FIRST HOME CARE Spring Newsletter 2013

FIRST HOME CARE
Spring Newsletter
2013
Dear foster parents,
May is national foster care
month. We want to thank
each and every one of you
for all that you do! Your
job is tough and we hope
that you take this time to
reflect on what brought
you to do foster care in the
first place and recognize
the impact you’ve had on
the children.
~Parent training dept
Table of Contents
Trainings…………………..2
Managers’ Star…………..3
Article “What fostering
teens has taught me.....4
Cooking Corner…………5
Birthdays and
Anniversaries…………..6
Trainer contact info…..7
AMF free bowling……...8
FHC Trainings -Tidewater
Please remember to RSVP to Angie at 398-5233 at least a day
before the training!
May
5/7
“How to Stress Less” 9:30-11:30 a.m.
5/23 “How to Stress Less” 6-8 p.m. ** With special appreciation gifts
to those who RSVP!
JUNE
6/8 Foster Family Cookout 12-3 p.m. at Portsmouth City Park
Please RSVP to Angie by June 3rd!
JULY
7/2
7/25
To be announced 9:30-11:30 a.m.
To be announced 6-8 p.m. **
**Youth Empowerment is offered on 5/23 and 7/25 from 6-8 p.m. for those who want
to bring their foster child. A light meal will be provided to those who RSVP a day in
advance to Angie at 398-5233.**
FHC Trainings~Peninsula
Please remember to RSVP to Brennan at 966-1866 at least a day
before the training!
MAY
5/16 “Recharging your Battery” 6-8 p.m.
JUNE
6/8 Foster Family Cookout 12-3 p.m. at Portsmouth City Park
Please RSVP to Angie by June 3rd!
JULY
7/18 “ Family Relationships” 6-8 p.m.
OUTSIDE TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
May 7, Nurturing Parenting Series for Parents of Children 6-11: Week 2- Communication. Free. 6:30-8 p.m. Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters, 601 Children's Lane, 6th floor conference room, Norfolk. For parents only.
Attendance at all six classes is recommended but not required. You must register separately for each class. Register
online at www.chkd.org/classes.
May 10, Helping Young Children Manage Emotions (Parent program). Free. 7-9 p.m. CHKD Health & Surgery
Center at Princess Anne, 2021 Concert Drive, Virginia Beach. Register online at www.chkd.org/classes
May 16, Solutions to Your Child's Challenging Behavior (Parent program). Free. 6:30-8:30 p.m. CHKD Health &
Surgery Center at Oyster Point, 11783 Rock Landing Drive, 1st floor conference room, Newport News. Register
online at www.chkd.org/classes.
It’s an exciting time here at FHC, and I am so fortunate to
work with such a committed group of people. We have
wonderful tenured staff willing to go above and beyond; we
have amazing experienced foster parents whose dedication
has not waivered; and we have a set of new foster parents
that bring a heartfelt desire to become caretakers for our at risk youth. This
combination of strengths helps to make my job easier.
Starting in April 2013, I am introducing a new tradition by implementing the
“Manager’s Star”, in which I will highlight a foster parent(s) every other month in the
foster parent newsletter. Qualifications are simple: Your home has to be in compliance with FHC and Licensure requirements. You may or may not have a child placed
in your home; your dedication, willingness and commitment will qualify you. FHC
Staff or other Foster Parents may nominate you. The Manager will make the selection.
In April, Debra and Ronnie Williams were selected by the Manager as being the
“STARS”. Mr. & Mrs. Williams have been foster parents with FHC for one year.
They have a very challenging client that has been placed in their home for over nine
months; however, they keep pushing, pulling, and working towards his treatment goals
with everlasting hope that he will progress towards stability. Although the child
frequently will test limits; Mr. & Mrs. Williams continue to
make him feel welcomed and a part of the family; he accompanies them on vacations and all family outings. They work
hard, and often overtime trying to ensure he is happy and
well cared for.
FHC thanks Mr. & Mrs. Williams, and all of the foster
parents for their hard work and commitment to the children.
Lizzie Caldwell
Don’t forget!!!
You’re invited to our foster parent cookout on
Saturday, June 8th!
At Portsmouth City Park
From 12-3 p.m.
RSVP to Angie at 398-5233 by
June 3rd
What Fostering Teens Has Taught Me
by Janier Caban- Hernandez
If you asked six years ago if I wanted to be a foster dad, I would have said, “NO way Jose!”
Being a single, Latino male I had no idea what I could offer a child, especially as I generally
don’t like little kids. As I was going through the PRIDE (Parent Resource for Information,
Development, Education) classes, I became increasingly nervous
as I learned more and more about the needs of these children.
Could I deliver, am I ready and what about the “what ifs”…?
I was ready to speak to the trainer and drop out, until I befriended four Latino foster teenagers who lived in another foster home.
After raiding my refrigerator and asking me to cook them Puerto Rican food, they encouraged me to become a foster father as
“there aren’t any Latino men.” All the teens that come to my
home are Latinos because from the start, we have something in common: a cultural connection and understanding of the importance of “familia” (family), “respecto”(respect) and
“confianza” (“trust”).
Little kids always drove me crazy, but teenagers are an age group that I can talk and negotiate with. What I have learned about living with teenagers, I learned by attending postlicensing training, participating in roundtable discussions with other foster parents and foster
teenagers and mostly by talking with the boys in my house (…and at times, “therapeutic yelling” helps!).
I tell the boys that come to my home that:
1.You don’t earn my respect or trust, you only lose it.
2.When you get me upset, you’ll be the first to know and when I get you upset, I want to be
the first to know.
3.I’ll make mistakes, so help me out.
4.Help me understand how to use my cell phone, please!
5.Being courteous is never old fashioned.
6.Women like to be respected and not treated as “one of the boys.”
7.I’ll cook dinner, but you clean up.
8.As we need to communicate, I’ll get you a cell phone and pay half the bill, you pay the
other half with your chore money.
9.Your education is NOT an option, you HAVE to go to school and if you need school related items, I’ll get it.
10.You’ll get $10 for every “A” grade.
11.Don’t tell me you are proud of being a Puertorriqueño, show me by your actions and
deeds.
My boys are part of my family. Some have moved out but we still contact each other and
when they need help, they know they can call me. Now that I co-facilitate PRIDE classes and
open houses, I challenge the participants to consider teenagers, as there is such a need for
them to be welcomed to a nurturing and supportive foster home. After all, those cute little
kids eventually become teenagers!
Cooking Corner
Shortcut Vegetable
Lasagna
Ingredients

