“All the Christmases roll down toward the two-tongued sea, like a cold and headlong moon bundling down the sky that was our street; and they stop at the rim of the ice-edged, fish-freezing waves, and I plunge my hands in the snow and bring out whatever I can find.” ― Dylan Thomas, A Child's Christmas in Wales
“Happy Holidays to all however you celebrate this season of joy”
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Look for Fostering Vermont every other week. Send your news, events and other items of importance and interest to: mary.collins@vermont.gov DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION: TUESDAY, NOON.
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WITH GRATITUDE!
December 24, 2020
Dear Vermont Foster Caregiver,
We are taking a moment this holiday season to appreciate each of you. This year has brought so many challenges and changes and has impacted us in ways we never imagined. As the Family Services Division has had to pivot in its response to changes in the Governor’s orders, we know that the caregiving community, kids and families have also been deeply impacted by these shifts.
You may be aware that the State of Vermont received federal COVID Relief Funds. We have been advocating for additional financial support for caregivers to acknowledge the additional requests that are being made of you. I am very pleased to share that we have been successful in our advocacy on your behalf. You will be receiving an additional one-time reimbursement of $300.00 for each child who was in your care on 12/21/2020. Final planning is in the works to support distribution of this special funding by the end of the year.
With 2020 about to come to an end, let me wish you and your family a Happy Holiday Season and peace and joy in the New Year. Thank you so very much for all you do to support and meet the needs of the children in your care. Please remember to make time for your own self-care!
Be Well and Stay Safe!
With Gratitude,
Barb Joyal
System of Care Unit Director
DCF Family Services Division
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- FAMILY GATHERINGS THIS HOLIDAY -
HELPFUL GUIDELINES FOR FAMILIES AND CAREGIVERS
Vermont has seen a significant surge of new COVID-19 cases across the state, and as of November 14, 2020, Vermonters were restricted in their ability to gather with people they don’t live with. However, there are circumstances under which the mixing of households is considered essential, specifically court-ordered parent-child contact for children in DCF custody. VDH has been consulted at length regarding the specific risks involved in FSD related parent-child contact and the risk mitigation strategies that are currently employed for this essential service. In these circumstances, the mixing of households is an exception to the restrictions on mixed households and should not preclude children from participation in school, childcare, or other essential services.
Parent-child contact is essential and critical to promote well-being, secure attachments, and successful timely reunification and permanency. Consistent with recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and Vermont Department of Health (VDH), overarching guiding principles for parent-child contact include:
- Whenever possible, in-person contact is preferable.
- The division and contracted partners should prioritize obtaining regular feedback from parents and caregivers regarding family time so that adjustments can be made to best promote connection and secure attachment between the child(ren) and family members.
- A combination of in-person and virtual visits can be considered to increase the frequency of parent/child and sibling interactions.
- Everyone involved in parent-child contact should adhere to the same health and safety guidelines for the purpose of risk reduction.
- DCF adheres to current recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Vermont Department of Health (VDH) in all face to face contact, in order to minimize the risk of spreading COVID-19.
If the child you are caring for has been prevented from attending school or childcare after Parent Child Contact please reach out to your District Office so they can support you and assist with resolving the situation.
For detailed guidance on how to safely engage In-Person/Parent-Child contact: here Other COVID related resources are available on our website. Click here: https://dcf.vermont.gov/fsd/covid19
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As we continue to work to safely navigate Covid-19, please rely upon your District Office should you need support during this critical time. Here is a link to each of our District Offices: https://dcf.vermont.gov/fsd/contact-us/districts
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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
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| Class Topics |
Preparing for the Transition
Connecting with state and local resources
Lifelong Issues in Adoption or Guardianship
What’s DIFFERENT & What’s the SAME??
Talking about Adoption
Working with the rest of the family (birth, extended, siblings)
Claiming the newest member of your family
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If you need assistance with online enrollment – email ebaird@uvm.edu
Effective
January 2021 – June 2021 |
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Fostering to Forever In-Person
(NOW Virtual)
REQUIRED Training for Pre-Adoptive,
CCO & Guardianship Caregivers in Vermont
This class is for caregivers adopting from foster care. It is REQUIRED prior to submission of your adoption assistance agreement. It is typically taught as an in-person class, however due to Covid-19 restrictions it will be taught as a two-part virtual (Zoom) class to prepare caregivers for adopting from foster care.
You must take BOTH classes in order to receive your certificate of completion!
February 2021
Saturday February 13th
9:00am – 10:30am
&
Saturday February 20th
9:00am – 11:00am
Email Emma.Baird@uvm.edu
to register for this class
~ OR ~
April 2021
Tuesday April 13th
7:00pm – 8:30pm
&
Tuesday April 20th
7:00pm – 9:00pm
Email Emma.Baird@uvm.edu
to register for this class
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If you prefer to take the class online – see the next page
Fostering to Forever
(Foster to Adopt)
Online Instructions
Go to this website: training.vermontcwtp.org
Register for an account (or login if you already have one)
Enroll in “FOSTERING TO FOREVER”
Enter enrollment key: F2forever
For video tutorial about enrolling in online course, click link below:
https://youtu.be/WNPGhU9VW_Y
Families Forever
(CCO to Adoption/Guardianship)
Online Instructions
- Go to this website: training.vermontcwtp.org
- Register for an account (or login if you already have one)
- Enroll in “FAMILIES FOREVER”
- Enter enrollment key: FFcwtp
For video tutorial about enrolling in online course, click link below:
https://youtu.be/WNPGhU9VW_Y
If you have questions about any of these classes, please contact Emma Baird at emma.baird@uvm.edu
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VFAFA NEWS
helpful news and information for our VFAFA partners
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Here you will find notices of upcoming meetings, events, and news of special interest from our VFAFA partners. If you would like to suggest a topic or share news from your Parent Group, please email: mary.collins@vermont.gov. Thank you!
