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Volume 7, No. 9 |
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Recipes for Fun
Each year, the hazed heat
of August fades and emerges into a crisp
and soothing September breeze. There is
something mystical and memorable about the
season of autumn. It stimulates all five
senses to the fullest. Cooking pumpkin seeds
in the oven after an afternoon of carving
pumpkins fills the kitchen with glorious
smells. Stepping out onto your lawn in the
early morning with bare feet feels invigorating
against the dew. Admiring the many beautiful
yellow, orange, and red hues of the leaves
on the trees is always a breathtaking view.
Hearing the snap of biting into a freshly
picked apple at the same instant you taste
its tart and juicy fruit is something you
can only experience this time of year.
Because this time of year
is so stimulating to the senses, it is a
great opportunity to have fun with your
family and enjoy the beauty of this season
together. There are many things you can
do with your family during the fall. Apple
picking is a great way to bond with your
kids because it is an active and always
enriching experience. An apple orchard is
a wonderful place to laugh with your family
and see other families spending time together.
It is also a great place for everyone to
help each other search for the perfectly
ripe apples hiding among the twisted branches.
And of course, the most fun part is getting
to eat the apples together after you've
picked them!
Another fun activity to do
with your family during the fall is cooking
together! If you like to be creative with
your kids, this season is perfect for creating
really neat apple recipes together or cooking
from old cherished recipes that have been
around for ages. One really neat recipe
is called the "pioneer snack".
This recipe has an interesting historical
story behind it.
When the settlers first came
to North America, the crabapple was the
only type of apple on land. However, it
was so sour that many settlers did not eat
these apples. Instead, they decided to bring
over the seeds of sweet apples from Europe.
When Native Americans tasted the wonderful
flavor of these sweet apples, they began
planting apple orchards. To the pioneers,
the apple was necessary for survival. They
used the apples for food for themselves
and their livestock as well as ingredients
for juice, cider, and vinegar to preserve
foods. They also used the apple tree to
make furniture, machine parts, and toys.
Whenever the pioneers moved to a different
place, they took the seeds with them so
they could continue planting more apple
trees.
Try this recipe with your
family. Not only will you be able to spend
time together making a yummy apple treat,
but you will also be able to educate them
on a fun story about the history of the
apple in this country. To make the "pioneer
snack" all you have to do is:
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Core and peel several apples. Cut
them into rings about ¼ inch
thick. Take a long piece of string
and put it through the center of the
apple rings, as if you were stringing
beads.
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Hang the string of apple rings in
a warm and dry place. Make certain
that none of the rings touch each
other so that air can flow around
each one.
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Leave them hanging for about a week.
Then take them down and taste a snack
that your ancestors would have enjoyed!
To store them, place them in a paper
bag or glass jar.
There are many apple recipes
to cook with your family. A most delicious
and traditional dessert to make with your
kids is an apple pie. For a great and easy
recipe, you can go to a website called "My
First Apple Pie" at: ww.jeannepasero.com/applepiefirst.html
This is a beautiful time of
year and a wonderful time to enjoy all the
exciting and fun activities that you can
do with your family. Have fun!
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Meet District 3
Dan Despard is the Program
Administrator for District 3, which
covers Androscoggin, Oxford, and Franklin
Counties, although since the beginning
of May, Dan has served as the acting
Deputy Bureau Director. Dan has worked
for the Bureau of Child an Family Services
for eleven years as a Child Protective
Caseworker, Supervisor, and Program
Administrator.
Prior to joining the Bureau,
Dan, with his wife, Lynda spent eight
years as Family Teachers, providing
professional parenting and teaching
to youth in care. Dan and his wife lived
with and cared for up to eight youths
at any one time. Dan believes this experience
has helped him to better understand
the day-to-day challenges met by foster
parents.
Dan and his wife, Lynda
are the proud parents of Laura, who
is 30 and Brenden, who is 14. Dan and
Lynda adopted Laura as an older teenager
and she has since made them proud grandparents
of two beautiful boys, Tristin (5) and
Sam (3).
