Unity Church of Pomona Discovers the Power of Saying Yes

By Rev. Jan Chase

It was just another piece of meaningless mail. Just as I was about to toss it, I reread the invitation from the

Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS)

for an upcoming faith-based breakfast. Somewhat new to Pomona, I decided to go as a way to begin networking. Little did I know how that small “yes” would impact my congregation and my life.

At the breakfast, representatives from DCFS warmly greeted me. I listened to presenters talk about the need in our community for adoptive and foster homes. As I considered my mostly aging congregation, I didn't see how we could help. “That's the end of that,” I thought.

Months later, I received an invitation from DCFS to attend a conference on racial disparity. Having worked for civil rights as a teen, I felt my heart calling to say “Yes.” While at the conference, I was deeply touched by the presentations and found myself saying “Yes!” when conference attendees were called upon to volunteer.

Through this ongoing volunteer work, I got to know some of the amazing people who work at the DCFS office. Slowly I learned the social work lingo and became familiar with the organization and their challenges. It was not what I expected from a county system. DCFS was filled with people who were compassionate, creative and open to change. They wanted to build partnerships in the community to creatively solve challenges. I was intrigued.

I began going to monthly community partner meetings. It was here that I began to explore ways our church community could uniquely serve the families in our area. I began to recognize the need we could fill. We had a building. We had people, and DCFS needed a place to hold visitations between children in the county system and their families.

But part of me wondered if members of my congregation would agree to the required background checks, fingerprinting and training required for hosting family visits at our church. I put out a call. Eight church volunteers said “Yes!” and the pilot program for our area began.

We scheduled church volunteers to open the church and greet the DCFS monitors, local children and their families two afternoons each week. Little by little, the families and children came.

How heartwarming it has been to see the children interacting joyfully with family members from whom they have been separated. What a blessing it is for me to hold the possibilities for these children and their families in my prayers! Family visitations are not great or difficult things to do, but for each child who connects in a loving environment with lost family members, it may be life-altering—even life-saving.

The program is now so successful that several other sites have become family visitation centers. Other DCFS offices are inquiring about this process. What began as a timid “yes” has produced amazing results.

Our budding relationship with DCFS has allowed us to serve in a number of other ways as well. When we are given a list of items a family needs, our resourceful church volunteers fill their wish list, often within a week. We now adopt a family for Christmas through DCFS, which has brought immense satisfaction to our congregation. Our Christmas tree no longer holds shiny bulbs but stockings of all sizes and colors for children who may have left their homes without socks on their feet. And at Christmas, our seats are full of stuffed animals filled with love for these children.

Incredible creativity emerged from DCFS when I asked them to think of ways to promote peace during 11 Days of Global Unity. Representatives had many ideas, including cosponsoring a Peace Film Festival. This gave DCFS an opportunity to connect with many participating churches in the area, each with their own unique way to help local children and families—thus peace was promoted in a number of ways.

DCFS partners with many amazing organizations, so I was surprised earlier this year when our church,

Unity Church of Truth Pomona,

was awarded “Community Partner of the Year” and I was awarded the Los Angeles County DCFS Adult Volunteer of the Year.

It has been a great honor and blessing to cocreate this pilot program. Small steps into unknown territory have had big results for me, for my congregation, for children and families in our community, and for DCFS. “Yes” is a very important and powerful word. I hope you will find ways to say “Yes!” in your own way. Help create a world that works for all.