"Self esteem is made up primarily of two things:
feeling lovable and feeling capable." - Jack Canfield
Look for Fostering Vermont twice each month and be sure to send your news, events and other items of importance and interest to:mary.collins@vermont.gov Or, call her at (802) 241-0896. THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF NEW ARTICLES AND EVENTS: TUESDAY, NOON.
IN YOUR DISTRICT
news from around the state
Send us news of what's happening in your community and district.
We'll post highlights here. Email to: mary.collins@vermont.gov
BACK TO SCHOOL NEWS
BACK TO SCHOOL DRIVE A SUCCESS THANKS TO THE ELKS LODGE OF ST. JOHNSBURY!
Many thanks to the Elks Lodge of St. Johnsbury for supporting and sponsoring our Back-to-School Supply Drive and picnic! Eleven families attended and 30 children received backpacks and/or school supplies!
We were also able to make up backpacks fully stocked with school supplies for about ten more children. These were given out at the office. Myself and one other staff person was present. The event was held at Harvey’s Lake in West Barnet, VT.
All the supplies and backpacks were donated by a group of local churches and Tatum's Totes! It was a very successful event ~ great weather, great food, and everyone had a great time!
Michelle Larrabee Retention & Recruitment Specialist
DCF St. Johnsbury
SCHOOL SUPPLIES GALORE! MICHELLE'S DAUGHTERS HELP!
THANK YOU TO THE DRAWING BOARD IN MONTPELIER, GREEN MOUNTAIN UNITED WAY AND TATUM'S TOTES
The Drawing Board, Montpelier’s local Art Supply and Framing Store, recently donated $1000 worth of art supplies to Green Mountain United Way. Items included markers, paints, sketch pads, origami kits, drawing pencils, and coloring books and will be distributed through Tatum’s Totes coordinated by Green Mountain United Way in the Barre, St. Johnsbury, and Newport Department for Children and Families districts. This generous donation is part of The Drawing Board’s commitment to give back to the local community.
Tatum’s Totes is a program that provides backpacks to children transitioning into foster care. Tatum’s Totes was founded by Liz and Alex Grimes when they began fostering children after their son Tatum died of SIDS at 5 months old. They found an independent organization to honor Tatum’s memory and to serve children in their home and of Rutland County after they realized that many foster children enter their new homes with little more than a plastic shopping bag with a few personal items. Green Mountain United Way brought Tatum’s Totes to all DCF districts in their service region in 2016 and 2017.
Children entering foster care are given a backpack of their own filled with age-appropriate caring items including blankets, books, toys, toothbrushes and other hygiene items, games, a water bottle, school supplies, and art supplies.
“Growing up, art was something that helped me discover who I was. I imagine that these children, like many of us, need an outlet for creativity and a positive way to express themselves. If we can help give these children an opportunity to have a creative break, to enjoy making their own art, or coloring a picture to help relieve the stress they are experiencing, I’m so happy to be a small part of that positive experience for these kids,” said Drawing Board owner Liz Walsh.
“This generous gift is an incredible example of how our local business community is integral to making our communities better places to live and work.” says Carrie Stahler, Director of Community Engagement at Green Mountain United Way. “This donation will directly support children who are experiencing the trauma of changing homes, and is a huge support to the families who have opened their homes and lives to support these children in our community. The support of local businesses like The Drawing Board helps to make this program possible. Together we can show children transitioning into foster that their community loves, supports, and values them.”
In the past 12 months, Green Mountain United Way has supplied over 75 bags to children entering foster care. For a complete list of items to support Tatum’s Totes, go to www.gmunitedway.org/tatumstotes.
About Green Mountain United Way: Green Mountain United Way is a Vermont not-for-profit organization in operation since 1976. They work to improve the health, education and financial stability of every person in every community in Caledonia, Essex, Orange, Orleans and Washington Counties by mobilizing the caring power of communities around our region to advance the common good. No other single organization has the scope and influence to bring together human service agencies, government, businesses, private foundations and dedicated volunteers around a common vision of creating maximum impact and achieving long-lasting results.
About Tatum’s Totes: Tatum’s Totes is an independent nonprofit organization founded by Liz and Alex Grimes of Rutland, Vermont and named after their son Tatum who died of SIDS in 2013. They found comfort in honoring Tatum’s memory in many ways, and one of these was through becoming foster parents. They founded Tatum’s Totes after realizing that children having comforting items of their own can help ease the transition into a new home. Tatum’s Totes now serves all DCF regions in Vermont.
