Western Roster August 2010 by Utah Foster Care Foundation

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VOLUME

09 AUGUST 2010

A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER FOR FOSTER & ADOPTIVE PARENTS IN UTAH

fosterroster STATEWIDE UPDATE in this issue

Utah Foster Care Foundation Offices

Chalk Art Festival P.1 Letter from DCFS P.2

Murray 5296 S. Commerce Dr. #400 Murray, UT 84107 Phone: 801.994.5205 Fax: 801.994.5206 Toll Free: 877.505.KIDS Ogden 3340 S. Harrison Blvd. #200 Ogden, UT 84403 Phone: 801.392.1114

Real Salt Lake P.3 UFAFA Update P.4 Western Region Update Begins P.5

Festival Not Just About Art Kayla Farnsworth, 14, was one artist crouched over the once blank pavement, with elbows, knees and hands shaded in blues and greens. She was helping to create a mermaid.

Orem 252 N. Orem Blvd. Orem, UT 84057 Phone: 801.373.3006 Price 475 W. Price River Dr. #152 Price, UT 84501 Phone: 435.636.0210 Roosevelt Phone: 435.724.0959 Vernal 1052 W. Market Dr. Vernal, UT 84078 Phone: 435.781.4224 Moab 180 S. 300 E., Ste. C Moab, UT 84532 Phone: 435.259.3345 St. George 321 N. Mall Dr. #B102 St. George, UT 84790 Phone: 435.656.8065 Richfield 201 E. 500 N. Richfield, UT 84701 Phone: 435.896.1232

By Deborah Lindner UFCF Community Relations Mgr. Those of us at the Utah Foster Care Foundation (UFCF) never forget that the Chalk Art Festival has an important message. Across the state, you will see the five devoted Foster/Adoptive Dads of the Year tell their stories in your local newspapers (check your regional Roster too). Every time they relate what it’s like to be a foster or adoptive parent, chances increase that another family will listen and decide that they, too, can help a child in foster care. The Deseret News captured that message on June 19, 2010:

But Farnsworth wasn’t just an artist in the festival. She learned about Utah Foster Care Foundation when she was 6, as a foster child. Farnsworth came from a home troubled by alcoholism. She had been beaten. Now happily adopted by her foster family, she will be starting eighth grade next year. Farnsworth recalled, “but now I feel safe, like no one is going to hurt me.” Thanks to all of the foster/adoptive parents who volunteered at the festival. Families can hear it from us, but they REALLY want to hear it straight from you.

Remember, each time you talk about foster parenting, you may be influencing someone’s thoughts and feelings about helping children in your neighborhood who deserve all the help they can get.

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What Every Child Needs Fun Take time to laugh and play and share the wonders of life with me.

Affection Warm hugs will nurture me and make this world a friendlier place.

DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES PALMER DEPAULIS Executive Director

Division of Child and Family Services

State of Utah

BRENT PLATT Director

GARY R. HERBERT Governor GREG BELL Lieutenant Governor

Respect

Treat me like an important and valuable person and I will learn to respect and honor myself and others.

July 13, 2010

RE: Follow Up to Notice of Provider Rate Reductions Dear Resource Family,

Praise Tell me all the thingss you appreciate about me so I know how wonderful I really am.

Security

Give me boundaries that will allow me to grow safely, feel secure and overcome my fears.

Honesty Share your real feelings and admit your mistakes to me, so I will learn what it means to be a real person.

Patience

Be understanding when I make my own mistakes: remember, even when it does not seem like it, I am trying to do my best.

The Division of Child and Family Services is sending this letter as a follow up to the letter you received regarding provider rate reductions. To begin with, we apologize for any confusion the previous letter may have caused. Any miscommunication regarding rate reductions was unintentional. Please understand that we truly do value our partnership with each of you, and realize that you are working hard everyday to serve the children in our care. We appreciate your dedication, and we acknowledge that your care and devotion are invaluable. The last five years have seen a number of changes to the provider rates and specifically to the Foster Care rates. In Fiscal Years (FY) 2008 and 2009, Foster Care rates increased. This was long awaited and well deserved. However, in dealing with the recent challenging economic times, the Utah State Legislature reviewed all programs and services within the Department of Human Services. One of several areas identified for potential savings was the Provider Rates for all services within the Department of Human Services and unfortunately, the Foster Parent Reimbursement Rates were included. There is really no area in the Department that was spared from the Legislative reductions. To implement the cuts, the Legislature directed the Department to take the first of two cuts, in Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 which started on July 1, 2009. The second cut took effect during Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 which began on July 1, 2010. The result is that the rates were â&#x20AC;&#x153;rolled backâ&#x20AC;? to the Fiscal Year (FY ) 2007 rates. The cumulative effect of these two cuts was offset last year with one-time monies from the Legislature. These one-time monies were not available this year, which means that the full brunt of the cuts is being felt this year. Please be aware that mileage rates have not been included in the roll back and remain the same for this year. We realize this rollback to 2007 rates is painful. We hope that you will continue to work with the children in state custody and partner with us in this effort. The Division of Child and Family Services

