January 2011

e-News You Can Use

e-News You Can Use is a bi-monthly newsletter that links foster and adoptive parents and child welfare professionals with valuable resources and up-to-date information on events and Coalition happenings.
In This Issue
Support Groups
Community Calendar
Educational Advocacy Corner
Community Resources
How You Can Help
Social Networks

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Dear Friend of the Coalition,

Thank you for all of your support in 2010!  The New Year brings many exciting things for the Coalition.  We're looking forward to moving to Brentwood and opening the Foster and Adoption Resource Center and [RE]FRESH! We've made some changes to our email format - hoping you find it easy to read and navigate. Please don't hesitate to contact us!

Sincerely,


The Staff of the Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition

Coalition News

Extreme Recruitment® in Time Magazine

The January 10th issue of Time Magazine features Extreme Recruitment® , a collaboration between the Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition, the Missouri Children's Division and private contracted agencies, the Family Courts, and other child welfare organizations. This program is funded through a cooperative agreement with the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, under Children's Bureau Grant number 90C010391.


The article details one child's successful connection with her family through Extreme Recruitment.  According to Time, Extreme Recruitment may "pave the way to revolutionize the foster care system in America."  This isn't the first time Extreme Recruitment has received national attention. In 2010, the New York Times ran a story about the groundbreaking program. Click here for a sneak peek! 

 

Did Your Child Receive a Gift this Holiday Season?

Thanks to KSDK Newschannel 5 and the generous St. Louis community, over 3,000 Little Wishes were granted this holiday season. Each child who received a gift was also given a green "thank you" note to fill out and return to the Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition. If your child received a gift over the holidays, please have him or her fill out this note and mail it back to the Coalition so that we may show our donors how much their generosity is appreciated! If you have any questions, please contact us at 314.367.8373.
 

A Place to Call Home

St. Louis' NBC affiliate, KSDK NewsChannel 5, has taken an extraordinary lead in supporting adoption. Committed to producing a weekly segment, "A Place to Call Home," KSDK has featured waiting children in respectful, unique, and informative ways. "A Place to Call Home" features the hardest-to-place children: older youth and sibling groups in foster care. The program, case manager, and/or adoption worker can refer any child whose case plan is adoption. Children need not reside in the St. Louis area to be featured on "A Place to Call Home." For more information or to make a referral, please contact Jessi Brawley at 314.367.8373 or jessibrawley@foster-adopt.org.  
 

24 Hour Crisis Intervention

Thanks to a generous grant from the St. Louis County Children's Service Fund, the Coalition offers 24-hour Crisis Intervention Services to pre-guardianship/adoptive and guardianship/adoptive families in St. Louis County. For more information on the Crisis Intervention Program or to make a referral, contact Dawn Milburn, Lead Family Intervention Specialist at 314.614.2342.

Support Groups Free to Foster/Adoptive Families

Parent Support Group

Topic: Setting Goals for the New Year

01.22.11 / 6 to 8 p.m.

 Olivette Community Center (9732 Grandview Dr., St. Louis, MO 63132)

Childcare and dinner provided. You must register to attend.  To register, contact Nickie Steinhoff, Director of Training & Community Support, at nickiesteinhoff@foster-adopt.org or 314.367.8373 x35.

 

Older Youth Support Group

Topic: Setting Goals for the New Year

01.22.11 / 6 to 8 p.m.

Olivette Community Center (9732 Grandview Dr., St. Louis, MO 63132)

Dinner provided. You must register to attend.  To register, contact Nickie Steinhoff, Director of Training & Community Support, at nickiesteinhoff@foster-adopt.org or 314.367.8373 x35.

Community Calendar

Raising a Drug Free Child

01.13.11 / 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Leaps and Bounds (324 Jungerman Rd., St. Peters, MO 63376)

Cost:  FREE

This seminar (for parents, educators, therapists, and education students) will cover the impact of drugs on your child's body and natural alternative health care options for common childhood disorders such as ADHD, allergies, and digestive disorders. 

More information and reservations: 636.928.5327 or info@leapsandboundskids.com 

 

Friday Night Live

01.14.11 / 6 to 9 p.m.

The Lodge of Des Peres (1050 Des Peres Rd., St. Louis, MO 63131)

Cost:  $5

Middle School students ages 10 to 14 are invited to hang out with friends on Friday nights. Participants will enjoy activities, games, fitness classes, and more. Tickets go on sale the first of each month and only a limited number are sold, so don't wait! Participants should bring their swimsuit, towel, tennis shoes, and best behavior. Concessions are available.