STORY FROM THE WORLD
TRAINING . SEMINARS . WORKSHOPS
Advocating for Your Child Workshop (VERMONT FAMILY NETWORK)
Free Workshop! Advocating for Your Child
Thursday, October 10 @ 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Learn how to be a better advocate for your child
Tips for getting organized using a Vermont Family Network (VFN) Care Notebook
Meet other parents and share ideas
Resources ~ Snacks ~ Door Prizes
Location: Northeast Kingdom Community Action, 115 Lincoln Street, St. Johnsbury
VERMONT ADOPTION AND GUARDIANSHIP GATHERING AT LAKE MOREY
Adoptive parents, guardians, and the providers serving them gathered at Lake Morey Resort on August 14th and 15th to find out how Vermont’s adoptive and guardianship parents were doing. Fifty-five percent of caregivers around the state who had adopted or assumed guardianship through DCF had completed the Vermont Permanency Survey providing answers to questions about their family and children. What we learned was that:
¨ most families formed through adoption or guardianship in Vermont are thriving—98% of them said they were committed to their child for life—no matter what;
¨ 98% of children have at least one person outside of their family who is a positive influence on them;
¨ And children are cared about in their schools—81% of school-aged children had at least one teacher who understood their needs.
Guest Speaker, April Dinwoodie, talked about the need for birth family contact to life. Dinwoodie, a nationally recognized thought leader on adoption and foster care and transracially-adopted person provided riveting presentations both days of the conference. She used the calendar as her guide as she explored the beauty and complexity of our closest, most powerful relationships with our families and ourselves and how those relationships impact our identity and place in the world.
AUTUMN EVENTS
a selection of upcoming events of interest
for vermont foster and kincare families
PLEASE CONFIRM THAT EVENTS OF INTEREST POSTED ON THIS CALENDAR ARE HAPPENING. CHANGES AND CANCELLATIONS CAN OCCUR WITHOUT NOTICE.
Events
Great Vermont Corn Maze Through -Oct. 14
1404 Wheelock Road, Danville, VT
A 24-acre maze of maize lures labyrinth lovers. If possible, arrive before 1 p.m. to solve the puzzle without clues. 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; open until 4:30 p.m. on weekends. Through October 14. Closed in the rain. $10-15; free for children under 5.
This old-fashioned farm-centric extravaganza boasts a nineteenth-century village main street, pig races, music and livestock shows. Thursday, September 12, features Agricultural Education Day.' $10-15; $35 season pass; free for children under 12; additional charge for midway rides.
Colors of the Kingdom Festival Sat., Sept. 14, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Main Street, St. Johnsbury, VT Fall family fun sets the fall scene with a parade, a Bluegrass Festival, train rides, kids activities, live music, free Planetarium shows at the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium and more. Fees for some events.
Kids Trade & Play Second Saturday of every month, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Capital City Grange 6612 Vermont Route 12, Berlin, VT Families exchange clean and gently-used clothing and toys, size newborn to 12. $3 per family.
Westford Story Walk Through Sept. 30 Westford Elementary School 146 Brookside Rd., Westford, VT Outdoor admirers saunter along trails while enjoying a silly story. Through September.
Junior Apprentice Club Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Continues through Oct. 26 American Precision Museum 196 Main Street, Windsor Young engineers engage in guided activities in the learning lab, including beginning coding, basic robotics, 3D design and printing and more. Geared towards ages 8-12. free for participating children; adult caregiver required; regular museum admission, $5-8; free for children under 6; $20 per family.
Montpelier Mother Up! Monthly Meet-Up Third Friday of every month, 5:30-7:30 p.m. North Branch Nature Center 713 Elm St., Montpelier, VT Families discuss the realities of climate change, what that means on a local, state and national level and how to create a more just and nature-friendly world. Dinner and nature-themed kids' programming included. RSVP requested.
Foodways Fridays Fridays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Continues through Oct. 25 Billings Farm & Museum Rt 12 & Old River Rd, Woodstock, VT Guests tour the heirloom garden, then watch as veggies make their way into historic recipes prepared in the 1890 farmhouse kitchen, with different take-home recipes every week. regular museum admission, $4-16; free for children under 3.
Craftsbury Lego Club Fridays, 3-4:30 p.m. Craftsbury Public Library 12 Church Street, Craftsbury Common, VT Petite ones play with plastic cubes and chat companionably. Ages 4-12.
Vermont Fairy Tale Festival Sat., Sept. 21, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sherburne Memorial Library 2998 River Road, Killington, VT 10-12 public libraries feature a fairy tale booth, with added festivities including live music, mermaids, Vikings, storytellers, costumed characters, scavenger hunts, games, a castle, Viking ship and 6-foot storybook. Costumes encouraged. donations of canned food accepted for the food shelf.
Harvest Festival Sat., Sept. 21, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Shelburne Farms 1611 Harbor Rd., Shelburne, VT Celebrate autumnal abundance in style with children's activities, fall foods, musicians on multiple stages and traditional artisans sharing their skills and crafts, including the Vermont Abenaki Artists Association. $5-10; free for members and children under 3.
Northeastern Open Atlatl Championship Sat., Sept. 21, 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Chimney Point State Historic Site and Museum 7305 VT Route 125, Addison, VT Competitors of all experience levels test their skills of this ancient hunting technique of throwing darts. Workshops and demonstrations of crafts and skills from ancient to early contact period times and children's activities round out the day. $5; free for children under 15 to watch; $7-8 to compete.
