| Monthly Newsletter Volume 3, Issue 12 |
December 2009 | |
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 Greetings!
Our fall fundraising event was a great success. The "New Moon" early screening opened with close to 800 attendees. Thank you to all who supported us. The live wolves were a hit and the tackle of my daughter by Timber (wolf) made the front page of the Santa Barbara News-Press! The movie was fun and all the attendees saw our Angels DVD with our gorgeous, brilliant foster families, which will help us spread the word.
The Inn is pretty full right now at Angels and we are searching for families that want to open their homes and hearts to a foster baby. The reason we are so full right now is because all of our amazing families have already taken placements of our communities littlest foster angels in need. Indeed we had a month recently that filled us to the brim. Much gratitude to all of our wonderful families for stepping up and opening their homes. One baby had a skull fracture and, because her little head was aching, cried much of the time. Now she is happily cooing and reaching for toys, thank you to her Angels. Another child had burns on her hand, timid and alone. She is now smiling and engaging in her wonderful Angels home. The list goes on and on as do the stories of healing, happiness, trust restored, and love and attachment.
Wishing you all very Happy Holidays and a healthy, prosperous New Year.
-Meichelle |
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CHILDREN'S HEALTH: Holiday Childproofing
 There is nothing like a trip to the ER to put a damper on your holiday festivities. Garry Gardner, M.D., chairperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics's Committee on Injury, Violence, and Poison Prevention, tells how to childproof the season, one area at a time:
The Tree: Christmas trees are a tip-over risk, so either secure yours to a wall (with an eye hook and twine) or block it off with a safety gate. Try not to place ornaments or string lights on the bottom portion of the tree, where toddlers can reach them. "Every year I see a child who has taken a bite of an ornament," notes Dr. Gardner.
Decorations: If you light candles for Hanukkah, or just like the glow or scent they provide, keep them well out of reach. Pass on tablecloths, too - little kids love to yank them down, sending glasses, silverware, hot food, and possibly those candles flying. You can say yes to poinsettias - they're not poisonous, as is commonly believed, although mistletoe berries are. Still, it's a good idea to keep all flowers and greenery out of reach.
Presents: Wrapping paper, ribbons, and bows can be choking and suffocation hazards. Also watch out for packaging parts - like foam peanuts and those twist ties used to strap dolls and action figures to their backing as if they were about to undergo root canals with no anesthetic.
The Kitchen "Burns and scalds are a major holiday hazard," reports Dr. Gardner, so be extra cautious when cooking, entertaining, and carrying hot foods or liquids from one room to another.
--reprinted from Parenting Magazine
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Social Work Corner 
This December,
That love weighs more than gold!
-Josephine Dodge Daskam Bacon
It's that time of year already, get ready for the holiday hustle bustle! As we all know, it is so easy to get caught up with the "BIG" things that come along with the season. Festive holiday parties, boisterous family gatherings, long travels, special gifts, and of course, bigger bills!
The holidays also remind us to recognize our blessings and be grateful for what we have. All of us at ANGELS feel that the love and care you provide for an ANGELS child is the biggest blessing they can receive. There is no greater gift you can offer a child than to welcome them into your home and heart. Whether it be soothing an anxious cry, rocking a child to sleep, capturing a beaming smile, or tucking a little one in at night, all these precious moments make a lasting impact. It is indeed the little things that often matter most.
Embrace all the joy the holiday season has to offer! We wish you the very best as you celebrate and enjoy time with friends and family. Don't forget to take time to soak in all the little things and remember what a "BIG" difference you are making in the life of a child.
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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
New Families
Congratulations and welcome to Belinda and Mark of Lompoc!
Congratulations to Colton, Coral, Cody, Hope and Benjamin and their families who celebrated National Adoption Day on November 16th with the finalization of their adoptions!
H1N1 Vaccines
If your pediatrician feels that your foster child should receive the H1N1 vaccination, you must first call your Angels worker so she can have CWS obtain an ex parte court order for the vaccination. Because H1N1 is not considered a routine vaccination, CWS is now instituting a policy of requiring a court order for this vaccination prior to it being given. We know that some of you may have been given different information in the past from CWS workers. Please call your Angels social worker if you have any questions about this change. If your foster child needs this vaccination, please get in touch with us soon so we can work quickly to secure the necessary paperwork and approval.
Starting to think about your 2009 taxes?
There are many unique tax rules that affect families in foster care. As a result, some families and tax preparers overlook or miss key tax deductions. The National Foster Parent Association produces a guidebook "Tax Benefits for Foster, Adoptive Parents and Kinship Caregivers." Although it is labeled 2008, the guide is still an invaluable resource. Follow the link to download the publication and read more about how to maximize your own tax situation this year.
Foster Care Checks
Please note that we recently converted to a new automatic payment system. You should expect your stipends to arrive by the 20th of each month. If you have any concerns, please contact your social worker.
ANGELS CALENDAR
Monday, December 7, 6-8pm
Holiday Party for all Angels Families Please join us for our holiday celebration for all Angels families. Open house style featuring activities for the kids, a special dinner, and photographer for family pictures. Please RSVP to Angels that you can attend. Hope to see you there!
