Wyoming 2-1-1's Newsletter
Not a Subscriber? Click HERE and become one!
Please feel free to share our newsletter and any articles!
Questions? Comments? We would love to hear your feedback. Email us.
|
|
|
|
- Sabrina Lane talks about Foster Care Month and programs that help build strong families
- Database Deep Dive: Wyoming Children's Society
- Ask Wyoming 2-1-1: What are your hopes and dreams for the children of the world?
- Guest Contributions from Kinship Connections of Wyoming
|
|
by Sabrina Lane
Each May Americans recognize National Foster Care Month as a time to acknowledge the thousands of American children and youth in foster care and the family members, foster parents, volunteers, mentors, child welfare professionals, and policymakers who help them find permanent homes and connections.
At Wyoming 2-1-1 we applaud the efforts of these folks because we understand that parenting is a hard job, especially when the child is not their own. It takes an entire community to ensure that children grow up safe, healthy, and well cared for. Wyoming 2-1-1 is a part of that community and is here to assist parents, caregivers, and foster families with the supports they need to provide a safe and stable environment for their children.
In this month’s edition, we are thrilled to highlight two amazing programs that support our Wyoming families and children in need of safe and stable homes. Kinship Connections of Wyoming, a program of Wyoming 2-1-1, is a free program to grandparents, relatives and other caregivers who are raising children not their own. The Wyoming Children’s Society provides permanent, loving families to children who have been placed for adoption.
The following programs also provide services to foster parents and children in Wyoming:
Sheridan Foster Parent Exchange provides education, care and assistance for foster parents and children going into foster care.
Foster Grandparents of the Wyoming Rockies provides foster grandparents to tutor and mentor children in school and other child-centered settings.
Wyoming Senior Citizens, Inc. has a Foster Grandparent Program which is authorized to serve children with special or exceptional needs.
Central Wyoming Counseling Center has Therapeutic Family Care foster homes available to children or adolescents with an SED diagnosis who are in the custody of the Department of Family Services.
(Editor's Note: Wyoming 2-1-1 is proud to announce that our Executive Director Sabrina Lane is a new graduate of Leadership Wyoming. Looking at the Class of 2022, she stands in very good company. Leadership Wyoming inspires Wyoming's leaders through exploration and connection, ensuring that our industries are guided with civility, respect and a deep understanding of our communities.)
|
|
|
|
A Valuable Service With
Big Goals and Challenges
Kinship Connections of Wyoming is a service to caregivers caring for children that are not their own. In the state of Wyoming in 2021, there were 3,754 grandparents raising their grandchildren. While Kinship Connections of Wyoming serves caregivers whether they are relative or nonrelative, the highest number is grandparents. Caring for a child that is not your own has many challenges in and of itself. Caring for a child as you are entering into the aging population comes with struggles and hurdles of its own. Kinship Connections of Wyoming is here to be a solace for those families. A place where families can connect to others and connect to resources. So many caregivers don’t know about all the resources in Wyoming. Our navigators are trained to evaluate a caregiver's situation and connect them to specific resources that are unique to their needs. Our biggest goal and hope is for caregivers in our communities to know and truly feel that they are not alone in this journey. Kinship Connections of Wyoming is here to help.
|
|
|
|
This month's DEEP DIVE:
Wyoming Children's Society has been providing adoption services since 1911, and is the oldest non-profit statewide adoption agency in Wyoming. They provide birth parent options, counseling and support, pregnancy support services, and are focused on facilitating domestic infant and waiting child adoptions. Since their founding, they have helped provide families to over 6000 children and are dedicated to supporting Wyoming's communities by strengthening families. Wyoming 2-1-1 reached out to Wyoming Children's Society recently for more information about their organization and services.
Q: What would someone facing an unplanned pregnancy experience when they approach Wyoming Children’s Society?
A: We want them to feel like they have entered an environment that is welcoming, nonjudgmental, and supportive. A place where their voice is heard, and their needs are met.
Q: What kind of information would they receive?
A: We would discuss their options whether that is parenting or adopting. We want our clients to feel empowered in their decision and to make the best decision for them and their baby.
Q: What are the most common concerns expressed by expectant mothers who have approached Wyoming Children’s Society?
A: We frequently get asked about what semi-open or open adoptions look like. We also hear questions like "Will my child hate me for making an adoption plan?"
Q: What support services are available for birth mothers?
A: We can assist with rent, food, utilities, etc. for women who are pursuing an adoption plan. We can also connect them with counseling and other support services. We are available for our birth parents for as long as they need us. In some cases, this is years after the adoption.
Q: How does Wyoming Children’s Society help new parents face the challenges of successfully raising children?
