I first learned of Angels Foster Care of Santa Barbara while sitting in the audience at Montecito Bank & Trust's annual Anniversary Grants reception.  Many years ago, the bank's owner, Michael Towbes chose to celebrate the bank's anniversary by asking the associates of MB&T to choose their favorite nonprofit to receive a $1,500 grant. In March 2010, Angels Foster Care was selected as one of 10 deserving grant recipients!  I recall the strong emotion circulating in the room at the evening reception as we listened to the mission statement of each nonprofit.There were a lot of tears shed during the presentations, most in response to hearing about the dire circumstances of local families - especially young children. 

A MB&T employee who had been an Angel's foster parent for three years and Carol Brown of Angels' board of directors described the services Angels Foster Care provides to children that have been abused, neglected, or abandoned by their parents. I thought "thank God there's an organization in our community that cares enough to help these children." 

Several months later, I had the pleasure of meeting Meichelle Arntz at a coffee shop to talk about an opportunity to serve on Angel's board of directors.  Meichelle spoke so passionately about the need to protect children from abuse and from the lasting attachment issues that typically develop when children are moved from foster home to foster home. The more I listened to Meichelle, the more I wanted to know how I could help Angels babies grow up safe, healthy, and happy. At one point in our conversation, I realized I knew a family that had become Angels foster parents and was thrilled to learn from Meichelle that the family ended up adopting the beautiful baby boy I had met at their home.  What a perfect placement Angels Foster Care had made!  To my delight, the week after I met with Meichelle, she recommended me to her board of directors and I attended my first Angels board meeting in January of this year.  I look forward to helping Angels Foster Care continue with the important work they do every day in our community.

-Michelle Richardson, Board of Directors, Angels Foster Care

From the Desk of Your Social Worker

A Court Minute: the 366.26 Hearing

   366.26 Hearing, or "26" as it's often called, is a hearing scheduled by the Court to develop a permanent plan for dependent child(ren). By the time the 366.26 hearing is set, the Court has already determined that the parent(s) will not reunify with the child because the parents have either failed reunification services or the Court has bypassed offering services to the parents altogether.

   The 366.26 hearing is usually set for 120 days after the termination of family reunification services.  The termination of family reunification services is not the same as terminating parental rights.  The termination of family reunification services means that Child Welfare Services (CWS) and the Court are no longer trying to reunify the family and services for the parents are no longer arranged and paid for by CWS. Terminating family reunification services always happens well in advance of the termination of parental rights.

   It is important to remember that during the time between the termination of family reunification services and the 366.26 hearing, the biological parents may still receive visitation.  They also have the legal ability up until the time of the 366.26 hearing to file a JV-180 petition, in which they attempt to demonstrate a change of circumstance and ask the court to either place the child with them or for them to receive additional reunification time.  They have to legally make this case before the Court and other parties, such as County Counsel for CWS, and the  child's attorney may contest the JV-180 petition.

   One factor which may delay the 366.26 hearing is the issue of notice of the hearing to the biological parents.  If the parents were present at the hearing when family reunification was terminated, they were given notice then of the 366.26 hearing date.  However, if the parents were not present, CWS must notice the parents of the 366.26 hearing date and file proof of service with the Court.  In this situation, notice cannot be done solely by first class mail to the parents' residence, rather must be in-person notice or notice by publication. Historically, 366.26 hearings have been continued by the local Court due to noticing issues and to provide further time for CWS to notice parents properly of the pending court proceedings. Whether proper notice was given is one issue often argued in appeals filed with the Appellate Court. 

   At the 366.26 hearing, the Court determines what the permanent plan should be for the child(ren).  The plan can be either:  adoption, legal guardianship, or long term foster care.  The most permanent plan for a child, and the one most preferred by the Court, is that of adoption. The Court shall terminate parental rights only if it determines that there is clear and convincing evidence that it is likely that the child(ren) will be adopted.  The Court wants to avoid creating legal orphans (when parental rights have been terminated but there are no adoptive parents to step in and take on the parental role).

   After the 366.26 hearing and the termination of parental rights, the biological parents have the right to appeal the Court's decision to the California State Appellate Court.  The parents must file their appeal within 60 days of the date of the Court's ruling terminating parental rights.  Once parental rights are terminated, on-going visitation between the child and the biological parents and family ends.  Depending on the age of the child and the current circumstances, the biological parents are usually given one last visit with the child before visitation completely ends.  

    It may certainly seem like a lengthy process, but it is also a legally necessary and protective one for all involved -- the child, the biological parents and the prospective adoptive parents.

-       Jennifer

Advice from Dr. Charish Barry

Charish Barry, MD, is a local pediatric hospitalist with Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital and a pediatrician in private practice (www.petitepediatrics.com). She is also a member of the Angels Board of Directors and the local representative for the American Academy of Pediatrics Southern California Chapter. Follow her on Twitter (@petitepeds) to receive her tweets about pediatric health.

