Eastern June 2010 Foster Roster

09V O L U M E

J U N E2 0 1 0

A M O N T H L Y

N E W S L E T T E R F O R

F O S T E R & A D O P T I V E

P A R E N T S I N U T A H

in this issueChalk Art Festival P.1

Successful Symposium P.2

Fostering Healthy Children P.3

UFAFA Update P.4

Eastern Region Update Begins P.5

fosterroster

STATEWIDE UPDATE

Utah Foster Care Foundation Offi ces

Murray5296 S. Commerce Dr. #400Murray, UT 84107Phone: 801.994.5205Fax: 801.994.5206Toll Free: 877.505.KIDS

Ogden3340 S. Harrison Blvd. #200Ogden, UT 84403Phone: 801.392.1114

Orem252 N. Orem Blvd. Orem, UT 84057Phone: 801.373.3006

Price475 W. Price River Dr. #152Price, UT 84501Phone: 435.636.0210

RooseveltPhone: 435.724.0959

Vernal1052 W. Market Dr. Vernal, UT 84078Phone: 435.781.4224

Moab180 S. 300 E., Ste. CMoab, UT 84532Phone: 435.259.3345

St. George321 N. Mall Dr. #B102St. George, UT 84790Phone: 435.656.8065

Richfi eld201 E. 500 N.Richfi eld, UT 84701Phone: 435.896.1232

Utah Foster Care Foundation’s

Don’t miss it!

June 18-19The Gateway

We are still looking for general and foster parent volunteers. If you are interested, please visit the

Chalk Art Festival web site to register.

http://www.chalkartfestival.org/http://www.facebook.com/ChalkArtFestival

Visit the Kids’ Korner and join in on the fun!

Watch as artists create beautiful, temporary works of art.

(2,1) -1- Eastern June 2010 Foster Roster.indd 5/26/2010 10:21:27 AM(2,1) -1- Eastern June 2010 Foster Roster.indd 5/26/2010 10:21:27 AM

Special thanks to:

Joseph V.

Birthday: 10/2000 Grade in School: 3rd Heritage: Native American

ALL BOY, is the best way to describe this friendly kid. Joseph is a very athletic child who loves football but enjoys anything played with a ball. He would do very well and is looking forward to someday playing on a sports team. An intelligent guy, Joseph likes to tinker, draw, fi gure things out, learn new things, and play with LEGOS. When Joseph feels relaxed and comfortable in a situation, his silly side seems to come out. When this happens Joseph very much enjoys this “hang-out” time. He is a very observant kid who happens to notice little details in things. Some of Joseph’s current interests are animals and Transformers.

For more information, please contact:

The Adoption Exchange801.265.0444

www.utdcfsadopt.org

2

By Mick Woolsey, LCSWDirector of EducationUtah Foster Care Foundation

Greetings! We wanted to thank everyone who contributed to the success of our very 1st Annual Utah Foster Care Foundation Symposium held April 21st and 22nd in Midway. We had a great turnout and enjoyed several presenters’ views on trauma and attachment. Foster parents attending were eligible for three hours on Wednesday afternoon and six hours on Thursday to be credited towards licensure renewal. Clinicians were also able to obtain 9 CEU’s toward their licensure renewals.

Dr. Doug Goldsmith from the Children’s Center was the keynote

speaker. His presentation, “Attachment in Perspective: Keeping the Big Picture in View,” included case studies as well as grounded ideas of how to help families struggling with attachment and trauma issues. We want to thank him for his time and expertise and received numerous evaluations thanking him for all he shared. Foundation trainers Liz Rivera, MS, Les Harris, LCSW, Mick Woolsey, LCSW, and Nancy Zelenak, MSC explored other areas of attachment. Topics included Discipline with Traumatized Children, Reactive Attachment Disorder, Secondary Trauma & Foster Parents and Matters of the Heart from Children in Care.

We look forward to next year’s Symposium and hope you can join us!

Successful Symposium

Dr. Goldsmith presenting at the Symposium.


Fostering Healthy Children

By Chris Chytraus, R.N., BSN, CPMProgram ManagerFostering Healthy Children Program

As a foster parent, you should have received a letter from the Utah Dept. of Heath about the national recall of many “over the counter” medications.

Below is a list of the brand names of the medicines on the recall list. If you have any of these medications, you should check the NDC code on the packaging. A complete listing of these codes can be found at https://www.utahfostercare.org. If you have any of the medications with the NDC code listed, you should return it to the pharmacy where you purchased it.

