Safe Families – A program where families help families

A crisis can happen to any family at any time. When it does most of us have family and friends upon which we can rely. Many families, however, lack this important support system. This puts children in those families at risk for abuse and neglect. Bethany Christian Services has created a safety net for these children, The Safe Families for Children program, which helps parents experiencing a temporary crisis arrange for their children to stay with a safe, Christian, loving family until the crisis has passed.

The Safe Families program is seeking volunteers who can reach out to those in need in their community. These volunteers become Safe Families who open their homes to families in need by temporarily supporting children who are welcomed into their home. Safe Families will provide love, support, and a safe place for children during their placement and will work cooperatively with Bethany Christian Services and the crisis family to ensure a positive placement for all children involved. Safe Families will be provided with education and training to ensure that they are able and equipped to support children in their homes. Education, background checks, references, and a home visit will be conducted by a Bethany worker to prepare each family for the Safe Families for Children program.

Safe Family volunteers include single individuals, married couples with children of any age, and empty nesters, all of whom simply decided to make room in their hearts and homes for children in need. They can have a powerful impact in the lives of others while practicing biblical hospitality, extending the love of Christ to people in need, sharing their faith, and connecting with those from another culture – all from their own home! Volunteers make a direct impact on the life of a child!

Basic Information about Safe Families

*Even though Safe Families began in 2002, the Orlando program is just getting off the ground, commencing July 15, 2009.

*Safe Families is a DCF– funded Preventative program. It’s designed to keep children out of the foster care system. SF steps in and provides safe homes for children before their situation warrants removal by DCF and placement in foster care. The children and their families are able to stay out of the state system.

*SF needs 10 families by December and 25 families by July, 2110. (They currently have 2 families.)

*There are highly successful programs similar to Safe Families in other U.S. cities such as Chicago and Atlanta. The Chicago program, for example, currently has 500 volunteer families with 300 placements per year.

*One of the reasons the program is so successful is that it is totally voluntary. The in-crisis family voluntarily asks for help, as opposed to being in the program because their children were forcibly removed by the state. These in-crisis families do not want their children placed into foster care! These families know that the volunteers are participating because they care – not for money. Knowing their children will be temporarily staying with a loving, safe, back-ground -checked family while they recover from their crisis serves to eliminate some stress and worry.

*The children in this program are not in foster care, not abused, not neglected. Bethany hears about their families through:
- Referrals from the state – there is no abuse in the family, but the family is experiencing an economic hardship.
- Through partnerships with churches – people go to churches seeking help (this is how Bethany also recruits SF volunteers)
- Through crisis centers – such as pregnancy crisis centers, homeless shelters, etc.

*Some examples of in-crisis family situations:
- Single mother with cancer who needs someone to take care of her children while she gets treatment
- Parents losing their jobs and facing eviction and homelessness
- A pregnant teenager who was thrown out of her parents’ home
- Children whose mothers are undergoing drug rehabilitation

*Volunteers and in-crisis families always meet in a public place and no personal information is exchanged (unless this is something both parties want to do on their own).

*Volunteers have total discretion on the type and length of placements. Placements can range from a weekend to 3-4 months at most. Volunteers can accept or decline placements at any time, and can pick age groups of children. For example, if you have a family vacation planned during the month of July, you can decline placements during that month; or you may postpone placements during the holidays. Placements occur at the volunteers’ preference.

If you would like to learn more about Safe Families, would like a Safe Families coordinator speak to your group, church, Sunday School class, etc., or if you feel you can make a difference in a child’s life and contribute to the Safe Families program please contact Alison Schminke:
aschminke@bethany.org
407-877-4006

http://www.bethany.org/A55798/bethanyWWW.nsf/0/3366FA3E48C61C07852574D500668B3D

Famine Crisis in Ethiopia - You can help!

From Tom Davis' blog:

URGENT: Millions Starving in Ethiopia
Today's news out of Ethiopia is not new. Millions starving. Millions without food or water. Millions trapped in extreme poverty. Millions is a concept we've accepted in our news reporting. If everyone in Colorado Springs was starving, we wouldn't quite get to "millions."

Hard to comprehend. Here's what I know. CHC's (Children's Hope Chest) kids don't starve. They don't drink dirty water. They are protected from abuse. They are sheltered from child labor. They are put through school to help develop their potential. Our kids are numbered in the thousands. And guess what? I've got 5,000 more who are waiting for a home.
This Christmas, CHC is going to launch a dynamic campaign to bring 5,000 new children into our CarePoint's throughout Africa. But with today's news of "millions" starving in Ethiopia, we've got to step up our plans a bit. I need to get the feeding centers up and running as soon as possible.

