GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., January 10, 2018 – Bethany Global, a division of Bethany Christian Services, a global nonprofit committed to bringing and keeping families together, has been honored by Consortium of Christian Relief and Development Association (CCRDA) for the organization’s continued commitment to help developing nations, such as Ethiopia, create sustainable child welfare services. For its role in helping Ethiopia develop a sustainable foster-to-adopt program, Bethany recently placed first in the CCRDA’s competition dedicated to recognizing innovation and impactful programs by Non-Governmental Organizations.

The award comes at a pivotal time in which Bethany’s landscape continues to evolve, and with heavy emphasis on strengthening child welfare services in developing countries around the world.

“Bethany’s primary objective is to keep vulnerable children in-country with loving families who can provide the care and nurturing environment they so desperately need,” said Sebilu Bodja, director of Africa operations for Bethany Global. “We’ve been honored to provide best practices and support to countries like Ethiopia that are interested in offering such opportunities to children. By working collaboratively with government organizations, we are developing systems and services that will truly make a difference in the global orphan crisis.”

With nearly 75 years of child welfare services experience, Bethany is providing critical support in Albania, Cambodia, China, Ethiopia, Ghana, Haiti, South Africa and Zambia to introduce or fortify each country’s own child welfare program, including foster care, in-country adoption and family preservation. Bethany has been operating in Ethiopia since 2007. Efforts ramped up in 2009 when foster care and in-country adoption services were launched. To date, 183 children have been placed with adoptive families in-country through Bethany.

“Family changes everything, so our goal remains to ensure every child has a loving forever family,” said Kristi Gleason, vice president of global programs for Bethany Global. “We have seen tremendous success since we began implementing family preservation services in countries around the world, whether that be through foster care or in-country adoption. We want all children to know they are not alone, and they deserve the chance to thrive in a loving family environment.”

Bethany believes only a family setting can best support a child’s spiritual, physical, psychological, social and emotional needs. With over 153 million children without permanent homes worldwide, Bethany understands there is much work to be done. The organization is constantly looking to further its efforts globally and give communities the essential support needed to establish or maintain families. For more information, visit https://www.bethanyglobal.org.

About Bethany Christian Services Bethany Christian Services was founded in 1944 and has grown to 120 branch locations in 25 states. The agency serves approximately 1,200 children annually nationwide in foster care programs and provides services across a continuum of care. Bethany’s mission is to find a loving, permanent home for every child, working to reunite children with their biological families or place children in permanent adoptive homes. For more information, call 1-800-BETHANY or visit bethany.org.

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