VFAFA board members:
Steve May, President
Kara Haynes, Vice President
Lisz Graves, Secretary
Linda Couture, Treasurer (Returning)
JOIN US FOR OUR JANUARY MEETING!
Below is a reference to the next VFAFA meeting in January. This is a great opportunity to hear the information that our leadership is sharing with Foster/Kin caregivers. Please mark your calendars and make an effort to attend. It is also an opportunity to meet the new Executive Board for VFAFA.
VFAFA Meeting
Tuesday, January 12, 2020 7 pm
Agenda
COVID update with Brenda Gooley
Special presentation for VOICES for Vermont Children with Amy Brady
All Resource Coordinators and Recruitment and Retention Specialists are invited to attend this very informative meeting.
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VIRTUAL AND LIVE EVENTS
events of interest for vermont foster and kincare families
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PLEASE CONFIRM THAT EVENTS OF INTEREST POSTED ON THIS CALENDAR ARE HAPPENING. CHANGES AND CANCELLATIONS MAY OCCUR WITHOUT NOTICE.
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HOLIDAY EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
PLEASE FOLLOW ALL VERMONT STATE SOCIAL DISTANCING GUIDELINES AND BE SURE TO CHECK IN ADVANCE TO CONFIRM THAT EVENTS OF INTEREST ARE STILL HAPPENING.
Wednesday, December 30th,
Roxie, The Saw-Whet Owl's Great Adventure! 7pm
LIVE ZOOM PERFORMANCE
Come along and share the adventures of Roxie, The Saw-Whet Owl as she travels from the Oneonta Forest to New York City and back again. Along the way, Roxie will meet some interesting characters, make new friends, and learn about what "home" really means. Featuring a stellar cast of notable artists and newcomers from Vermont, South Dakota, Washington, D.C., and Toronto, Canada; this performance is free and family-friendly. Suitable for toddlers to teens! Following the performance, there will be a presentation by "Mr. Craig" and one of his ambassador birds. Craig Newman is the caretaker of all the birds who live at Outreach for Earth Stewardship at Shelburne Farms. Joining him will be Pte San Win Poor Bear, a respected Lakota cultural and language teacher. Ms. Poor Bear will speak about sustaining cultural traditions and language.
SIGN IN TO THE ZOOM GATHERING BY FOLLOWING THIS LINK: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/827582967-2?pwd=$1Q1Uy9sYzRFMURFbnVOWW9mSGs2dz09
MEETING ID: 827 5829 6702
PASSCODE: 635509
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StJ Art on the Street Winter NEK Starlight Exhibition
Through 02/28/21
St. Johnsbury, VT
A celebration of the arts and artists who live in the Northeast Kingdom but are also celebrated internationally. Exhibits are all accessible to view from the street and now have QR codes on windows to link you directly with artists. This provides artists and audiences an opportunity to continue celebrating art together in a COVID-safe and responsible way. Featuring eleven artists this season: Terry Ekasala, Tara Goreau, Megan Hack, Janet McKenzie, Ezra Ranz-Schleifer, Delia Robinson, and Sachiko Yoshida. The Exhibit also includes a Winter Landscape Group Show featuring Benjamin Barnes, Laura Heijn, Jeff MacQueen, and Anni Lorenzini.
http://www.catamountarts.org/visual-art/stj-art-on-the-street
Miracle on Green Tree Drive: A Lyric Family Christmas Special
12/20/20 - 01/20/21
https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/42467
Burlington, VT
$25-$45
This holiday season, the nonprofit Lyric Theatre Company presents “Miracle on Green Tree Drive: A Lyric Family Christmas,” an original televised musical special. The show premieres Sunday, Dec. 20 at 7:30 p.m., Streaming access is available through Jan. 20, 2021 at https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/42467. Tickets are $20 for an individual viewing, and $45 for a family viewing (multiple viewers in one location). https://lyrictheatrevt.org/a-lyric-family-christmas-special/
No Strings Marionnettes
Through Jan. 1, 2021
Chandler Music Hall
71-73 Main St., Randolph
No Strings Marionnettes sail deep into King Neptune's sea in a swashbuckling quest to prevent people from polluting. 802-728-9878
Christmas at the Farm
Billings Farm & Museum
Rt 12 & Old River Rd, Woodstock
Dec. 24, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Dec. 26-Jan. 3, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Families celebrate the holidays 19th-century-style with candle-dipping and cooking demos, warm cider doughnuts, and snowshoe rambles in the fields. 802-457-2355
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COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Thank you for your generous support!
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We appreciate every Vermont community and individual for all the ways you support children and youth in foster care throughout Vermont. If you would like to learn more about ways that you or your organization can support a child in foster care, our Recruitment & Retention Specialists and Resource Coordinators would love to work with you! Here's how: Contact your District Office Recruitment & Retention Specialist and Resource Coordinator at: https://dcf.vermont.gov/fsd/contact-us/districts
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For all newsletter inquiries, please contact:
Mary.Collins@vermont.gov
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.
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Copyright © 2020
Vermont Department For Children and Families, Family Services Division
All rights reserved.
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Our mailing address is:
280 State Street HC1N Building B Waterbury Vermont 05671
Tel: (802) 241.0896
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