FOSTERING | VERMONT
February 4, 2021

Over the last five years that my family has been doing foster care we have had quite a few first weeks with kids. (Especially during the period where we did emergency placements!)

That first week is always the most chaotic, stressful, and time-consuming week of all. Here are some tips that I have learned along the way to help you with your next placement.

The Best Tips for Your First Week with a Foster Child - The First Night

The first night is always hard for kids. I have rarely had kids come to our home and sleep well. There is usually a struggle to get them to go to sleep in new surroundings.

Plus, foster children often have a lot of fear issues both because of the trauma of being removed (and possibly the situation that brought the removal) as well as the new bedroom.

I have found it helpful to have individual nightlights for each child. I like ones that clip on so if behavior issues make it hard for a child to handle a nightlight on their bed I can move it elsewhere.

I also keep a sound machine in the bedroom. I find this is helpful for blocking out some of the new strange noises that come with different surroundings.

I also establish a bedtime routine starting that very first night (if possible). Usually, we start with a bath or shower (depending on the age of the child.) Then I have the kids brush their teeth. And last, we do storytime in bed.

I usually leave some time to have conversations in bed as needed as well. Often kids are needing to process what has happened as well as their emotions. They are often feeling scared, sad, and confused and bedtime tends to bring those emotions to the surface.

One tool that has been really helpful for my foster kids is using these calm down cards that can be left by their bedside. I print each child out a copy and pick out one or two of the coping skills to practice with them. This helps calm them down in the moment and also gives them a tool to use throughout the night.

(This is Part One of Three)  For more, visit:  https://mybraveguide.com/2020/05/11/the-first-week-with-a-foster-child/#:~ 

Here is a link to our new training catalog:

Vermont Kin, Foster and Adoptive Families
Training Catalogue January 2021 

We will send you a new catalog link once a month. Next month’s will include links to flyers for individual classes and will connect to our online catalog. 

Please reach out if you have questions.

Thriving as a Trans-racial, Trans-cultural Family

The Consortium for Adoption and Guardianship provides training each year to families – foster, adopt, guardian – helping to prepare them for parenting transracially. Whether parents are already fostering/parenting a BIPOC child or would like to be considered for a placement this training will help them to understand the challenges and delights of transracial parenting and support them in becoming an ally for the child in their home. The training is also open to their extended families as a strong network of support who “gets it” is important to families’ success. 

https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUkfuyopjgsH9cw5t6hgvqdczToDENHU8Xn

Catherine Harris
Post-Permanency Program Manager
Family Services Division
280 State Drive, HC 1 North
Waterbury, VT 05671-1030

Desk: 802-241-0901
Cell: 802-760-0196
 

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 FEBRUARY MEETING!

Below is a reference to the next VFAFA meeting in February.  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, February 9, 2020 7 pm

Agenda

All Resource Coordinators and Recruitment and Retention Specialists are invited to attend this very informative meeting.

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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.  

Vermont Kin as Parents also known as VKAP has moved to 1205 North Ave Burlington, 05408. The phone number is 802 871 5104. This number is answered 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.   VKAP can help caregivers navigate the various educational, medical, legal, and financial services the children need.  A support group is available on Tuesday evening. Please contact VKAP if you have any questions.  Email Jim Holway: president@vermontkinasparents.org

“I’m not an outcast, I just have an incredible story to share.”
 

In her experience with foster care, the above quote is how one youth approaches sharing her story.  Youth stories are key elements in our work and support of youth.  The Youth Development Program (YDP) frequently seeks input from youth and alumni in order to bring awareness to their experiences in foster care. For an upcoming provider training, we conducted interviews to learn more about how advocacy and leadership through YDP helped alumni while in care. In one interview, an alumnus talked about why she chooses to be open about her foster care story.  We hope to bring more of these stories to you as a way to share and support youth who experience foster care.

To get involved in YDP projects, and other youth engagement opportunities, please attend monthly YAB meetings and contact Kayla: @ kaltobelli@wcysb.org for more information!