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A Message from President/CEO Cristina Peixoto

Remembering the Day After 9/11

If you are like me – watching and reading the stories and remembrances of 9/11 was painful this year, the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on America.

The shock and the pain all came back. It stayed with me for days.

The carnage and senseless tragedy of it was almost too much to bear.

Then I would read about some of the incredible things that happened the next day, on 9/12 and beyond.

Remember the many ways people went out of their way to extend themselves in New York, Washington DC, Pennsylvania and throughout the country and around the world.

We gave blood.

We donated money.

We helped neighbors close and far way.

We applauded the bravery and dedication of those on the front line, the hundreds of first responders who literally ran in to help and, in so doing, lost their lives.

People of all faiths and denominations stood in solidarity with our Muslim neighbors.

We actively sought to better understand a faith that may have been new to us and dug a little deeper to learn about a part of the world many of us may have ignored.

We must encourage everyone to create opportunities to talk about the events and the corresponding feelings with our children.

Like Mr. (Fred) Rogers would say, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’”

We were all Americans on September 12. We were all helping each other. We pulled together as neighbors and as a nation.

Let’s do everything we can do to be those people again each day.
Spaulding Board Profile

Ian R. Grant, Sr.

Ian Grant said that each of us possess “Three Special T’s.” These are: Time, Treasure and Talent. 

“We may have more of one than others, but we all have some of each,” Mr. Grant said. “The three T’s also show how everyone can play a role to make this a better world. Some can contribute their time as volunteers, others financially or with their talents and expertise.”
Mr. Grant is a 16-year member of the Spaulding Board of Directors. His tenure includes nearly four years’ service as Board President. He currently serves on the Ambassador Board and invites others to join him on the board or as volunteers to support the Agency and its work.

“At Spaulding, we work to assure that all children grow up in safe, permanent families and have the help they need to be successful in life,” Mr. Grant said. “Our job as a board is to organize our efforts to ensure that Spaulding for Children operates most effectively and efficiently, as measured and rated by the Council On Accreditation – the C.O.A. The highest priority of the officers and members of the board is to make certain the Agency does what it takes to meet the requirements, pass inspections, and receives certification from the State of Michigan.”

Ms. Addie D. Williams, who served as President/CEO of Spaulding from 2000-2016, encouraged Mr. Grant to join the board in 2005. Dr. Charles “Chuck” Lechner echoed her encouragement. 

“I am co-owner of the Umoja Fine Art Gallery,” Mr. Grant said. “The gallery is a family business located in the same building as Spaulding’s offices. Ms. Addie Williams would come in and we’d talk about the organization. One day, she asked me to come and serve on the board of directors.”

Mr. Grant said his mentors at Spaulding include the late John Barfield, an emeritus member of the Spaulding Board, and the late Robert “Bob” Daniels, a charter member of the Board.

“Spaulding for Children started around a table at a farmhouse in Chelsea, Michigan,” Mr. Grant said. “At the time, there were not many, if any, organizations committed to children with special needs who were awaiting adoption. Now, 53 years later, we teach others about adoption, how to be a successful foster parent, and how to help children who have experienced emotional and physical hardship.”

Mr. Grant is married to Tanji Grant, a successful local realtor. They have two sons, Ian Jr. and Brandon. Mr. Grant graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the College of Business-Marketing. Upon graduation in 1984, he joined 3M Corporation, where he served as a National Account Consultant. After a career that spanned 36 years, Mr. Grant recently retired from the corporation. 

Growing up in Chicago, Illinois, Mr. Grant’s family moved to Cassopolis, in southwestern Michigan, when he was a teenager. Looking back, he said the move represented more than a change from an urban to a rural environment.

“Not only was the pace of life more relaxed, we had a different focus,” Mr. Grant said. “What was cool – what was happening – was taking place in our high school – not on the street corner. And that’s where we wanted to be. The move to Cassapolis changed my life and eventually led me to Michigan State. After graduation from MSU, I began to work with 3M – the only real job I ever had after college. It is a great company and I have been very fortunate.”
Attention Michigan's Former Foster Youth:

You May Be Eligible for COVID Relief Funds from DHHS

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has issued a communication on Covid-19 relief stimulus funding available for former foster youth, which can be accessed HERE.

