FAM
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May e-Newsletter

In This Issue
Waiting Children
Suggested reading
Upcoming Events
Open Houses
Wednesday's Child
Star of the Month
Father's Support Group
Annual Survey
FAMily Race Day
CAFAP E-Blast Sign-Up
Words of Wisdom

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Waiting Children

Please click on the AdoptUSKids link to view CT's children and youth waiting to be adopted.

Suggested Reading
Books on Foster Care And Adoption


Click here to download a PDF file containing a comprehensive list of books on foster care and adoption topics, including childrens' books.

Have we forgotten one of your favorite books?  Please let us know and we will be happy to add it to the list.

 
Upcoming Events
Please visit our events calendar on our website for a complete and up-to-date listing of ALL events that we will be appearing at.  The events listed below are those we are hosting or are likely to interest a larger audience.
 
Relatives As Parents Support Group 

Girls Inc. of SW CT
Waterbury, CT
June 18


Ring of Hope Adoptive Family Support Group
Prospect Public Library
Prospect, CT 
June 20  
 
FAMily Race Day
Lime Rock Park
Lakeville, CT
June 9
   

 

Mother Daughter Tea 
Girls Inc., of SW CT

35 Park Place 
Waterbury, CT  
July 14

12th Annual FAMily Fun Day 
Quassy Amusement Park
Middlebury, CT
August 3


Glam Day 

Cheshire, CT
August 20

Bells Of Hope
Statewide Faith Communities
November 2-4
Open House  schedule available on our website

Prospective foster and adoptive parents are welcome at any Open House listed on our website.  Please call one of the regional coordinators listed at the bottom of this newsletter or email

us for more information or to schedule an individual appointment. 

Click here for the most current listing of open houses across the state.

Wednesday's Child
WTNH logo

 

WTNH Channel 8 airs a weekly segment featuring CT children available for adoption and families formed through adoption.  Click on the logo  above to see recent video segments hosted by Ted Koppy. 

Good News Garage
Car Donations Making a Difference
Good News Garage (GNG), a program of Lutheran Social Services is one of the first nonprofit social enterprise car donation programs in the U.S. The mission of Good News Garage is to create economic opportunity by providing affordable and reliable transportation options for people in need, including foster youth. Since its founding in Burlington, Vermont, in 1996, GNG has awarded more than 3,800 reliable vehicles to individuals and families in need.

 

Good News Garage repairs as many donated cars as possible in order to provide them to low-income individuals who need transportation to gain access to employment, shopping, school and medical facilities.
 
You may donate your car online or call Good News Garage toll-free, at 877.GIVE.AUTO (448.3288). All vehicle donations are eligible for a tax deduction.

 

Visit their website to learn more about their programs.
  
Quick Links

Adoption Assistance Program

 

Adoption Community Network

 

Black Hair Care

 

CT Yellow Pages for Kids 

 

Crayola Stain Tips

 

Disney Family Fun

 

More about FAM

 

Kids.gov

-official kids' portal  for the U.S. government

 

CAFAP

 

Represent Magazine

-national magazine written by youth in foster care

 

Volume 4, Edition 5                                  May 2012 

Greetings!

The month-long celebrations and trainings honoring families caring for children and youth in the CT foster care system is drawing to a close.  What a month it has been!  Conferences, Comedy Night, trainings and family celebrations, all supporting and honoring our families.  Connecticut has been a busy place.
 
At the annual CAFAP conference DCF Commissioner Katz and Ken Mysogland, Director of Foster and Adoption Services conducted a town meeting style chat with conference attendees.  Families felt the Commissioner's personal support that afternoon. Commissioner Katz led off by stating, "Support is everyone's job."  She continued saying, "You do not feel supported and I am sorry.... We get it.  We know what you mean to the children."  From there she and Director Mysogland outlined the positive steps DCF is taking to more fully support and connect with families. They acknowledged the challenges inherent in the system and pledged that families will feel the changes occurring on all levels in the department leading to a more full partnership with DCF. 
Commissioner Katz
Commissioner Katz - Photo courtesy of CAFAP
Commissioner Katz acknowledged that the changes would not occur overnight but she convincingly stated that the changes will happen.  For an hour every eye was on her and Director Mysogland and complete silence enveloped the room.  Many times applause broke out.  It was incredibly inspiring to be present for this discussion.  Leaving afterwards, the atmosphere could only be described as hopeful and truly positive!

A great way to conclude National Foster Care Month would be to check out the (DCF) Commissioner's Corner blog post written last week by Deputy Commissioner, Janice M. Gruendel, Ph.D., M.Ed. and DCF Director of Foster and Adoption Services, Ken Mysogland. Click here  After you have read the blog post, check out the links located at the end.  There's always lots of interesting information available by clicking on them.

