FOSTERING ST. ALBANS!
SUMMER 2021 NEWS FOR FOSTER, KIN, AND RESPITE CARE PROVIDERS IN THE ST. ALBANS DISTRICT
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It’s never been easier to get a Covid vaccine in Vermont! Everyone age 12 and older is now eligible. Sign up for your shot today at healthvermont.gov/MyVaccine or follow @healthvermont on Facebook and Twitter for walk-in opportunities. #OurShotVT

Our local Foster Parent Support group is now being facilitated by local Foster Parents. This group is to bring local foster parents together to create peer support and a sense of community. If you hope to just listen YOU can, if you want to participate YOU can, if you want to invite other Foster Parents YOU can.  There will be monthly prize drawings for all who attend.
 
YOU can also join the local Foster parents ONLY Facebook page.
 
Please see below for an opportunity to join an amazing Foster Parent community.  Feel free to contact foster parent Crystal Luciano with any questions.  sylas1811@gmail.com
 
**DCF is not present at these meetings. **

From the District Director

Greetings!

After 11 years as the District Director for St. Albans Family Services Office, Alix Gibson has been promoted to Policy and Operations Managers for the Department. She was always humbled and honored by the totality of all that foster caregivers do daily.  She recognized the tremendous joy and at times, the heartache of your experiences. She fully understood the compassion foster parents held for others and phenomenal care extended to children and youth.

Alix was one who never missed an opportunity to share your contributions and advocate on your behalf. In her new position, she will surely carry on in promoting the importance of the foster care system and be diligent in her duties to ensure the recognition you all deserve.

With Alix’s transition, I have the privilege to step into the Interim District Direction position as recruitment efforts are made to hire a new director. My profession and passion for the past twenty-six years has been serving in the field of child welfare; first as a Family Services Worker, as Family Services Supervisor, as Interim Assistant District Director and presently as Interim District Director within the division. I know many you from my prior work and I look forward to the continued collaboration and teaming given my new responsibilities.

My first report out could not have come at a better time; Foster Parent Appreciation Month!

At a time when we collectively experienced so much uncertainty and upheaval, the need for foster parents to open their homes and hearts never diminished. Adapting to and responding to the COVID 19 pandemic also meant shifts in how we met the needs of our foster care population.  Early on this resulted in foster children not being allowed to see their birth parents.  Our foster parents met this challenge and continued to support and nurture the bonding and attachment between children and their parents through virtual visits or under safe CDC practice guidance. Other adjustments included the need to be available for homeschooling and to find strategies to help children cope with their new reality.  Foster parents are already tasked to take on so much and this only added to those demands. After many months of finding ourselves in such a challenging time, we are beginning to discuss “a return” and shift in our daily norms. Better times are certainly ahead. I am not sure how we can all fully express our gratitude for all you have endured during the last year, especially while holding true to our mission of keeping children safe. Your courage, dedication, and compassion are nothing less than remarkable.  And for this we thank you.

With Gratitude,
Karen McEwing
District Director

“It’s not about what it is, it’s about what it can become.”  Dr Seuss
 

  Greetings from Resource Coordinators,
Sarah Sargent and Rachel Keller

 

Hi everyone!

Some of you may know me from my time on the CPS team for the last five years – but for those of you who don’t, my name is Rachel Keller and I’m so excited to be your new Resource Coordinator! While I am new to this position, I’m not new to all of you wonderful foster parents and the unique challenges you face fostering kids in our community.

I look forward to seeing what support, strengths, needs, ideas, and fun each and every one of you bring to the table!

 A little bit about myself is that I graduated from Lyndon State College in 2012, and was a Family Time Coach at NFI before starting with DCF-FSD on the CPS team almost exactly five years ago. I was also a foster parent myself in 2015 – so, in a lot of ways, I’ve stood where you’re standing.

I have two nephews (and one more on the way!) who I love dearly, as well as a fiancé and three fur babies at home who bring me lots of joy. I am from Franklin County and take pride in our community.

Together we can make such a difference for these children and I’m ready to get started! I hope you all take good care, and we’ll talk soon!   

Rachel
 

     Nicole Stetson sits in her living room, her young daughter playing happily in the background.  The brief reprieve allows the young mother and foster parent a chance to reflect on her role as a community partner and caregiver.  Stetson understands and is easily able to articulate her role as one of support for parents and families. She recognizes the myriad of challenges birth parents face that create a need for people like Nicole and her husband, Travis, to step forward as care providers. 