A Good Reason to Smile

  A healthy mouth and teeth are an important part of a child's wellness. So when should a child go in for his first dental exam? What's the best way to take care of a baby's teeth? How can you build good dental habits with your children, regardless of their ages? Here's what you need to know.

   Do you remember learning how to take care of your teeth as a child? Perhaps there was an upbeat rhyme that kept you on task when brushing, or maybe cartoon images of milk come to mind. Maybe you're old enough to remember those red tablets that, once chewed, showed where you missed brushing. Though this time marked a turning point in your independence, the road to your oral health began much sooner.

   Even babies' mouths can develop a buildup of damaging bacteria along the gums, a problem that can be prevented by wiping them with a soft, damp cloth after feedings. Some of the advice pediatricians include in a total wellness plan also speaks to keeping baby's mouth and teeth healthy. Nutritional needs come into play. And for all the advice you might have received about helping your child sleep by putting her to bed with a bottle, this is perhaps the biggest contributor to preventable decay and early cavities.

   "In our clinic at Duke Children's Hospital, we see children under age 3 every week with significant tooth decay. Restoring these teeth to a healthy state is not only emotionally challenging for the child but a major financial burden to the family," says Martha Ann Keels, DDS, Ph.D., a pediatric dentist in Durham, N.C., who treats baby bottle tooth decay. 

Getting Dental Help

   Healthy teeth are crucial for speaking and for chewing solid food. Whether you're in the midst of the long nights that might accompany infant teething or your child has a full set of pearly whites, it's a good idea to brush up on just what to do next.

   And according to Dr. Keels, there's now consensus among four major national entities all recommending that children should have an oral health risk assessment by their first birthday.

   A child's first trips to a pediatric dentist can give parents good guidance for taking care of a child's teeth, gums, and mouth. It's a good time to find out how to encourage your child to be proactive about dental hygiene, and get answers to your questions about everything from feeding to using pacifiers.

The dentist also will explain how to spot potential problems, such as the white chalky spots that indicate dental caries, an early dental disease. According to Dr. Keels, caries is the most common problem diagnosed in young patients. "Parents need to know that the white spot lesions are reversible - they can be re-mineralized with a combination of remedies, such as diet changes and fluoride varnish," explains Dr. Keels. "If the white spot is left unattended, it may quickly advance into an irreversible cavity."

Peace of Mind

   Even for adults who haven't been faithful in getting their own routine checkups, parents often want what's best for their children, and this includes getting appropriate dental care. Adding a dental professional as a resource to your support system can provide ongoing peace of mind for your entire family.

   Dr. Keels relates her experience of examining a 12-month-old for the first time on a recent morning. Later that same day, the child fell and pushed her teeth up into her gums.

   "It is not uncommon for a toddler to fall and have dental trauma when learning to walk. In the scenario where the child already has a dental home at age one, that family knows where to go for help," says Dr. Keels. "In the scenario where they have not seen a dentist yet, it will be doubly stressful to find a provider."

The Exam: What to Expect

   Almost all pediatric dentists will perform a thorough exam of the mouth and teeth while the child is comfortably situated on the parent's tap. Using a lap pillow as a prop, some dentists may have the child lean back onto the pillow while holding his parent's hands.

   As further comfort to hesitant moms and dads, Dr. Keels says, "I reassure parents that it is completely normal for the child to get upset with having to lean backwards, but that the exam is very quick and the toddlers quickly recover once the child is allowed to sit up."

   If you're at all worried about the prospects of a squirmy baby or rambunctious toddler in a quiet office setting, you're not alone. It might help to remember that you are seeking the expertise of a professional whose career is dedicated to working with kids. A pediatric dentist receives an additional two to three years of specialized training over that of a non-specialized dentist. And while maintaining a toy-filled waiting room might not be necessary to obtaining credentials, it most certainly is the norm.

The Golden Rules for Raising Cavity-free Kids

• Support good dental health by taking care of your child's gums and teeth on a daily basis. Once the child is old enough to "do it by herself," continue monitoring daily habits and self-care.
• Be selective about any type of beverage you put in your child's bottle or sippy cup besides water. Remember, dentists often refer to juice and soda as "liquid candy."
• Keep a bottle or sippy cup away from your child's naptime and nighttime slumbers. Liquids tend to stick to the teeth because the mouth is drier during sleep.
• Reward children with hugs, stickers, and toys instead of desserts and candy. Sugary foods leave behind a sticky coating that converts to harmful bacteria and enamel-eating acid. But if you feel compelled to give your child an occasional sweet, choose one that melts rapidly instead of gummy candy.
• Serve up calcium-rich foods such as yogurt, cheese, and milk, along with plenty of vitamin-heavy vegetables to help your child maintain strong, healthy teeth. Build good habits early by giving your child healthy treats in place of sweets at snack time.
• Talk to your child's pediatrician or dentist about the appropriate amount of fluoride your child needs.

From Healthy Children Magazine

The Last Word

"Making the decision to parent a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body."
 

- Elizabeth Stone