the Forum 

2008 Upcoming Advisory Committee Meetings

• Thursday, January 17th@ 6:00 PM
• Thursday, March 13th @ 9:00 AM 
• Thursday, May 8th @ 6:00 PM 
• Thursday, July 10th @ 9:00 AM 
• Thursday, September 18th @ 6:00 PM 
• Thursday, November 13th @ 9:00 AM

Maryland One Church One Child receives 2007 Family Building Champion Award.

On behalf of Dr. Coger and the Board of Diectors we are happy to announce that the One Church One Child of Maryland, Inc. has been awarded the Tinina Q. Cade 2007 Family Building Champion Award. Please read the attached letter.

<< Click here for more information >>

Maryland One Church One Child Receives National Award Wednesday, June 21

National Network of Adoption Advocacy Programs Honors Maryland Foster Care, Adoption Initiative

Baltimore, Md. – Rev. Dr. Joan L. Wharton, executive director, and  the One Church One Child of MD (OCOCMD), will be recognized on June 21 for “extraordinarily amplifying” the organization’s services as a national model of excellence during a US Department of Health and Human Services-sponsored organization’s conference in Bloomington, Minn.

OCOCMD will receive the “Capacity Building Program of the Year” award from the National Network of Adoption Advocacy Programs (NNAAP), a Richmond-Va., based organization  funded in 2003 by the US Department of Health and Human Service’s Children’s’ Bureau.  NNAAP is a collaborative partnership of the more than 30 One Church One Child organizations throughout the nation, child placing agencies, parent support organizations and other child welfare organizations. OCOCMD is the contracted arm of Maryland Department of Human Resources, Social Service Administration to assist in the recruitment of adoptive and foster care families, with a particular concentration on the adoption of minority children throughout faith communities in Maryland.   

The One Church One Child concept was founded by a Black Catholic Priest, Father George Clements in Chicago in 1980. The program challenges primarily African-American churches to recruit at least one family from each congregation to adopt one child. The nationally recognized One Church One Child program has  been a model for similar partnerships in 32 states.

“Under the leadership of Dr. Wharton, the Maryland program incorporated industry best practices to improve the infrastructure necessary to support the value of services it provides throughout Maryland’s communities,” said Dr. Wilbert Talley, executive director, NNAAP. “Her boundless energy and her infinite capacity to produce quality programs and services have  been exceptional among collaborative efforts involving social services, community-based and faith-based organizations.”

Expanding the management function of the board of directors, increasing staff training programs, new financial record-keeping system, new database program and efforts to open satellite offices throughout the state are among the capacity building efforts the program has accomplished throughout the past 12 months.

The Maryland affiliate has recruited more than 500 adoptive and foster parents and has facilitated the placement of more than 300 children with families since its founding in 1988.  It has developed an extensive network of more than 350 partner churches and community organizations. Even in today’s current faith-based friendly climate, the organization still holds the distinction of being the only (identified) entity in the State providing adoption-specific services targeting the African-American faith community.

According to Kids Are Waiting, a project of The Pew Charitable Trusts, there are 11,111 children in Maryland’s foster care system; 23% are between ages of 0 and 5; 29% are between ages of 6 and 12; 49% of foster children are between ages of 13 and 21; 33% of children experience three or more foster care placements; and 19% (2,072) of children live in group care or institutional settings.

For interviews with a Maryland foster/adoptive family and Rev. Dr. Joan L. Wharton upon her return from receiving the award, please contact T’Jae Gibson at (202) 491-3586 or via email at GibsonGroupLLC@aol.com.