"When my daughter was about two we decided to apply to become foster parents.  We wanted to give back to our community. I was home with my daughter, we had the extra space, and so, we thought,  “let’s try this.”  Stetson explains that she and her husband feel drawn to helping kids, and,  by extension, they are helping their families and the community.

"It takes a village. That’s our mentality," She explains.  "It’s a grander thought than the actual experience because I know it’s more difficult. Fostering is easier on paper for sure," she laughs. "The classes, training, all of it.  But once you’re doing it, it’s another ballgame.  It’s parenting – “The hardest job you’ll ever have but you love it.”

The Stetsons have been fostering for four years.  Last year they saw the reunification of a child with the child's birth mother.  The child had been with them for two years.  "We had another successful reunification on Memorial Day," Nicole exclaimed. "It’s great to see!"

Still, Stetson explained that it was emotional for her family to see the child return to his birth mother.  "My heart wasn’t quite ready, but I knew it was time. I’m glad to see that they are successful and doing well."   

And, she chimes in cheerfully, "We have a play date! "

Stetson recalls she and her husband's very first placement, "The mother was doing well," she said, "and yet, we were fostering her child.  So,  on that first Mother’s Day, I had taken some photos and put them in a frame for her. She was so emotional and I felt good about helping her make that connection." 

Stetson's empathy is evident, and her bond, not only with her foster child but with the birth parent, shines through.  Stetson explains the birth mother's reaction to coming to terms with having her child in foster care.  "She said she was so worried about how her child was going to be taken care of and told us, "I can see now, you love my baby, too." 

For Stetson and her husband, fostering gives birth parents the time to focus on themselves and not have to worry about caring for a child. "They’re safe and cared for.  You can get your baby back. That’s all we want to do." 

She likens it to a journey and says, "From the outside looking in, it’s glamorized.  Foster parents are “saintly”.  Everybody likes to be complimented, but that’s not the reality of the situation. " 

Stetson is philosophical about her role as a foster parent. To her,  it's about keeping a balance and always advocating for the child to go home - as long as it's to a safe place. Working with DCF's Caseworker and Resource Coordinator, NFI,  and the child's Guardian Ad Litem, Stetson explains that it’s always been a team effort.

"I love the team at DCF!  I can't say enough good things about them.  Sarah Sargent, our Resource Coordinator, in particular, is awesome!  She must work 24/7.  She knows everything or will find someone who does, and,"  Stetson says, "She is probably one of the main reasons why we've stuck it out.  Sarah is always there to tell us we're doing a good job. She's been there all along!"
 
Stetson goes on to  explain, "The people I’ve had the pleasure of working with – they’re so busy, there’s so much of this work – caseworkers have more cases every day, needing donations, if people want to help but are not able to foster, there is always a need for respite providers, drivers, donations of all kinds – diapers, etc."

She speaks of what it is that creates a feeling of success. That foster care is about being able to help someone as being so much more valuable than the fear of getting started – of that anxiety.  "It’s fearful'" she admits, "but there are people everywhere you can reach out to for help and support.  Don’t let fear hold you back from changing lives.  Changing your own life, not just the child.   I’ll cherish that forever."
 
More than anything, Nicole Stetson is sensitive to the feelings of the birth family.  As a mother herself she explains, "I always worry that biological parents think I’m trying to take their child. That’s hard to come to terms with. I’ve had children with me during their mother’s first Mother’s Day – It breaks my heart.  We LOVE these children, like our own."  Yet, Stetson is a huge supporter of reunification, and says, "We want them to be successful and be able to be a safe and happy family together. I don’t want to take that child away from you. I want to help you so you can provide that yourself."
 
Where this foster parent gets support to continue providing foster care is through the positive relationships she and her husband have with  DCF and other community partners. "We’ve had a good relationship with DCF," she underscores.  We're both trying to keep the best interest of the child in mind.  That's our job. "

Still, this experienced foster parent understands that reunification is not always possible.  "Sometimes reunification isn’t always the best plan," she explains, "but I’m just here to love the child and take care of them for as long as I’m needed and to advocate for them and try to be as objective as I can be. You do fall in love with them. How can you not?!"

Stetson's awareness of the complications of reunification is a result of learning about the opioid epidemic in Franklin County.   Stetson is well aware of how that has played out in increasing the need for foster care.  But poverty and lack of resources and education are also a huge part of the crisis, she asserts. 

"A lot of parents just aren’t taught how to be a parent, or didn’t learn it from their parents'" she asserts. "It’s what they learned.  That’s the common trend and it seems more common in more rural parts of Vermont." 