To read more and to find how you can help: http://tomdavis.typepad.com/tom_daviss_blog/2009/10/urgent-millions-starving-in-ethiopia.html

For more on the Ethiopian famine from the BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8321043.stm

New campaign aims to promote black child adoption

By Wendy Koch, USA TODAY, 8/3/2009

Rosemary Armstrong fondly recalls the first time she met her daughter Micayla, then 2, at her foster home. The African-American toddler screamed when the caseworker tried to pick her up, but she happily sat on Armstrong's lap and smiled.

Micayla didn't talk at all to most people, but during their second meeting, she started communicating: "It was 'Mommy' and 'Daddy' from day one," Armstrong says. "It was so fast."
Armstrong and her husband, Terry, also African-American, decided to adopt from foster care after discovering they could not have a child biologically.
They met Micayla in April 2008, and her adoption was final in February 2009. Micayla, who turned 4 on Monday, bonded quickly with their two other children, Armstrong's son, Jaiere, 7, and goddaughter Alexis, 14.

'A perfect parent'
While blacks account for 15% of U.S. children, they make up 32% of the 510,000 kids in foster care, according to a May 2008 report by the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute, a private research group. The report is based on 2006 data, the latest available. It shows that black children in foster care, especially older ones, are less likely than white ones to be adopted.
To help deal with that imbalance, a federally funded ad campaign is to be unveiled today. It is aimed at encouraging blacks to adopt from the foster care system. The ads will appear this fall on radio, TV and in newspapers.
"They're long overdue," says Adam Pertman, executive director of the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute.
A 1994 federal law, the Multiethnic Placement Act, prohibits denying or delaying an adoption because of race but requires "diligent" efforts to recruit parents of the same race.
The new ads, developed by the Advertising Council, are part of a series that began in 2002 to promote adoption from foster care. The ads, like prior ones, are humorous and carry the same tagline: "You don't have to be perfect to be a perfect parent."

'Some good news'
After similar ads aired in Spanish, "we got so many calls, we couldn't handle them," says Kathy Ledesma, project director of AdoptUsKids, a federally funded project that launched the ads.
Pertman says it makes sense to target blacks on behalf of black kids, because they are the most likely to adopt them, especially the older ones who are hardest to place. Single black women, often aunts or grandmothers, adopt nearly two-thirds of black foster kids, according to Penelope Maza, who analyzed foster care data for the federal Children's Bureau for nearly three decades until her retirement in December.
An increased effort to place black children with relatives before they enter foster care and to promote their adoption has helped to improve the imbalance, says Ruth McRoy, who researches adoption at the University of Texas-Austin.
In 1998, black children accounted for 43% of kids in the foster care system, but that share has since gone down, according to U.S. data.

"There's some good news here," Maza says.
The Donaldson report says one in five black foster kids are adopted by parents of a different race, and the majority of them are 4 years old or younger. It cites research showing that this kind of adoption can pose identity problems and recommends adoptive parents undergo training to help their kids.
New Yorker Sarah Gerstenzang, who is white, took in a black foster daughter when the girl was 5 weeks old and later adopted her. "I hear kids say to her, 'That's your mom!'" Gerstenzang says, adding that her daughter has learned to handle it.
Rosemary Armstrong says Micayla likes to ride her tricycle around the neighborhood. She says the girl has adjusted so well that she and her husband want to adopt another black foster child.
On Saturday, she's throwing Micayla a princess birthday party. She has invited 30 kids to share their joy, make jewelry and help eat the castle cake.

New Proposed Cambodian Law Would Resume International Adoption

From the October 2009 issue of Adoption Today magazine:

Cambodia is working to draft new international adoption regulations according to an August article in the Phnom Penh Post. The article, "Council of Ministers approves draft law to legalise, regulate international adoptions," by Vong Sokheng states the new International Adoption Law's objective to "regulate the principles, conditions, and procedures for international adoption, with the goal of guaranteeing the protection of children's rights and interests." The law is high priority according to a Cambodian Secretary of State quoted in the article. Adoptions from Cambodia were suspended in 2001, however Cambodia is a signatory of the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption.

November 8 is Orphan Sunday

www.orphansunday.org
On November 8th from 4:oo to 6:00 pm CST, join voices with Steven Curtis Chapman, Jim Daly, and Dennis Rainey to reach the nation with God’s call to care for orphans. Through excellent music and the sharing of the heart of God, we hope to give a megaphone to the cries of the millions of orphans around the world. Other guests include Geoff Moore and the Children of the World Choir.



