January 2016
Sunshine Lanes was overflowing with fun when foster and adoptive families joined us for the 2nd Annual Jingle Bowl. Everybody enjoyed bowling, holiday crafts, pizza and a special visit with Santa Claus.
A
From the Executive Director
s we say goodbye to 2015, we reflect on all of the exciting changes that it has brought us as an organization. We’ve changed our name from Midwest Foster Care & Adoption Association to Foster Adopt Connect to better reflect the work we do and the expansion that is in our future. We’ve moved to a new location (509 S. Cavalier) where we are able to house all of our staff and programs under one roof. Sammy’s Window has a great area in the new building that allows them to better serve the children in foster care and adopted from foster care. This is a crucial service to foster families when they get new placements throughout the year. Sammy’s Window provides them with clothing, shoes, hygiene items, furniture and more. Our new programs, Extreme Recruitment, 30 Days to Family and Youth Speak Out, have already made a huge impact in the community. Children who come into care are finding homes, whether temporary or permanent, with biological family members instead of the home of a stranger. This is much more comforting to a child and helps them keep ties to their own family. I am very excited for what 2016 has in store for us. As we continue to launch build on current programs and launch new programs, our ultimate goal is to do everything we can for those kids in care to help them succeed. Our staff has a driving passion to see to it that happens! We have a great list of opportunities for foster parent support groups and trainings. Have you thought about becoming a foster parent or a respite provider? We can help you get licensed for that. Please come along with us this year and do your part to help these kids who need us. I invite you to stop by our office and learn more about what we are doing. If you are in a civic group and would like them to learn about Foster Adopt Connect and Sammy’s Window, we’d love to come speak to them. Just give us a call!
Thank you for all you have done in 2015 and let’s see what else we can do in 2016!
Sincerely, Julie Hulsebus Executive Director
Have your kids outgrown their clothes? Have you updated their rooms and have gently used beds or dressers that you no longer need? Are you an extreme couponer who has a stockpile of hygiene items that you could part with?
Sammy’s Window is always accepting donations of gently used clothing and furniture. Sammy’s is often one of the first stops in the journey of a child in foster care to get clothes to wear, hygiene items of their own and other items to make them feel good about themselves. If you have items or maybe you have a group or organization that can organize a drive, the kids in care would sure appreciate it. For more information, contact Mark at 417-8497941 or mark@mfcaa.org.
UPCOMING EVENTS Trainings at FAC SWMO Resource Center Location: Foster Adopt Connect, 509 S. Cavalier, Springfield, MO 65802 Time:
6-8 pm
These trainings will be held for foster/adoptive parents on-site at our Center located at 509 S Cavalier Ave. Springfield, MO. The trainings will begin at 6:00 pm and will be 1.5-2 hours depending on time needed for the training. Child care and meals are NOT provided for these trainings. Contact Ginny at 414-616-3683 or virginia@mfcaa.org. January 14th - Understanding the IEP Process - Carrie Ragsdale February 9th - TPR and Appeal Process - Lisa Altis March 4th - Ready, Set, Fly - Patty Kissinger 6-10 pm April 14th - Loss and Grief When Kids Transition - Julie Murray May - TBD June - TBD July 16th - Building a Life Book - Ginny Law August 26th - Transracial Adoption - Deb Fusek September 22nd - Understanding FST roles - Ginny Law October 27th - Tax Issues for Foster and Adoptive Parents - Misty West November- 20 Things Adopted Children Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew - Julie Murray
SWMO Resource Provider Support Group (Tuesdays) Location: Ridgecrest Baptist Church, 2210 West Republic Rd., Springfield, MO 65807 Time:
6-8 pm
These trainings will be held for foster/adoptive parents. Dinner and childcare are provided. Free dinner! Childcare provided with a suggested donation of $4/child. There will also be activities and homework help at the Springfield Support Group for ages 9-18! Contact Ginny at virginia@mfcaa.org or 417-866-3672 to register. January 5th - Juvenile Court Process - Lisa Altis February 2nd - Safe Touch - Melinda from The Victim Center March 1st- Drug Endangered Child training - Kelli Coble April 5th - The Process of Disclosure - Micki Lane from CAC May 3rd - Greene County Foster Parent Appreciation Night June 7th - Current Drug Trends - Deputy Jeff Saylor GCSD July 5th - Dana Lopez - Under One Roof: Strategies for Blending Bio and Foster kids August 2nd - Lori Ross - Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff September 6th - TBD October 4th - TBD November 1st - TBD December 6th - TBD
38th Circuit Support Group (Tuesdays) Location: 38th District Support Group rotates between Ozark and Branson. Time:
6-8 pm
This foster/adoptive parent group meets monthly and rotates between Ozark and Branson. The Ozark location is held at United Methodist Church, 2850 MO-14 East. The Branson location is at Faith and Wisdom Church, 3950 Green Mountain Drive. Dinner and childcare are provided. Childcare suggested donation of $4/child. January 12th (Ozark) - Safe Touch - Melinda from The Victim Center February 9th (Branson) -Youth Speak Out - Keeley Casteel, Sherby Blakeney and youth from group March 8th (Ozark) - Drug Endangered Child training- Kelli Coble April 12th (Branson) - The Process of Disclosure - Micki Lane from CAC May 10th (Ozark) - TBD June 14th (Branson) - Current Drug Trends - Deputy Jeff Saylor GCSD July 12th (Ozark) - Dana Lopez- Under One Roof: Strategies for blending Bio and Foster Kids August 9th (Branson) - TBD September 13th (Ozark) - TBD October 11th (Branson) - TBD November 8th (Ozark) -TBD No meeting in December.
LIFE BOOK SUPPLIES NEEDED!
In order to help our families keep up their life books, we really need donations of albums, scrapbooking supplies, stickers, acid free tape/glue sticks, markers etc. If you would like to provide any of these items, please contact Ginny at virginia@mfcaa.org or 417-616-3683. A lifebook is a recording of a child’s memories, past and present mementos, photos, drawings, and journals. These are preserved in a binder, photo album, or book. Typically lifebooks are started when the child is moved from their birth parents’ care. They’re an ongoing process. While it’s best to start a lifebook when the child is first placed in foster care, it’s never too late to start. Stories written by the child, foster parents, caseworkers and others can be included to help the child keep their history while in foster care and beyond. The lifebook belongs to the child. The child decides who can look at it. If the child moves, the lifebook goes with him. Because they spend so much time with the child and get to know the child so well, foster parents are in a great position to start the development of the lifebooks. However, be sure to check in with the child’s social worker about your plans and what information to include before you start a lifebook.