Father’s Day & World Refugee Day.

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there who are making a positive impact on their children’s lives. Whether it’s bio children, foster, or adoptive, we appreciate you, we honor you, and we are thankful that you continually answer the call to make a difference in your child’s life.

World Refugee Day is set aside to honor the courage, strength and determination of those who are forced to flee their homeland under the threat of persecution, conflict, and violence. Nearly 110 million people are forcibly displaced worldwide: more than any other time in history.

At ICA, the refugees we serve come into our program as unaccompanied minors seeking safety and stability often from horrific, lived situations that we can hardly fathom. Think about that! They are here as a minor, ALONE, and desperate! A court has deemed it unsafe for them to return to their home country. So, what does loving one’s neighbor look like? Regardless of politics, these youth are here—so they are our neighbors, and they deserve our love.

The goal of our program is to prepare them successfully for adulthood in America. Even with dedicated, trained staff to assist in healing their past, it is impossible to help them unless we locate, train and support families to open their home. Willing families are the key.  It’s not that scary. Their immediate need is safety, stability, and a sense of belonging, A HOME.

ICA works closely with families in trauma-informed practices. There are several recent studies indicating positive outcomes for trauma-informed programming with newcomers.  What is the evidence for strengths-based and trauma-informed approaches? – Switchboard

Families reported increased knowledge and confidence after receiving training. As result, the youth increase in over-all health, mental health, social support, English proficiency, and cultural and community connections. The promising results with newcomers of diverse genders, ages, national origins, and ethnicities prove transformational healing is possible with love, wisdom and dedication.

They did it!

This year, ICA has had numerous foster youth graduate from various programs. Some graduated from high school, some from college and some from trade schools. We are ecstatic that these youth were able to achieve this next milestone.

ICA believes in the sanctity of life that all children are valued and uniquely made.

An easy way to advocate: Post flyers or display ICA materials on your church bulletin board, local business, place of employment, etc.

ICA’s goal is to come alongside churches willing to be educated & supported in their mission to love the vulnerable as their neighbor.

As an unashamed Christian ministry, ICA seeks to offer hope in the love and compassion of Jesus Christ.
Serving the most vulnerable is often risky and uncomfortable. Our own desire for security and predictability is our natural inclination. So why should we be bothered to take a risk and engage?

Because that is exactly what our youth desire! We believe hope manifests in an action of love expressed. ICA’s purpose is to provide physical, emotional, and spiritual support for our families to love well. These relationships with those in affliction become the tangible resources God uses to provide Gospel Hope to refugee minors – our new neighbors.

And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Rom 5:5