More information and to register: www.desperesmo.org

 

Creative Kids Art Class

Every Saturday (excluding holidays) / 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Schmidt Art Center in Belleville (2500 Carlyle Ave., Belleville, IL 62221)
Cost:  $1 per person
After a brief tour of the current exhibition, adults and children ages 5 and older will create art related to the exhibit. Walk-ins are welcome, but registration is encouraged.

More information: www.schmidtartcenter.com or 618.222.5278

 

Cardinals Care Winter Warm-Up

01.15.11 / 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Hyatt Regency at the Arch (315 Chestnut St., St. Louis, MO 63102) 

Cost: Children up to age 5 are FREE; $10 for kids 5 to 15; $40 for fans

over 16; Additional fees are charged for certain activities.

Fans can get autographs from players, play interactive games, meet FredBird, attend live presentations, and find collectible memorabilia and cards. All proceeds benefit the Cardinals Care Foundation for children, which provides some funding for Coalition programs.

More information: www.stlouis.mlb.com or 314.345.9000

 

St. Louis Zoo Job Fair

01.15.11 / 9 a.m. to noon

The Living World at the St. Louis Zoo (1 Government Dr., St. Louis, MO

63110)

Cost: FREE

Is your teen looking for a fun, friendly, and unique work environment? Consider a seasonal job at the St. Louis Zoo! Teens ages 15 and older can learn about all of the Zoo's unique opportunities for spring, summer, and fall employment. Positions include food service, gift shops, grounds, guest services, and more.

More information: www.stlzoo.org or 314.781.0900

 

22nd Annual Jewish Community Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration

01.13.11 / noon

Jewish Community Center-Staenberg Family Complex-Arts & Education Building, Millstone Campus Drive

Cost:  FREE

James H. Buford, president and CEO, Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis will serve as keynote speaker. The event will feature children's choirs from African-American and Jewish communities from Confluence Academy-Old North, Jewish Community Center-Staenberg Family Compelt-Arts & Education Building Millstone Campus Drive. 

More information: 314.442.3894 or gwechsler@jcrcstl.org 

 

The Loop Ice Carnival

01.14.11 through 01.16.11 / 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Loop Neighborhood along Delmar from Kingsland to the Wabash Station

Cost:  FREE

Celebrate winter in the Loop with live ice carving demonstrations, 5K and 10K frozen buns runs, putt putt pub crawl, temporary tattoo scavenger hunt, ice slides, s'mores roast, trolley car tour with Frosty the Snowman, winter sports movies, fire performers, an ice-breaker with sledgehammer, live artists, performance groups, and more. Our Junior Board will have a booth at 6376 Delmar. Stop by and say hello!

More information: www.visittheloop.com or 314.727.8000

 

Eagle Days at the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge

01.15.11 through 01.16.11 / 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Old Chain of Rocks Bridge

Cost:  $5

Special viewing scopes on the bridge provide up-close looks at the majestic eagles that flock to this section of the Mississippi River each winter to feed.  Parking is at the Missouri Bridge entrance.

More information: www.trailnet.org or 314.416.9930

 

Photography 101: Getting the Most with the Least

01.16.11 / 1 to 3 p.m.

Columbia Bottom Conservation Area (801 Strodtman Rd., St. Louis, MO 63138)

Cost:  FREE

Calling all shutterbugs ages 8 and older! Do you want to learn how to achieve the effects of expensive camera set-ups? Then learn the basics of composition and how to utilize simple settings. After, the group will venture outdoors for photos.  Dress for the weather.

More information: www.mdc.org or 314.877.6014

 

Home Alone

01.17.11 / 9 to 10:30 a.m.

St. Luke's Institute for Health Education (232 S. Woods Mills Rd., Chesterfield, MO 63017)

Cost:  $15 per child

Are your kids ready to stay at home by themselves? This program is designed especially for pre-teens (ages 9 to 11) who may be staying home alone for the first time or need to learn more skills.  Topics include handling the unexpected, stranger danger, simple first aid, dealing with loneliness and boredom, storm saftey, trust, and honesty.

More information: www.stlukes-stl.com or 314.542.4848

 

Free Family Nights at the Magic House

01.21.11 / 5:30  to 9 p.m.

The Magic House (516 S. Kirkwood Rd., St. Louis, MO 63122)

Cost:  FREE

On the third Friday of every month, enjoy more than 100 hands-on exhibits for free. The Magic House also offers foster parents and those living in their homes FREE ADMISSION AT ALL TIMES.  Foster families must show identification that proves they are currently licensed. The offer does not extend to adoptive parents, unless they can prove they are currently licensed foster parents.

More information: www.magichouse.org or 314.822.8900

 

Storytelling at the Museum

01.21.11 / 10:30 a.m.

