“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” ~ Lao Tzu
Happy New Year! May it bring joy and good health to everyone you love!
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
WITH GRATITUDE!
Dear Foster, Kin and Adoptive Caretakers,
I found myself holding my breath the last few days of 2020 for the year to pass by quietly. You might have been doing the same! So, it is my deep wish this New Year that each member of our resilient community can take a moment to simply exhale.
It's taken so much to get us here, and it's all been made possible by you. Thank you. The COVID-19 pandemic challenged us to stay together when circumstances drew us apart. It challenged us to adapt and to find new strengths we didn’t know we had. It provided a true test of our wisdom, patience, and ingenuity.
As 2020 ends, we reflect on the stories of strength, resilience, and grit shared by our foster and kinship families and the children, youth, and families we serve. I am in awe of the dedication, ingenuity, and exceptional flexibility demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Foster, kin, and adoptive parents play a critical role in how we contend with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. While providing this essential care, each of us must cope with concerns about our own health and well-being, while attending to the needs of vulnerable children and families. Fostering through a pandemic is stressful.
Throughout this stressful time, you have adapted to the many changes implemented during the pandemic. Examples of the resiliency and flexibility of our kin/foster parents were evident in the innovative ways in which you worked with families (e.g., participating in virtual home visits and court hearings) and adapted to different work environments (e.g., children attending school from home, participating in virtual family time; juggling demands of work, children, and families).
We have much to be proud of in the Family Services Division, and I am pleased to share a few highlights of our accomplishments in 2020 despite the pandemic:
- We have launched Diligent Recruitment and Retention in 9 districts.
- The remaining 3 districts will launch in January 2021.
- We developed and are testing a new Pre-Screen form in 7 districts and refined the steps of the process to engage with families who are interested in fostering.
- 4 districts are actively working on activities from there DRR Action Plan
- Several of the district Activities on the Action Plans include increasing the level of support for foster/kin caregivers.
- We continue to expand the Mentor program.
- We are working on ways to improve our communication with foster/kin caregivers through "Fostering Vermont" our bi-weekly electronic newsletter.
- We are increasing our engagement with community partners for the purpose of supporting foster/kin caregivers.
- We focused on Family Finding with training and updated guidance for working with Kin Caregivers.
- We developed an exit survey for families leaving our system to better understand how we can improve our practice to retain more families.
- We developed a kin survey to better understand how to support kin caregivers.
- In the new year, we are researching and developing guidance for matching families with children and youth.
- A Racial Equity workgroup convened to address the needs of our workforce and engagement with diverse communities.
To continue to function effectively in 2021, kin/foster parents need to have the necessary guidance to support health and safety. We will continue to make the safety and well-being of foster families a priority. This past year taught us that, when responding to the circumstances of a worldwide pandemic, pivotal change can happen quickly and effectively, even in large complex systems like ours.
In 2021 we will explore permanent practice changes regarding the use of virtual platforms to conduct our work. To support service delivery for children and families, this could mean developing guidelines that identify appropriate situations for virtual home visits or virtual visits between children and their parents. This could also mean virtual court hearings. We hope that continuing to use these virtual platforms where appropriate, will alleviate some of the stress of arranging for transportation, childcare, and other coverage plans, in order to participate in a team meeting, court hearing, or shared parenting meeting. A stable, resilient foster parent community is key to achieving the best outcomes for the children, youth, and families we serve.
Thank you to each member of our resilient kin/foster parenting community for all it has taken to get here. 2020, we bid you farewell. I wish you the very best New Year and I look forward to seeing you in 2021!
With gratitude and hope,
Brenda Gooley
Brenda Gooley, MSW
Director of Operations
Family Services Division
Department for Children and Families
(802)760-0610
|
|
|
|
WELCOMING IN THE NEW YEAR
6 Parenting Goals to Start the New Year
Helping to make your family stronger, safer and more harmonious may not require a complete overhaul, but rather a few strategic tweaks.
Here are a half dozen concrete and tangible parenting goals to set for the year ahead.
-
Get everyone vaccinated for flu. The flu shot is the best way to protect yourself, your children, and other loved ones from the flu. It's especially important this year as COVID-19 still spreads. Call your pediatrician to make sure your children are up-to-date on other immunizations. Teach them good hand hygeine habits as a way to help prevent the spread of germs.
-
Do good digital. What are your kids watching on TV and online? Devote some time to researching age-appropriate media. Make a family media use plan, and try to prevent gaming from becoming an unhealthy habit. Remember that screen time shouldn't always be alone time. Watch a show together. Play a video game together. Understand what they are doing and be a part of it.
-
Get outside more. Spending time outdoors can be a great mood booster, and help families get physical activity and vitamin D while enjoying time in nature. Spending time outside also give your child's eyes a healthy screen-time break.
