AFFM Year in Review
It has been a busy year filled
with lots of meetings, significant changes
in foster care, adoption assessments and rates
and efforts to positively reform the DHS system
and child welfare in Maine.
AFFM was pleased to be included
in the DHS Reform and to participate in various
related activities. The events in Bangor and
Augusta honoring foster parents were well
attended and lots of fun!
The intent to replicate the
retention activities throughout the state
is well underway. It is well documented that
if we treat the families we work with well
and show respect, they continue to provide
care. It is no surprise that if people are
not valued for the good things that they do
and are thwarted in their efforts to advocate
for the children in their care, they are less
willing to continue to provide care. Reform
efforts include a myriad of ideas that if
followed should lead to the retention of families.
Plans include a receptive voice message from
caseworkers. The messages will let the caller
know when to anticipate a return call, who
to call if the call needs immediate attention,
and when more routine calls will be answered.
Workers are attempting to respond quicker,
whenever possible and to show their appreciation
of what has been heretofore taken for granted.
Some readers will have received cards congratulating
them on the anniversary of their first foster
care license, others will have received a
certificate of appreciation signed by workers
and management, still others will receive
notes of thanks for caring for a foster child.
These efforts may seem simple, but in a job
that is constantly dealing with one or more
crisis it is an effort that requires management
support to make it work. The support of kinship
providers, foster and adoptive parents is
now a priority for DHS from Central office
and throughout each of the districts. Look
for symbols of appreciation as the Reform
effort takes root. Any ideas you wish to share
to expand on ways to show respect and appreciation
can be called into AFFM or to your representative
on the Foster and Adoptive Advisory Board.
AFFM has been able to network
with numerous community activities and shared
hundreds of donated items to support families.
Included were over night stays at hotels,
whale watching expeditions, dinners at restaurants,
free tickets to Sesame Street Live, complimentary
passes to fairs, discounts from several businesses
and the list goes on.
Annual programs include the
State Park Pass program, (which over 300 foster
families took advantage of in 2003) and the
free passes to the Maine Wildlife Park in
Gray.
If readers have suggestions
on places where we can expand our discount
program or get complimentary passes, please
call and share the name of the business and
a contact person. AFFM would like the discount
card program to be more reflective of the
entire state rather than just the more urban
areas. To do this we need your help.
The library has expanded and
includes several new books and videos. Many
people have taken advantage of materials to
help fulfill their need for training hours.
The newsletter has grown both
in content and in the number of places it
is sent. Over 2600 copies are mailed monthly.
In addition to the number of individual newsletters,
packets are sent to each of the DHS District
offices, all of the private adoption and foster
care placing agencies, all members of the
Health and Human Services Committee of the
Maine State legislature, the Governor, several
judges, Guardian Ad litem's and numerous
other child welfare advocates. AFFM receives
many compliments on the newsletter, but is
always looking for ways to improve it. AFFM
welcomes feed back and seeks suggestions and
recommendations. Due to funding constraints
there is little leeway in terms of adding
extra pages to the newsletter, but other than
that we are open to your ideas.
Over the past year, 5 new support groups have been established. Special thanks
go to the leadership roles assumed by Brenda
Moody, Kryse Skye, Susan Young, Meredith Crain,
Kathy Tisdale and Gail Neher. We wish these
and the long-standing groups every success
and hope the groups will be able to provide
all that is sought after in support groups.
Group leaders feel free to contact AFFM for
suggestions on ways to expand, rejuvenate
or add some new dimension to the programming.
Several training opportunities have been developed
that can be used as part of the support group's
agenda. For more information call 1-800-833-9786
or visit the website affm.net.
AFFM's, spring conference
was attended by over 400 individuals. To say
it was a huge success would be an understatement!
Thank you to all that took part. The spring
conference 2004, Legacies of Loss; Visions
of Gain, will be held in Portland, April 2
and 3, 2004. Now is the time to mark your
calendar, line up child care and check with
your agency or DHS District to see if there
is funding to assist you in attending. The
presenters will delight you, the food will
astound you and the opportunity to share with
old and new friends will warm you heart and
soul! Please plan to attend.
Eight lucky families spent a
week at Tamarack Cottage in Rangeley this
past summer. Reports were wonderful. Families
were generous in leaving a special gift to
the cottage and more importantly families
all reported sharing a fun-filled vacation
in Rangeley. Another family enjoyed a week
at a cottage at Shin Pond Village. Many thanks
to Mary Higgins, Executor of the Wilhelm Reich
Infant Trust, for her part in making Tamarack
available to foster, adoptive and kinship
families. Thank you also to Craig and Terry
Hill owner's of Shin Pond Village. The
Hill's are also foster parents. The
couple has generously made a cottage at Shin
Pond available to AFFM families for the past
two years. AFFM welcomes other camp owners
to consider a charitable contribution in the
form of a week or more of use at your camp.
Camping is a wonderful way for families to
spend quality time together without the usual
stress of work, school, television video games,
etc. Watch for information in your February,
edition of Family Ties, to learn how you can
win a week's stay at Tamarack Cottage
in Rangeley or Moosehill Cottage at Shin Pond
in Mt. Chase.
AFFM sent out many packets to
individuals interested in becoming foster
and/or adoptive parents. Individuals call
AFFM to find out about the steps to licensing
etc.
AFFM took on a new role in the
kinship program this past year. Families interested
in adopting or becoming foster parents for
a relative's child call AFFM. Those
kinship providers or those interested in finding
out about other kinship relationships call,
Family Connections at 1-866-298-0896. The
change was made as a result of the growth
of the kinship program. AFFM was finding it
difficult to handle the volume of kinship
calls and, still meet the needs of foster
and adoptive families. This new arrangement
helps both programs to better meet the needs
of all concerned.
These are just few of the highlights
of activities of Adoptive and Foster Families
of Maine during 2003. The Board of Directors,
staff and director of AFFM look forward to
serving you and yours in 2004. Please call,
write or email to share your ideas and concerns
with AFFM.
We wish you a happy, healthy
and prosperous New Year! |
