Celebrating National Foster Care Month
For 10 years, Angels has been celebrating National Foster Care Month in May and for 10 years we have been proud to find amazing families who share our 
vision for creating the best foster care experience possible for babies and toddlers in Santa Barbara County.  In these 10 years, we have been part of amazing, life changing and life-improving experiences!  Because you are receiving this newsletter, YOU are part of our work and we are so grateful for your support and the care you have given to us and to the children we serve.  THANK YOU!

CHILDREN DO BEST IN FAMILIES Every child deserves to grow up with at least one trusted, committed parental figure - an adult who keeps her safe and serves as a stable, nurturing bedrock. This essential relationship becomes clear the moment a newborn is handed to her mother and begins to recognize her face and voice. The infant begins to learn to depend on the person who is there day and night. This foundational healthy attachment to a parent or caregiver not only helps a child feel secure, it promotes the development of her brain. (The KIDS COUNT Policy Report, The Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2015).

The Angels Foster Care unique model is built upon this research and provides the best results for children in foster care. We understand that a child does best when they have stability--meaning they do not move from home to home.  In that nurturing Angels home, they are able to form an attachment with a primary caregiver, to learn to trust, and to learn how to love and be loved.  This focus on kids being kids allows them the freedom to develop their physical, cognitive and emotional skills to their maximum potential.  Unfortunately, 79% children in foster care in Santa Barbara County have at least 2 placements.*  Children who are not part of Angels Foster Care face additional trauma and disruption with multiple foster home placements.  

Thank you for sharing information about foster care in our community and for all you do to help. There is more we need to do, though, so please help the children in foster care with your support, your prayers, your donations, or volunteering your time or talents.  There are many ways you can get involved with Angels Foster Care or other organizations serving foster youth in our area. Don't hesitate to contact us if you'd like to know more.

*All data collected from kidsdata.org, the official data collection site for information on children's health and well-being in the State of California.  Most recent data available is from 2014.

Sincerely,
The Angels Foster Care Team

P.S.  One fun way to support Foster Care Month is to join us for our 1st Annual Glitter Dash 5k for Foster Care on May 21!  

The Luebke Family
Scott, Chelsie and Kate Luebke are one of our newest families since Kate's adoption was finalized late in 2015 when she was 21 months old.  Scott and Chelsie wanted to create a family and knew adoption would be the way for them.  After learning about the Angels Foster Care program, they decided this would be the way they could grow a family.  They consider Kate the most precious gift they have ever received.  They consider their road to adoption a long one but they would not have it any other way.
The most meaningful part of the fostering experience was getting to watch Kate grow from the very beginning. Kate's contagious personality made the whole experience joyful and watching her smile makes everyone around her want to smile!  Kate is now almost two and is a loving, happy baby who is very social and loves to give hugs and kisses!  She is also smart, feisty, strong-willed and her mother describes her as passionate.
 Kate has a special love for animals so Scott and Chelsie wonder if working with animals might be in her future.  Right now, Kate's days are filled with reading, especially Winnie the Pooh, playing with dolls, riding her stuffed animal horse, coloring with crayons and visiting the giraffes and flamingos at the zoo.  She's also very helpful in the garden harvesting tomatoes (which she eats right off the plant) and smelling the flowers.  

Angels has welcomed five little ones in the past month.  We are so thankful that we had families ready and willing to receive these children. Many thanks to 
Heather and Terry, Ashly and Lee, Jeff and Annika, and Julie and Ian for opening their homes and hearts! Also, thanks to Scott and Chelsie of South County for also taking a brief and urgent placement.
 
One adoption has happened in North County so far this month with two more to happen in the next few weeks.  

Angels would like to recognize the amazing efforts of Scott and Chelsie of South Santa Barbara County as our Foster Parents of the Month. We are very grateful for the time you spend as foster parents, and for the love and support you have given to young children who need you.  

5th Annual Al Fresco Afternoon on the Rivera
The sun shone brightly on the gorgeous Four Seasons Biltmore gardens on Friday, April 22 for Angels' fifth annual "Al Fresco Afternoon on the Riviera" fundraising luncheon. The event honored Angels foster parent Shelley Fogg, the Hutton Parker Foundation and Angels Foster Family Network founder Cathy Richman. Guests enjoyed a beautiful lunch while hearing the personal stories shared by Angels' honorees, as well as a fashion show and outdoor shopping marketplace. Due to the generosity of more than 250 Angels supporters, friends and families, the luncheon netted more than $85,000 for Angels Foster Care! 

