| Monthly Newsletter Volume 3, Issue 10 |
October 2009 | |
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 Greetings!
65 babies have now been placed! Go team. Extra special thanks to our families that have just taken sibling groups. We have had 8 babies placed in 10 days. That is a record for us.
The picnics have been well attended and lots of fun. It is the perfect time for angels parents to chat and get acquainted and support each other. Every parent is invited, even if you are waiting for a placement or have completed your adoption.
Our annual holiday party will be in Santa Ynez this year, and we'll have the details for you soon. Thanks for all you do for our community's foster babies.
-Meichelle |
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 Ask Dr. Charish
Dr. Charish is better known as Charish Barry, MD, a local pediatric hospitalist with Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital and a pediatrician in private practice. She is also a member of the Angels Board of Directors. To submit a question for the newsletter, contact Dr. Charish.
The number one questions that parents have about the Swine flu are: How can I protect my newborn or child from the flu? Should I avoid going out in public places ?
Newborns are vulnerable to all sorts of germs, not just flu viruses, so keeping them protected is a good idea all the time, not just now. Here are some ideas for keeping your newborn (actually, any baby less than six months old) healthy:
· Be careful about who holds and touches her. Everybody wants to hold and touch babies, because they are so cute--but anybody who is even slightly sick should keep their distance. If you present it as a "rule", people will be less likely to take offense (not that you should care if they do).
· Always insist that people wash their hands (or use hand sanitizer) before holding or touching the baby. If if they don't feel sick, they may have been in contact with someone else who is sick but don't show symptoms and can possibly transfer the infection.
· Avoid crowded public places if possible. If you need to go out, consider using a sling or other baby carrier that keeps her close to you.
But what if I need to go to the supermarket? Should I wipe down the cart handles?
Carry some antibacterial wipes with you and wipe down things like supermarket cart handles that get touched by many people. Since you can't wipe down absolutely everything, carry hand sanitizer and use it frequently.
How can we protect ourselves and our families?
Here are the CDC's recommendations for staying healthy:
· Visit the CDC website regularly to make sure you know what you need to know.
· Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then throw the tissue out.
· Wash your hands often (especially after you cough or sneeze) for at least 20 seconds with soap and water, or with alcohol-based sanitizer if you don't have soap and water handy.
· Try not to touch your eyes, nose, or mouth, as germs spread that way.
· Stay home if you get sick. Children should stay home from school if they are feeling sick. Children and adults should stay home for at least 24 hours after they are free from fever (100 degrees F).
· Follow advice from your local public health authorities.
Seek medical care if you are severely ill, such as having trouble breathing. Antiviral medicines may help.
-Dr. Charish |
 Social Work Corner
Greetings! I am very excited to be a part of the team here at Angel's Foster Care. Everyone has been so gracious in welcoming me and I greatly appreciate that! I recently moved to Santa Barbara from Chicago, Illinois. My husband is originally from Santa Barbara, and we are both very happy to be returning to such a wonderful community. The wonderful weather is a nice perk too!
Here is a bit of information about me, and I look forward to getting to know you. I obtained my Masters in Social Work from Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois. My clinical focus was on child and family services. For my undergraduate education, I attended North Park University in Chicago, Illinois, where I obtained my bachelors degree in Psychology and a minor in art. Throughout my education I have completed research and studies on topics such as child development, abuse and neglect, family systems, attachment, identity development, as well as race, culture, and ethnicity.
Prior to moving to Santa Barbara, I was employed as an Adoption Social Worker. I have worked for agencies that provide services for both domestic and international adoption. My experience in this field included counseling families, developmental assessments, interviewing potential parents, home inspections, writing home studies... and of course, everyone's favorite, lots of paperwork! I also have prior professional experience related to special education, customer service, and childcare.
A few fun facts about me- I have volunteered at orphanages in Romania and Ethiopia, I love to travel, I ran the Chicago marathon in 2008, my favorite color is green, and I am the owner of one very spoiled Puggle (A pug/beagle mix).
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 Special Announcements
Next Angels Training Classes: January 22 & 23, 2010
If you know of anyone who may be interested in joining the class, please have them call the Angels' office or give us their name and number and we will call them.
Free Magic Show Tickets Available - October 4th at 2pm
Call us for free tickets to Hollywood Magic Castle's "Joe Monti & Friends" presented by the Santa Barbara Deputy Sheriff's Association. Sunday, October 4th at 2pm at the San Marcos High School Auditorium. Please call the office for tickets by Friday, October 2nd.
New Families
Congratulations and welcome to Mark and Belinda (Lompoc)!
New Adoptions There are no new adoptions this month, but in recognition of November being National Adoption Month, Santa Barbara County Child Welfare Services is hosting "Adoption Day" on November 16th, with many SB County families finalizing their adoptions at this special court session. We are expecting some Angels families to complete their adoptions on this special day!
Angels Picnics for October & November
Tuesday, October 27, 11am at Tucker's Grove Park in SB Wednesday, October 28, 11am at River View Park in Buellton
Tuesday, Nov. 17, 11am in SB - location to be announced Wednesday, Nov. 18, 11am in North County, location TBA
There will be no picnics scheduled in December.
Please RSVP as soon as possible to your social worker or to the office at 898-0901 so we can be sure we have enough food for everyone.
Angels Baby Gear Closet
We recently received a donation of gently used baby gear items from the owner of Summer For Kids children's store in Montecito. Current foster parents may contact Ellen if they would like a co-sleeper/portable crib (solid pink), swing with tray & mobile, infant sit-up chair or jogger stroller with pink accents.
Angels Out & About
Sunday, October 25
Postpartum Education for Parents (PEP) Rockin' Halloween Party at Goleta's Stow House from 2:30-5:30pm. Come visit us at our booth! Bring the kids for trick or treat fun and lots of great local music.
