November 2012
The L.I.N.K. A Letter from Leslie... This has been a very exciting few months at CFF! We have had great success in our grant writing which has resulted in implementation of new programs, expansion of existing programs and intense recruitment efforts. Community Schools: We have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Red Clay Consolidated School District to establish a community school at both Warner and Shortlidge Elementary Schools in Wilmington. Tamara Horsey (Mari) is currently the site coordinator at Warner and we hope to move ahead with Shortlidge early 2013. We are also hoping to replicate the model in Sussex County. IM40 : We were selected to be the Community Mobilizing Organization for Wilmington’s Eastside as part of the Youth Health Program funded by Astra Zeneca and United Way. Daneya Jacobs is busy learning what is available to youth ages 12-15, and will soon begin to train adults and youth in developmental assets. Nurse-Family Partnership: We are able to expand NFP services for pregnant first time moms with additional nurses, part time supervisor (Tynisa Howell) and administrative support for Kent and Sussex (Tanika Isler) Healthy Families America: We are implementing Smart Start, along with Public Health, using this evidence-based model. The program will focus on pregnant women who do not meet NFP criteria or have a child up to three months of age at start of service. Tara Murdock is heading a four person team in NCC and Jessica Byram is heading a four person team for Kent/Sussex. Amanda Davidson is providing administrative support. Intensive Outpatient Services: We are currently providing individual, group, and family counseling, as well as psychiatric services, in Kent and Sussex Counties to youth in need of more support than can be provided in office-based therapy. Much of the work is provided in the family home. Camika Tingle and Brenda Smith are working in Sussex County. Teneshia Winder and Kerri Lohrfink are in Kent. Kerri is the Program Manager. Seaford House: We now have an additional 4 slots in day treatment and have just hired Tina Carter to be our third fulltime therapist at Seaford House. We are also training staff in Collaborative Problem Solving as a behavior management strategy for day and residential treatment. Early in 2013, Beth Cantwell will train staff in principles from the Building Bridges Initiative that stresses family-centered, youth-guided work. FAIR (Family Assessment Intervention Response): CFF has just been selected to provide assessments and interventions for teens and their families in the community as an alternative to foster care placement. This is part of DFS’s Differential Response strategy to decrease the number of youth in foster care. We have hired a Program Manager, Rita Fisher, and will hire 5 social workers to assess family need and implement the Family Keys model which provides intense crisis management, connection to resources and mediation. In addition, where appropriate, our current FFT staff will be providing functional family therapy to some of the families. Strengthening Families Program Birth to Three: CFF was awarded a four year federal grant to offer SFP to families affected by substance abuse and/or HIV. Half of our population will receive only SFP while the other half will receive 6 months of Parents As Teachers, following the SFP series. We will be hiring two part-time team leaders, two case managers and a number of part-time parent educators to implement the program. We will be working with the Lutra Group and the University of Maryland as evaluators. All of this growth is wonderful and has kept our Human Resources staff very busy recruiting new staff! Special thanks to them and to our “crackerjack” Development Team who have worked with our program managers and staff to write these grants. Our fine reputation for providing quality services is helping us to grow. Thanks to you all for your dedicated service to children and families in DE.
To Our Amazing Seaford House Staff... I want to say THANK YOU to the staff at Seaford House because before, during and after the storm, this staff showed the kind of teamwork, concern and organization that I have not seen in any organization before. When bad weather is headed in, you can usually count on having staffing issues. This group‌prior to the storm‌came forward and volunteered. Those who lived close came forward to say that they could be counted on. Even Becky, our Education Liaison person, gave her phone number in case we needed another person. The staff jumped into action prior to the storm, ensuring that there was gas, water, food, batteries and that all employees knew where everything was and how it was to be used. Throughout the storm, staff ensured the safety of all the children, continued with programming and kept them occupied with games and other activities. In addition to all that these individuals did, I received phone calls to see how I was doing. That is remarkable to me. I want to tell you all how proud I am to be working with you. Your commitment to the children and this program is commendable. You have my utmost thanks and respect for carrying on in the manner that you did. Thank you all again!! Donna Mockaitis, RN, BSN Senior Program Manager Seaford House Treatment Center
Look how nice Seaford House looks in the Fall! Many thanks to the clients who decorated and to Tamika and Curt for facilitating!
Seaford House Shining Stars! Seaford House students have made great strides increasing their test scores. On Delaware’s standardized test, called the DCAS, all SH students showed improvement. Some of the students passed the test in reading or math for the first time in their educational history! Overall, SH students performed to similar standards as Delaware public school students did and outperformed other DSCYF students. One of our students made the Honor Roll for the second marking period. She received all As and Bs while taking 6 classes! Way to go, Seaford House!
Ms. Ronnie for organized a Prom for Seaford House and made the room look so spectacular. The clients held 2 car washes to raise funds for decorations and food. All clients participated. They had a wonderful time and looked great. Everyone went home with a framed photo of themselves.
Thank you! Thank you! Many thanks to the coordinators of this year’s United Way Annual Campaign: Lisa Wright, Angela Ringgold, and Nathania Thompson! Their enthusiasm helped CFF raise $17,867.50. Also, many thanks to our staff and their generosity, which will allow so many families in Delaware to receive services!
Program Spotlight Your responses to the LINK survey indicated that you were interested in receiving updates on CFF programs.In this issue, we will focus on Foster Care and Adoption (November is Adoption Month!) and Eastside Community Schools.
