OCOC operates statewide in Florida and is a private, non-profit, faith-based organization that provides adoption related services and works in partnership with the Florida Department of Children and Families and churches. One Church One Child also collaborates with the Community Based Care Lead Agencies and their provider agencies in recruiting and referring families interested in adopting children from Florida's Foster Care System. One Church One Child is currently not a licensed child placement agency. However, as an adoption program, One Church One Child was initially implemented March 1988 to assist the Florida Department of Children and Families. The program has a proven track record and has been instrumental in finding adoptive and foster homes for children, providing awareness, support and training to families, community agencies and organizations over these past years. In accordance with the legislative mandated privatization of child welfare service, One Church One Child now operates as an independent 501© 3 non-profit service provider, but does not operate as a licensed child placement agency.

One Church One Child recruits families for all children in foster care. The basic philosophy of the statewide program is to "Find at least one family in each church to adopt at least one child". One Church One Child is an inclusive adoption program working with families across all racial and denominational lines.

However, the unfortunate fact is that while minorities represent approximately 17% of the state’s population, over 50% of the children waiting for adoption are minorities, and take longer to be adopted. Therefore, One Church One Child does place emphasis and special focus on the recruitment of families for minority children.

In 1990, the Florida Legislature passed the One Church, One Child Corporation Act s.409.1755, F.S. This action placed the One Church, One Child (OCOC) program in statute and mandated that a Board of Directors be appointed by the Governor. Board members receive no compensation, but are entitled to receive per diem and travel provided in s.112.061. The 23 board members include pastors of local churches and other community leaders from each of the Department of Children and Families Regions and one member is selected at-large.

In addition to the state board members, districts typically have local advisory committees that are part of the grass roots process. The state board members recruit local pastors, ministers, lay members, and other community leaders to serve on the local advisory committee. Normally, the state board members serve as chair of the local advisory committee. The active advisory committees accord leadership in the local communities and support the OCOC staff in providing child welfare service in accordance with s. 409.1755, F.S.

OCOC Partners