Angels Family Picnics
There will be no picnics in the month of December due to the holiday party.
January 22 & 23, 2010
Angels Foster Parent Training
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. |
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Angels Family of the Month
This month we honor Bill and Michelle for their dedication to their Angels foster child. He has flourished under their care and been loved dearly by all members of their family. The strong impact they have already made on his life is evident! Thanks to this wonderful Angels family!
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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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Continuing Education RequirementPlease be aware that each foster parent needs to accrue 12 hours of continuing education each year prior to the expiration of his or her certification. You will need to document these hours and show them to your social worker during the recertification process. There are many ways to reach this requirement including but not limited to, attending community classes, watching a pertinent documentary, listening to material on DVD or reading a book or article. In the past, foster parents have approached continuing education in a variety of ways. Some parents have sought out information specific to a situation they are encountering with their Angels' child, such as asthma or prenatal drug exposure. Others have focused on broadening their knowledge on more general topics such as child development or the child welfare system. Either approach fulfills the requirement, just make sure to record your activity and the time spent in a log. We have found that most foster parents are easily meeting this requirement but often forgetting to give themselves "credit" for their various educational activities. And, as always, if you have any question about your continuing education hours, please don't hesitate to discuss with your Angels social worker. On-Line Continuing Education Resources: Listed below are just a few websites that you may wish to explore. http://www.childwelfare.gov
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| A Court Minute |
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A Court Minute: Court Participants and Their Roles in Court
Once a family enters the court dependency system, it is no longer solely the child, mother and father. Other parties enter the picture by nature of the seriousness of the allegations and the court process which ensues. Below is a listing of the different people who may be present at all or some of the hearings:
Juvenile Court Judge: The Judge makes the final legal determination regarding all matters related to your foster child and their dependency status. All parties to the case can submit evidence to the Court and make recommendations, however, it is the Judge who makes the decisions regarding what will be ordered. In the Santa Barbara Court, the current judge is Judge Adams. In the Santa Maria court, Judge Herman is the presiding juvenile judge.
Children's Counsel: All children removed from the care and custody of their biological parents are appointed their own attorney at the Detention Hearing. Their attorney is a full party in the proceedings, able to present evidence, cross-examine witnesses and file briefs on behalf of the child. These attorneys are private attorneys under contract with the State of California and their sole duty and focus is dependency law. There are four children's attorneys acting in this manner in SB County: in southern SB county - Lisa Fritz and in northern SB County - Carol Hubner, Francene Kelly and Mark Pedego.
Parents' Counsel: The biological parents are also appointed counsel at the Detention Hearing (or whenever they first appear in court) if they wish or they can hire their own attorney. These attorneys are also contracted by the State of California to provide legal representation to parents involved in dependency court. Each parent is appointed their own attorney, even if the parents are married.
County Counsel: County Counsel is the attorney who represents the Department of Social Services, Child Welfare Services in all dependency proceedings. A large part of their job is to ensure that proper legal procedure is followed in all aspects of the court cases.
Child Welfare Services (CWS) Worker: The CWS worker is the person assigned to your foster child's case. The CWS worker prepares a report for the Court on the status of the reunification plan and child's well being. The CWS makes recommendations as part of this report.
CWS Court Hearing Officer (CHO): The CHO is a CWS worker who is assigned to the Court Unit. Their responsibilities include initially completing the jurisdiction and disposition reports for their assigned cases and then being the designated CWS representative in court each week for every hearing. Most often, the CWS worker assigned to your child will not be at court. They give the CHO a copy of their report and a summary of what the issues are. The CHO in turn takes notes on the proceedings and sends back a synopsis to the assigned worker
Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA): A CASA is a trained community volunteer appointed by the court to advocate for the best interests of their assigned child. The Court issues a court order of appointment, which allows the CASA to not only have weekly contact with the assigned child, but to also interview all people in the child's life and review all legal, medical and educational records. The CASA compiles all this information along with their recommendations into a report, which is submitted to the Court. A CASA can be assigned to a child anytime during the dependency proceedings. If a child is reunified with his/her biological parents, the CASA continues to visit and advocate for the child.
De Facto Parents: A de facto parent is someone who the Court agrees has (or has had) day-to-day care of the child and who qualifies to be a de facto parent. A foster parent may qualify as a de facto parent, as well as, an extended family member who meets all the other criteria. A de facto parent can go to court and present information about the child to the Court. They can also have a lawyer and be noticed on the court proceedings. De facto parent status does not necessarily correlate with placement decisions regarding the child.
There are other people who may be present at court proceedings including Foster Family Agency social workers (like Angels Social Workers), foster parents, and extended biological family members. While able to be present at court and able to offer information to the court as requested by the Judge or other parties, the above individuals are not legal parties to the case.
In summary, not only is the legal process quite involved in dependency law, but the sheer number of the people and their role involved in each case can be confusing. Please never hesitate to contact your Angels social worker with any questions. We can figure it out together!
-Jennifer
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