Permanency Tip of the Week: Permanency for Some, but not for All
When working with sibling sets, especially those that have been separated while in foster care, securing a single source of Permanency for all of the children can be very challenging. This is particularly challenging when the challenges of one of the siblings are more serious than the other siblings. If one of the siblings is “left behind” in the Permanency process, this brings with it another source of loss for the entire sibling set. The ones who have found Permanency are leaving their sibling behind and vice versa for the one who sees his / her siblings joining a new family. We must facilitate opportunities for the siblings individual, and ideally collectively, to process this loss.
Permanency Story of the Week: Camp to Belong, WA Reunites 100 siblings in Port Orchard
Camp to Belong is a summer camp that reunites siblings separated by the foster system for a week of activities and fun. Last week, 100 siblings were reunited at Miracle Ranch in Port Orchard. Camp to Belong was founded in 1995 by Lynn Price a former youth in care, hosts camps in 10 states across America as well as three in Australia. Camp To Belong Northwest, founded in 2005 by Karyn Schimmels of Oregon, formerly included foster youth from Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska. In 2008, 45 children from Washington traveled to Idaho to see their siblings and that’s when the idea for Camp To Belong Washington was born. Directors April VanGesen and Deb Kennedy along with Bob Partlow from DSHS launched Camp To Belong Washington in 2009 at Miracle Ranch Camp in Port Orchard. Camp To Belong Washington relies solely on donations from individuals, businesses, corporations and grants. To donate, or look for ways to volunteer.
Current Permanency Related Articles:
Caring for a Relative’s Child a Challenge That’s Often Not Obvious
Newnan Times-Herald – When I first became a grandparent I was told I had joined the most expensive, least exclusive club I ever joined. And what joy it has been for me: grandparents and grandchildren go together like peanut butter and jelly. The joy of just being in their presence almost makes a grandparent skip and jump. But unbridled delight is not how it is for many American grandparents and grandchildren…Caring for children is very hard work, and it can be harder if children are coming out of a crisis and came to live with a grandparent suddenly and they did not have a plan. The work grandparents do raising a child they love is the most important job in the world.
Rule No. 1 of kinship caregiving is that you don’t have to do it alone. You can and should share the work, the worries and the joys with others. There are people in your family and your community who can help you and the children in many ways. Finding help and support can take time and effort, but the results are more than worth it. One of the greatest ways to learn more and to feel more supported is through a Kinship Caregiver Support group, available in your community.
Bibliotherapy Pairs Readers with the Book They Need, When they Need It
Sacramento Bee – The first book in the Harry Potter series, for example, really speaks to children who are in foster care or feel out of place in their family, she said. The same theory applies to adults experiencing grief. That’s the idea behind bibliotherapy – the art of matching people with the perfect books to help them through tough situations. Librarians have been doing it for years, but it’s gaining popularity in the digital age as people seek comfort during times of anxiety, loss, loneliness and other emotional hardships.
Instead of Missing First Day of School for Her Adoption, 10-Year-Old Girl Takes Class With Her
Inside Edition – Abby Novotny would have missed her first day of class to attend her formal court adoption if not for her school, which turned the occasion into a field trip with her fellow students. The 10-year-old has been with adoptive mother Anne Novotny for three years already and it was time to make it official. Instead of having Abby miss one of two special days, Anne thought it would be a great idea to have Abby’s 24-member class attend the adoption.
They Grew Up as American Citizens, Then Learned That They Weren’t
The Washington Post – In recent years, adoptees in similar circumstances have begun to find each other and are uniting behind theAdoptee Citizenship Act, proposed federal legislation that would grant citizenship to anyone who was adopted by a U.S. citizen regardless of when they turned 18. It would also allow those who have been deported to return to the United States.
Foster Care Recruitment: Yesterday’s Solutions No Longer Work
Chronicle of Social Change – Why have foster homes become harder to find and retain? Has child welfare slacked off in its recruitment efforts? Have Americans become more self-centered and less compassionate? Such personal answers are minor factors. The more important cause is that society has changed and we are still trying to use out-of-date remedies. The composition of the average family has undergone radical changes over the past two generations, and our foster care system has not.
National Campaign Seeks Input to Address Unplanned Pregnancy Among Foster Youth
The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy is interested in speaking with youth and foster care professionals as part of an effort to develop a systems-level intervention to address unplanned pregnancy among youth in care, specifically transition-age youth (16 to 21 years).
The National Campaign would like to conduct in-depth interviews with foster youth between the age of 16 and 21, and the adults who work with them, including social workers, staff involved with transition planning, providers, Court Appointed Special Advocates, administrators and others. All individuals interviewed, both youth and professionals, will receive $100 for their time. Those interested in participating should call or text (202) 630-4492, or email fcinnovation2016@gmail.com.