is working to improve the relationship with our foster parent partners. We have received valued feedback from foster parents and are currently focusing on ideas that will help foster parents be a more valued part of our child welfare system. Please feel free to email me, or your foster parent consultant with ideas or suggestions you may have! Sincerely,

Brent Platt Director, Division of Child and Family Services

Love If you care for me in all these ways, you will be giving me the best life has to offer.

Division of Child and Family Services, 195 North 1950 West, Salt Lake City, Utah 84116 telephone (801) 538-4100 y facsimile (801) 538-4420 y www.hs.utah.gov

Special p thanks to: 2

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Steven S. Birthday: 08/1996 Grade in School: 7th Heritage: Caucasian

Take Your Kids to a Soccer Match! Don’t miss out on the chance to see Major League Soccer with your family! Thanks to a generous donor, foster families are being given the opportunity to attend a Real Salt Lake match…. for free! The Real Salt Lake players are the reigning Major League Soccer (MLS) Cup champions, clinching the title in 2009. Three of their players were named to the MLS All-Star First XI team. There are a limited number of match vouchers available, on a first come, first served basis. Please limit your request to your immediate family living in your home. If your family is interested in attending a Real Salt Lake match,

please contact: darcey. hirst@utahfostercare. org. You must include the following information: 1. Family name 2. Number of vouchers needed for your immediate family living in your home (parents & children under age 18 only, NO EXCEPTIONS!). This includes children in foster care, biological and adopted children. 3. Name of your Resource Family Consultant (RFC) Vouchers can be used for any of the regular season home matches listed below: • Saturday, August 14th (Real vs. Columbus Crew)

• Saturday, September 4th (Real vs. New York Red Bulls) • Saturday, September 18th (Real vs. Chicago Fire) • Saturday, September 25th (Real vs. Colorado Rapids) • Saturday, October 16th (Real vs. FC Dallas) All home matches are played at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy. For more information about Real Salt Lake, visit RealSaltLake.com.

With an enormous and creative imagination, it is no wonder Steven has such a love for reading, especially about Star Wars and science. Between his ingenuity and intelligence, this kiddo can achieve just about anything he sets his mind to. His dream, however, is to someday become a helicopter pilot. He currently has two fish as his pets and enjoys caring for them. If your family can provide Steven with the love and support he needs, we urge you to inquire.

For more information, please contact: The Adoption Exchange 801.265.0444 www.utdcfsadopt.org

Special thanks to: 3

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Utah Foster/Adoptive Families Association Update UFAFA Executive Committee President: Jennifer Gardner 1st VP: Renee Calkins 2nd VP: Cayce Thill Secretary: Michelle Ostmark Treasurer: Beth Hardman www.myufafa.com

Between a Rock and a “Soft” Place By Jennifer Gardner, President Utah Foster/Adoptive Families Assn. (UFAFA) Like the title? Ultimately, that is where foster parents are caught. The soft place is our heart, our foster baby’s smile, our foster teen’s late night confiding sessions, our foster “tween’s” first reference to us as Mom or Dad, and the sadness mixed with joy as a family is reunited. The rock is the insurmountable boulder that is resources, or the lack of them. Last month, all foster families received a letter from the Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS), informing us that our daily reimbursement rates would be “rolled back” to the levels of July 2006. However, OUR utility bills, house payments, car insurance, and food costs do not magically “roll back.” Sometimes it feels like the rock gets bigger each day, as we hear the foster care system is essential, yet undervalued. It’s a program that seems basic. But few people take the time to really study the internal workings and the repercussions of shortcuts. It seems to be the place that cuts can be made without a huge uproar or protest. Caseworkers and other DCFS staff grumble, but can’t speak up because of their positions.

