{"id":3428,"date":"2014-10-23T11:53:48","date_gmt":"2014-10-23T15:53:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bfp.makingitsimple.net\/?p=3428"},"modified":"2014-10-23T11:53:48","modified_gmt":"2014-10-23T15:53:48","slug":"foster-and-adoptive-family-highlight-mark-and-damaris-pearah","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fpocf.org\/foster-and-adoptive-family-highlight-mark-and-damaris-pearah\/","title":{"rendered":"Foster and Adoptive Family Highlight: Mark and Damaris Pearah"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Pearah<\/a>Doing More to Protect Our Kids
\n<\/strong>Mark and Damaris Pearah Step Up to Help Brevard County\u2019s Children<\/em><\/p>\n

Though they\u2019ve been Devereux foster parents for just a little more than a year, Mark and Damaris Pearah have already made a tremendous impact on the lives of two very special little boys. At eight months and four years old, the Pearahs\u2019 foster sons come to the family with different needs and challenges. But the Melbourne couple has stepped up to fulfill the one need they share \u2013 a loving, stable home.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe foster and adoptive home experience has been a very positive one for our family and community.\u00a0 We believe that we have helped to develop character and life skills with our foster children and it has also caused our biological children to grow in the process,\u201d Damaris shared.\u00a0\u201cOur family has benefited from all the available foster and adoptive training and programs available.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWitnessing the healing of these two children \u2013 whose physical and emotional health would\u2019ve continued to deteriorate if left in their previous environments \u2013 is so gratifying,\u201d Mark says. \u201cSeeing their smiling faces and the way they are maturing in character every day \u2026 we can\u2019t ask for more than that.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Pearah\u2019s also recently adopted one of their foster children who they received when he was 6-weeks old.\u00a0 He is a very well adjusted and assertive little man, who quickly gained the nick name \u2013 Mr. Man.\u00a0\u00a0 After 18 months, they were blessed to adopt him and he continues to flourish into an active toddler \u2013 very active!\u00a0 The adoption was a very easy and quick process, for which the Pearah\u2019s are grateful.\u00a0 They are thankful for everyone was involved throughout the adoption process. \u201cLittle Mr. Man will now help our family to foster others,\u201d the Pearah\u2019s said, \u00a0\u201cand of course -keep us all in line.\u201d<\/p>\n

With four biological children of their own, Mark and Damaris have been deeply involved in a Brevard homeless ministry since 2000. As Florida\u2019s growing homeless population made headlines across the nation, the family saw its harmful effects on the streets of their community. They learned of a mother who was forced into prostitution, living in a garage and fearing for her children\u2019s safety. And a father struggling to keep his children sheltered and fed in a local campground.\u00a0 These stories moved the Pearahs to become even more engaged in efforts to help Melbourne\u2019s children.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve always been active in family-related ministries and programs, but we realized there was more we could do,\u201d Damaris says. \u201cTo really give back and help local children through some very difficult times, we decided we should become foster parents.\u201d<\/p>\n

Though they\u2019ve enjoyed their foster children and are delighted by their progress, Mark and Damaris have experienced their share of frustrations. But the couple has also found unexpected joy in the friendships they\u2019ve made with social workers and fellow foster parents. These kindred spirits share the Pearahs\u2019 enthusiasm and inspiration for helping Brevard County\u2019s families.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese relationships and our new support network are truly a blessing. And we\u2019re proud to be a part of our community\u2019s safety net for kids,\u201d Mark says. \u201cWe\u2019ve traveled to third world countries on mission trips and have seen the hardships children face there. It\u2019s so important to have a system that ensures the security and wellbeing of the most vulnerable among us.\u201d<\/p>\n

In their time as foster and adoptive parents, the Pearahs have learned that the spirit of generosity and willingness to help children is contagious. The couple encourages others to share in the service of Florida\u2019s kids by becoming a foster parent for Devereux.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecoming a foster parent is a huge decision, so it\u2019s important to pray about it and discuss the details with your family, the local agencies and other foster parents,\u201d Damaris says. \u201cFoster parenting can sometimes seem like one on the most difficult things to do, but it\u2019s also one of the most rewarding.\u201d<\/p>\n

For more information on how to become a foster parent or adoption, please call 1.855.LUV.KIDS (855.558.5437) or email FLLoveAChild@devereux.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Doing More to Protect Our Kids Mark and Damaris Pearah […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3428","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news-and-articles","wpautop"],"yoast_head":"\nFoster and Adoptive Family Highlight: Mark and Damaris Pearah - Family Partnerships of Central Florida<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/fpocf.org\/foster-and-adoptive-family-highlight-mark-and-damaris-pearah\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Foster and Adoptive Family Highlight: Mark and Damaris Pearah - Family Partnerships of Central Florida\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Doing More to Protect Our Kids Mark and Damaris Pearah [...]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/fpocf.org\/foster-and-adoptive-family-highlight-mark-and-damaris-pearah\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Family Partnerships of Central Florida\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2014-10-23T15:53:48+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/fpocf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/Pearah-Photo-e1414079599527-450x600.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"bfpadmin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"bfpadmin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/fpocf.org\/foster-and-adoptive-family-highlight-mark-and-damaris-pearah\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/fpocf.org\/foster-and-adoptive-family-highlight-mark-and-damaris-pearah\/\",\"name\":\"Foster and Adoptive Family Highlight: Mark and Damaris Pearah - 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