HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS ISSUE: 
 
FREE Child Abuse Prevention  Workshop (Free CEU's) 
Foster Parent Information Meeting
DCS FAQ's 
Behavioral Health Center News
We're Growing! - NEW Open Positions 

March 2016
Family Ark Announcements
Free Child Abuse Prevention Workshop - Free CEU's 

Family Ark is pleased to announce we will be hosting a free Child Abuse Prevention workshop Tuesday, April 5th at the Family Ark Lodge from 12pm - 3pm. The workshop will cover Indicators of Abuse and Neglect & Promoting Prevention in an Early Childhood Settings. Please visit our event page, familyarkceu.eventbrite.com, for additional topic details.

The workshop will be lead by Prevent Child Abuse Indiana and is ideal for early intervention professionals, early childhood education professionals, health care professionals, teachers, and social service staff. 

The workshop will include FREE CEU's and a free lunch. 

Prevent Child Abuse Indiana will be providing 3 Category II Continuing Education Credits (CEU's) free of charge. The CEU's are recognized by the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency - Behavioral Health and Human Services.  

The workshop is open to the public. Seating is limited. Please register at familyarkceu.eventbrite.com.
Foster Parent Information Meeting - Open to the Public 

Family Ark would like to invite you and your family to learn more information about becoming a licensed foster parent.  Lunch is provided and children are welcome!
 
Information to be covered:
  •  What does a foster family do?
  •  How do I become a foster parent?
  •  What if I want to adopt?
  •  Learn about advantages of fostering through Family Ark. 
And much more! 

Please RSVP online: familyarkfosterparent.eventbrite.com to reserve your seat and lunch -or- call 812-282-8479.
Judge's Round Table 
Family Ark was pleased to host the Clark County Judge's Round Table at the end of February. 

Judge Vicki Carmichael was joined by 30 family service provider representatives at the Family Ark Lodge to discuss current news and events affecting children and families in our community. 
Annual Fund Campaign Ends March 31!

We're counting on you to help us reach this year's goal! The Annual Fund campaign runs through  March 31, 2016 and that means there's still time to give! Thanks to all who have already given to this important campaign to support critical services for neglected and abused children in Southern Indiana. 

For your convenience, online giving is now possible at www.thefamilyark.org. Please share this giving opportunity!
Foster Care News
A Trip Down Memory Lane

Do you have a favorite memory relating to Family Ark? How has Family Ark impacted your life?

Family Ark is seeking testimonials from current or previous clients speaking to their experiences within our programs. These testimonials will be utilized to update our website, marketing material, and to be highlighted on the E-Newsletter. Testimonials can be related to any or all of Family Ark's programming including foster care, home based services, day reporting, the Behavioral Health Center, volunteering, or a Family Ark event.

Pictures are also encouraged, but please remember, pictures and testimonials will be published publicly. A small token of thanks will be sent to those who participate.

Please send your testimonial to lkeeney@thefamilyark.org or mail to Laura Keeney at  101 Noah's Lane, Jeffersonville, IN, 47130. 
New Foster Families
Family Ark is pleased to announce two new foster families joining the agency in March! 

Our Foster Care Program identifies individuals or families who are willing to open their home and their hearts to children in need. Family Ark looks for foster parents to help children (birth to age 18) who have experienced abuse, neglect or other trauma. 

If you or someone you know is interested in learning more information about becoming a foster parent, please contact Laura Keeney at lkeeney@thefamilyark.org or join us for a free information meeting, including a lunch, on April 16th. Please see additional details above and RSVP to save your seat at familyarkfosterparent.eventbrite.com. 
Department of Child Services - FAQ's
What information do I have to provide 
if I report child abuse or neglect?

Generally, the following information will be requested:
  • Exact name, address and telephone number of the parent, guardian or custodian
  • Current location and condition of the child, including suspected injury
  • Exact description of what you saw or the child told you
  • If you have kept a log of concerning behaviors or suspected abuse that will be helpful
  • Other pertinent information the reporter may find helpful in assessing the allegations
  • Specific details and information makes it easier for the person taking the report to assess the situation quickly.
 

To report child abuse or neglect (Indiana) call: 
1-800-800-5556
Behavioral Health Center News
Behavioral Health Center Services 

Family Ark's Behavioral Health Center is accepting new clients and is open to current Family Ark clients and the community at large. Services are available for children, adolescents, and adults. 

Located on Family Ark's 83-acre campus, the Behavioral Health Center offers the following services: 


Medication Management with licensed psychiatrist
 
Counseling - Individual, Family, & Group 

Substance Abuse Treatment - Individual & Group 

Diagnostic Services with licensed psychologist 

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call 812-284-1760 or email fabhc@thefamilyark.org. 
What are ACEs?
ACEs are Adverse Childhood Experiences that harm children's developing brains so profoundly that the effects show up decades later; they contribute to chronic diseases, most mental illness, and are at the root of most violence.
 
The CDC-Kaiser Adverse Childhood Experiences Study, a groundbreaking public health study that discovered that childhood trauma leads to adult onset of chronic diseases, mental illness, violence, and being a victim of violence. The ACE Study has published around 70 research papers since 1998. Hundreds of additional research papers based on the ACE Study have also been published.
 
The 10 ACEs the researchers measured:
  1. Emotional abuse
  2. Physical abuse
  3. Sexual abuse
  4. Emotional neglect
  5. Physical neglect
  6. Mother or step-mother treated violently
  7. Household substance abuse
  8. Household mental illness or suicide
  9. Parental separation or divorce
  10. Incarcerated household member
 
People are given an ACE score of 0 through 10. Each type of trauma counts as one ACE. Each ACE continues to counts as one, no matter how many times it occurs. 
 
You can think of an ACE score as a cholesterol score for childhood trauma. In our next newsletter we will explore why this information is significant to us, our families, and our community.

by Kristi Glotzbach, Director or Treatment Fidelity at Family Ark 
Family Ark Staff News
We're Growing - Now Hiring 

Family Ark's programs and services have continued to grow throughout 2016 to meet the needs of our community - and with growth comes opportunity!

Family Ark is currently hiring for the following positions:



Family Ark is an equal opportunity employer offering career opportunities to those who want to make a difference in the lives of children and families in Southern Indiana. Family Ark offers competitive pay and benefit packages for full time employees. Click on the links above for full job descriptions or contact Kersten Farah for more information. 
Don't Forget! 
Amazon Smile All Year Round 
Support Family Ark through Amazon Smile all year round! 

Do you know about AmazonSmile?
  • Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the charitable organization of your choice.
  • AmazonSmile is the same Amazon you know. Same products, same prices, same service.
  • Support Family Ark by starting your shopping at smile.amazon.com.
www.thefamilyark.org      812.288.6800