Dan enjoys hunting, fishing,
and all outdoor sports. Dan is extremely
proud of the District 3 staff. The supervisory
group has a wealth of experience and
knowledge and the staff overall are
very dedicated and passionate about
the work.
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Announcing New Staff for AFFM
AFFM is pleased to announce the addition
of a new staff member and the addition of
two new student volunteers.
Tricia Forsman has been hired to fill the newly developed
position of Community Resource Development
Coordinator. Tricia's responsibilities
will include but will not be limited to;
editing and producing the Family Ties Newsletter,
representing AFFM on several adoptive and
foster care related committees and developing
the discount card program.
Tricia comes with a background rich in
child welfare advocacy. She is a former
pre-school teacher and a day-care provider.
She has provided respite care for children
in foster care and worked with a private
foster care agency as a one on one aid to
a special needs child in foster care.
Tricia and her husband Keith are the proud
parents of three sons Kaleb, Jacob and Christian.
The Forsman's reside in Hampden.
Tricia's interest in addition to
her commitment to her family and work include
reading, scrap booking, and arts and crafts.
She is a former Cub Scout Den Mother, Sunday
School Teacher and a Big Sister volunteer.
Tricia offers extra help in her children's
classroom when time allows. She is also
a follower and participant of her children's
extra curricular activities. AFFM is delighted
to add Tricia's skills and expertise
to the staff. Welcome Tricia.
Melady Wang is an energetic young mother
who is preparing to re-enter the work force
as her children age into school. Melady
is the parent of two beautiful daughters,
Delaney and ChaiNa. She is quickly becoming
an indispensable asset to the team at AFFM.
Since beginning work at AFFM, Mel has been
busily seeking donations to improve office
organization, adding to the discount program
and has been contacting former foster families
as part of the exit interview process. Individuals
who come into the office to reference library
materials etc. you will be pleased to learn
that Mel has added a donated sofa and some
children's furniture that should make
your visit here more comfortable.
Kate Shore is a student at the University
of Maine in Orono. Kate is working on her
internship in social services and AFFM is
blessed to have her select to do her internship
here.
As an adoptee herself, Kate has a strong
desire to learn all that she can about adoption
and other child welfare related issues.
In addition to her lifelong journey in adoption,
Kate brings to AFFM a strong interest in
developing research data. During her internship,
Kate will attempt to put the outcomes of
the exit interviews into a useable document.
The document would track the reasons families
leave foster care and establish identifying
patterns that might evolve into a useable
tool to assist AFFM (with DHHS support)
to in produce resources that would catch
problems for families before they cause
a family to resign.
A warm welcome and sincere thank you is
extended to all three new members of the
staff. |
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Note
of Thanks
AFFM received heartfelt thank
you notes from some of the Tamarack winners.
The notes made mention of the beautiful environment,
and peaceful surroundings.
AFFM also gives a sincere thanks
to the Wilhelm Reich Trust for making the
Tamarack get away possible for our much deserving
families.
"Thank you so much for
your work to help families go to Tamarack.
We were there last week and it was
just what we needed." ~a
2004 Tamarack winner.
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Mentors Needed
AFFM is joining with DHHS
District 6, Bangor in establishing a mentoring
program. If you are interested and able
to provide support to new foster and/or
adoptive parents, please call Bette at
800-833-9786. Volunteer mentors will be
provided with training.
Support
Groups
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Save the Date
The Foster Family-Based Treatment Association
is hosting it's annual conference "New
Horizons," November 12th & 13th
at the Bangor Motor Inn. Watch your mail for
more information! |
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Editors
Note
As the new editor for the Family
Ties Newsletter, I hope to continue to keep
you interested and informed. I look forward
to getting to know some of you at various
events, conferences, trainings and such. Your
ideas, responses and input are always welcome
as they are very important to the success
of this newsletter. Happy Fall!
~ Tricia Forsman ~ |
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At a Glance
Please join us at the annual AFFM Conference
scheduled for
April at the Bangor Motor Inn!
