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* Faithfully serving people in need for 25 years *

Southern & Eastern Regions, Wisconsin

5,000+ Families & Children Served

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We have a current need in our community. Bethany Christian Services has 200 families that need help healing their children. Many more are expected in the next few years because of the increasing number of older children, worldwide, who are in need of a family who have experienced significant trauma from abuse, neglect, or loss of parents. Wisconsin families are opening their hearts and homes to adopt these children, but the healing process takes time and specialized resources. Traumatized children often struggle with questions like:

• Who am I? I want to see some of the people and places that I know. Do I have to forget about everyone from the past to be a part of this new family and place?

• Can I trust anyone? Will my adoptive family, my new neighbors, or people at school lash out at me or forget about me like the people where I lived before?

• Do I belong? People at my new school and neighborhood talk, look, and act so different from the people where I lived before. 

Adoptive parents are asking for help. Some children need help with identity development—blending their old and new lives together. Some need help recognizing their anger over past hurts and releasing fear. Others need help grieving the loss of a parent, family, or even an entire community. Some need help letting go of self-protective behaviors that previously helped them endure abuse or neglect but now hurt their ability to develop close, trusting relationships. 

Children need help fully joining and embracing their new family. They may also need help learning how to succeed within new social expectations and cultural norms, while staying connected to their cultural roots.

Bethany is called to help Families that Heal Children! Since 1984, Bethany Wisconsin has facilitated 800 international adoptions and several hundred domestic transracial adoptions. Right now, 200 families need our help. We can meet this need through your partnership.   

As funds become available, we will develop Post-Adoption Services that are effective in helping children heal and families grow closer. These services may include: play groups, support groups, therapy/counseling, fun activities, culture camps, adoptive family mentors, a lending library, and a website of resources.   

To provide for the needs of these children in our community, I need your support. We have been blessed with a donation of $40,000 to begin development of services. Will you join me with a gift before December 20, 2009, to raise a total of $65,000?

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It will take more than you and me to achieve this goal! It’s so easy to link this webpage to your Facebook page, or to send the link in an e-mail, to help us spread the word.

LINK:   http://www.firstgiving.com/FamiliesThatHealinWisconsin

Please call 262.547.6557 if you’d like to know more or to pledge and send your gift via check.

Sharing More Love,
Susan Hubbell
Director, Bethany of Wisconsin