Tom Davis writes about Orphan Sunday on his blog: http://tomdavis.typepad.com/tom_daviss_blog/2009/10/watch-out-for-the-firestarters.html

Invitation to Spirit Week!

Mon., Oct. 26, 2009 - Fri., Oct. 30, 2009
3 - 6 p.m.
Orlando Downtown Recreation Center
649 W. Livingston St.
Orlando, FL 32801

Family Services of Metro Orlando has been selected by the Atlanta-based Dwight D. Howard Foundation as its local partner for a multi-day event to mark its expansion into the central Florida area.
The event, Spirit Week, will be open to participation by foster youth and former foster youth (reunified, adopted, aged out) and will involve four days of fun afterschool life skills learning opportunities focusing on:
· Dealing with negative pressure

· Goal setting

· Social etiquette

· "Work to earn"

· Proper money management

Youth may but do not need to participate on all four days.

The Dwight D. Howard Foundation and Family Services of Metro Orlando are supporting the cost of youth attendance over the four day period.

On the fifth day (October 30, 2009), the Dwight D. Howard Foundation will host a Family Fun Day free for all families to be held at:
Faith World Church 7601 Forest City Rd. Orlando, FL 32810

A limited number of slots are available for youth to participate in the afterschool life skills learning activities.

RSVP to Bart Mawoussi at bmawoussi@fsmetroorlando.org or 407-398-7332.

Florida fails to protect kids' rights in court, advocates say

An article from the Orlando Sentinel by Kate Santich:

Florida gets an F for its failure to protect the legal rights of abused and neglected children, according to a ranking released Thursday by two national child-advocacy organizations. The chief criticism: Even though Florida law requires that a guardian ad litem be appointed for every kid who ends up in the child-welfare system, the guardian may be only a volunteer and not an attorney." Volunteers can't file motions, can't make objections; they can't request discovery; they can't cross-examine; they can't depose," said Amy Harfeld, executive director of the nonprofit organization First Star, one of the authors of the state-by-state report, along with the California-based Children's Advocacy Institute. "And even when children do have counsel, there's no requirement that the counsel stay on through the appellate process."

Despite the fact that most states do provide attorneys for children who have been removed from their homes, the issue has been contentious in Florida, where opponents say there is not enough money to cover the statewide Guardian ad Litem program as it is. That office has lost $5 million in state funding during the past two years and has had to prioritize which children are represented by guardians. As a result, about 5,100 Florida children were not appointed a guardian last year, as the law requires. The latest report — which flunked six other states in addition to Florida — argues that children in state custody have as much at stake as defendants in criminal proceedings, for whom the Constitution requires an attorney. Dependency courts can determine where children live, go to school, what medications they're given, and whether they ever get to see their parents or brothers and sisters.

Several messages left at the state's Guardian ad Litem program office went unanswered. But its 2009 annual report noted: "Last year, the Guardian ad Litem program spent $397,468 of its budget to provide attorney ad litem representation for dependent children. Though the program would like to be able to contract with attorneys to represent the child's legal interests in all cases where appropriate, current funding does not allow this."
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orl-lockid-atty-101609101609oct16,0,5846487.story

Invitation to learn about a voluntary program designed to prevent child abuse and neglect for children in our community

Tuesday, October 20 at 7:00 pm, Alison Schminke of Bethany Christian Services, will present Safe Families for Children, a new program which is coming to Central Florida.

What is Safe Families? It is a voluntary program designed to prevent abuse and neglect for children in our community. A Safe Family is a volunteer who opens their home and provide a child with a safe, nurturing place to live while their parents work to bring stability back to their family. Families who are in crisis are given training and support so that they can get to a place where they are ready to bring their child(ren) back home.

You are under no obligation whatsoever to sign up to become a Safe Family by attending the meeting on Oct 20. Perhaps you know someone who might be interested. The commitment is much less than becoming a foster family with children staying up to 90 days in your home. You can say no to a placement if it is not the right time to add a child to your home for a short time.

If you think you would like to learn more, we would love to have you attend on October 20. If you could let me know you are attending it would help with knowing who to expect. You are always welcome to just show up. Please feel free to pass this along to anyone you know who might be interested.
For questions or more information contact Tracy Matheson at First United Methodist Church of Winter Park @ 407-644-2906 ext 256.

Present-Day Slavery in the U.S.

Invitation to See Human Rights Activist and Former Slave, Micheline Slattery


Micheline Slattery, human rights activist and former slave in Haiti and the United States, will be speaking Thursday, October 15, 2009, at 2:00 p.m. at the University of Central Florida in the Key West Ballroom of the Student Union. Her presentation will be on "21st Century Slavery: Living Proof."

