FAQ

Why is it called Project 1.27?

Project 1.27 comes from the Biblical passage in James 1:27 which states: “Religion that God our Father considers pure and faultless is this, to look after orphans and widows in their distress and keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27 (NIV)

Is Project 1.27 just another adoption agency?

Project 1.27 is not an agency at all, rather it is a ministry. Project 1.27 does not legally place any children or youth, nor do we offer any formal counseling (one of the definitions of an agency in Colorado). Simply put, Project 1.27 walks along with the parents during their journey into and through adoption and fostering and serves as a bridge between the church community and the county departments.

What does Project 1.27 do?

Project 1.27 has the vision of “No Waiting Children in Colorado.” Our mission is to facilitate successful adoptions and foster care placements between Christian parents and children in the Colorado foster care system. We acheive this by recruiting, training and supporting Christian families and by equipping local church leaders to provide support for parents in their adoption journey.

How long will the adoption process take?

The typical time for most of our parents is 18 to 24 months. There are parts of the adoption/foster process that are in your control and aspects that are out of your control. How long it takes you to complete the training and paperwork is in your control and can happen fairly quickly. After that, the timing of the process is largely out of your control.

Which County/Agency should I choose?

You can base your decision on a number of things including:

Which county you live in — Consider that your child or youth may have doctors, therapists, and case workers that they will need to continue to visit during the placement period.
What children or youth are available in a county/agency — If you are looking at a specific child or youth or type of child or youth, you may want to use a child-specific county/agency.
Who do you “connect” with — Your interaction with a county/agency representative at the Orientation or other meetings may lead you to decide to pursue this long term relationship with a specific county/agency.

This decision is best made when you are close to completing your application packet.

Will I be able to love a child that I didn’t give birth to?

Yes.

On my “Type of Child Checklist”, can I say I can’t handle children with certain issues?

Yes. It is very important to be open and honest with your comfort level. If you are married, be sure you are in agreement about what you put on the form. If you are single, ask yourself, “Am I ready for this?” Pray and let God lead you.

Do children or youth come with subsidies? What are subsidies?

Many children or teens adopted from the foster care system will come with an adoption subsidy. It is a monthly, contractually agreed amount of money between you and your child’s or youth’s county to help you defray the costs of therapy, transportation, food, etc. for your newly adopted child or youth. It is not guaranteed for every child or youth but occurs most often for sibling groups, minority children, and children or youth with special needs. Medicaid is also available for adopted children and youth until they are 18 years old, with some exceptions. We recommend that families not plan on having a subsidy available on a long term basis. The counties cannot guarantee this will occur. However, Project 1.27 will do everything it can to help advocate for potentially deserved subsidies for our families.

Will my biological kids get along with my adopted children or youth?

Maybe. It is a good idea to get the agreement of your biological children prior to new children coming into your home. If you can help them see this as a part of their ministry and service to God, it will go a long way to make this transition better. Prayer, education, and patience are the answers to many questions like this.

Will legal issues in my past prevent me from being approved for adoption?

Perhaps. It is best to be very forthcoming in your adoption application about any issue that might possibly come up from your past. It is true that you are under the microscope; it is like giving an accounting for your life. Though it may not seem “fair,” it is for the protection of the children that the counties/agencies are very careful. Think of it this way: if your child was going to be raised by someone else, what would you want to know about them? Specific concerns may be addressed to the Executive Director for private dialogue.

Why are the services provided by Project 1.27 so inexpensive?

We do not want money to be a barrier for parents wanting to adopt or foster. Project 1.27 charges a nominal administrative fee of $50. We do rely on donations to provide our services to adopting and fostering families. We do seek grant monies and partnerships with businesses; however, most of our donors are individuals and churches that see value in our "Kingdom" focused objective of 'caring for orphans'.

Why should I utilize Project 1.27 when I can just go straight to the county or another adoption agency?

Good question. If you choose to utilize Project 1.27 you will have an advocate and expert advisors on your team to assist you along your adoption/foster journey. Our orientations and trainings are held in local churches with Christian instructors. Our Christian case managers have many years of experience in the Child Welfare system in Colorado and we are able and willing to pray with you. We assist you in keeping all of the paperwork organized and provide reminders about training, deadlines and other requirements.

Who are the kids in the Colorado foster system?

Children range in age from 0-18 yrs old. However, the average age of a child available for adoption wating in foster care is 10 yrs old. These children represent the population of Colorado with different cultures and ethnicities. Most of all, these are just kids with different skills, talents and interests.

What kinds of problems do they have?

All children in foster care have experienced some type of trauma. The trauma is typically due to abuse or neglect sustained by the child. These children can be developmentally delayed, have a difficult time attaching to adults, suffer from drug and alcohol related issues, have boundary issues and outbursts of anger. The good news is that many of these concerns are treatable through the many profession resouces available to parents.

Do I have to be a perfect parent to adopt or foster?

No. There are no perfect parents. We find that the best adoptive/foster parents are flexible, willing to learn new ways of parenting and able to handle adversity and stress in a healthy ways.

Do I have to be a Christian to participate in Project 1.27?

Yes. If you are married, one of you must be a Christian. All families must fill out a Spiritual Questionnaire and participate in a pastoral interview. We believe that faith in Jesus is integral to our ability and motivation to love and care for children from hard places. If you are not a Christian, we can help direct you to a county child welfare agency to pursue adoption or foster care.

What is a home study?

A home study is a report written by a social worker about you and your family. The worker will come to your home for several visits to interview you and your children individually, and, if married, as a couple. They will discuss your life – past and present, and how adding a child, youth, or siblings will affect your life. The purpose of a home study is to evaluate you and your family as a potential adoptive home and a potential match for a child or youth. The county/agency you choose to work with will perform this service.

What resources are available through Project 1.27?

Project 1.27 offers:

Foster/Adoption Core Training -12 hours (required)
Project 1.27 Core Training (Love, Attachment, Faith) – 12 hours (required)
Support Team Traiing – 4 hours
Support group development in local churches
Resource library for parents
Access to on-going parent training

I love what you guys are doing, how can I financially support Project 1.27?

The operating expenses incured by Project 1.27 to acheive one child's adoption is $5,000.

Here are some ways you can help:

Become a monthly donor
Sponsor the adoption of one or more child at $5000 each
Make a one-time donation of any amount

If you wish to support us financially, please make checks payable to Project 1.27 and send to:

Project 1.27, 3651 S. Colorado Blvd., Englewood, CO 80113. Or call (303) 256-1225.

You can also Donate Online!

All donations made to Project 1.27 are tax deductible.