A message from Bruce Henderson & Cristina Peixoto:

Thank You, One and All!

As we enter Year Three of COVID, we are proud to report that Spaulding for Children continues to fulfil its mission of service to children and families. This is due to the vision of our leadership team and the dedication of Spaulding’s professional staff, volunteers, supporters, and Board of Directors – and their willingness to go beyond what’s required or expected.

Spaulding was founded in 1968 with the goal of finding a “Forever Home” for every child who needed one. While finding permanency for all in our care has remained our primary focus, we also have become pioneers in developing compassionate, evidence-based child welfare programs that strengthen families who provide foster care, guardianship, and those who adopt children.

The Academy for Family Support and Preservation continues to support families, pre- and post-adoption and guardianship through the NTDC: National Training and Development Curriculum for Foster and Adoptive Parents and the QIC-AG: National Quality Improvement Center for Support and Preservation; and continues to enhance the leadership skills of emerging minority leaders in the field of adoption through the MPLD: Minority Professional Leadership Development program. Our Institute for Family and Community Development provides leadership, capacity building training, and technical assistance to support implementation of the organizational learning management system. It also continues to raise health care workers’ awareness about adoption through the H-BASS – Hospital-Based Adoption Support Services grant project.

In the past year, Child and Family Services publicly demonstrated exactly how we operate in partnership with the community through our Resource Fair at The Corner Ballpark in Detroit, home of PAL – the Detroit Police Athletic League. In addition to showcasing the programs and services Spaulding provides, our partners provided vaccinations, health screenings and other important services and resources at no charge to the public. We served 190 families through our programs and provided information about foster care and adoption to approximately 400 individuals at eight recruitment/retention events.

Spaulding will continue to do our good work in the year ahead and more. We established the “Spaulding for Children’s Giving Back Volunteer Program,” a Spaulding-sponsored paid time program to support employees’ interest in doing volunteer work with non-profit organizations in the community.

To help us build on our mission, we have been honored as recipients of two important federal grants. As the lead agency for both grant projects, Spaulding will establish the Quality Improvement Center on Engaging Youth in Finding Permanency (QIC-EY) grant to build the capacity of child welfare systems across the nation to authentically engage and empower teen-age youth to take an active role in finding permanency. The Kinship Network Development, Empowerment and Resilience plus Connection and Relationship Enhancement through Shared Parenting (KINDER-CARES) grant will increase kinship families’ access to resources and supports when they're most needed.

Thanks to the success of the national vaccination program, we will be able to bring back Families in Bloom 2 in April 2022. We also will do the work to bring back the Spaulding Golf Outing, a tradition started by the late Mike Lucci, the All-Pro Detroit Lions linebacker. Initial plans are for an inaugural tee time in September 2022 for the Spaulding Scramble.

One more thing we’d like to note is the importance of maintaining our reputation. Our work on behalf of children and families is recognized across the nation for excellence, effectiveness and focus on children and families. That is something no amount of money can buy – a reputation earned through good works and individual integrity.

Thanks to all members of the Spaulding for Children family for all you do – both on behalf of the children and families we serve and the not-for-profit child welfare organization for which we labor. Through your earnest efforts we continue to achieve and expand upon our tradition of excellence. Best Holiday Wishes to you all, this holiday season and throughout the coming New Year.

– Bruce A. Henderson
President of the Board of Directors
Spaulding for Children

– Cristina Peixoto
President and Chief Executive Officer
Spaulding for Children

**We Love Our Supporters**

As a nonprofit organization dedicated to the welfare of children, we rely on the generous support of our supporters, donors and volunteers. Each year, they make possible the events and services, as well as the special gifts and experiences, we can offer our families.

This month we recognize Susanna Wolf-Heuerman for her support. Susanna has worked in child welfare for over 27 years, currently for an organization that provides court-ordered services to families pursuing reunification with their children.

Ms. Wolf-Heuerman was Spaulding’s Volunteer Coordinator in 2020, working with kids while they were out of school because of COVID shutdowns.

“I was impressed by the number of dedicated staff and the great families that I was able to coordinate tutoring services for,” Ms. Wolf-Heuerman said.

This year, Susanna supported Spaulding in the completion of various tasks as needed by program’s supervisors.

“As we know, the kids we serve most often have suffered trauma from various events that have happened in their lives. One particular family, fostered by a grandmother that included five of her own grandchildren, was inspirational. While the grandmother was able to help in so many ways, she also needed a helping hand on occasion. Certain small things that may only cost $25-$30 can assist a family tremendously!”

For this reason, Ms. Wolf-Heuerman has sponsored children for holiday gifts for the past two years, as well as recruited her family and friends to donate as well. This year, she is providing two families an entire holiday meal.

“These are things and experiences that SFC is giving the kids in care and families served that they may have not had before,” Ms. Wolf-Heuerman said. “It only seems right.”

Her generosity takes many forms, from making monetary donations to providing food, household items and toys for the children.

