About Harvest Of Hope
Harvest of Hope Family Services Network, Inc. (Harvest of Hope) is a faith-based organization, founded through the vision and commitment of Rev. Dr. DeForest B. Soaries, Jr. to provide homes for New Jersey's most vulnerable population - the children. The goal of Harvest of Hope is to recruit, train and to provide needed support to foster and adoptive parents. These prospective parents can also potentially be adoptive parents for these children when the need arises for a permanency plan, for those who are not able to return to their biological parents and when there is no alternate discharge resource for them to leave the foster-care system. Our mission is to develop a network of partnerships with faith-based, as well as other community-based organizations in identifying homes for children.
Harvest of Hope has licensed over 355 homes. As of December 2009, 145 families have gone on to adopt 220 children placed in their care, while another 132 families have continued to care for children through the foster-care program.
Harvest of Hope employs a staff of trained, compassionate professionals, who are fully prepared to undertake the task of permanency for the children of the state of New Jersey. The initial goal of the organization is to secure homes for children. We work diligently to maximize the chances of reuniting these children with their parents or other family members. When this is not possible, our goal is to secure permanent homes for the children. We strongly believe that every child should have the security of a family. With our newly acquired adoption license, our goal is to make that a reality.
We take pride in the fact that over 13 years we have made a vital contribution in the child welfare system, in securing homes for children entering the foster-care system and in providing permanency for children. Our goal was not to watch children growing up in the foster-care system. We are mindful of the temporary status that foster-care often represents, even with the most committed foster parents. Seeing children leaving the foster-care system, either by being adopted or returning home to more stable families, is the ultimate reward. The overwhelming cry echoed by children in the foster-care system is the need for stability and a sense of belonging.
Harvest of Hope is a licensed adoption agency in the State of New Jersey. As an agency with the primary mission to mobilize and utilize resources and advocate for policies that address the immediate and long-term needs of foster children, Harvest of Hope stands strong in our commitment to securing permanency for children.
The need for foster and adoption homes is a national crisis. We look forward to partnering with faith-based organizations throughout the country and mobilizing to meet the greater need for homes for children. For further information about how you can become a part of the solution for children in need of homes, we encourage you to call 1-888-325-HOPE (4673).