Foster Care & Adoption Foster Care & Adoption (FC&A) provides foster care services for children 18 and under who can’t live in their homes for a variety of reasons, including abuse and neglect. When children are placed in foster care the goal is reunification with birth parents or a relative, if this does not occur adoption is another outcome. FC&A provides adoption services to children whose parents rights have been terminated and need permanent placements. CFF trains and approves families to provide both foster care and adoption services through our contract with the State of Delaware and we are licensed by the Office of Child Care Licensing. Foster and adoptive families must be between the ages of 21-65, children in care range from newborn to 18. Families interested in becoming foster or adoptive parents can call 658-5177, search our website to find out more information or attend an information meeting, held every third Wednesday in our offices in Wilmington, Dover, and Georgetown. Children in need of foster care services must be referred by the State of Delaware Division of Family Services. FC&A Success Story: Last Halloween, Social Worker Mike McHugh received a call from the Division of Family Services looking to place a 9-year-old boy immediately. His name was Brandon. DFS told Mike that Brandon had gotten into trouble at school that day and when he came home, his foster mother told him he would not be allowed to go trick or treating with the other children in her home. When he learned the news, he threw such a temper tantrum that his foster mother asked that he be removed from her home. Fortunately, CFF had a placement for the boy in one of our treatment foster homes. Brandon responded very well to the routine and structure this CFF foster family was able to provide for him. Unfortunately, Brandon’s birth mother passed away from cancer while he was in foster care and there were no relatives able to care for him. He would now need an adoptive placement. The previous April, a single, middle-aged man named Dave, happened to drive by a billboard that CFF had sponsored. The billboard reminded people that there are children in Delaware waiting for forever families to adopt them. Dave had recently lost his father and his best friend had passed away the year before. The idea that he could become a parent through adoption had never occurred to him. That billboard sparked him into action. After completing adoption preparation classes, Dave learned about Brandon. In February, Dave was able to take him for an outing and in March Brandon came to live with Dave. This Halloween Brandon was able to go trick or treating, in his Darth Vader costume, with his pre-adoptive father Dave. Just five days after Halloween, Dave was able to finalize his adoption of Brandon.
Program Spotlight: Eastside Community Schools Eastside Community Schools provides services at three downtown Wilmington elementary schools in the Christina School District: Bancroft, Elbert-Palmer, and Stubbs. Services include parental involvement activities, case management, afterschool programs and mentoring. The community school model is a well-known, respected approach for both improving education and also enhancing access to critical wrap-around support for children, families, and communities. Community schools have demonstrated positive impacts across a range of issues including: improved academic performance, higher attendance rates, positive school environments, safer schools, greater parental involvement, and improved student-teacher relationships. Good schools make communities desirable places to live. Therefore, Eastside Community Schools seeks to provide services not just for students and families but also for the community. We are working to ensure that: 1) Children arrive at school healthy, energized, on time, and prepared to learn; 2) Families and community members are engaged as respected partners in the success of the children - at home, in school, and in the neighborhood; and 3) The basic needs of children, their families, and neighbors are met by coordinated resources and opportunities. To be eligible for services, a student must attend Stubbs, Bancroft or Elbert-Palmer Elementary school, be a parent of a student at these schools, or be a community member who lives in the neighborhood.
An Eastside success story: The first thing you notice when you meet Danielle is her smile. An infectious grin lights up the face of this spirited secondgrader again and again when she talks about her school, Elbert-Palmer Elementary. She’s been a student at Palmer since kindergarten and is excited that she gets to stay through 5th grade. She can barely sit still in her seat – her enthusiasm for her school just bubbles over. Her mom Tawana feels the same way, and can’t wait until her three-year-old son can join his big sister at school. It seems like Danielle and Tawana take advantage of everything the community school has to offer. Danielle is active in CFF’s afterschool program -- she comes every day and does homework and special academic activities, and then gets to do her favorite activity -- dance. Tawana and her son join Danielle for breakfast in the cafeteria every morning where she says the staff treat them like family. And Tawana loves family fun nights -- especially because she recently won a raffle! Danielle is a confident child with hopes and dreams for the future. When asked what she wants to be when she grows up, she answers without hesitation: The President. “I want to be the first girl to be president. I know that I have to work hard and stay on track.” Her mom beams with pride. But Tawana tears up when asked what she wants for Danielle’s future. “I want her to have what I didn’t have. I want her to stay in school and be successful.” Tawana believes that her life would be different today if she had had the kinds of experiences and opportunities that Danielle has had as part of the Eastside Community Schools program at Elbert-Palmer.
CFF is Psychologically Healthy! On Friday, October 12, Children & Families First was one of three organizations to receive the Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award from the Delaware Psychological Association. Other honorees were the Cancer Care Management Department of the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center, and Supporting Kidds. The PHWA program was created to recognize organizations that understand the link between employee health and well-being and organizational performance and have implemented a variety of workplace practices in an active effort to create a positive work environment. Applicants were judged on criteria including: employee involvement; health and safety; employee growth and development; work-life balance; and employee recognition. “In this time of high job stress and increasing demands on employees, these exemplary workplaces have made it a priority to create environments that are sensitive to the health and well-being of their workers,” says Dr. Cynthia Diefenbeck. “By rewarding these organizations for their efforts, we hope others will take notice and implement similar programs in their workplaces.” According to a 2004 poll by the American Psychological Association, two-thirds of both men and women say work has a significant impact on their stress level, and one in four has missed work because of stress.
A Taste for Art of Southern Delaware On October 19, 2012 CFF hosted A Taste for Art of Southern Delaware. The event, held at The Clubhouse at Baywood Greens in Longneck, DE, featured signature dishes by the area’s top restaurants and beautiful works by local artisans. Proceeds from the event support CFF’s programs in Kent and Sussex Counties. Congratulations to Marcie Urgo, the Development Team, and the Taste for Art of Southern Delaware Events Committee for putting together such a wonderful event!