If you have been giving a child any of the medications listed and they have nausea, vomiting or diarrhea PLEASE CONTACT THE CHILD’S MEDICAL PROVIDER and let them know.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the nurse assigned to the child’s case or the Fostering Healthy Children Program at 801.584.8598 or toll-free 800.829.2900 ext. #4.

Medications recalled May 3, 2010:

• Tylenol Infants’ Drops• Children’s Tylenol Suspensions• Children’s Tylenol Plus Suspensions• Motrin Infants’ Drops• Childrens’ Motrin Suspensions• Childrens’ Motrin Cold Suspensions• Childrens’ Zyrtec Liquids in Bottles• Childrens’ Benadryl Allergy

3

Jasmine M.

Birthday: 10/97 Grade in School: 5th Heritage: Caucasian

This bright young lady enjoys singing, acting, sewing, drawing, reading, and gymnastics. Jasmine likes animals. She relishes in being physically active and busy. Like many other girls her age, Jasmine is interested in cosmetology, especially make-up and hairstyling. As a fi fth grader, Jasmine is above grade level, has higher than average intelligence, and loves to learn!

For more information, please contact:

The Adoption Exchange801.265.0444

www.utdcfsadopt.org

Special thanks to:

Recall on Children’s OTC Medications

Visit our web site for the

whole list


AnnouncingFoster/Adoptive Dads of the Year 2010

Utah Foster Care Foundation would like to announce the fi ve Foster/Adoptive Dads of the Year for 2010:

Eastern Region:Jeff Edwards

Northern Region:Chris Erickson

SLV Region:Mike Millgate

Southwest Region:Gerardo Reyes

Western Region:Mark Broderick

If you know these dads and would like to support them, an awards ceremony will be held in their honor on Saturday, June 19th at noon. The ceremony will be held at the Gateway in downtown Salt Lake City.

Come join the fun!

U F A F A E x e c u t i v e Committee

President: Jennifer Gardner1st VP: Renee Calkins2nd VP: Cayce ThillSecretary: Michelle OstmarkTreasurer: Beth Hardman

www.myufafa.com

Utah Foster/Adoptive Families Association Update

UFAFA is coming to a region near you!

Correction: UFAFA is coming to YOUR region!

We want all regions of the state to feel that they are represented by Utah Foster/Adoptive Families Association (UFAFA) and their needs are addressed. We felt that creating regional committees that are modeled after and report to the executive committee would be the best way to accomplish this goal. These committees would coordinate various endeavors in each region that would help fulfi ll the purposes of UFAFA. We need volunteers to staff these regional committees!

We are also looking for volunteers to create and staff “resource centers” throughout the state! Northern Region has a great one that is supervised by the Utah Foster Care Foundation. It has been such a success that we would like to spread it to all other regions. Basically, it is a place

where donated clothes and other items are sorted, stored and distributed (by appointment) to foster/adoptive families in need of the items.

Please check out our website (www.myufafa.com) to get more details on these Volunteer Opportunities.

ALSO – we have emailed questionnaires about child welfare to all candidates that are running for state legislative positions. To see how the candidates in YOUR district responded, please email Jenn @ [email protected] with your voting district (found on your voter registration card – there will be two, a house and a senate) as the subject line.

Thanks for all you do every day to make the world a better place!

Jennifer GardnerUFAFA President

4


in this issueLicensing Update P.5

Keep Kids Balanced P.6

Partners in Parenting P.7

Training Updates P.9

EASTERN REGION UPDATE

Eastern Region Offi ce

475 W. Price River Dr. #152Price, UT 84501

Phone: 435.636.0210Fax: 435. 637.9702

Toll Free: 877.636.0210

Area Representative

Kobi Marchello

Moab Offi ce180 S. 300 E. Suite C

Moab, Utah 84532Phone: 435.259.3345

Fax: 435.259.2691

Foster/AdoptiveFamily Recruiter &

Retention SpecialistGeri Winkler

Vernal Offi ce1052 W. Market Drive

Vernal, Utah 84078Phone: 435.790.4225

Fax: 435.781.1539

Trainer

Les Harris

Roosevelt Offi ceRR 3 Box 8008

Roosevelt, Utah 84066Phone: 435.724.0959

Retention Specialist

Faith Spencer

Licensing Update

By Stephanie Robb & Jim JenningsLicensing SpecialistsEastern Region

To all Foster Parents:

The Office of Licensing would like to give all foster parents an update on licensing requirements because there have been changes.

