Team Truth

Seven weeks ago I committed to something that quite honestly, is terrifying to me...

I committed to running a half marathon.

In Chicago, no less.

Why?

Well, for one, I've always wanted to attempt running a half marathon... even tho I haven't ran AT ALL since high school. That's sad...

But most importantly, it is because I believe that EVERY CHILD deserves a family. Often, children with special needs are over looked for something that is not their fault. Raising awareness is often the best way to crush stigma and show people that these children are just as special to God as you or I are. They need to know the love of a family, too. 

So, I have joined TEAM TRUTH, with Project HOPEFUL... 

Project HOPEFUL's Mission is to educate, encourage, and enable families and individuals to advocate for and adopt children with HIV/AIDS and other of the most overlooked children for adoption.

"Every orphaned child hopes for a family and a home. The reality for many children with HIV/AIDS and other special needs is that the chances of having that dream materialize are slim. Time and again, Project HOPEFUL has witnessed that with education, encouragement, and assistance families and individuals can be enabled to advocate for and adopt children with HIV/AIDS.

What began as a group of mothers on a mission to advocate for their children was developed by God into Project HOPEFUL. Today Project HOPEFUL exists to Help Orphans and Parents Eliminate Further Unnecessary Loss… of time, dignity, and life.

Until January of 2010, internationally adopted children with HIV had to immigrate into the United States through a different protocol than children without the virus. Carolyn Twietmeyer founded Project HOPEFUL after her eyes were opened to the serious and outdated immigration procedures facing internationally-adopted children (especially those with HIV/AIDS). With a strong desire to adopt children most in need of a family, she and her husband, Kiel, adopted a sibling group of three from Ethiopia, one of whom was HIV+. When the Twietmeyers came up against unyielding immigration delays, Project HOPEFUL was created.

In 2007, working closely with Equality for Adopted Children “EACH” and its Founder, McLane Layton, Carolyn went to Washington, D.C. to advocate for critically needed changes to the immigration process for HIV/AIDS adoptions. Together, Project HOPEFUL and EACH met with Congressional staff and government officials to advocate for removal of unnecessary barriers and delays that were keeping children with HIV/AIDS from their adoptive families. Through these efforts, Project HOPEFUL and EACH were able to help reduce the time for an HIV immigration waiver from the 3-9 months down to 10 days or less. Between 2007 and 2010, when the HIV immigration waiver requirement was finally lifted, Project HOPEFUL helped almost 200 families seeking to adopt children with HIV/AIDS. Streamlining the process for these highly vulnerable children has been life-saving for many who would not have survived if the changes had not been made.

After a new U.S. immigration tuberculosis screening protocol was imposed that negatively impacted children being adopted with HIV, Carolyn again teamed up with EACH and traveled to Capitol Hill in an effort to make changes. Eventually the tuberculosis screening process for children under 11 was changed and streamlined for adopted children with HIV and/or tuberculosis histories. These changes allow these children to receive the appropriate screening for conditions of concern, while at the same time being united with their adoptive families to receive love, care, and appropriate treatment.

In the years since its inception, Project HOPEFUL also began partnering with University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital pediatric infectious diseases clinic. Together Project HOPEFUL and University of Chicago have created regional workshops designed to arm individuals and families with powerful medical facts about HIV/AIDS so they can make informed decisions about whether or not adoption is for them. The numbers of UnOrphaned children coming home to the Chicagoland area testifies to the power of local education and support in helping unite adoptive families and combat stigma. Project HOPEFUL is thrilled to report that 100% of undecided families committed to pursuing HIV+ adoptions after attending Project HOPEFUL / University of Chicago workshops. Project HOPEFUL desires to replicate this model with other state associations and pediatric HIV specialists around the nation.

Project HOPEFUL has also presented informative breakout sessions at various orphan care conferences around the nation. Steadily there has been increasing awareness about adopting children with HIV/AIDS, and the number of families seeking to adopt positive children has increased. Project HOPEFUL is working to raise funds to aid in children's adoptions in order to curb financial hurdles that might prevent otherwise willing families from adopting. Project HOPEFUL continues to raise awareness and advocate for children living with HIV/AIDS and other severe special needs. We are committed to spreading the TRUTH in PANDEMIC proportions, because NO child should perish for lack of knowledge.

Project HOPEFUL is a registered 501(c)(3) not for profit organization." 

-Project HOPEFUL

I will be raising funds for Project HOPEFUL. To be clear, none of the funds will go toward me our anything to do with me! If you would like to join Project HOPEFUL and myself in advocating for these precious children, we would be grateful for your sponsorship!

HERE is the link to an easy, safe & secure way to give.

If you do not feel called to donate financially, would you please say a prayer for the ministry of Project HOPEFUL and for each of the children who's lives are touched by HIV/AIDS and who wait to know the love of a family?

I plan to share a bit about HIV/AIDS over the next couple months... :)