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Volunteers of the Month
Betty King of Milford and
Chet Kolb of Bangor have been faithful members
of the AFFM volunteer team for several years.
Their consistent dedication to assist with
the arduous task of folding and stuffing
the newsletters is a real load lightener
for the staff at AFFM. As they fold and
stuff their bantering and impressive display
of knowledge brings laughter and education
to the office.
In addition to his volunteer
work at AFFM, Chet can also be found in
his role as a school crossing guard for
the Bangor school department. Chet is a
great fan of the arts and very knowledgeable
of actors, musicians, old movies and music
of all kinds. He enjoys travel and tells
wonderful stories about his children and
of his experiences as a former Navy Medic.
Betty is an avid reader and
an experienced traveler. She has spent time
in just about every state in the United
States. As she weaves her stories about
her travel you can almost picture the landscapes
from Alaska to Maine and all in between.
Betty's wit keeps everyone on his
or her toes. Beware of the sparkle in her
eyes!
Thank you to both of these
wonderful volunteers. They make it possibleur
reader's to get the newsletter in
a timely fashion and they make the work
load more manageable for the staff.
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Living History Days
Leonards's Mill in
Bradley Maine will host living history
days on October 2nd & 3rd. Volunteers
will don apparel worn in the 1700's,
imitating what it was like to live in
a lumbering community during that time.
To clearly demonstrate the time period
volunteers will roast over an open fire,
split wood, spin wool, hand dip candles
and make apple cider.
Visit Leonard's Mill
which is located half way between Brewer
and Milford. Admission is $7 for adults
and $2 for children ages 2-12.
Remember to bring your AFFM discount
card!
For more information you can visit their
web site at
www.leonardsmill.com or call 207-581-2871
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Child Welfare Institute Training
Programs
A reminder to all Foster and Adoptive Parents
that the CWTI trainings offered through the
Staff Education and Training Unit (SETU) catalog
(formerly yellow) are now available only online.
Hard copies can be printed from the website
and mailed to you upon your request.
Please visit the site to see upcoming workshops
at www.maine.gov/dhs/setu.htm
CWTI will be mailing a fall training bulletin
with additional trainings to all licensed
adoptive and foster parents on our mailing
lists. Our web site lists these and other
training opportunities. www.cwti.org
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New Director of Health and Human Services
John R. Nicholas, Commissioner of the Department
of Health and Human Services (DHHS), today announced
the appointment of James ‘Jim' Beougher
as the new Director of the Bureau of Child and
Family Services.
"Jim has a national reputation for making
innovative changes to child welfare programs
that improve outcomes for families," said
Commissioner Nicholas. "I am very pleased
that he is joining our team because his ideas
and expertise will be a major part of our continued
reform effort."
Beougher has a distinguished thirty-year career
in Michigan serving children and families. He
was most recently the Director of the Family
Independence Agencies in Livingston and Washtenaw
Counties, where he oversaw public assistance
and child welfare services. Prior to that, he
served for six years as the Director of Michigan's
Child and Family Services Administration where
he managed an annual budget of approximately
$600 million and was responsible for policy
development, training and quality assurance
for adult, children and delinquent youth services.
During his career at the Family Independence
Agency, Beougher developed a number of initiatives
aimed at better serving at-risk children. He
implemented a new approach in cases of child
abuse and neglect that increased team decision-making,
community involvement and neighborhood-based
placements. He also set up a quality improvement
initiative that involved supervisors observing
caseworker home visits and interviews with parents
and foster parents. While director of Child
and Family Services, Beougher established a
permanency focused outcome based reimbursement
system for the 6,000 children served by private
agencies in Wayne County (which includes the
city of Detroit). This project made significant
reductions in the average length of stay for
kids in care.
Beougher expressed enthusiasm about continuing
his career in Maine. "I'm excited
to be part of Governor Baldacci's effort
to integrate the help we deliver to Maine children
and families," he said. "It makes
sense that my new beginning here coincides with
the opportunities created by a new Department
of Health and Human Services and I look forward
to making the new department one which is responsive
to and respectful of the needs of Maine people."
