In Georgia, there are currently over 15,000 children in the foster care system. This number has doubled within the past five years due to the ever-growing opioid epidemic. Christian City recognized this issue and in February of 2018, launched the Crossroads Foster Care & Adoption Program to provide private and public foster care, foster-to-adoption and public adoption for children within a 50-mile radius of their location, which is just south of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
 
“We wanted to respond to this issue by increasing the number of loving homes available to children in foster care and that is when we decided to launch the Crossroads program,” said Len Romano, President & CEO of Christian City.
 
The program is designed to help children from newborns to the age of 21 years find a loving home. The Crossroads Program provides families who are interested in adoption or foster care with initial training, home study, 24/7 on call support and unlimited access to Christian City’s thrift store and pantry.  These services are provided to ensure the foster children and families have specialized care and support.
 
“We offer a crisis program for the foster child and adoptive parents. If a caregiver reports to us the child is under distress when acclimating to their new environment, we bring the child back onto the Christian City Children’s Village campus for 48 hours. Here, we give the child the attention and any skills they may need to help them reintegrate into their new home,” said Michaela Guthrie, Program Executive for the Crossroads Foster Care and Adoption Program.
 
Starting July 1st, Christian City will have a contract with the state to help the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services place children in foster care or adoptive homes.