By Ken Camp
The Baptist Standard
When the last immigrant children left a shelter at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio Aug. 9, the largest and longest-lasting emergency response in the history of BCFS came to an end.
In 134 days, BCFS, the agency formerly known as Baptist Child & Family Services, cared for about 8,000 Central American children at the San Antonio shelter and another facility at Fort Sill in Oklahoma. The effort involved more than 1,400 workers—including medical personnel, teachers, direct-care staff and pastors, as well as behind-the-scenes support and management personnel.
The operation also made about $280 million in federal funds available to BCFS Health & Human Services, the nonprofit agency’s domestic social services arm, for reimbursed expenses. However, the agency actually received about half that amount this year, since the shelter operation did not continue as long as originally projected, said Kevin Dinnin, BCFS chief executive officer.
Click here to read the rest of the article on the Baptist Standard’s website, including commentary from BJC General Counsel Holly Hollman on government partnerships with faith-based organizations.