Thursday, November 19
Pre-screening of the new film Twilight - New Moon at a soon-to-be-announced downtown Santa Barbara theateras a benefit for Angels. Tickets now on sale ($25 general admission, $100 VIP seats). Visit us online to purchase tickets. They will go fast!
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Angels Family of the Month
This month we honor Johnna and Jorge for the dedication and care they have showered on their Angels child over the past year. Their little one arrived with a sunny disposition and in the midst of a challenging medical situation. They persevered, providing loving care and nurturance to her, along with many trips to the doctor. Their Angels child has certainly flourished in their home; she glows with health and happiness! We are so pleased that she will soon officially be part of their family forever. Many thanks Johnna and Jorge!
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Angels Contacts 
Executive Director
Meichelle Arntz
Meichelle@angeslsb.com
(805) 898-0901
Program Director
North County
Social Worker
Jennifer L. Mills, LCSW
Jennifer@angelssb.com
(805) 264-4470
South County
Social Worker
Stacy Peterson, MSW
Stacy@angelssb.com
(805) 898-0901
Recruiter
Outreach Coordinator
Newsletter Editor
Ellen Dameron
ellendameron@cox.net
(805) 886-0390
Angels Office
Phone:(805) 878-0901
Fax: (805) 682-6649
3905 State Street,
#7-115
Santa Barbara, CA 93105
info@angelssb.com
www.angelssb.com
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ANGELS - Odds & Ends
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Record-keeping Reminders Not a "fun" topic, but a necessary one, especially since keeping thorough records regarding your Angels' child is one way of always being able to demonstrate he/she is receiving proper care and services. If you have not received your child's "white binder" from CWS, please let your Angels' social worker know ASAP. The binder is a great place to keep all paperwork related to your foster child. Please continue to be conscientious about filling out the Medication log for your Angels child. The log is to be used for both prescription and over the counter medication (such as Tylenol) that you may administer to your Angels child. Additionally, please remember to have the Health Contact form completed for your child with every doctor or dental appointment. You do not need to mail to CWS but rather give one sheet of the form to your Angels' social worker. She will make a copy for the central file and send a copy to your child's social worker. Other paperwork reminders
The following are requirements for your license: Your home's foster care certification (posted in your home); your home's completed emergency and disaster form with house diagram (posted also in your home); and fire drill log (documenting 1 fire drill every 6 months). If you have any questions about the above items, please contact your Angels' social worker.
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| A Court Minute: Status Review Hearings |
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How Paternity is Defined and Established in Dependency Court
Paternity, who is the child's father, is an issue that is raised very early on in the dependency proceedings. Paternity status has implications for the child, the father and for the legal proceedings.
Inquiries begin at the time the child is removed form his/her parents' care. The detaining Child Welfare Services worker will ask the parent(s) about whom the child's father is. The CWS worker then reports that information to the Court during the Detention Hearing. Additionally, at this hearing, the Court then will make its own paternity inquiries of the parent(s) present at the hearing. Unless paternity has already been established (in family court or by child support division), all fathers at the time of the Detention Hearing are deemed "alleged " fathers.
An alleged father is a man who is not the presumed father of the child but someone (the mother, a relative, CWS, or himself) says that he is the biological father of the child. However, the alleged father has not attained legal status yet in regard to the child. An alleged father is only entitled to notice of all proceedings regarding the child and to be appointed counsel solely to assist in establishing paternity. An alleged father is not entitled to or offered family reunification services until paternity has been established legally, changing his status to either presumed father or biological father.
At this juncture, an alleged father may establish paternity by signing a voluntary declaration of paternity. Factors to be considered by the court when determining if a father is to be given presumed status is has the father held himself out in the community as the father, is the father listed on the birth certificate, was the father present at the time of the child's birth, and were the parent's married at the time of the child's birth or within 300 days of the birth?
If the Court changes the alleged father's status to that of a presumed father, the presumed father becomes considered the legal father of the child with all the legal obligations that entails.
During the process of establishing paternity, one or more of the parties may request DNA testing to establish the biological relationship between the child and the alleged father. DNA testing is most often used when there is more than one alleged father or the father or another party is uncertain if he really is the biological father to the child.
If the DNA results established paternity, the biological father does not automatically receive family reunification services. He may ask for reunification services and the court has the discretion to grant reunification services. In Santa Barbara County, the prevailing practice is to ask the biological father to sign a declaration of paternity after the DNA results have established paternity. By signing the declaration, the court than can also establish the biological father as the presumed father. However, there can only be one presumed father .
There have been situations, although rare, in which there are two men with different statuses in relationship to the child. For instance, a child is born to a couple while they are married. The husband in listed on the birth certificate, was present at the birth and has held himself out as the father to the child for the three years prior to the child being removed from the parents' care. During the initial proceedings, it is revealed that the child was actually the result of an affair between the mother and another man. That man is noticed as an alleged father for the proceedings and DNA testing is obtained, which demonstrates that he, not the presumed father, is the biological father of the child. According to the law, both the biological father and the presumed father in this scenario could receive family reunification services.
Because of the complexities regarding paternity and the array of legal rights and responsibilities that come with paternity, it is very important that the paternity inquiries occur early and often in the proceedings. Any question of parentage should be brought to the court's attention and all avenues explored so to avoid a situation in which an alleged father is identified for the first time six months into the reunification process or when termination of family reunification is occurring. Also, because alleged fathers (and others) are entitled to notice of the court proceedings, once an alleged father is identified it is critical for CWS to ensure that thorough and well-documented efforts are made to locate and notice any alleged fathers.
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