MDHHS will be providing a one-time, $1,000 stimulus payment to youth between the ages of 23 and 26 who had an open foster care case after their 14th birthday.
 
Please note, the deadline for youth to apply to receive these funds is September 30, 2021.  Please share this information with any individuals who may be eligible as quickly as possible.
Feedback - Resource Fair
Spaulding, in partnership with Detroit PAL, presented the Resource Fair at The Corner Ballpark in Detroit on Saturday, Aug. 21. Free and open to the public, services and resources were available from organizations that included Detroit Equity Coalition's COVID-19 mobile vaccination clinic (where five people were vaccinated), Affirmations LGBTQ+ Community Center, the Detroit Fire and Police Departments, Sound Advice Audiology, Kids First Initiative, and Detroit PAL. Below are some of their comments.

KIDS FIRST INITIATIVE
“This was a wonderful event for the young people and their families. The unique location and creative use of space, brought the program to life. We here at KFI (Kids First Initiative) appreciate the opportunity and are looking forward to next year’s event. Spaulding for Children really put on an outstanding show.”
– Richard Bell, Kids First Initiative
BREATHE AGAIN
“I wanted to follow up on behalf of my sister and I. We just wanted to thank you and the rest of the Spaulding family for including us in the resource fair. It was a pure delight to see so many community partners and organizations come together to share in their passions / services.
We would love to keep Spaulding and their youth at the forefront of the different service areas we're looking to assist with. If you have any feedback or questions regarding ways in which we can help catapult the youth Spaulding serves, please let us know.” – Deborah Wilson, Breathe Again, Co-Founder
DETROIT POLICE DEPARTMENT
“Thank you for the invitation. The event was great, the Detroit Police Department is appreciative.” – Sgt. Jordan Hall, City of Detroit, Police.
 
The L.I.V.E Outreach
“Thank you again for allowing me to participate in such a wonderful event. It was hot outside but worth it. The resource fair was very informative and inspiring and I look forward to future events like this with Spaulding.  The L.I.V.E Outreach MISSION STATEMENT:  The L.I.V.E Outreach mission is to refresh, renew, and revive by providing assistance with housing, financial support, career development and life skills training to youth within the foster care community.  We provide mentoring for teen girls within the community providing them with essential life skills to become successful productive adults. Our website is
www.theliveoutreach.org.  Thank you again for the opportunity.” – Malika Williams, The L.I.V.E. Outreach

MICHIGAN UNITED 

“Michigan United had a good time and it gave us a good opportunity to encourage individuals to get vaccinated. We were successful in encouraging 12 individuals to get COVID-19 vaccine at this event.

“Michigan United overall had a good experience since everyone was friendly, the sports games were entertaining and this event was very well organized.
“Even though we had the Woodward Dream Cruise event going on the same day I am glad that you had the understanding and flexibility to accommodate us.”
– Mona Mansoor, M.P.H., Michigan United Public Health

Resource Fair Supporters

SPONSOR:
BrassCraft
 
EXHIBITORS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE RESOURCE FAIR:
Affirmations LGBTQ+ Community Center
Ascension Health
Breath Again
Brilliant Detroit
Caleb’s Kids
Detroit Equity Coalition
Detroit Fire Department
Detroit PAL
Detroit Police Department – Field Recruiting Unit
First Baptist Institutional Church Resource Center
Kids First Initiative (KFI STEAM IGNITE)
MDHHS Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
Michigan State University Ext District 11 -Wayne County Health and Nutrition Institute
Michigan United Public Health
Open Arms – Ascension S.E. MI Community Health
Shenominal Ink-The Reading Corner
Sound Advice Audiology
The Children’s Center
The L.I.V.E Outreach
The Student Connection/ Connect With Success
Tri-County Foster Care Coalition
Wayne Health Mobil Unit
Wayne Integrated Health Network
 
The following provided information to be disseminated:
*Detroit Zoological Society
*Downriver Foster Closet
*MARE and the Heart Gallery
*Portable Dental Service-Macomb
*Wayne Babies
*YMCA of Wayne County
 
DONORS:
Melissa Bunker
Holiday Market, Royal Oak
Cristina Peixoto
Yvette Rodgers

Labor Day Recognizes Those
Who Built  -- and Build America

Observed the first Monday in September, Labor Day is an annual celebration of the social and economic achievements of American workers. The holiday is rooted in the late nineteenth century, when labor activists pushed for a federal holiday to recognize the many contributions workers have made to America’s strength, prosperity, and well-being.
A pioneering figure in the history of Labor Day is Howard Jenkins, Jr., the first African American to serve on the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). He was appointed to the position by President John F. Kennedy in 1961 and served for 20 years under six presidents.