Training hoursFirst of all, it is important for you to know your licensor may not grant license extensions for incomplete paperwork or insufficient training hours. Some foster parents think all of the training hours must be complete before they send back the paperwork. This is not accurate. You may continue to work on training hours after the renewal paper work is sent to the Office of Licensing. Parents may work on any hours needed, up to your license end date. It is important to plan ahead and get the required hours before the license expires.

Plan aheadPlease be sure all paperwork is submitted to your licensor at least 30 days before your license expires. The sooner the renewal packet paperwork is returned, the sooner our office can send the background checks to Salt Lake City to be processed.

Background checksIt usually takes a while to get background checks cleared. Foster parents also need to send in a current copy of their driver’s license and a copy of their social security card. We have to attach those items to the background check to have the clearance completed.

If for some reason your foster care license does expire, you are required to resubmit your fingerprints to be in compliance with Adam Walsh law. Your cooperation in this matter is greatly appreciated. If you have any questions, please call your licensor.

Thank you!

JUNE 2010

5


Keep Kids Balanced Over the Summer

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 fi rst 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 benefi t

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:Faith SpencerUtah Foster Care Foundation140 W. 4225 S. 330-15Roosevelt, Utah 84066

ORfaith.spencer

@utahfostercare.org

6

Wishing Well Funds

By Lisa Coulthrup

“We parents all know the deal,” says Lisa Coulthrup, mother of eight. “The last day of school hits and the kids are in heaven. By the next week, they are completely bored.”

The reason that children get bored so quickly she states, is a lack of routine.

“All throughout the year, they are up at a certain time, eating at certain time and off to school for a day of routines. This gives the children some emotional balance, a feeling of safety that they are not conscious of, but need all the same. Some parents try to replace school routine with household chores, and while doing chores around the home is needful, this is not going to keep the kids happy for long.”

“The three key things children get emotionally while at school during the day are socialization with their peers, a set routine which helps expand their minds, and new life experiences to help them grow emotionally and prepare for the future. As parents we can try to fi ll each day with a bit of these key

points.”

Lisa offers a few tips on building routines at home that are fun and helpful:

1. Early to bed and early to rise (except on special occasions)

If you have a set bed time and expect your child to be awake for the day at a certain time, why change that routine for the summer? While it is important that the children have the same basic amount of rest as they did while in school, a parent can ease the time a bit.

2. Eating properly and at the same time

When the children get up during the school year they have breakfast each morning before going on the bus. Keep breakfast time consistent and provide them with good nutritious foods. Let them help prepare and plan the weekly meals along with you.

3. Set times for reading and quiet time


Eastern Region Partners in ParentingPartners 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 identifi es you as one of our valued foster care providers and allows you to enjoy the benefi ts 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 Faith at 435.724.0959.

7

All Scrapped Up

Cold Stone Creamery

Personal Refl ections PhotographyKFC/A&W RestaurantsBig B Equipment John Deere

RC Fencing

Stockman’s Restaurant

Northeastern Utah Offi ce Supply

Rod’s Mini Lube

Moab City Pool

Gravel Pit Lanes

Slick Rock Cinema

K & A Chuck Wagon

Blanding City Pool

10% discount & free scrapbook class

150 S. 700 E. #Bin Price

10% off

10% off

10% off

10% off all toys in stock

$1 off per foot materials and labor

Free dessert with purchase of meal

10% off - see store for details

10% discount

Free swimming w/pass

2-for-1 bowling

Discount passes - call Geri

Free dinner 1x per month w/reservation

Free family pass—contact city offices

1191 E. Mainin PriceJennifer801.518.6368130 N. Carbonville Road in Price22245 W. Hwy 40in RooseveltRhett435-790-76811684 W. Hwy 40in Vernal11 N. 200 E.Roosevelt only

290 E. 200 S.in Roosevelt181 W. 400 N. in Moab1078 Millcreek Dr.in Moab

496 N. Mainin Monticello50 W. 100 S.in Blanding

San Juan Theatre $4.00/adult & $3.00/child tickets

120 W. Center Streetin Blanding

580 Kane Creek Blvd. in Moab

Keep Kids Balanced Over the Summer (con’t.)

It doesn’t matter that they call the days of summer “lazy.” Children will get a huge benefi t from keeping a small amount of academic activity in their days. Reading is a great way to stretch the mind. Set aside some time and a nice quite place for the kids to settle down with a good book. Make a once a week trip as a family to the library.

4. Key Number Four - Help your child fi nd a part time job

To help the children keep in touch with the sense of community that school gives them, help your child fi nd a job in your local neighborhood. Maybe you have someone that lives near you and needs help with gardening or other small odd jobs.