She's quick to point out that there are programs to support families and many services available, but,  Stetson asks, "How do people get there?!!  Transportation is a huge issue.  From Richford to St. Albans, for example, there's just one public transportation bus that leaves Richford at 6:00 am and doesn't return there until 6:00 pm."

"This is what I need to be doing," she says in closing, clearly emotional about the thoughts and memories of children in her care, "I’ll try not to cry."

 Stetson urges those who foster in the St Albans District to participate in the Foster Parent Support Group – Fostering Better Tomorrows -   You may reach out to Nicole.  The foster group meets regularly as a support for each other and to provide networking between foster parents. To contact Nicole, you may email her at: stetson34@hotmail.com
 

Bags of Love was started by a group of four ladies from our church, the Seventh-day Adventist Church of St. Albans in June of 2014.  The church gave us some funds to get started.  Three of us started sewing duffel bags and quilts. One lady did the purchasing of items to put in the bags. I wrote letters to many family members and past coworkers soliciting funds for this ministry.  

By October of 2014, we were able to deliver 10 bags to DCF.  There are five age/gender groups:  0 to 18 months/18 months to 3 years/4 to 7 years/8 to 12 years and 13 to 17-year-olds.  Bags include a homemade quilt, toys, stuffed animals, face cloth/towel, and personal care items that are age/ gender appropriate.  The bags are strictly to be given to children who are placed in foster homes.  The community has been very generous with finances, quilting groups give us quilts, others donate items for the bags.  To date, 330 bags have been given to foster children.  Bags of Love is a community ministry through our church.

Bags of Love is not to be confused with Shepherd’s Sacks which is a separate ministry of our church.  Shepherd’s sacks are similar to the bags, but they are given to children who experience an emergency:  fire, medical, homelessness and flood (and yes, 2018 Swanton flood).  Shepherd’s Sacks is a church ministry through our church.
 
 Coordinator

Adrienne Perrino
 
Anyone interested in helping create “Bags of Love” or donating time, money or items should contact Perrino at (802) 868-7652 or agperrino@gmail.com. Those looking to just send a tax-deductible donation can send it to “It’s My Very Own” Bags of Love, 184 Frontage Road, Swanton, VT 05488.

THANK YOU!

As challenging as this past year has been, we want to mention the “silver linings” we have found by working in this role.  Every week we have been truly inspired by the efforts of our kinship and foster families. 

Partnering with our many community resources and supporters, and you, plus, navigating COVID regulations and restrictions, and being consistent support for the children in custody are only a few of the wonderful efforts we have witnessed.  Thank you!

Foster parents sharing the “little moments”, which turn out to be huge, healing moments for our children is heartwarming.  The advocacy for the children in custody make us proud to be part of the St. Albans  District. 

Thank you to our community businesses and individuals for your generosity and kindness.

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN FRANKLIN COUNTY!
  It is wonderful to place faces with names and hopefully provide all of you with an opportunity to learn, ask questions, and connect with each other. We  are always open to hearing suggestions for topic ideas of interest to all foster, kin and respite care providers.

TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES!
The Child Welfare Training Partnership offers online training with Amy Bielweski-Branch. Here is an upcoming training you might wish to register for:

 HOW TO TALK TO YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT DIFFICULT THINGS
In a world where we are increasingly aware of upsetting and at times incomprehensible subject, it is important for caregivers to be able to put things in perspective, address questions and search for answers together.  
Wednesday, June 2, 2021
12:00pm - 1:00pm
Enroll by May 26th

USING STORIES TO HELP CHILDREN HEAL: WRITING & TELLING STORIES
June 1st @ 10:00 am - 11:30 am
This training is a three-day series. Contact ebaird@uvm.edu to register

RESTORATIVE FAMILY GROUP CONFERENCE
June 3rd & 4th, 2021
Restorative Family Group Conferences is a structured process for accountability and healing outside the traditional justice system. 

RESILIENCE: REMEMBERING THE IMPORTANCE OF RELATIONSHIPS
Studies show that positive support from just one adult can increase a child or youth’s resilience. We’ll look at ways to build resilience through healthy relationships.
Monday, June 14, 2021
9:30- 10:30 am
Enroll by June 7th
Click to enroll in Resilience: Remembering the Importance of Relationships
 
If you have questions about enrollment for any of these classes, please contact Emma.Baird@uvm.edu

For more information about additional training opportunities and to register contact: Rachel Keller at: rachel.keller@vermont.gov