Faith Communities Coalition Meeting – January 23, 2012

Attendees:  Ginelle Barry (Foster Hope), Shelly Hampton (WHS), Elgie Bright (Foster Hope), Pamela Talbot (MCHS), Ruth McGinnis, Frederick Jones (MAFAK), Odette Jones (MAFAK), Brenda Calderon (SPTC), Janice Mechan (The River), Kim LeFear (DHS), Paula Jenkinson (Central Church of the Nazarene), Cheryl Sibilisky (LSSM), Dorothea Weist (First Baptist of Davison), Kim Stribling (DHS)

Opening prayer and text: James 1:2-4

In October 2011, Foster Hope conducted a focus group with local foster agencies.  Throughout the discussion, two needs continued to rise to the top of the discussion – the need for more foster parents and the need for better training for foster parents.

The goal of this evening was to discuss how the faith community and local agencies, specifically the Mid-Michigan Faith Communities Coalition, could work together to begin brining change to these two areas of need.

-          What causes there to be a lack of foster homes?

• Fear of: failure, unknown issues, safety, loss, commitment, losing lifestyle, extended family receptiveness, influence on other children in home, loss of privacy and control over personal life
• Lack of finances, personal and faith community
• Poor communication of problem to the faith community and the population in general
• Bad PR
• Doubt that fostering makes a real difference or that even small efforts can make a large impact
• Faith community and general population lack knowledge about the needs (partially due to confidentiality)
• Lengthy/extensive licensing process
• Lack of support for current foster parents (reducing their ability to share that fostering in a positive experience)
• Lack of information/resources available to case workers and foster parents,  which affects the success of cases (reducing their ability to share that fostering in a positive experience)

-          Who does this issue (a lack of foster homes) affect?

• Kids: instability, placed in homes that are not good matches (causing multiple re-placements), stuck in residential, foster parents are not trained to handle
• Current foster parents: maxed out, no respite, lack of training
• Agencies:  stressed, overburdened
• Schools: behavioral burdens from unstable kids, multiple transfers
• Community: law enforcement, medical community, tax base, safety
• Biological Parent
• Relatives of child

-          Who has the power to change the issue (lack of foster homes)?

• All of the above

-          If we summarized the above discussion: The faith community and general community do not have enough knowledge about foster care, and the needs there in.  There is also a great need for increased support and shared resources for foster children and their families.  If these two areas were addressed, the ability to recruit more foster homes would greatly increase.

-          WHAT can we, as the Mid-Michigan Faith Communities Coalition, do to address the need for more knowledge?

• Make the community aware of specific needs:  material needs, prayer, permanent court wards needing homes
• Create a fact sheet with data, personal stories and to dispel fears
• Get MYOI magazines inside of churches for distribution
• Create opportunities (events/celebrations/videos) for success stories of foster families, foster youth and biological families to be told.  (suggestions: churches celebrate foster families in May, MYOI block party, resource fair, adoption/foster event)
• Participate in other community events (suggestions: women’s expo, mom to mom sales, speak at church dinners or small group events)
• Solicit churches to host trainings, and encourage that church to wrap around/support the foster families that attended.  Also, use as recruitment tool.

Next Meeting:

-          Monday, February 27^th 6-8pm

-          Each person invite one more person: church representative, foster parent, agency member, foster youth, biological parent

-          Next Steps:  Creating an action plan for a minimum of one of the above items

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1. Faith Communities Coalition

Please join us for our next meeting on Monday, February 27th 6-8pm at the beautiful Ichthus Estate 3340 Parkside, Flint

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1. January Meeting Notes

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Agencies:  Request Care Kits

CLICK HERE FOR NEW CARE KIT

CLICK HERE TO REQUEST REPLACEMENT OF DISTRIBUTED CARE KITS

Agencies:  Please note our new Care Kit request policy.

-          Care Kits can only be requested online.

-          A full set of kits will be only be given to an agency one time, each season.

-          After the initial full set, you just need to request replacement kits, as needed.  Be sure to request a new kit each time you give one out, so you can always have one of every size on hand.

-          In order to request a replacement kit, you must have basic information about who you handed the last kit out to.  This information is vital to ensure that Care Kits continue to be available.  Below is a link to a handy spreadsheet that you can print off and keep on a clip board near your Care Kit tubs so you can log the information each time you hand them out.

-          Replacement Care Kits can be picked up from our office on Wednesday’s between 10:00am and 3:00pm.  Our office address is 4029 Lapeer Road  Burton, MI 48509.

Care Kit Distribution Log

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You can help change the face of foster care

If you have a few minutes:

• Learn the facts about foster care and gain a better understanding of the needs of those touched by this issue then spread the word!  Help raise awareness and encourage others to get involved on behalf of the 463,000 American children in foster care.
• Donate goods such as suitcases, books, games, computers, sports equipment, musical instruments, clothing, and school supplies to young people in foster care.

 If you have a few hours:

• Volunteer with Foster Hope to provide personal, social and academic enrichment opportunities for foster children and youth.
• Make presentations to your faith-based congregation, civic group, PTA, and other neighborhood associations. Encourage your community to become involved in serving children and families in the foster system.