A: As part of the home study process, we discuss their parenting plan including discipline, supports, childrearing beliefs, etc. We supervise the placement until the adoption is finalized. However, we are always available to our families as long as they need us.
Q: How does Wyoming Children’s Society help match a birth mother with the adoptive parents?
A: Our birth parents usually make the decision about which family they would like to raise their child. Birth parents often have criteria of whom they envision raising their child in terms of location, family structure, religion, etc. Birth parents can review profiles put together by the prospective adoptive parents as well as our website which lists our waiting families. Birth parents can meet the adoptive family they have chosen prior to the baby being born. They can also continue to have a relationship with the family after placement through photos and letters as well as visits.
Q: What do you see as your greatest challenges to providing service across the state? Have you identified any barriers to service that need to be overcome?
A: A lack of awareness of the services provided by WCS especially in more rural parts of the state is one of our biggest challenges. As far as barriers go - preconceived ideas of adoption. Some people mistakenly think women should always parent regardless of what is best for mother and baby. Also, some people have not seen adoption firsthand and the information they know is either outdated or inaccurate.
Q: What can we do as friends and family to be supportive of those experiencing unplanned pregnancy?
A: Listen to them, be nonjudgmental and always provide support. Keep any potential personal bias/opinions on the backburner. Assist them with accessing local resources and other services.
Q: Can you share a recent success story with us?
A: We were contacted by the hospital recently about a young woman who was interested in placing her child for adoption. She had just realized she was pregnant a week before delivery. We met her right before she was to deliver her baby. She reviewed family profiles and chose the family she would like to adopt her baby. The family met her shortly after she delivered and then met their son soon after. It was love at first sight for the family! They went from not having or knowing about a baby to being parents all within a day’s time.
Q: Do you have any upcoming events that you can tell us about?
A: Our annual Gala will be held at Little America in Cheyenne on August 27, 2022. This is our largest fundraising event of the year. It is vitally important to ensuring WCS will be around for many years to come. The Gala consists of a silent and live auction and a sit-down dinner.
You can contact Wyoming Children's Society at:
Web: https://wyomingcs.org/
Phone: 307-632-7619
email: wyomingcs@wyomingCS.org
Annual Wyoming Children's Society Gala Info: https://wyomingcs.org Please click on the "Gala" tab.
The Wyoming Children's Society Team,
doing great things for the Cowboy State.
Wyoming 2-1-1 is pleased to have Wyoming Children's Society as a resource in our database. Callers to 2-1-1 with questions, concerns, or needs related to adoption will receive referral information to Wyoming Children's Society in addition to other organizations established to address any additional needs. Special thank you to Kristi Roberts with Wyoming Children's Society for her assistance with this article.
|
|
How Kinship Connections of Wyoming Helped Rori, Miranda and Michael
Rori is a grandmother who has been parenting her two grandchildren, Miranda and Michael, for the past two years. Their mother sent them on a plane from California and Rori has stepped up and taken on a new role. Parenting a second time around can be very overwhelming.
Rori was introduced to Kinship Connections of Wyoming when the PEEPS (Parent Engagement and Educational Partnership with Schools) staff told her about the program because she needed to get the children health insurance. Gabby, a Kinship Navigator Specialist went over and met with her. Gabby was able to help her with phone calls and paperwork to get the children signed up for Medicaid.
After listening to Rori’s story, Gabby realized that Miranda and Michael would benefit from counseling. Gabby made referrals and now both children are attending counseling sessions twice a month. Gabby also connected Rori to youth non-profits so they could participate in more activities and groups. The children were unable to participate in these programs because Rori didn’t have guardianship of them. Gabby immediately put together the paperwork and went to Rori’s house to assist her in completing the 32 pages of paperwork for the court. Gabby even went with her to turn the paperwork into the courthouse and also attended the virtual hearing with her. Rori now has temporary guardianship of Miranda and Michael and was able to get them into their new activities. “My experience with Kinship Connections of WY has been lifechanging. I now have key pieces in place for my grandkids like insurance, mental health support for them and the protection of guardianship,” Rori stated.
Kinship Connections of Wyoming was created to be able to assist kinship caregivers find resources and services they need during a stressful, overwhelming time in their lives. It is important that caregivers know about the many resources available to them and have someone by their side while they figure out how to live life in a different way and create a safe stable placement for the children they are caring for. It is our goal to offer free support and resources to caregivers so children continue living with family members who know their habits, cultures and personalities rather than entering the foster care system.
“Raising grandkids is busy and overwhelming. Having the help to navigate paperwork, uncover resources in the community, and just walking alongside you as you embark on the journey is priceless. I can honestly say that my grandkids and I would not be where we are today without the help of Kinship Connections and Gabby. Thank you for all you do to improve the lives of people in our community,” said Rori about the Kinship program.
 |
|
|
|
|
|