Before his service on the NLRB, Mr. Jenkins worked in the Office of the Solicitor at the Department of Labor, where he helped draft the Landrum-Griffin Act.
Following the passage of the 1958 law, he went on to serve as the Assistant Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor-Management Reports, where he was the highest-ranking African American lawyer in the federal government. Born in 1915, Mr. Jenkins passed in 2003.

Online Workshop Sept. 27: 'Transition from School to Adulthood for Foster Care Families'

The Michigan Alliance for Families and The Arc of Northwest Oakland County are offering a free, online workshop to help youth make the transition from school to adulthood successfully. The free, online workshop will be held Monday, Sept. 27 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.  Click here to register.
Presented by Chesley Giertz, Advocacy Director at The Arc, "Transition from School to Adulthood for Foster Care Families" workshop will teach participants how the IEP transition plan can be used along with community resources to make a smooth transition from school to adulthood.

This workshop will help participants:
  • Understand the legal requirements of IEPs regarding transition planning and why it’s important
  • Understand the different parts of your student’s transition plan
  • Learn about options for life after school
  • Access community resources for adult life

Foster Families and Youth/Young Adults in Foster Care are invited to join via Zoom. The program is Monday, Sept. 27, 2021 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Questions, please email: info@michiganallianceforfamilies.org.

Wednesday, September 22
Is the Autumnal Equinox

Wednesday, September 22 is a very special day. It is when the 2021 Autumnal Equinox happens, precisely at 3:20 p.m.

“Equinox” comes from the Latin words for “equal night.” The phrase describes the day that marks the beginning of fall (the Autumnal Equinox) and spring (the Vernal Equinox) when the night and day each have exactly 12 hours.
 
In summer, the days are longer than the night. In winter, the nights are longer than the days.
 
Summer in the northern hemisphere occurs from June to September. Summer in the southern hemisphere occurs from December to March.
 
Our seasons result from the tilt of the earth’s axis, not the distance of the earth to the sun. NASA has a great video showing how the seasons impact the earth as it goes through a year.
Click here.

Trunk-or-Treat is Oct. 22


Spaulding will host our 2nd Annual Trunk-or-Treat on Friday, Oct, 22. Families and children can enjoy a hauntingly good time from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. in the rear parking area outside the Spaulding for Children offices.
The Trunk or Treat team is looking for donations of candy, chips, water, juice boxes, or anything kid friendly. Additionally, they are looking for volunteers to decorate their trunks.
 
If you are interested in either donating treats or volunteering time, please contact Stacey Oakes at soakes@spaulding.org or (248) 443-0300.

Be scaring you!

New Program:
Spaulding Giving Back Volunteers

Beginning in the next fiscal year, Spaulding for Children staff will get together to volunteer to help someone else.
In the “Spaulding for Children’s Giving Back Volunteer Program,” staff in the Detroit area can volunteer in teams of five or more, to support a not-for-profit organization. Stay tuned for additional information on this new program.
Spaulding is not able to support all of the organizations that we would like to help. We do promise to do our best to support the organizations staff and our supporters hold near and dear to their hearts. Please let us know if you are interested in joining our resilient staff's efforts as "Giving Back Volunteers."

Sponsor a Child for Gifts This Holiday Season

Last holiday season, we were able to provide gifts to more than 100 children and more than 50 families. 

We are reaching out again to donors that can provide for our youth and families in our foster care programs a wonderful holiday season this year. Help us make the holidays great for someone in need.
We are hoping to confirm donors by September 30, 2021.
 
If you are interested in sponsoring a foster child for the holidays, or providing family gifts, please fill out
the Google form here.
 
Thank you!


Change a child's life, become a foster parent!


Click to learn more.

 

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In partnership with families, communities, organizations, states and the nation, Spaulding for Children’s mission is to assure that all children grow up in safe, permanent families and have the help they need to be successful in life.
 

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