Licensed families from northwestern CT - don't forget to register for our 4th Annual FAMily Race Day in June - details below.  Dads from all over - check out the unique support group opportunity in Bridgeport.  Dads from as far as Waterbury have registered to attend this fathers-only group.

Til next month~

signature revised

 

  star of the month
Each month one of our member agencies
feature a "star" whose service to children in foster care deserves special recognition.
Stars receive a small gift from FAM and a certificate of appreciation from the nominating agency. This month we share a family from our partner, Family and Children's Aid.

 

 

 

 

 

Mr. and Mrs. Thompson became licensed with Family & Children's Aid in September of 2010. The Thompsons were very excited to receive their first placement! Mr. Thompson is the coach of many different sports teams in Waterbury, which is great because their foster sons are very into sports, as well.

 

The Thompsons received their first placement in December of 2010; he was a perfect match for them! In March of 2011, the Thompsons were offered a second placement, which they enthusiastically welcomed. He too, was also a great match for the family and got along great with the foster son already in the home. In fact, the older foster son became a role model to the younger child.

 

The Thompsons are very compliant with services and appreciate everything that is offered to them by Family & Children's Aid in order to support the placements of both of their foster sons. The Thompsons showed their dedication to making the placements work with devotion to in-home services, outpatient therapy, medication management, and extra-curricular activities for both children.

 

The Thompsons recognize that each of their foster sons has different needs and they are accommodating to each one's specific needs. The Thompsons have been through many ups and downs throughout their time as foster parents, including having their home taken from them through eminent domain. Fortunately, the Thompsons were able to move to a beautiful new home with both foster sons. Recently settled in their new home, they are in the process of adopting one of their foster sons and hoping to adopt the other in the near future.

 

The Thompsons are an extraordinary family and we greatly appreciate having them on our team! We wish them continued success throughout their journey as foster parents!


 

 

Fathers Gaining Strength Through Support
And Understanding
dads
Interested in a "dads only" support group?
This support group/ parenting class provides a nurturing and supportive environment where foster and adoptive fathers can gather on a regular basis to discuss issues pertinent to raising their children.  Fathers will also have the opportunity to improve their parenting and other related skills through dialogue and a positive exchange of ideas. The learning process will flourish through group discussions, reading of articles, watching appropriate movie clips, etc. Fathers will be empowered as they learn to connect the proverbial dots between all aspects of parenting and being the head of a household.

 

  • Fathers will increase their understanding of issues specific to foster/adoptive families.
  • Fathers will develop parenting techniques centered around multi-level family communication.
  • Fathers will be able to address parenting issues though group discussion.
  • Fathers will develop new skills that will enable them to effectively deal with their emotions and to openly express their feelings.

Location: Casey Family Service

777 Main Street

Bridgeport, Ct                                                                

When: 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month starting June 6, 2012

Time: 5:30- 7:30 p.m.

Facilitator: Rony Delva, M.S.

  

To register or for more details contact Selina Daniels 203-583-9374 or by email.

 

 

 

2012 Annual Licensed Foster, Adoptive, Relative Caregiver Survey
CAFAP logo CAFAP and DCF invite all currently licensed Foster, Adoptive and Relative Caregivers to participate in their Annual Survey. 
FAMily Race Day for Northwestern Families
Family Race Day 2012
Click here for a PDF/printable copy of this invitation
  Our Partners at CAFAP
CAFAP logo Have you subscribed to the CAFAP E-blast? 

Save the date! 
DCF and CAFAP celebrate Girl Scouts Day with the Rock Cats on June 29. 

Interested in learning about more events like this one?
Subscribe to the CAFAP e-blast and be "in the know."

  Details about the Rock Cats event as well as other events sponsored by CAFAP available through the e-blast.
 

 
Integrated AestheticsIntegrated Aesthetics

 

Star of the Month Gift Certificates are made possible by the generosity of our partner, Integrated Aesthetics, a skin care studio  in Woodbridge, CT.

Please visit their website to check out the range of organic & clinical facials as well as therapeutic massage & body treatments, makeup lessons & application. The studio serves all ages, including teens.
Contact the studio at 203.687.7923 to schedule an appointment.

Words of Wisdom
 Kids hugging
Contact Information

 

Northwestern CT Regional Coordinator:     Deb Kelleher  203.706.0101   Email 

 

Meriden/Greater New Haven Area Regional Coordinators:  
                                                                        Ashley Minihan 203.394.8506  Email 
                                                                        Laura Rainey  Email
Greater Fairfield County Coordinator:        Selina Daniels 203.583.9374  Email 
  
Central/Southeastern CT Coordinator:        Alana Jones 860.710.1593   Email