Our Story
OUR STORY
The foster care crisis in Washington, DC, is a complex and often intimidating challenge. DC127 was founded in 2013 when the DC Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA) reached out to the faith community to help address the city’s foster care crisis. At the time, regional headlines documented children sleeping in government agency offices because there were not enough foster homes to care for them. Meanwhile, CFSA had no church partnerships to help fill the gap.
From an initial prayer gathering of 400+ attendees, Pastors (and adoptive parents) Aaron and Amy Graham of The District Church worked with CFSA and other churches across the city to launch DC127. The organization’s name came from James 1:27, which calls the church to “care for the widow and orphan in their distress.”
DC127 immediately focused on recruiting new foster homes through partnerships with churches. As the list of DC foster homes grew, we began to work upstream to prevent the need for family separations in the first place. In 2018, DC127 established a foster care prevention program in support of the work of CFSA, known today as our Communities for Families program.
Most recently, we added our Foster Care Support program in 2024, enhancing our recruitment efforts with ongoing support for families after they become foster and kinship parents.
CORE VALUES
Strengthening Families
We believe that strong families are the foundation for healthy children. Every family possesses its own unique strengths and resources to care for their children, and we believe that children are safest when every family member is empowered and resourced, enabling them to draw on their strengths to navigate and overcome challenges.
Cultivating Connection
We believe families are better supported through meaningful and lasting connections within their community, including across lines of difference. We build partnerships with individuals, churches, and institutions that center the well-being of families and reflect our collective responsibility to support their growth, stability, and success.
The Local Church
We believe the local Church is God’s primary means for justice and transformation in the world and in the lives of individuals. Not only is the Church commanded to “care for the widow and orphan in their distress” as part of its mission, the Church is uniquely equipped and empowered by the Holy Spirit to share both the love and tangible support that exists within the family of God.
Responsive & Adaptable
We believe that the needs and circumstances of families are ever-evolving and organizations need to be responsive and adapt based on feedback from families, volunteers, and our community. When we listen to the diverse experiences of families and combine them with best practice, we can better address challenges facing families and local communities.
Prayer & Praise
We believe that this work is only possible through dependence on God and the power of the Holy Spirit. We regularly seek God’s guidance, ask for His intervention, and express our gratitude for the work He has done through communal prayer and praise.