111Project launches CarePortal in Oklahoma County to help children in foster care
News Release
Phone: (405) 521-3027, Fax: (405) 522-3146
e-mail: Katelynn.Burns@OKDHS.org
Area churches and the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) announced the launch of a new initiative to meet the needs of thousands of children and families in Oklahoma County.
More than 100 staff members and volunteers from churches across the metro, as well as DHS employees, gathered at the State Capitol Wednesday to celebrate the launch of the online platform, CarePortal, by local non-profit organization, 111Project.
CarePortal is an online engagement tool shared between child welfare workers and local churches. Child welfare workers uncover and vet the needs of a family and submit a request for help online. Churches within a 60-mile radius are made aware of a family’s need and given the opportunity to meet it.
“We know the churches are eager to share the love of Christ by meeting the needs of those most vulnerable in our community, they just didn’t always know how to help. This is why we’re so excited about the incredible potential for CarePortal in Oklahoma County,” said Chris Campbell, Executive Director 111Project. “Just two months ago, we launched CarePortal in Tulsa County and, so far, 91 churches have signed up and more than 273 children have been helped statewide.”
A DHS case worker entered the first request live in CarePortal to mark the official start of the online platform in Oklahoma County. The request, $110 to pay for a mother’s need in order to start the reunification process with her child, was immediately met by Council Road Baptist Church.
“The mission of protecting children and helping families belongs to the entire community, not just to DHS. We are grateful for the willingness of these partners in the faith-based, non-profit and business spaces to bring to Oklahoma City a tool like Care Portal that can significantly improve our ability to work together on behalf of kids and families,” said DHS Deputy Director of Child Welfare, Dr. Deborah Shropshire.
CrossFirst Bank and Life.Church were recognized for their roles in supporting the new partnership between DHS and 111Project. CrossFirst Bank presented 111Project with a grant prior to Wednesday to help with the launch of CarePortal. Chris Beall, Pastor of Life.Church Oklahoma City, presented Campbell with a $34,000 grant at the event.
“At Life.Church, we like to say that we can accomplish infinitely more together than we can apart. We can’t wait to see what God will do through this community of churches committed to meeting the needs of foster children and their families through CarePortal,” said Beall. “In fact, the focus of our message on Mother’s Day weekend will focus squarely on children in need of our love and support. We invite the community to join us at any Life.Church location to learn more about it.”
To learn more about 111Project or how to enroll your church or small group in CarePortal, go to www.111Project.org.
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About 111Project 1 Church, 1 Family, for 1 Child. 111Project exists to mobilize the Church to respond to the orphan crisis in Oklahoma and the nation. Since the 111Project's launch in April 2011, hundreds of churches have committed hundreds of families to become foster families. As a result, boys and girls are being placed in families. 111Project believes that if every church commits one family for one purpose, we can leave no child without a family. To learn more about 111Project, please visit www.111project.org .
About Oklahoma DHSThe Oklahoma Department of Human Services is the agency who oversees the Child Welfare Services. The purpose of Child Welfare Services is to improve the safety, permanence and well-being of children and families involved in Child Welfare system through collaboration with the families and their community. To learn more about Oklahoma DHS and Child Welfare Services, please visit
www.okdhs.org.
About Life.ChurchBased in Edmond, OK, Life.Church is a multi-site church with 25 physical locations in seven states (OK, TX, KS, TN, FL, NY, and NM). Each location is equipped with a full staff including a Campus Pastor, Children’s Pastor, and Worship Team. Messages are led by Senior Pastor Craig Groeschel and are broadcast to more than 170 worship experiences each weekend at physical locations, and throughout the week at Church Online (www.live.life.church). Life.Church’s mission is to lead people to become fully devoted followers of Christ. To learn more about Life.Church or to find service times and locations, please visit www.life.church.
About CrossFirst BankCrossFirst Bank is located at 5001 Gaillardia Corporate Place in Oklahoma City. With a focus on developing relationships with businesses, professionals and their families, CrossFirst has grown to more than $1.7 billion in assets with banks in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Wichita and Kansas City. Its team of experienced banking professionals is dedicated to the purpose of “Serving People in Extraordinary Ways.” CrossFirst Bank is the first corporate champion to partner with CarePortal and is an active supporter of The Global Orphan Project.
Chris Campbell, Executive Director 111Project, at the Oklahoma State Capitol on April 21, 2016, to launch a powerful new initiative to meet the needs of thousands of hurting children and families in Oklahoma County.
