The Sacred Portion Children's Outreach Seeks Hague Accreditation

As a licensed, child placing agency with the State of Montana, The Sacred Portion Children's Outreach has been performing home studies for families going through an adoption process.  However, because we are not an international placing agency, families must necessarily utilize the services of another agency once their home study is completed.  SPCO is making a move to the next level of becoming a complete agency for the children and families it serves.

There are a number of steps that have to be taken in order to become an international placing agency.  The first step is to gain Hague accreditation status.  The Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption is an international agreement between participating countries on best adoption procedures.  These procedures basically have two goals in mind:

• The best interest of children are considered with each intercountry adoption.
• The prevention of abduction, exploitation, sale, or trafficking of children.

The U.S. signed the Hague Convention in 1994 and passed bills for the implementation of the Convention in 2000 in the form of the Intercountry Adoption Act (IAA).  These laws entered into force in the U.S. on April 1, 2008.

In order for an agency to provide adoption services involving the U.S. and another Convention Country, the agency must be accredited or supervised by a provider that is accredited.  The Sacred Portion Children's Outreach has been functioning as a "supervised provider" under other accredited agencies in doing home studies and post-placement monitoring.  In getting our own accreditation, we will be able to work directly with the foreign countries and assist families through the entire adoption process.

If you would like to comment on our agency's goal of becoming Hague accredited or on any knowledge that you have on the performance of our agency, you can submit your comments to: http://www.coanet.org/front3/page.cfm?sect=54&cont=4251 .

The Bozeman Daily Chronicle reported on the Summer Of Hope 2011 Sunday August 7, 2011.  Saturday August 6th, four children from the Philippines said their goodbyes to their Host families at Belgrade Field.  They said their tearful goodbyes to their host families and held on for one more hug until it was time to board the airplane bound for Manila, Philippines.  On Monday August 8, five Ethiopian children traveled with escort Jenny Mead back to their home country of Ethiopia.  A similar story took place as the children also said their goodbyes to their host families that they have grown to know and love.  It is looking very hopeful that all nine children will have families moving forward with adoption in mind! 

THANK YOU TO OUR "SUMMER OF HOPE - 2011" CONTRIBUTORS! 

We are always amaized at how the Lord anticipates and provides for the needs of the "Summer Of Hope" hosting program.  This year was no exception.  This spring a total of 9 children from the Philippines and Ethiopia were identified for the summer hosting program.  Host families came forward to provide loving homes for each of them to stay for four weeks in July.  Since our cost per child is $3,500, our fundraising goal was set at $31,500.  On June 11th, 2011 the Hope Walk was held to raise funds for this years program and Lord answered by providing the funds equal to this years goal!  Thank you Lord for your provision provided through our faithful Hope Walk 2011 contributors!

Craig Druckenmiller, co-founder of SPCO, today received at the Bozeman Lions Club noon meeting a Letter of Commendation from the President of Lions Club International, Sid L. Scruggs III.  This award was given in recognition of the Rehoboth Medical Clinic Construction Project constructed by the extraordinary gifted Filipino men of Sampaloc, Tanay, Rizal, Philippines.  This Letter of Commendation belongs to them.  Thanks men, enjoy your clinic.  May it improve the quality of life in the Sampaloc Community and may it bless the lives of your families.  God Bless!   

Craig & Jan Druckenmiller, founders of the Sacred Portion Children's Outreach, traveled to England this past May.  The Druckenmiller's were invited by Siloam Christian Ministries of Great Britain, a major supporter of the Rehoboth Children's Home, to attend and share a ministry stand at the largest ministry trade show for churches in Europe.  They were in one of the 400 stands present at the conference that lasted 4 days.  Another participant in a stand for Christian Cops learned about the U.S. visitor in stand S-2.  The Cop located Craig in his stand and presented him with an " Award of Excellence "for learning to drive on the correct side of the road in a manual vehicle".

Evangelical Council For Financial Accountability Accredits The Sacred Portion Children's Outreach, April 21, 2011.

 

ECFA accreditation is based on the ECFA Seven Standards of Responsible Stewardship(TM), including financial accountability, transparency, sound board governance and ethical fundraising.

The Sacred Portion Children's Outreach joins a growing number of Christ-centered churches and ministries across America, supported by over 35 million donors that have earned the right to display the ECFA seal.  When an organization is accredited by ECFA, it demonstrates its willingness to follow the model of biblical accountability.

"We are pleased to include in our membership a ministry committed to providing for orphaned and abandoned children through God's people." said Dan Busby, president of ECFA.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two work teams traveled last spring to the Rehoboth Children's Home, located in Sampaloc, Tanay, Rizal, Philippines.  The first team comprised of four men left January 15th from Bozeman and stayed three weeks in the Philippine.  They returned home February 4th. They were charged with excavating and pouring the foundation for the new Rehoboth Medical Clinic.  The four man team completed the advance ground work for a second team of 14 people from the Belgrade New Hope Bible Church. The New Hope Team traveled March 9 from Gallatin Field Airport and will stayed until their return flight on March 19th.

 

The NHBC team was led by veteran servant and most excellent wall builder Josh McKenzie, also of NHBC of Belgrade. All funds for construction of the Rehoboth Medical Clinic were raised in connection with a grant made possible through the Lions Club International Foundation.  Local matching funds for the grant were raised by the Bozeman Lions Club and through other private donations.

 

 

Additional photos of the two team's efforts are up on the Sacred Portion Facebook site.  Follow the progress on Facebook as we build the vision of twenty structures designed to serve the orphans of Rehoboth and the Sampaloc community.