Austin Area Press Release for UN World Children's Day (Nov 20th)
Austin-area Child Welfare Organizations Unite In Commitment to Family-based
Care for Orphaned and Vulnerable Children
AUSTIN, Texas — Ahead of the United Nations’ World Children’s Day on November 20, a collective of
Austin-area child welfare organizations today announced their commitment to advancing family-based
care as the universal best practice for caring for orphaned and vulnerable children as opposed to
residential care.
“Although people from all over the world have a desire to see orphaned and vulnerable children cared for,
many don’t know the best way to help these children. This is why The Archibald Project is committed to
telling inspiring stories that promote family-based care models and organizations. Over time, the current
and next generation will see family, and not institutions, as the best way to care for the vulnerable.” said
Nick Runyon, founder and executive director at The Archibald Project.
“The most efficient and effective time to invest in someone’s life is in childhood. While we used to care for
children in a residential care facility, we found that our model could not ever replicate what a child
receives in a family. Now, we support thousands of children who are being protected by a mother and a
father rather than by an institution. This support allows families to be the ones to nurture, care for, and
provide a sense of belonging for their children. We have seen with our own eyes this investment bears
incredible fruit in the lives of the children we serve, and we’re committed to continuing this work,” said
Julie Ann Walton, strategic engagement officer at Global Child Advocates.
“The very best way to protect a child from trafficking or exploitation is to empower his or her mom. We
founded Sojourn Studio in response to the vulnerable women and children we were serving in Thailand.
The women we now employ as artisans were once migrant families fleeing violence and poverty. Today,
they are empowered women earning fair wages and protecting their own children. Our artisans are
changing the narrative for their own lives, their children and their entire community. We look forward to
witnessing the continued impact of these community investments,” said Ashlee Heiligman, global director
at Global Child Advocates and Sojourn Studio.
“Since 2006, we have seen countless families abandon their children in times of extreme poverty or crises
(like the COVID-19 global pandemic) in hopes that the child will receive better care from an institution.
Through our experience, however, we know that an institution, no matter how great, will never replace the
God-given purpose of a family in the life of a child. Cherish Uganda’s Family Strengthening program was
born in response to Uganda’s high rates of child abandonment. We've seen that the best way to help a
child thrive is to empower their family to take up their God-given responsibility to raise the children God
gifted them,” said Brent Phillips, CEO at Cherish Uganda.
“As a faith-based nonprofit serving vulnerable children and families across Texas and internationally,
Buckner made the decision decades ago to shift our foster care services from residential care to family-
based care. Children do better with families, whether it’s with next of kin, a foster family, or reunification
with their biological parents. This is also why Buckner is leading the push toward providing a continuum of
care for families through an increased investment in preservation programs. We must strengthen families
in order to truly protect children,” said Albert Reyes, president and CEO at Buckner International.
About Faith to Action Initiative
The mission of the Faith To Action Initiative is to mobilize and educate Christian churches, faith-based
organizations, and individuals to engage in care that upholds the vital importance of family in a child’s life,
as opposed to institutions such as orphanages and children’s homes. The Faith to Action Initiative brings
together organizations promoting best practices in family-based care, including Bucker International,
Cherish Uganda, Global Child Advocates, Sojourn Studios, and The Archibald Project.