Valley to host annual OCOC conference

Staff report

The Mahoning Valley will host the 24th annual National One Church, One Child (OCOC) Conference from Oct. 12-14 at the Avalon Inn, Resort and Conference Center, 9519 E. Market St. Warren. The conference will feature workshops and preaching.

The One Church, One Child concept was created by the Rev. George Clements in Chicago in 1980. The program, now across the country, encourages the faith-based community to help recruit adoptive homes for the growing number of waiting children. The program incorporates the leadership and support of the churches with the resources and skills of children services to secure homes.

The OCOC conference will offer trainings on issues at the core of the movement including recruiting foster and adoptive parents, developing relevant ministry opportunities, partnerships with faith communities, permanency planning and the adoption process and trauma-competent parenting the adoptive child.

The conference is geared to clergy and laity in the faith community, public children-services administration and staff, private agency administration and staff and foster and adoptive parents.

Those interested in helping in the development of the conference, participating as a vendor or a registrant should contact the Rev. Dr. Lewis Macklin by email at lwmacii@aol.com, or call 330-788-1696 or 330-941-8888.