Beougher received both his Bachelor of Science
degree and his Master of Social Work from Western
Michigan University, in Kalamazoo. Throughout
his career, he has participated on a variety
of different boards and commissions examining
the safety and welfare of children and families.
In addition, Beougher has lectured on a wide
range of subjects concerning children's
services, including recent testimony before
the House Ways and Means Committee on the reauthorization
of Safe and Stable Families legislation.
Beougher will begin working at DHHS at the
end of September and expects to complete his
move to Maine later this fall. He and his wife
are the parents of two grown children and have
one grandchild. |
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Free Monthly Training Sessions
Community Health and Counseling
Services is pleased to offer a training
series specifically geared to foster parents.
The following trainings will be held from
5:30-7:30PM at Community Health and Counseling
Services which is located at 42 Cedar Street
in Bangor.
DATE TOPIC CHCS TRAINER
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Sept. 14th Conflict Resolution S. Craig
MacDonald, LCSW
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Oct. 12th Part 1 of 2: Nature vs. Nurture
(Looking at the Argenta Jeffery, LCSW
High Spirited Child & Sensory Integration)
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Nov. 9th Part 2 of 2: Nature vs. Nurture
Argenta Jeffery, LCSW
Please call Susan Frost at 947-0366 to
register.
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"It Takes a Village"
Conference
An African proverb states….
It takes a village to raise a child…..
at Parent Resource Development Center Inc.
we not only believe, but see on a daily basis
how true this proverb is.The conference will
be held from 9-3 on Saturday, September 18th
at the Anderson Learning Center 21 Bradeen
Street Springvale, Maine.This conference is
open to all who care about our community and
our children.Foster/adoptive parents, medical/social
service, child care and school staff arestrongly
encouraged to attend!
To register call 324-1371.
Seating is limited to 150 participants.
Pre-registration is requiredRegistration
Fee is $40.00
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Kinship Corner
Grandma, Why are You Sad?
Grandma seemed sad, and I asked her "Why?"
She said she was a little tired today and that
she missed my Mommy.
Grandma holds me all the time and tells me
this is how she held my Mom.
She always shows me pictures of years ago and
explains about the days when Mom was little
like me.
Grandma said that it was fun to always remember
good times and she makes me laugh with all her
stories about my Mom.
She tells me that sometimes she is sad because
Mom
doesn't understand her decisions and concern
when it comes to raising me while Mom is solving
some problems.
But no matter what...I will always love my
Grandma
because, no matter what...she'll always
love my Mom.
~anonymous~
This poem was submitted by a grandmother with
the following comment. "These are
important feelings that all foster grandparents
must feel, that I tried to put into words. A
child's bond must not be broken with ‘Mom',
believe me, I would die before trying to do
it or let anyone else do it...What an effort
at times! But, if a mom is sincere and really
trying, then she should be helped along the
way...and the child should not suffer in the
process. This makes me a special grandma, right?
Tough, but well worth it!" |
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FAMILY TIES the Newsletter of Adoptive &
Foster Families of Maine, Inc.
Published with support from
: the Maine Dept. of Human Services
Please direct comments to:
Editor, Family Ties
Adoptive & Foster Families of Maine
294 Center Street, Unit 1
Old Town, ME 04468.
Or click here
to fill out our web form. |
Priceless Gifts
Life holds many priceless
things. The falling rain ~ the wind that
sings. Each star on high ~ a big full moon.
And the sunbeams dancing in your room.
The river as it rushes on.
A sunset when the day is gone. No wealth
can buy a mountain tall. These priceless
things belong to all.
An autumn tree lends beauty
rare ~ with leaves piled deep most everywhere.
As nature wears a glowing smile ~ to make
each day a day worth while.
Could anything be quite so
dear ~ as laughing children that we hear.
The gift of friendship that is ours. The
miracle of growing flowers.
Each magic moment ~ treasured
time. These priceless gifts are yours and
mine.
~Author Unknown~
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