Missouri History Museum (5700 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63112)

Cost:  FREE

Children ages 2 to 6 can enjoy a story about cheese-nibbling critters and do a related craft. 

More information: www.mohistory.org or 314.746.4599

 

Healthy Kids Extravaganza

01.22.11 / noon to 3 p.m.

Whole Food Market - Town & Country (1160 Town & Country Crossing Dr., Town & Country, MO 63017)

Cost:  FREE

Kids (ages 3 to 12) can learn about healthy eating and living through fun activities, samples, and informative experts. Each child receives a goody bag with healthy treats inside. No reservations required.

More information: www.wholefoodsmarket.com or 636.527.1160

 

 

Educational Advocacy Corner

For help with IEPs, tutoring, and other educational concerns, please contact:

Test Stress: A Parent's Real Guide to College Test Prep

01.12.11 / 7 p.m.

Borders Books in Chesterfield

Taught by education experts from Sylvan Learning Centers, this FREE seminar helps parents learn about the latest trends in education and discover ways to help their children experience success in school and beyond.

More information and registration: www.sylvanlearning.com or 636.394.3104

 

How to Write Measurable Goals

01.24.11 / 6 to 9 p.m.

SSD Central Office, Room 61 (12110 Clayton Rd., Town & Country, MO 63131)

Learn how to write individualized and measurable educational goals for your child and track their progress with this easy-to-understand training for parents.

More information: www.ssdmo.org or 314.989.8100

 

January 2011 SSD Parent Connection Newsletter

Click here to view the January 2011 SSD Parent Connection Newsletter.  Find out about workshops available for parents in 2011.

Community Resources 

Our Little Academy Therapeutic Preschool

Our Little Academy Therapeutic Preschool at Our Little Haven is a full-day, year round resource for foster and adoptive families. The program serves children 3, 4, and 5 years old, and their families, by providing social, emotional, and behavioral support, including individual and group therapy, social skills development, psychiatric services, and speech and occupational therapy. Our Little Academy is currently enrolling children. For more information, please contact Susan Villasana at 314.533.2229 x222 or

svillasana@ourlittlehaven.org.

 

Free Job Fair

12.15.10 / 1 to 4 p.m.

Overland Community Center (9225 Lackland Rd., St. Louis, MO 63114)

Jump start the new year with a new job! This free job fair is open to all. Come and meet hiring employers from the St. Louis area. For more information, please call 314.466.4431 or 314.446.4417.

 

SAVE THE DATE!

Foster/Adoptive Care Resource Event

04.30.11

Cardinal Ritter College Preparatory High School

Foster/Adoptive care resource event including community resource vendors, children's activities, older youth workshops, and much more!

 

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Program for Adolescents

The comprehensive Adolescent DBT program offered by Jewish Family & Children's Services provides skills training in 1) Core Mindfulness; 2) Distress Tolerance; 3) Emotion Regulation; 4) Interpersonal Effectiveness; and 5) Walking the Middle Path. The program is 16 weeks long and includes weekly adolescent individual therapy, and adolescent/parent weekly skills training classes. For more information and to make a referral, call 314.993.1000.

 

Free Mental Health Services from Provident

The Children's Service Fund and Provident have partnered to offer free counseling, case management, and 24/7 phone support and crisis intervention for youth under the age of 20 and their families in St. Louis County. For more information, call 314.533.8200.

  

Other Trainings
 Autism Insurance Bill: What Does it Mean for People with Autism in Missouri?
 12.15.10 / 6:30 to 8 p.m.
St. Louis Arc Centene Family Center (1177 N. Warson Rd., St. Louis, MO 63132)
Missouri passed legislation that went into effect January 1st.  This legislation mandates that certain insurance companies cover specific therapies for people with autism.  Find out more about how this legislation was passed, how it will benefit people with autism, and what is being done to get more insurance companies to cover services for people with autism.  Childcare will be provided and light refreshments will be served.  RSVP to Ann Mangelsdorf at 314.817.2275 or amangelsdorf@slarc.org. 

SAVE THE DATE!
2011 St. Louis Regional Kinship Care Conference
04.15.11 / 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 
University of Missouri St. Louis (J.C. Penney Conference Center)  
Cost:  $45 (includes lunch and parking)
Strategies for Supporting Relative Caregivers of Children and Youth featuring Dr. Joseph Crumbly (Author, Family Therapist, Trainer, and Consultant).  4.25 social work credit hours pending.  The purpose of this conference is to provide professionals methods of supporting and intervening with kinship caregivers and their families, and to offer caregivers coping strategies to manage the family dynamics and emotional issues specific to kinship care.  For more information, visit www.extension.missouri.edu.