Former Foster Youth Proves
for Those Who Give Their Best All Really Is Possible
Taveda Mayes gives life her all. Around the clock. Every day.
The 24-year-old is a single mother caring for a 4-year-old daughter, who is healthy, happy and thriving. Ms. Mayes also is a full-time employee of Ford Motor Company, where she works on the assembly line. And she is a full-time student at Henry Ford College in Dearborn, where she has earned a 4.0 grade point average.
One of eight siblings placed in foster care as a young child, she was placed as a youngster into Children’s Village. Then she was placed with an aunt until age 15. Ms. Mayes said she thinks all the time about the others she has met in similar circumstances who she plans to help one day as an attorney.
“I want to go far,” Ms. Mayes said. “I was picked for an internship, got to Washington, D.C. and watched how it’s done in Congress. I want to help reform foster care. Who is better for foster children than one who was one herself? I’m excited about helping foster care youth. I want to change things, make things better for the kids. In my case, my family took me in and tried to make my life better. Others are not so fortunate.”
Leading her life requires careful planning, hard work and constant effort. Ms. Mayes said she couldn’t have gotten where she is without the help of others.
“I needed documents that showed I was born in the state,” Ms. Mayes said. “I had not been to Spaulding for Children in quite a while, but I met people there who did work in the school I wanted to attend. She helped me get in touch with a lawyer who mentored me and gave me direction.”
Through Spaulding for Children, Ms. Mayes received a Paul Welch Scholarship that made it possible for her to attend college.
“Many kids in foster care are not attending college. It is not always something I wanted to do. I took time off before I started. I have a child. And I still go to school full-time. I work full-time and I am a mother full-time. I want to show her anything is possible. If I can do it, I want her to know she can do it.”
Grandparents Fostering Grandkids
The U.S. Census of 2000 found that 2.4 million grandparents have responsibility for their grandchildren. Among those stepping in when the child's parents could not were Stanley and Madelyn Dunham, grandparents of a future President of the United States, Barack H. Obama.
Support for Grand Foster Parents
Some grandparents mourn that they are unable to act as grandparents because they now have parenting responsibilities. They are often parenting across generations and doing so without the support of other parents in their circle they would have as original parents.
There are resources to support older adults who are fostering.To look them up, click here. Fostering Michigan
There are approximately 13,000 children in foster care in Michigan. Many times, family members step in to provide safe, nurturing homes for these children until they can be returned to their families. And when children cannot be returned to their homes, foster parents often are asked to provide permanent homes.
Have a Safe Autumn!
Halloween Safety Tips
Make the holiday fun and safe for everyone. The following are reminders that can make all the difference in the world.
Check the candy to make sure it’s safe, unopened and fresh. In fact, you may want to portion the candy over several days or weeks – especially to the youngest goblins.
Make sure your child’s costume helps them be visible to cars. Also, check rules about costumes with your school before sending them off to a school function.
Pumpkin carving safety tips:
Leave the carving to adults – kid helpers can grab a spoon and scoop out the inside, or use a marker to trace the template, but leave the cutting and sharp tools to the grown-ups.
When the masterpiece is carved, consider inserting a battery-operated light rather than an open-flame candle. With all the excitement of Trick-or-Treating, open flames can be forgotten until it’s too late.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
The American Cancer Society reports 1 in 8 of all women will receive a breast cancer diagnosis in her lifetime.Click here to learn more. It’s a fact that early detection saves lives, so we encourage all to get a mammogram.
UAW-Ford is offering free mammogram screenings for uninsured or underinsured women. Free mammograms are offered Monday, Oct. 21 to Friday, Oct. 25 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Northland Radiology, located at 20905 Greenfield, Suite 105, in Southfield. Click here to register or telephone (313) 392-7398.
Fire Safety and Awareness
In a fire, mere seconds can mean the difference between a safe escape and a tragedy. Fire safety education isn’t just for school children. Teenagers, adults, and the elderly are also at risk in fires, making it important for every member of the community to take some time every October during Fire Safety Week (Oct. 6-12) to make sure they understand how to stay safe in case of a fire. You always want to make sure your family has a safety plan. Also, remember to check and replace batteries in your home's smoke detectors. Click here for a video with basic tips.
Save the Date: Monday, November 11, 2019 Join Us to Celebrate National Adoption Month
Please join us for a free, public celebration of families who have made a lifetime commitment through adoption. The Adoption Celebration in Honor of National Adoption Month will be held Monday, Nov. 11 from 6-8 p.m. at Spaulding for Children in Southfield.
Our celebration is intended to raise awareness of National Adoption Month and more. Participants will learn how to raise teachers and pediatrician awareness about childhood trauma, adoption and foster care. A compelling exhibit will showcase photographs of some of the approximately 300 children currently awaiting adoption in Michigan.
The event also will celebrate adoption and foster care through a live choral performance and an exhibition of visual art.
Agenda:
6–6:30 p.m. – Refreshments
6:30–7:15 p.m. – Parent Training and Family Resources
7:20–7:40 p.m. – Performances
7:40–8 p.m. – Networking
Location: Spaulding for Children, 16250 Northland Drive, Southfield, Michigan.
Become an SFC Holiday Sponsor Today
Spaulding for Children is throwing our annual Holiday Party for families involved in our foster care and adoption programs. Our hope is to provide food, crafts, gifts, and games for each child at the Holiday Party.
We would very much appreciate any help we can get.
Would you like to be a sponsor? Sponsors can:
Give a gift to a child
Decorate the event
Feed a family
Provide a raffle basket prize
Fund a craft/activity table.
For more info on becoming a Sponsor, please contact: Danelle Stiffler via email at dstiffler@spaulding.org or telephone at (248) 443-0300.
Thank you!
Fall in Love with Autumn
Fall in Michigan is a spectacular time of year. Even in the metropolis, there are so many ways to engage with the beauty of this season.
Please keep us posted about news you'd like to share with our colleagues. We'd also like to know your thoughts about our newsletter. Email our Editor, Cheryl Gist: cgist@spaulding.org. Thank you!