“Doing what I do for families gives me a lot of energy and hope for the future: Hope that legislation will finally fund these vital services,” Ms. Wolf-Heuerman said. “Hope that we can make the community better. Hope that we can make an impact for the future.”

Holiday Gifts for Our Children

This year, we were able to provide gifts to 155 children in our program. Each child will enjoy a holiday made special by items that range from clothing to toys to books. Thank you to the many individual donors whose generosity made this possible.

Holiday Shop Helps Kids with Gift Giving

Our first year offering the Holiday Shop was heartwarming. We thank the volunteers who helped put it together; those who donated gifts; and those who escorted our young shoppers as they selected free gifts to give to their families.

Spaulding Families to Enjoy Holiday Lights at Michigan State University Tollgate Farms

Spaulding for Children is thrilled that Michigan State University (MSU) Tollgate Farms invited us to be part of their Holiday Nights celebration. Many families will experience a drive-through farmscape filled with holiday displays, spectacular decorations and amazing lights. Spaulding families also will receive gift bags.

We had been thinking about ways to create the most safe, fun holiday event for our families. Given current COVID numbers in our community, we believed holding an outdoor event would be best.

Holiday Lights at MSU Tollgate Farms became the answer. It will be a great experience for our families and for our Agency.

Thanks to the good people at MSU Tollgate Farms, a good idea became reality. All of us in the Spaulding family will treasure these special holiday moments for ever.

How to Deal with Holiday STRESS

Please beware: The holidays can be particularly difficult for children who are in foster care or have been adopted.

Being separated from parents is especially tough for children in foster care. And for many families, difficulty paying bills builds tension. Some families have difficulty keeping the heat on or putting food on the table. For them and others, buying gifts adds stress.

Keeping this in mind and ensuring that you are adapting your holiday events to accommodate the child’s needs and ability to tolerate over-stimulation can ensure a more joyful holiday for the whole family.

Here are a few things to consider as the holidays approach:

Be careful not to plan too many events and gatherings.
Ensure there is downtime built into the schedule.
Incorporate traditions, food, events the child brings from their own culture and/or family into your events.
Limit the number of events that are stimulating or involve large groups of people.
Be attuned to the child’s needs and ensure you adapt your schedule to fit the child’s needs.
Talk to the child about their family and allow them to express any sadness they may be having during the holiday season.
Find a way to honor the child’s family during the holidays.
Remember that trauma triggers can come from sounds, smells, events, and even times of the years. Children are often not aware of the trauma triggers so it will be important that the adults caring for the children be attuned to them and can try to identify these triggers and then proactively change the environment to mitigate the trauma triggers.

Finally, don’t neglect self-care. Take breaks from things that are stressful, set boundaries for time and stress-inducing events. Take a walk after dinner to cool off if the conversations were too heated or the turkey was too tough.

Our Team Loves to Give Back

Volunteerism and service truly represent the core of Spaulding for Children. This especially holds true for those of us who chose to commit our careers to child welfare, social services and loving families.

So, it’s no surprise that our “Giving Back Volunteer Team” comes through when other organizations let us know that they could use some extra support. This year, our team chose to support Veterans in need and Gleaners Food Bank through volunteering time by collecting donations and by giving in-kind donations.

Come Join Team Spaulding

Fulfilling Work and Fulfilling Work Life. Yes, both are possible at Spaulding for Children. We have two openings at present:

An IPP (Individualized Permanency Planning) Specialist. This professional is charged with matching, assessment, placement and monitoring of the placement of children in Spaulding for Children foster and adoptive homes.
Also, if you enjoy finance and want to create impact on families and communities, we have a new opening for a Vice President of Finance.

Please see complete descriptions of our opportunities here.

Making Special Memories with Holiday Outings

From nights gazing at holiday light shows to programs celebrating the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa, there are many fun family-friendly events this time of year. Click here to see our Holiday Guide listings.

The festive tree at right is reflected in the waters of Lake St. Clair. The photo was taken at Starry Lights, presented by the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House in Grosse Pointe Shores, one of special places with great family activities during the holidays.

Please remember: The BEST present you can give your family is to be present – there to give the family the gift of your time and your attention. No matter where we journey or how long time passes, that special connection is what we remember – and treasure.

StoryTime with Miss Katie

Miss Katie has selected several great books for children that celebrate the different ways we celebrate this time of year. Selections include one to make us giggle – Fritz the Farting Reindeer (Dec 19). Then, we can read and discover some very important lessons with Seven Spools of Thread, A Kwanza Story (Dec 26).

StoryTime with Miss Katie takes place Sundays at 7 p.m. EST on Facebook. Click here.

Heads-Up, Golfers and Those Who Love Them!

Click here to register for the 2022 Spaulding Scramble.

Just one more thing: We'd like to say, "Thank you" to
Campbell Marketing & Communications for their continued support.

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

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Do you know someone who may need some help?

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Help Spread the News!

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 and how we can better cover what interests you. Email our Editor, Cheryl Gist: cgist@spaulding.org. Thank you!

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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.

Connect with us!

248.443.0300 • communication@spaulding.org • www.spaulding.org