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State of the Program
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Dear Friends,
 The foster program is booming in September! We've had an abundance of placements so far this month. Seven children were placed in foster homes that included two girls (18 months and 2 years) and five boys (two 2 year olds, two 4 year olds, and one 8 year old). We hope that all is well in your house now that the kids are back in school and fall weather is just around the corner. Please remember we are here to address your concerns or answer any questions you may have, so don't hesitate to give Yvette, Gay, or Kathy a call or send an email if something comes up! Sincerely, AAI Foster/Adopt Staff |
| Resources for Dealing With Trauma |
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The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) is an organization dedicated to improving access to services for traumatized children, their families, and communities throughout the United States. Their website is full of research and resources for several types of trauma and how it affects children, ranging from domestic violence and neglect to living through war and natural disasters.
Sexual abuse is an issue that some adoptive parents must deal with. NCTSN has a large list of resources regarding child sexual abuse that may prove useful for families working through this type of trauma. A good place to start is reading through Caring for Kids: What Parents Need to Know about Sexual Abuse. Aimed at parents and caregivers, this great publication provides the information you will need to help support children who have experienced sexual abuse. From dealing with the shock of disclosure to coping with the emotional impact, these resources will help you and your child move past the pain and realize that it is possible to transcend trauma.
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| Families Wanted for Respite Care |
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Foster families are allowed two days of respite for their foster children each month. We would like to compile a list of families who would be willing to provide respite care for children in our foster homes. If you are interested, please let Kathy know. The list would be available to all of our foster families and would contain your preferred contact information. The family needing respite will contact you directly and you are free to accept or decline the placement; being on the list does not mean that you must always say, "yes!"
Please keep in mind that you can only provide care for children according to the restrictions of your license. For example, if you are licensed for three children, birth to 9, and you have two children in your home already, you could only provide respite for one child up to 9 years old at a time.
If you have any questions about providing or receiving respite, please contact Kathy!
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| Keep Those Dates Current! |
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 It is imperative that all items in your foster file are always current. Please take a moment to look at your driver's license, car insurance, and CPR/first aid cards to check the expiration dates so you can renew them before they expire and get the new copy to us for your file.
If any changes in circumstances in your employment, contact information, residence, or family dynamics occur, please let us know right away so we can update your file in our office and within the state system. Contact Yvette if you have any questions regarding your file.
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| Hmm... |
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What is this? It was in our general newsletter, too. Looks like a lost lion?
 | | Goodness gracious! Where am I? I hope some nice children come along soon... |
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