Eastern Region Cluster ConceptsMonthly Cluster announcements for currently licensed foster parents

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 Faith Spencer at 435.724.0959 for more information.

For more information on upcoming Cluster trainings, see “Upcoming In-service Trainings.”

What are

Clusters?Grand/San Juan

ADHD 101: Parenting a Child with ADHDSee training pages for details.

Grand Facilitator: Kim435.259.0665

[email protected]

Carbon/Emery/Adoption

Summer Family Party!Watch your mail for more information.

Facilitator: [email protected]

Uintah Basin

In-service training hours available through a summer reading program with your family. See training pages for details.

Facilitator: Shanna435.722.6885

[email protected]

Facilitator: Debbie435.724.6746

[email protected]

San Juan Facilitator: Jackie435.678.3019

[email protected]

8


Eastern Region TrainingMonthly training announcements for currently licensed foster parents

Summer Family Reading

2 hours of in-service training will be offered to parents participating in their local library’s summer reading program for kids. To receive credit, you must attend library story time, or offi cially sign up the children in your home to participate in the summer reading program. Total number of hours spent together in reading activities must be at least two hours. Your librarian can sign your training log.

Presented by: Les Harris

It is essential to help youth build a solid foundation upon which they can more easily make the transition to living as adults and build connections for greater stability.

Required for all foster parents of youth 14 and older.

• Watch for Dates/Locations in later updates. This class is not offered every month.

To Register For Classes:

Contact: Les Harris

Eastern Region Trainer

Phone: 435.781.4224

Email: [email protected]

Toll Free:

877.505.5437

Please be ready with your name, phone number & the title of the class you would like to be registered for.

Notes on In-service Trainings:

• Classes are for licensed foster parents ONLY

• Training hours will beapplied to re-licensing requirements

• Primary caregivers arerequired to attend 12+ hours of in-service training per year

• Secondary caregivers are required to attend 4+ hours of in-service training per year

• ADULTS ONLY unlessotherwise specifi ed

• Classes start on time

• You must attend the entire class to receive credit

Director of Education Mick Woolsey, LCSW

Phone: 435.229.8808Email: mick.woolsey @utahfostercare.org

Parenting Tip of the Month

Remember the 3 important questions toask yourself when in a discipline interaction:

How is this making me feel?How does the child feel?

What’s it doing to our relationship?

***

When using www.fosterclub.com website to obtain up to 2 hrs of in-service training,please remember to put your trainers email ([email protected]) as asecond email (after you take the quiz)!

Foundations for Youth

9


Eastern Region TrainingMonthly training announcements for currently licensed foster parents

Upcoming In-service Trainings

June 29th

5:30 pm - 9:00 pmBlanding DCFS

ADHD 101:Parenting a Child

with ADHD

Presented by Darcey Hirst

Learn what ADHD is and is not. Tips for parenting a child with ADHD will be given.

Sponsored by theGrand/San Juan Cluster

1:00 pm - 3:30 pmRoosevelt DCFS

Licensing Review for Foster/Adoptive Families

Presented by Stephanie Robb &

Jacina Barrett

Foster parents will be provided an opportunity to learn how to facilitate their licensing process and answer questions related to license renewal.

Sponsored by theUintah Basin Cluster

July 22nd August 11th

August 12th Coming Soon!

Training Tips:

• Approved Trainings-In-service trainings provided and approved by Utah Foster Care Foundation.

• Foundations for Youth-FFY is required for families caring for youth 14 and up.

• Community & Partner Trainings- Call your regional trainer (found on page 5) for approval prior to attending a class or conference that is held within the community and is not a pre-approved training.

• Approved On-line Training- Families may visit the web site: www.fosterclub.com for up to 2 hours of online training per year.

• Peer Parent Training and Resource Family Consultant (RFC) Training- 6 hours each per year may be used toward licensure. RFC Training must be provided by DCFS RFCs.

REMINDER: Family team meetings do

not count toward In-service training hours.

IMPORTANT:TO REGISTER FOR A TRAINING THAT IS CLUSTER-SPONSORED, YOU MUST CALL YOUR AREA CLUSTER FACILITATOR.

Noon - 4:00 pmPrice location TBD

Parenting with Love and Logic

Presented by Faith Spencer

Learning & utilizing Love & Logic parenting strategies effectively. You must register with Kobi to attend 435.636.0210.