Why? Where is the public outcry that happens when there is the threat to cut public education or public safety? You won’t see picket lines, protest marches or “the blue flu.” We can either quit when the financial cost is too high or go into debt. If foster parents walk off the job, where would that leave the children to whom we have dedicated our lives to protect? The number of children in care is the highest we’ve seen in years; the caseworkers and DCFS staff numbers are the lowest. The needs of “our kids” keep rising and the budget to meet those needs sinks lower and lower. Please join us and unite the voices of the 1400+ families who have made caring for foster kids their lives and their passion! Send your thoughts to us:ufafa1@ gmail.com. Share them with your elected officials. Make comments on radio, TV and newspaper web sites. Talk to those around you: friends, neighbors, family, coworkers and make them aware. Join our website (www.myufafa. com) so we can keep you up-todate in this effort to move the boulder that leaves us caught between it and a soft place.

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WESTERN REGION UPDATE AUGUST 2010

in this issue Foster Dad of the Year P.5 Western Region Office Belongings P.6

252 N. Orem Blvd. Orem, UT Phone: 801.373.3006 Fax: 801.373.3004 Toll Free: 877.373.3006

Partners in Parenting P.7 Training Updates P.9

Area Representative

Mark Broderick Foster Dad of the Year 2010 Mark was nominated by his RFC Linda Taylor for Foster/Adoptive Dad of the year. Linda wrote that Mark is always involved in each childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s case. He attends meetings and helps facilitate visits with a bio family even after the child has been adopted. The Brodericks are very caring and supportive of one another and find ways to care for children, even on a strict budget. They also have the ability to

not give up on children even when their behavior becomes very difficult. (Examples are: fire-starting, sexual reactivity and Aspergerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s syndrome). They have been foster parents since 2002 and have adopted 8 children from DCFS, in addition to caring for others who have come into their home. Congratulations to Mark Broderick and the whole family! Thank you for all that you do.

Wendy Bunnell Foster/Adoptive Family Recruiter John Thill Trainer Nancy Zelenak Retention Specialist Jessica Hanneman

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Wishing Well Funds Utah Foster Care Foundation has funds available to meet the special needs of children in foster care when DCFS is unable to meet these needs for any reason. Funds are limited. Requests MUST include the following: • Child’s first name, last initial and age • Foster parent’s name and home address • Caseworker’s name and contact information • The item being requested and the associated costs • Brief description of how the child will benefit Request should come in writing by a foster parent, the child in care or the caseworker. PLEASE NOTE: • Dispersal of funds can take up to 4 weeks. • Checks are mailed to the foster parent’s home address. • Funds are for children in foster care ONLY. • Items covered by the foster care reimbursement or by Medicaid are not eligible. • Only requests previously denied by DCFS are eligible. VACATIONS: • A child in care can receive vacation funds only ONCE in their lifetime. • Vacations are restricted monetarily & may not cover all costs. SUBMIT REQUESTS TO: Jessica Hannemann Utah Foster Care Foundation 252 N. Orem Blvd. Orem, UT 84057 OR jessica.hannemann @utahfostercare.org

Belongings The following thoughts were made by a 16-year-old child in foster care: “Most people take their belongings for granted, but being a youth in foster care, you learn you can’t take anything for granted. When we move from home to home, we rarely go to the next home with all of our things. Some of the things we don’t get back are the ones that mean the most to us. Some kids loose more than others. But every little item counts to us. It is hard to move around with so many strangers, but to lose some of our most valuable things makes life in a new home almost unbearable. I’m sure most foster parents are great people who mean well, but they should try to see it from our point of view. I mean, we have been taken from our families, and sometimes our friends, and that teddy, blanket, or whatever it may be could be one of the most important mementos we have in our life at these hard times. I’m not trying to make you feel sorry for us, I just want you to be more understanding of us… and understand what things you think are junk, may mean to us. I lost more that $600 worth of stuff from just a move from one home to another. Just one more move, and everything I have ever had could be gone. I don’t want that to happen to any other foster kid. No child or teenager deserves that, no matter what you may think. Please,