1 package (8 ounces) curly egg noodles

1 container (15 ounces) part-skim ricotta cheese

1 1/2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided

1 bag (16 ounces) frozen assorted vegetables, thawed

1 jar (16 ounces) chunky marinara sauce
Make It
1. Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Coat 2-quart casserole dish with
cooking spray. Cook noodles according to package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup of cooking liquid. Drain noodles; rinse under cold water.
2. While noodles are cooking, combine ricotta cheese, 1 cup mozzarella cheese, and vegetables.
3. In large bowl, mix noodles, marinara sauce, and reserved cooking
liquid. Place 3 cups noodle mixture in casserole dish. Spread ricotta
mixture over noodles. Top with remaining noodles and sprinkle with
remaining mozzarella cheese.
4. Bake 20 minutes, or until cheese has melted.
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe: 6
Amount Per Serving:
cal.(kcal): 384
Fat, total(g): 15
carb.(g): 43
fiber(g): 4
protein(g): 23,
Percent Daily Values are
based on a 2,000 calorie
diet.
MAY
S. Adams
J. Belding
J. Hopewell
R. Smith-Robinson
E. Simpson
I. Blocker
B. Jones
W. Davis
A. Johnson
M. Edmunds
B. Anderson
J. Ferreira
JUNE
R.
T.
D.
B.
B.
S.
Farr
Walker
Williams
Thomas Pierce
Harvey
Parker
6/5
6/13
6/28
6/29
6/30
6/30
3 years
5 years
The Beck-Millers 6/10 B. Lassiter 5/13
6 years
T. Jones
10 years
L. Elliot
5/29
6/25
16 years
G. Johnson 6/20
8 years
B. Anderson
11 Years
The Blockers
The Moore’s
17 years
The Robinson
5/24
5/29
5/20
5/14
5/1
5/1
5/2
5/2
5/2
5/5
5/7
5/8
5/15
5/17
5/23
5/27
We’re here to help!
Portsmouth/
Peninsula
Brennan Bowman
757-966-1866
Virginia Beach/
Norfolk
Angie Tawney
757-398-5233
[email protected]
[email protected]
Suffolk/Franklin/
Chesapeake
Amy Rourke
757-398-5230
[email protected]
On-Call Weekend/
Holiday Numbers
647-0584—Caseworker
613-8898—Supervisor
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