Published in the December 23, 2015 – January 5, 2016 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Christophe Rebboah
Christophe Rebboah
As a member of the California Alliance of Children and Family Services, Rebekah Children’s Service has a mission to provide for the foster care and adoption needs of children and families.
Our mission is as important now as it was in 1897 when we started as an orphan home for five children. We now serve more than 3,000 children every year.
Rebekah Children’s Services has a social contract and philosophical imperative to meet the needs of children, youth and families entrusted in our care.
Foster Care and Adoption Services remain paramount and tied to our mission because RCS remains rooted in the Rebekah and Independent Order of Fellows tenet that we must care for our most vulnerable children, youth and families. We operate from a “no eject — no reject” value which propels us to implore a “do whatever it takes” position to serve others.
There is a big need locally to find foster homes and adoptive parents for children.
In Santa Clara County there are more than 1,200 children in the foster care system with increasing need developing in the South County region. Some of the most important things that we try to do is recruit families in all communities so that a child in need can continue to attend their own schools, continue to feel connected to their community by knowing the people and places around them, and staying connected to their friends and extended family members who are important to them.
If a family or a couple might like to adopt a child, we encourage them to work with RCS to get help to go through the process.
RCS has a wonderful recruiter, Becky Gabuat, who can be reached by calling (408) 871-4962. Becky will be happy to explain what is needed for families to either foster or adopt a child or children who are in need of a permanent loving family. She can provide an in-person orientation to have a conversation about our partnership with social services, how we support the best match possible between families and children and what supports are available to help their growing family be successful.
We recently supported a young family in Morgan Hill to adopt their 7-year-old son. RCS was able to help the family get the necessary training to welcome a child into their home who had experienced a significant amount of trauma.
We were also able to help their biological son learn how to be a good little brother and help their adopted son connect with other extended family members.
Our young adoptive family also remain in contact with the biological family members of their new son so that a sense of connectedness, family history and stability can be maintained.
We find that local residents or businesses in the South Valley truly support Rebekah Children’s Services in its adoption and foster care services either through volunteering or donations or sponsorships. And RCS is always looking for meaningful ways for South Valley residents to support one another through volunteer hours, sponsoring kids to go to camp, or becoming certified respite providers for other foster and adoptive parents.
During the holiday season, we are known for our Festival of Trees fundraiser, a popular event for the South Valley now approaching its fourteenth year. All funds raised are earmarked and designated to meet the needs of our children, youth and families in service.
These funds help provide families with direct assistance by way of accessing parenting classes, clothing, educational toys and mental health services.
RCS has been a part of the South Valley region for 118 years because we want to make sure local children and families get the help they need to enjoy a high quality of life.
We encourage the Morgan Hill, San Martin and Gilroy communities to help us in our mission.
Christophe Rebboah is the executive director of Rebekah Children’s Services. He wrote this column for Morgan Hill Life.