Sam Mazza's Giant Pumpkin Weigh-In Sat., Sept. 21, 12-3 p.m. Sam Mazza's Farm Market 277 Lavigne Road, Colchester, VT Oversize gourds battle it out for the heavyweight title. Onlookers enjoy hayrides, apple-cider doughnuts and a corn maze. food available for purchase; fee for corn maze.
Better L8 Than Never Car Show Sun., Sept. 22, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Bristol Recreation Fields 110 Airport Drive, Bristol, VT Speed enthusiasts marvel at more than 300 shiny, sporty vehicles. Vendors, music, raffles, kids' activities and food galore add to the high-octave action. free to spectate; donations accepted for Camp Ta-Kum-Ta.
Buddy Walk of Northwestern Vermont Sun., Sept. 22 Collins-Perley Sports Complex 890 Fairfax Road, St. Albans, VT Participants of all ages and ability levels get a breath of fresh, fall air while promoting the acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome. Other activities include face painting, a bouncy house and a sensory toy station. Registration begins at 12:30 p.m.; walk starts at 1 p.m. pledges accepted; proceeds benefit residents diagnosed with Down syndrome.
Parkapalooza Sat., Sept. 21, 3-8 p.m. Hubbard Park Parkway St., Montpelier, VT Live music, a giant slip 'n slide, kids' activities, a skill swap featuring local crafters and artisans and a food vendor mean family fun in the park. $3-5; $10 per family; preregister for $10-15 per campsite.
NEWS YOU CAN USE
helpful news and information
THE MIDDLE YEARS
Carl E Pickhardt, Ph.D.
FOR DR. PICKHARDT'S FULL STORY VISIT: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/surviving-your-childs-adolescence/201104/adolescence-and-the-transition-middle-school
Middle school is a minefield of developmental challenges for students, a time when significant parental supervision and support must be given. Summarizing, here are ten steps parents can take to support a successful entry and passage through middle school.
1.Understand that middle school is not elementary school.
2.Identify and allay common entry fears of middle school.
3.Expect early adolescent changes in your child.
4.Supervise the completion of all homework.
5.Support learning to function in a large secondary system.
6.Declare your desire to be told about any social cruelty that occurs.
7.Inform your child about the normal changes that come with puberty.
8.Enroll your child in social circles outside of school.
9.Encourage the development of multiple sources of self-esteem.
10.Monitor and moderate the increased need for electronic communication (cell phone texting, computer messaging, and social networking.)
For more about parenting adolescents, see the book, "SURVIVING YOUR CHILD'S ADOLESENCE" (Wiley, 2013.) Information at: www.carlpickhardt.com
DILIGENT RECRUITMENT
building and sustaining relationships
8 Quick Tips for Navigating Middle School Successfully! Yep! They work!
FRONT PORCH FORUM
a component of Diligent Recruitment
New recruitment messages in support of critical needs in each district are launched on Front Porch Forum on a regular, continuous basis. If you know of a person or family, like yourself, who might be interested in foster care, please let your District office or the Central office know.
Here is an excerpt from one of these messages: ___________________________________
My name is Sandy. I’m a foster parent.
It has been an interesting journey. I recall getting that first phone call for a placement. It was like having a new baby for the first time – you aren’t really sure about how this is going to work and you figure it out as you go.
Children have come into our homes as strangers and leave as members of our extended family. We have also bonded with biological parents who want to do what they can for their children but who need space to work on things they themselves are struggling with.
Even if you are not ready to be a foster parent, you can offer support to a foster family by providing transportation to and from activities for a child, short term babysitting, offering a meal or a listening ear. For those of us who are already foster parents, by sharing our stories, and promoting foster care, we can spread awareness of the need for foster parents.
Saying that “it takes a village” may sound cliche, yet it rings true. There is so much potential in every child. Together we can help them reach it.
________________________________________ KEEP LOCAL KIDS LOCAL
Please note: Front Porch Forum messages are not the stories of specific children but composite stories of children who may have been in our care. We use stories to illustrate the experiences of children and youth and to help find appropriate foster care for all. Do YOU have a story to share with us about your experience as a Foster parent? If so, email: mary.collins@vermont.gov
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Thank you for your generous support!
The support we receive from community partners throughout Vermont makes possible many of the experiences foster children and their families enjoy - from shared advertising and holiday gatherings across every district, to sponsorships of events; the generosity of our community partners provides enriching experiences for children and their foster families throughout Vermont. Each month we acknowledge some of these generous partners.
We would like to thank THE WILLISTON OBSERVER in Williston, Vermont, for their support of our summer public service campaign. Find out more about this fine weekly newspaper at: http://www.willistonobserver.com/
Are you a foster care provider who would be willing to speak with the press? If so, we would LOVE to hear from you. From time-to-time, the Commissioner's Office receives requests for interviews. Perhaps your story may be one we could share. For more information, contact: Luciana.DiRuocco@vermont.gov. For all other news, contact: Mary.Collins@vermont.gov
