September 2025
<!doctype html> Purpose-driven charity, ICA Impact, and Involvement. View this email in your browser | September 2025 | The International Day of Charity is observed worldwide to highlight the importance of generosity and humanitarian efforts in reducing poverty and easing hardship. It recognizes the dedication of organizations and individuals who give their time and resources to help others. The day also inspires people to get involved—whether through volunteering, supporting charitable initiatives, or standing up for fairness and social justice. (According to UN; link found here) One of the ways ICA recognizes fairness and social justice is by supporting FAIR TRADE. By purchasing Fair Trade items, you empower families worldwide! How, you might ask?! Our Fair Trade store, Jubilee Exchange, is our proactive measure to assist impoverished families by selling their Fair Trade items at a Fair Price so they received a Fair Wage. Allowing these families to receive a fair wage enables them to provide for their families and retain custody and protection for their children. Many children residing in orphanages are there simply because of poverty while other children are entrapped by unfair child labor practices. Fair Trade is global certification of businesses creating opportunities for economically disadvantaged families. Fair Trade [...]
August 2025
<!doctype html> Wellness Month and Getting Back to School View this email in your browser | August 2025 | National Month of Wellness Two methods to support well-being. #1, Research shows that sharing meals together is one of the strongest predictors of well-being according to Gallup’s recent global data. Report reveals higher life satisfaction, greater happiness and lower levels of loneliness — benefits that hold true across cultures, ages and backgrounds. #2, Families that have fostered or adopted children are 2x as likely to report they are flourishing. Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO) released a first-of-its-kind report highlighting new data and an unexpected trend Engagement in US Foster Care: 2025 Data and Trends There is an elevated trust for faith-based nonprofits to “do the right thing” for vulnerable children and families who support them far above any other institution. Notably, the more devoted a person is to their faith, they are 2x as likely to adopt, 3x to foster, 45% to volunteer/donate to nonprofits. Our faith makes a world of difference! 7/23, ICA Attended Alliance Summer Member BBQ Upcoming event at St. Joseph Church in Sacramento Catch our Fair Trade store (Jubilee Exchange) at the Murrieta Night market, every other week. An easy way to advocate: Post flyers or display [...]
July 2025
<!doctype html> Independence Day, Transitional Housing, and a Busy Summer View this email in your browser | July 2025 | Happy Independence Day As we celebrate with family and friends on a day where so many fought for our freedom, ICA wants to take a moment to reflect and say thank you to our troops. We are thankful for the sacrifice our troops and their families have made. It is through those efforts that have let us have our freedoms and led us to independence. This month we want to highlight a program that focuses on independence. ICA offers a Transitional Housing Program (THP) which provides current and former foster youth additional supports they need to successfully transition to independence as a successful adult. By providing life skills training, and guidance, ICA’s THP program reduces the risks of homelessness, unemployment, teen pregnancy, drug addiction and instability which many fall prey to without such a valuable program. We know a key factor in helping youth thrive is a stable home. That’s where you come in! Housing isn’t a luxury; it’s a basic need. When we get it right, we’re not just helping youth — we’re strengthening the workforce, reducing long-term costs and building a [...]
June 2025
<!doctype html> Father's Day AND World Refugee Day. There's A LOT to celebrate in June! View this email in your browser | June 2025 | 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 [...]
May 2025
<!doctype html> Foster Care Awareness Month is upon us! Find out this years anthem. View this email in your browser | May 2025 | National Foster Care Awareness Month In May, ICA acknowledges and celebrates National Foster Care Awareness Month AND Mental Health Awareness Month. Here are some facts to aid us in bringing awareness of Foster Care: The goal of Foster Care is reunification! Foster Care is a temporary arrangement where a child is placed with a foster family while the birth parents are provided the opportunity to address issues and to increase their capacity to provide a safe and healthy home for the child. The role of the foster parent is to provide a family-like setting that supports safety, stability and well-being of these children while also supporting their birth families. Support for Families Lived Out Watch an Additional Video on an Entire Church Community that Changed over 20 Lives Learn More about Foster Care Mental Health Awareness Month May is also Mental Health Awareness Month. If you didn't know, ICA has a Counseling Center. Our Counseling Center serves our Foster Children AND kids and teens in the community! Join ICA as we acknowledge and come alongside [...]
April 2025
<!doctype html> Here comes Spring! With Spring comes new activities. View this email in your browser | April 2025 | Child Abuse Prevention Month The pinwheel is the national symbol for child abuse prevention, representing playfulness, joy and childhood. Safe harboring a child in Foster Care promotes the importance of strengthening and empowering birth parents to prevent child abuse and neglect. When parents feel supported and become attuned to their own emotional/physical needs then children thrive. Watch a Video on Parent Well-Being Learn More about Foster Care 1. A child found their forever home! We had an adoption signing last month! 2. Shout-out to In & Out Truck for their generous offer to support our foster families. Our Temecula office hosted an exciting and engaging event including games, crafts and activities. 3. ICA is grateful to these organizations allowing us to booth a table at their event: Sacramento March for Life Cornerstone Church Wildomar’s Annual 5K where proceeds benefit widows, single moms and foster kids in the community ICA believes in the sanctity of life that all children are valued and uniquely made. Sacramento March for Life Cornerstone's 5K Citrus Heights Office: Training UP Conference The Alliance 9th annual conference [...]
May 2024
<!doctype html> May is Foster Care Awareness Month View this email in your browser | May 2024 | May is Foster Care Awareness Month! The Children's Bureau's National Foster Care Month campaign recognizes the important role that people from all parts of child welfare play in supporting children, youth, and families. This year's theme highlights the need to create a child welfare system that authentically engages and supports young people who are preparing to leave foster care. At ICA, we are joining in that campaign and adding to it the importance of coming alongside our Foster Families and supporting them as well. Whether it's by providing a meal, assisting with daily chores at their home, and many other ways, our Foster Families also need our help and care. Some Quick Stats There are over 365,000 children and youth in foster care. Approximately 18,500 youth are emancipated from foster care without a permanent family. In 2021, 77 percent of eligible youth in foster care, ages 14–21 years old, left care without receiving the federally funded services necessary to prepare them for adulthood and independent living. Find Out Ways to Aid During Foster Care Awareness Month ICA Cohort! We've been asked [...]