just think about it. The more foster parents try to help with this, the less that will be lost. Thanks so much for reading this. It means the world to so many kids.” Response by Magen Bernardo DCFS Resource Family Consultant Supervisor: “Belongings”— this is what they truly are. Our children have lost so many things in their lives and are looking to belong somewhere— looking for some stability in their crazy worlds. Unfortunately, this isn’t an easy task for most of them. For some, the only stable connection they have may be with their belongings. Things that seem tattered, worn or useless to us can be an anchor to a child in care. Before you throw that half bottle of lotion out or the sock filled with holes, think twice and let the children decide for themselves if it something they want to hold on too. Despite how they leave your home, please make sure that ALL of the child(ren)’s belongings go with them. Do not put it off. If it cannot happen the same day, make it happen the following day or sometime within that week. Also, please take care on how you pack all of their things. Receiving your belongings broken, torn, destroyed and in a garbage bags is much worse than not receiving them at all. If you need appropriate travel bags, please contact your caseworker, RFC, or the Utah Foster Care Foundation for help.

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Western Region Partners in Parenting

Envision Lending Group

$500.00 off closing costs

Pampered Chef

Free cooking classes for children

Gingerbread Bakery

15% off all items

Cutting Cottage Full Service Salon

20% off services & products

Evans Hair Styling College

$3.50 hair cuts call for days

All Fibers Carpet Care

10% off services

Heavenly Touch Massage

$10.00 off one hour massage

Family Legacy Dental Massage Therapy The Dance & Fitness Zone Scott Hancock Salon in P.G. Borders Book Stores

Call for offer $30.00 per hour $10.00 per month adults & children 20% off hair services 20% off excluding specials

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Play Music

Call for Discounts

Green with Envy

10% off lawn care

Taco Time

10% off

Ultra Steam Cleaning Systems, Inc.

10% off all cleaning

3 Jen-eration Catering

10% off all cleaning

Room Mural Painting

Scott Stringham 866.413.8976 Jana King 801.375.6818 17 S. Payson 801.465.0367 Caryl Ward 801.754.1041 801.224.6034 Orem 801.319.4066 Utah/Wasatch Co. Gail Fletcher 801.592.4503 801.277.5080 Orem Julia Knaphus 801.796.5969 Stephanie 801.404.1574 Rebecca Erickson 801.368.3262

20% off

Modbe Clothing

10% off 3 items or more

Pampered Chef

Provides food for parties

Simply Signs by Jan Hilton

30% off

Midtown Mortgage

1% origination fee

Waste Can Washers

20% off all services

Cathy Eliason 801.380.0202 Alpine: 801.280.1000 Highland: 801.916.5000 American Fork Provo Towne Center Troy 801.319.4364 Shiray 801.229.6381 Shiray 801.229.6381 Franchesca 801.367.4451 Joyce 801.380.0188 Jan 801.434.7004 Tifiny Rose 801.789.8726 Anthony Platts 801.473.7095

Partners in Parenting are local businesses that want to show their appreciation for all you do by offering discounts and specials to foster families. Just present your Resource Parent ID Card to take advantage of these offers, and be sure to let these businesses know that you appreciate their support! While the Utah Foster Care Foundation is sincerely grateful to our Partners in Parenting, we cannot endorse any of the services or products offered. A statewide list and description of all Partners in Parenting is available at our website: www.utahfostercare.org. The Resource Parent ID Card identifies you as one of our valued foster care providers and allows you to enjoy the benefits and savings from local merchants. You MUST have your Resource Parent ID Card to access discounts from these businesses. Please do not ask for exceptions. If you do not have a Resource Parent ID Card, please call Darcey at 877.505.KIDS. If you are aware of any business that would like to become a Partner in Parenting, please call Jessica at 801.373.3006. 7

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e r a at s? h W er t s Clu Clusters are groups of foster, adoptive and kinship families that meet together on a monthly basis. Clusters can help you: • Obtain in-service training hours • Meet other foster, adoptive and kinship families • Get support • Arrange respite care • Attend fun family activities Call the Cluster facilitator nearest you or contact Jessica at 801.373.3006 for more information. For more information on upcoming Cluster trainings, see “Upcoming In-service Trainings.”

Western Region Cluster Concepts Monthly Cluster announcements for currently licensed foster parents For in-service training details, see the training pages.

South Cluster Facilitator: Jilean 435.623.4049 brijil98@yahoo.com

Facilitator: Jilean 435.623.4049 brijil98@yahoo.com