We want to especially thank the wonderful sponsors who helped underwrite this event:

GOLD HALO SPONSORS:
Montecito Bank & Trust, Mesa Lane Partners, Santa Ynez Vacation Rentals, UGG Australia

SILVER WINGS SPONSORS:
OSI Hardware & Telecom, Little One Foundation, Hutton Parker Foundation, Coast 2 Coast Collection, Pretty Fetes, Recipes Organic Bakery, Juliska and Vietri.






Top: Al Fresco Afternoon on the Mar Vista Lawn at the Four Seasons Biltmore. Above left: Floral decor was provided by former Angels foster parent Shannon Neels. Above right: Fundraising committee members Holly Murphy, Stephanie Smillie, Meichelle Arntz and Susannah Rake.











Top: Angels Foster Family Network founder Cathy Richman gave a compelling talk about the origins of the Angels model of care. Top left: former Angels foster parent Netie Chaubal, committee member Megan Brand and committee member Katie Wisner helped with the raffle and event photography. Top right: Angels Board President Michelle Richardson presented the Foundation Award to Robyn Parker (and her baby daughter), Sue Parker and Pam Lewis of the Hutton Parker Foundation.

GLITTER DASH 5K FUN RUN FOR FOSTER CARE!
Saturday, May 21, 2016  
5800 S. Bradley Road, Orcutt, CA
Race starts at 10 am!
Join us for this day of fun in the sun as we celebrate family with a 5k fun run!  During the run we will have lots of other activities for everyone including great food, a raffle with amazing prizes and more! Your support can be coming out for the fun, joining the 5k, or simply sharing with your neighbors and friends about the event. 
Win great prizes for: 
1st place - Man / Woman / Child
Best Angel Costume
Oldest Runner
Youngest Runner
WE CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU THERE - COME JOIN THE FUN!

Santa Maria Sunrisers Lions Club
5th Annual Nate Lipscomb Memorial Golf Tournament
Saturday, June 18th 2016 10 am
Monarch Dunes Golf Course
Join golfers from around the Central Coast in a fun day on a beautiful course for a chance to win prizes and awards AND know you are supporting Angels Foster Care.  Proceeds from this tournament will be donated to Angels Foster Care.  SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES are available.  If you or your business would like to participate as a sponsor--foursomes are included in most sponsorship levels--contact Kelly White O'Neill. Click here for golf tournament details and to download a registration form.

Annual Angels Foster Family Picnic
Saturday, September 24th 11 - 2 pm
Location:   A park in mid-county (exact location TBD)
Calling all Angels to join us for our annual family gathering with food, fun, and time to visit with friends new and old.  Thanks to the generous donation of a wonderful BBQ by the Kiwanis Club of the South Coast, we can offer a family friendly afternoon of good food and camaraderie.  We look forward to seeing you and will update you with details as they are confirmed.  


FOUNDATION NEWS. Congratulations to the Hutton Parker Foundation for receiving our "Foundation of the Year Award" from Angels Foster Care.  This wonderful foundation was honored at our annual Al Fresco event on April 22.  To learn more about this important foundation serving Santa Barbara County non profits, visit their website.


Visit our web site for full details on requirements, training, support and adoption. Now is a great time to begin the process in order to take advantage of our Fall Foster Parent Training Series. Note that pre-screening and certain paperwork are required before prospective foster parents may enroll in parent training classes. Please contact Angels as soon as you are ready to begin the process. 

If you can't foster, please consider a  donation.

Volunteers Needed!  
As we celebrate our 10th Anniversary throughout 2016, Angels Foster Care has a number of events and activities to celebrate this milestone and shed light on the issue of foster care in our County.  Volunteers are needed throughout the year for various activities and events.  If you have time, talent, or any resources you can share, please contact us and we can let you know how you, your club, your church, or your group of friends or family can help!  In North County contact Kelly or in Santa Barbara, contact Ellen.  You can always give us a call at (805) 884-0012.  
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