Permanency Tip of the Week:

Ambivalence During the Family Finding Process – In working with Youth during the Family Finding and Engagement process, one of the reactions that we might see from our Youth is that of ambivalence (Simultaneous and contradictory attitudes or feelings; continual fluctuation; uncertainty as to which approach to follow).  This might show itself at the beginning of the process in response to the offer of family finding; It could be seen when we present the search finding; Finally, it could be seen at the point of engagement with the found family members.  This response needs to be validated, honored and processed with the Youth – no matter when or how many times in the process it occurs.  This is another example of how critical it is for the mental health, child welfare and family finding professionals work in close collaboration with each other in service of our Youth in care.

Permanency Story of the Week:

Adoption recruiter helps find homes for older children – In the last two years, when Clermont County Job and Family Services began devoting a full-time person to recruiting adoptive families for older children, five children have found “forever families” – including three siblings who were placed with one family. Five more are awaiting adoption finalization.  Since October 2012, Sharon Wiesenhahn has been Wendy’s Wonderful Kids recruiter for Clermont County.  “Dave Thomas once said, ‘These children are not someone else’s responsibility. They are our responsibility.’ I believe that too. They come into the system through no fault of their own,” said Wiesenhahn. “There are so many myths about adopting older children in foster care, and part of my job is to help dispel that.”

Current Permanency related articles:

Early Childhood Stress May Have Lasting, Toxic Effects

According to a new study, chronic early childhood stress brought on by poverty, neglect and physical abuse can have a lasting, toxic impact.  Sarah Romens, one of the co-authors of the report and a post-doctoral scholar at the University of Pittsburgh, says early childhood stress can affect a child for the rest of his or her life.  “Kids who are exposed to the kind of stress we’re talking about tend to be at higher risk for all kinds of psychopathology and mental illness, including depression, anxiety, behavior problems, academic problems, and also health problems,” says Romens. “Stress-related health problems like heart disease and immune-functioning disruption can result as well.”

Gay youths more likely to report trouble in foster care, study finds
They have more foster care placements, are more likely to be living in a group home and are three times more likely than straight youths to have been hospitalized for emotional reasons at some point in their lives.
Care Children from Credit Reporting Problems

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today took action to better protect children in the foster care system from credit reporting problems that could compromise their future credit. The Bureau published action letters for child welfare caseworkers to send to credit bureaus if they find errors on the credit reports of the children in their care.

“The Bureau is very concerned about foster care children’s vulnerability to credit reporting problems that can wreak financial havoc for them,” said CFPB Director Richard Cordray. “We want to help ensure that youth leave foster care with clean credit so that they have a firm foundation for their financial future.”

Credit reporting touches the financial lives of nearly each and every American and can be of particular significance to youth in foster care as they are more susceptible to credit problems and identity theft. The nearly 400,000 children in the United States foster care system often lack a permanent address, and their personal information is frequently shared among numerous adults and agency databases.

Complex Trauma: Facts for Caregivers
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) Complex Trauma Collaborative Group has developed this new factsheet designed specifically for caregivers, which provides information on how a caregiver can support a child with a complex trauma history. It presents information that can help a caregiver understand complex trauma and recognize the signs and symptoms of complex trauma in their child. It also offers recommendations for what the caregiver can do to help their child heal, as well as tips for self-care. (June 2014)
The Group also developed trauma factsheets tailored for service providers working with homeless youth and young adults and for shelter staff working with homeless children and families. (June 2014)

“Change a Child’s Life” – Film Series

Good Day LAandFOX 11have teamed up with Children’s Action Networkto bring you the stories of foster children waiting for adoptive homes. These films, part of a series called “Change a Child’s Life” feature foster children telling their stories in their own words. There are more than 107,000 foster children in the United States who need a place to call home. It is our hope that by raising awareness about the youth and sharing their hopes and dreams, we can help them find permanent loving families.
Child Trends E-News: The Mental Wellness Issue
This issue of Child Trends’ weekly e-newsletter is focused on the mental wellness of young people.  It highlights a Child Trends report summarizing current knowledge on children’s mental health and provides a model and recommendations for promoting children’s mental wellness; related research from Child Trends; resources  from the U.S. Office of Adolescent Health (OAH); and information and additional resources on applying research knowledge to practice.  (July 2014)

How Supportive Parenting Protects the Brain

Pediatricians are trying to gently shape child-rearing styles so that kids living in poverty have a chance to succeed.   “When bad things happen early in life, whether you remember them or not, the brain doesn’t forget,” Jack Shonkoff, a professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, said at a recent conference in Washington, D.C.  When we experience everyday stress, our bodies kick into high gear by releasing adrenaline and cortisol. When the stress goes away—or if, as children, we’re comforted by trusted adults—our bodies return to normal. But if there is no adult around, or the stressors are ongoing, the response system stays activated. This chronic, “toxic stress” throws the brain into a permanent state of high alert, weakening the neural connections that are essential for learning and cognition