May E-Newsletter
Volume 6                                                      Edition 5
In This Issue
AdoptUsKids
CT Heart Gallery
Suggested Reading
Open House Schedule
Words of Wisdom
News and Items of Interest
Star of the Month
Words of Wisdom
Photos
Contact Us
About Annie C
Join Our List
Like our community collaborative on Facebook
Join the Annie C community on Facebook
Adoptive Parents
Waiting Children
Please click on the AdoptUSKids logo to view CT's children and youth waiting to be adopted who are registered with AdoptUSKids.
AdoptUsKids logo

 

CT Heart Gallery
Please click on logo to view the write-ups and videos of CT's children and youth waiting to be adopted. (These children and youth may be different from the ones listed on the AdoptUSKids site.) 
Heart Gallery Logo

 

Lending Library


 Region 5 Lending Library

Please check out the titles available to families. Included in the list of 60 titles are a number of great books for young children as well as teens. If you would like any information regarding any of these books Amazon carries all of them and publishes synopses on them.
Families are welcome to borrow titles for up to one month.

Details are available by  clicking here.  

 

 

Open House Schedule
Want to learn more about foster/adoptive parenting? 

 

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

for more information or to schedule an individual appointment.

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

 

 

Our Monthly Support Groups
Foster Care Alumni Meeting
211 Schraffts Dr #A5 
Waterbury  
1st Thursday
6:30-8:30pm

Building Blocks Club 

211 Schraffts Dr #A5 
Waterbury
3rd Thursday, 4-5:30pm

Relative Caregiver Support Group
   
211 Schraffts Dr # A5   
3rd Wednesday, 6:30-8:30pm 
Limited Childcare

Relative Caregiver Support Group 
211 Schraffts Dr # A5 
4th Monday, 10am
No childcare.  

Kindly RSVP to attend our groups.
 
If you would like to be added to reminder emails for groups please email: deb.kelleher@anniec.org using the subject line: GROUP REMINDER 
 
Quick Links
May 31, 2015


National Foster Care Month is always such a busy, exciting time for everyone. Between Memorial Day, graduations and proms (to name a few) and, of course, foster care celebrations most of us end the month tired but renewed. It is a time to celebrate all we have accomplished together in CT as well as concentrate with renewed vigor on outreach for more families for the children and youth who still wait for the right family for them.  

We hope you and your family enjoyed one of the many celebrations held all over CT dedicated to the families and children we all serve. 

With great respect for all our partners,


  signature revised
Annie C Courtney Foundation, Inc.
News and Items of Interest
Calendar
 Click on the calendar at right to see upcoming events. 

Check out all the great information we've been posting on our coalition Facebook page this past month!

 

Star of the Month
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 the community collaborative and a certificate of appreciation from the nominating agency.  This month, we share a family from our partner, CRI.



Donna Canzius has been a foster care provider for CRI since 2010.  Ms. Canzius has many of the qualities of a outstanding foster parent.  When thinking about ways to describe her the words caring, loving, supportive and dedicated immediately come to mind.   
Donna's most recent placement occurred this past January. The young lady placed with Donna has an extensive history of trauma and required a slow transition into her new home so that she could feel safe and comfortable.  Donna never waivered  in her dedication and compassion.  She traveled to see this young lady every weekend for months. She drove a long distance for these visits to occur and never became frustrated or overwhelmed, instead showing unwavering patience and commitment. When the day came that this young lady moved into her home, Donna treated her as her own.  When her extended family was having a family party Donna became very excited to help her foster daughter feel comfortable. They went out and purchased a beautiful  fancy dress for her to wear.  This young lady was so proud of how she looked. This event really seemed to enhance her self esteem and helped her bond with her foster mom.  We are so pleased to say that this young lady is flourishing under Donna's care and guidance.  
CRI would like to extend congratulations to Donna Canzius for being chosen as May's Star of the Month. We are blessed to have foster parents like Donna that we can call on to support and guide older youth. 

Brittney Kilfeather 
Foster Parent Recruitment Specialist 
Community Residences, Inc.
 

 

     

Words of Wisdom

 
Photos from National Foster Care Month
Our first Pajama Mamas!
 
Christian Keyes, keynote speaker at CAFAP's 20th Annual Conference
 
Charneil and Mike dish out the ice cream at Annie C's ice cream social!
Contact Information for CT's Community Collaboratives

Region 5 Community Collaborative
Foster, Adoptive & Kinship Coalition Team:
Deb Kelleher 203.706.0101
 Email  
 
Hearts, Hands & Homes  (Central/SE CT): Alana Jones 860.710.1593  Email