-
Keep kids riding rear-facing as long as possible, up to the limits of their car seat. This will include virtually all children under 2 and most children up to age 4. If you are past the car-seat stage of parenting, congrats! If you're still in the thick of it, check for any new car seat laws that may be going into effect in your state in the new year. Remind anyone who transports your child by car.
-
Take a CPR class & learn to use an AED. Cardiac arrest kills more than 7,000 children and more than 350,000 adults every year outside a hospital setting. Some of these deaths could be prevented by bystanders with training in basic life-saving skills or access to an AED machine. When a child is not breathing in a drowning emergency, for example, CPR should begin immediately. Ask your pediatrician to recommend classes that may be available near you.
-
Practice some self-care. When was the last time you had a check-up? Got proper rest? Once a baby is no longer a part of your body, it's easy to forget that tight association between how you care for yourself and how you care for your child's health. We also know depression and anxiety can happen to both moms and dads during and after pregnancy. If this is you, you are not alone. Help is near.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/family-dynamics/adoption-and-foster-care/Pages/Tips-for-Helping-Children-and-Teens-Before-and-After-Visitation.aspx
|
|
|
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
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE NEW YEAR - 2021
|
|
| 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
_______________
If you need assistance with online enrollment – email ebaird@uvm.edu
Effective
January 2021 – June 2021 |
|
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
|
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
|
|
VFAFA NEWS
helpful news and information for our VFAFA partners
|
|
|
|
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.
________________
During the Covid-19 restriction time VFAFA is meeting via online or phone. You can join the ZOOM meeting here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85822727984?pwd=dncwMGFHQ2U3Zmp6alYxTXBTdTF3dz09
Meeting ID: 858 2272 7984
Password: 288400
One tap mobile
+16468769923,,85822727984#,,,,0#,,288400#
Dial by your location: +1 646 876 9923
Meeting ID: 858 2272 7984
Password: 288400
In addition to the above information, you can always find a link on the Vermont Foster and Adoptive Families Facebook page.
We would like to expand our membership outreach. VFAFA maintains a virtual community on-line through Facebook as a means to support community members. To become a member of the Facebook page, go to Vermont Foster and Adoptive Families and click join.
|
|
VIRTUAL AND LIVE EVENTS
events of interest for vermont foster and kincare families
|
|
|
|
PLEASE CONFIRM THAT EVENTS OF INTEREST POSTED ON THIS CALENDAR ARE HAPPENING. CHANGES AND CANCELLATIONS MAY OCCUR WITHOUT NOTICE.
|
|
|
|
|
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.
Snowlights
Fri., Jan. 15, 5-8 p.m., Sat., Jan. 16, 5-8 p.m., Fri., Jan. 22, 5-8 p.m. and Sat., Jan. 23, 5-8 p.m.
The grounds at Highland Center for the Arts are awash with color as folks traverse terrain decorated with twinkling light displays. 802-533-2000
At Home With Music for Sprouts
Online Mondays-Fridays, 10 a.m.
Mister Chris and Miss Emma serenade little ones with familiar tunes.
See.Think.Do!
Online Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
802-865-7551
VeggieVanGo
Mt. Ascutney Hospital & Health Center
January 12, Tuesday at 8:00 AM
Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center
The Vermont Foodbank's VeggieVanGo delivers fresh fruits and veggies at the Mt. Ascutney Hospital & Health Center on the second Tuesday of every month, weather permitting.
Read more on risevt.org
Panorama Group
January 11, Monday at 6:30 PM
Outright Vermont
We hope you'll join us for Panorama, a group for parents, caregivers, and adult family members of queer, and/or questioning youth! Together, we'll hold space for you to ask questions and more. Read more on outrightvt.org
Southern Vermont Astronomy Group January meeting
Chester, VT
January 12, 2021 @ 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
The Southern Vermont Astronomy Group, in collaboration with Middlebury College, the Mittelman Observatory, and the Dublin School, is proud to host Dr. Richard G. French, McDowell/Whiting Professor of Astrophysics, Wellesley College, for our January 2021 monthly meeting. Registration for this event is required. Please register early at http://sovera.org/astrotalk.
Snowshoe around Woodford State Park
January 16, Saturday at 10:30 AM
A Celebration of Animation presentation
Springfield, VT
January 28, 2021 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Join Springfield Town Library for an online presentation, “A Celebration of Animation: The 100 Greatest Cartoon Characters in Television History.” Pop culture historian Martin Gitlin will show funny cartoon snippets, play trivia, and speak about their impact on pop culture. Sign up is required at www.eventbrite.com/e/a-celebration-of-animation-the-100-greatest-cartoon-characters-tickets-126853001743.
For more information, contact Tracey Craft at 802-885-3108.
|
|
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Thank you for your generous support!
|
|
|
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
|
|
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.
|
|
Copyright © 2020
Vermont Department For Children and Families, Family Services Division
All rights reserved.
___________
Our mailing address is:
280 State Street HC1N Building B Waterbury Vermont 05671
Tel: (802) 241.0896
___________
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.
|
|
|
|
|
|