Sponsored by theCarbon/Emery Cluster

Noon - 4:00 pmPrice location TBD

Parenting with Love and Logic

Presented by Faith Spencer

Learning & utilizing Love & Logic parenting strategies effectively. You must register with Kobi to attend 435.636.0210.

Sponsored by theCarbon/Emery Cluster

Grand/San Juan ClusterAnnual Foster/Adoptive Family

Appreciation Eventwill be coming in July.

Stay tuned for details - You won’t want to miss out on the fun!

10


1111

Cool Down This Summer!

This year Utah Foster Care Foundation is hosting a statewide appreciation event.

It will be held at Raging Waters in Salt Lake City: 1200 West 1700 South.On Monday, August 2nd.

Invitations will be mailed mid-summer to your home, so watch your mailbox.

***

Foster Family Camp at

Aspen Grove

The fi fth annual Foster Family Camp at Aspen Grove is scheduled and planning is underway!

Camp will be held this year September 17 - 19.

Registration forms and further information will be mailed out early summer.

10 Ways to Unplug Your Week-end - and enjoy your family for free!

Reprinted from USA WeekendMarch 12-14, 2010

Take a deep breath. Now, tell the kids to unplug from all electronic entertainment Friday evening to Monday morning. It may seem like an impossible feat for everyone in your family to ditch video games, email and TV for 48 hours. But with some of these enticing activities, it just might be possible, so give it a try. We think you’ll enjoy it!

1. Before Friday, explain that each family member must suggest a game or activity. Tell spooky stories, take a hike in a nature reserve, go ice-skating, play a card game.

2. Enjoy a fun, easy breakfast. Kick off the weekend with a special family breakfast on Saturday morning. Set up a sundae bar: Fill parfait glasses with fresh fruit, with a few spoonfuls of yogurt and sprinkle of granola.

3. Liven up dinner conversation. Take some small pieces of paper and write questions on them, such as, “If you could have a superpower, which one would you want?” “What does it mean to be a best friend?” “What is your favorite movie?” Put in a large jar. Each family member takes a turn picking a question to answer while eating dinner.

4. Play a family trivia game. Before the weekend, come up with 20-25 questions about your extended

family. Example: “What was great-grandfather Thompson’s profession? (If children in foster care are in your home, have some questions they could answer about them, or their family)

5. Go on a tiny treasure hunt hike. Give each family member a small container, challenge everyone to fi ll it with items from the great outdoors in a certain amount of time. Offer prizes for the most, or widest variety, etc.

6. Try prop charades. Choose a prop (like empty paper towel tube, take turns acting out zany ways to use it-spy glass, torch). Other family members guess what it is being used for.

7. Set up an activity center. Cover a table and get out the colored pencils, clay, watercolors, paper-and everyone get creative!

8. Have a blackout night. One night, keep the lights off in the house and light with candles!

9. Record memories. In a local spot in the house, place a blank notebook with a pen attached. Then encourage family members to write one entry each day about the unplugged weekend.

10. Reminisce. Before everyone goes to bed on Sunday, take time to refl ect. Each family member shares 3 things that they liked about the weekend.


Follow Us OnlineFor Regular

Updates:

Katy Andrews Community Volunteer

LeRoy Franke Division of Child & Family Services

Steve Goodrich, Vice ChairUPS

Kevin LaRue KSL Radio

Hank Liese, MSW, Ph.D., ChairUniversity of Utah

Mayor Dan McArthur City of St. George

Salvador Mendez, MSW Division of Juvenile Justice Services

Jean Nielsen, SecretaryHuman Services, Salt Lake County

Gary Ogden Fred A. Moreton & Co.

Fred Riley, Past ChairLDS Church

Lori Steele McCann Erickson

Jeff Tesch, LMFT Foster/Adoptive Parent

Kate Toomey 3rd District Court

Gloria Talley Wilkinson Zions Bank

Jayne Wolfe, Ph.D. Psychologist

Bruce Olson, Board Attorney Ray, Quinney & Nebeker

NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDSALT LAKE CITY, UT

PERMIT NO. 579

5296 So. Commerce Dr. #400Murray, UT 84107

In partnership with the Division of Child and Family Services

utahfostercare.org fosterateen.org

a private, non-profi t organization

UtahFosterCare

Utah Foster Care Foundation

UtahFosterCare

Utah Foster Care Foundation Board of Directors


Eastern June 2010 Foster Roster

Documents

r e n t s i n u t

e t t e r f o r f o

foster roster

o n t h

foster parents

joseph v

d o p t i v e p

y n e w s