If you have more time:

• Become a licensed respite care provider as a way of providing support to foster families in your neighborhood.
• Become a Foster or Adoptive Parent. Caring families are especially needed for older youth, siblings, and children with special needs.
• Become a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). CASA volunteers are trained citizens appointed by judges to represent the best interests of abused and neglected children.

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Click on the links below to read newsletters:

FH News Oct

FH News Sept

FH News Aug

FH News June

FH news May

FH News Apr

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There is a huge need for foster parents, so you may be relieved to know that almost anyone can become a foster parent. You can be: single, married, retired, any race or religion, a renter, a working parent.

There are some basic requirements and these vary from state to state. It is important that you are able to provide proof of income to demonstrate that you can care yourself without foster care susidy. Some other state guidelines might include bedroom sizes, safety standards for the home, and/or number of children allowed in the home.

Becoming a Foster Parent: Step by Step

1) Think about whether you would be able to care for children in your home for months or even years and then say goodbye to them and return them to their parents, who may have abused them in the past.

2) Consider your family. If you have children at home, will they be able to handle the changes foster children will bring to the home?

3) Understand that you need to have time to care for foster children. If you are very busy, you may not be able to devote the necessary amount of time.

4) Know that although foster parents receive financial compensation, it is not a way to get rich or even make some extra money. Many foster parents find that they spend more money caring for the children than they receive from the state.

5) Contact any one of the local agencies below to attend Foster Parent Orientation and PRIDE Training.  PRIDE training is required to become a licensed foster or adoptive parent.  PRIDE training schedules vary widely from agency to agency.  Be sure to find one that will work best with your schedule.

Alternatives for Children and Families – www.acfinc.org – 810.250.3800 – Nate Spears

Orientation – Call for current schedule

Pride Training – Call for current schedule

Catholic Charities – www.catholiccharitiessg.org – 810.232.9950 – Heady Geist

Orientation – Every Wednesday, 4:00-6:00pm

Pride Training – CC Pride Training Schedule

Lutheran Social Services – www.lssm.org – 810.234.9324 – Sheryl Kelly

Orientation – Call for current schedule

Pride Training – Call for current schedule

Wolverine Human Services – www.wolverinehs.org – 810.234.0489 – Barbara Clerebout

October 2011:               Saturday, 10/8/11 9:00AM – 3:00PM   Orientation, PRIDE 1 & 2 (lunch provided)

Saturday, 10/22/11        9:00AM – 3:00PM   PRIDE 3 & 4 (lunch provided)

Tuesday, 10/25/11         5:30Pm – 8:30PM   PRIDE 6

November 2011:            Saturday, 11/05/11  9:00AM – 3:00PM    Orientation, PRIDE 1 & 2 (lunch provided)

Saturday, 11/19/11        9:00AM – 3:00PM    PRIDE 3 & 4 (lunch provided)

Tuesday, 11/22/11         5:30PM – 8:30PM    PRIDE 6

December 2011:            Saturday, 12/03/2011     9:30AM – 12:30AM  Orientation

6) Begin the application process with your local agency. Be prepared for some tough questions about your lifestyle, your abilities and your motives.

7) Allow agency workers to inspect your home – through both scheduled and unscheduled visits.

8)  Be prepared to make changes to your home to make it safe or appropriate for foster children.

9) Believe that helping a child who needs a home is one of the greatest and most unselfish ways you can make a difference in the world.

Source: http://www.ehow.com/how_10860_be-foster-parent.html

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Foster Your Future is a community life skills program for youth ages 14-18 that are aging out of the foster care system.

The program provides instructional sessions, hands-on activities, group counseling, and community field trips relating to topics such as: Self Image, Communication Skills, Community Connections & Resources, Sexual Health, Substance Abuse, Boundaries & Emotional Health, Study Skills, Goal Setting, College Education, Job Readiness Training & Mock Interviews, Money Management, Food/Nutrition & Cooking, Housing Resources, Transportation Resources.

The program is currently being restructured for 2011.  Dates will be announced soon!

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Many children come into foster care with nothing but the clothes on their back or a garbage bag of clothes that are too small, dirty or badly worn. In response, Foster Hope has developed Care Kits for children entering foster care.  Care Kits enable foster parents to spend the first few days focusing on helping their new children adjust, instead of running around to get necessary clothing and supplies.

If you are a foster parent in need of a Care Kit, please call (810) 936-5702 or e-mail: carekits@ifosterhope.com

INFANT (0-24mth) Care Kits contain: 2 outfits, 1 pair of pajamas, 2 pair of socks, diapers, wipes, bottle, plus more as available!

CHILD (3t-6x) Care Kits contain: 2 outfits, 1 pair of pajamas, 2 pair of socks, 2 pair of undies, toothbrush, toothpaste, plus more as available!

YOUTH (7-XL) Care Kits contain: 1 pair of pajamas, 2 pair of socks, 2 pair of undies, toothbrush, toothpaste, plus more as available!

A special THANK YOU to The Freedom Center Baby Closet and friends of Foster Hope for donating the items and finances to make these kits possible!

Have new or gently used items to give?  Just call or email!  All donations are tax deductible.

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