Slattery was born to a prominent political family in Haiti. After being orphaned at age five, she was sent to live with her aunt and uncle in a nearby town. As often occurs among rural families in Haiti, Slattery was forced to work as her extended familys servant, or restavec, as a child slave is commonly known there.

Beginning from the time she was five, Slattery was expected to clean the house, wash and fold the laundry, and walk for miles to collect water. If she failed to complete all her chores, she was beaten by her relatives. She still bears a scar on her left cheek from the time her cousin struck her across the face with a butcher knife.

At fourteen, Slattery was trafficked to Connecticut to serve as her cousins slave, performing domestic chores and taking care of several children. She never received compensation for her work. It took several years before she was finally able to leave and resettle in Massachusetts, where she now works as a nurse.

Slattery began speaking out last recently. She has testified before the Massachusetts State Assembly and has been featured by New England Cable News, Boston Metro and The Hartford Courant.

The event is free and open to the public, and is sponsored by the UCF Global Perspectives Office, UCF Political Science Department, UCF International Services Center, UCF Women's Studies Program, Lawrence J.
Chastang and the Chastang Foundation, UCF LIFE and the Global Connections Foundation.

Please see the attached flyer or visit www.ucfglobalperspectives.org for further information.

Announcing a Hope for Orphans Event in Greenville, SC

On Saturday, October 17th, Hope for Orphans will present "Your Church and the Orphan" at First Baptist church of Simpsonville, South Carolina (http://fbcsimpsonville.org/). Together for Adoption is privileged to be one of the sponsors of this excellent event. Join others from your church who are passionate about the needs of orphans at this group workshop experience led by Hope for Orphans (http://www.hopefororphans.org/), a ministry of FamilyLife. It will be a powerful, interactive, and fun one-day event that will provide the necessary information and tools to explore how your church can effectively minister to orphans and waiting children. This workshop will be from 9:00AM - 4:30PM on Saturday, October 17, 2009. The $20 per person cost includes lunch and snacks. To register call 1-800-358-6329 or visit: http://www.hopefororphans.org/Display.asp?Page=scheduledworkshops

Rob Mitchell, author of Castaway Kid, to share his story in Orlando

American World Adoption is sponsoring Orphan’s Ticket Home Gala on Friday, October 30th, 2009.

Where: Holy Trinity Conference CenterAgape Ballroom1217 Trinity Woods LaneMaitland, FL 32751

Guest Musician: Todd Fields

Guest Speaker: Rob Mitchell, author of Castaway Kid: Rob Mitchell is a respected financial consultant and a dedicated youth advocate, but what's not well known is that he had a tumultuous childhood. His memoir reveals his life in an orphanage after his mother abandoned him at age 3, as well as his struggle to find love and acceptance and learn to trust. Mitchell knew his mentally ill mother, who once kidnapped him from the orphanage, but had no real memories of his father, who attempted suicide but ended up brain damaged. His maternal grandmother was the boy's anchor, but she couldn't raise him, which only added to his confusion. He teetered on the edge of disaster as he matured, but at age 17 he prayed, "Jesus, if You are real, come into my nightmare. Forgive me of my sins and change me." Mitchell's story is inspiring both for its spiritual dimension and its conventional Horatio Alger narrative. His memoir will appeal to adults with difficult pasts, those who work with troubled kids and anyone who revels in seeing God change a life.

Schedule:
Registration: 7:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Silent Auction & Drinks: 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Dinner & Presentation: 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Cost per seat:$50To register, go to our link at: http://orphanstickethome.org/events-orlando.aspx
For more information on silent auction donations or table sponsorships, please contact Amy Kryszan at Amy.Kryszan@awaa.org


Many of our world's children are orphaned and have no hope for adoption or to be reunited with a family. This is why we created An Orphan's Ticket Home campaign. Our desire is to see more orphans have the chance to come home to their forever families. Your participation with us in this campaign will determine whether many of these children ever get "that ticket home." The goal of this campaign is to raise $1,000,000 in order to make it possible for orphaned children to be adopted. For some, these funds will secure birth certificates and documents to give them a legal identity, which is necessary in order to be eligible for adoption. Other children will be able to move from orphanages to safe, clean transitional homes. A ticket home will make other children's dreams come true when they are brought into loving, permanent homes. Our end goal of $1,000,000 will give 5,100 children the opportunity for a loving home. Please join us for our Orlando Orphan’s Ticket Home Gala on Friday, October 30th, 2009.