Adoptive and Foster Families of Maine

Volume 9, No. 6

NEWSLETTER

June, 2006

Thank You!

AFFM would like to thank all of the families and professionals who attended the blue ribbon event at the Hall of Flags Monday, May 1st. The event kicked off Foster Care Month. Special thanks to the speakers for this event: Brenda Harvey, Commissioner of Health and Human Services, Jim Beougher, Director of the Office of Child & Family Services, Chris Beerits, Deputy Director, Child Welfare, Deb McNeil, Senator Snowe's office, Sarah Whitfield, Senator Collin's office, and Kyle Noonan, Congressman Allen's office. Commissioner Harvey read a Proclamation by Governor Baldacci, proclaiming May as Foster Care Month. Thanks to Fran Doonan and Dave Mussey's "All Walks of Life" for providing wonderful entertainment. Refreshments were provided by A Family For Me,Kidspeace, Community Care, Southern Maine Recruitment Team, and AFFM. Thank you again to all those who participated in making the day a success!

Funds Available!

The Maine Youth Opportunities Initiative has two grant funds available, administered through AFFM!

The first fund is the Youth Re-Entry Fund. This is designed for youth and families when the youth is being reunited with their birth/relative/kinship families. This is to help the family get (re)established with the things they need, such as housing, healthcare, employment, education, transportation, etc.

The second fund is the Emergency Resource Fund, targeted at older youth who may need assistance in the same areas as the Youth Re-entry Fund for themselves. Examples of applications for these funds might include utility assistance when cut off notices are received, furniture for a first apartment, eye glasses, uniforms and tools needed for employment, etc.

To qualify for these funds, the youth must be between the ages of 14 and 23, and be currently in or have been in foster care during that time.

Guidelines and applications for each of these funds are available through AFFM. If you have any questions, call Maggie Vishneau, Statewide Project Coordinator for MYOI, at 780-5469 or Connie Ireland, AFFM, at 1-800-833-9786.

AFFM Board of Directors
Barbara Ford	President	223-4472
Shawn Yardley	Vice President	992-4531
Denise Card	Treasurer	827-4150
Natali Plourde	Secretary	433-5865
John Bertolet		633-7728
Matt Brady		827-6346
Lisa Curtis		561-4280
Diana Higgins		843-5074
Patricia Locke, ESQ		794-3064
Gail Neher		532-3996
Debbie Norman		255-6555
Jan Riddle		338-6357 W: 338-5411
Lisa Schultz		285-7220
Kathy Son		581-1084
AFFM Staff
Bette Hoxie	Liaison Director	Contact Bette
Connie Ireland	Program Administrator	Contact Conie
	Comm. Resource Dev. Coordinator
Amber Young	Seasonal Activities Coordinator	Contact Abmer

Adoption Announcements

Jerry and Cathy Lincoln are happy to announce the adoption of two and a half year old Tennyson Earl Lincoln on March 20, 2006. Tennyson joins one adult sister, Nicole.

Stanley and Elmira Pelletier are proud to announce the adoptions of Brittany Pelletier and Shelby Pelletier. Brittany and Shelby have joined one brother and three
sisters.

Terri and Barney York are happy to announce the adoption of Samantha Louise York, age 14. Samantha joins a brother, Canaan (23) and sister a sister, Amber (19).

Thomas and Louise Jehnings are pleased to announce the adoption of Laya T. Jehnings on April 4, 2006. Laya joins six siblings.

James and Nancy Belanger are proud to announce the adoption of Andrew Eric Belanger on November 19,2005. He joins 7 big brothers, James Jr., Matt, Jason, Tom, Tim, James, Joe, and foster baby sister, Princess.

If you would like to announce your adoption, please call Julie at 1-800-833-9786 or contact AFFM . Include the child's interests or photo to help personalize the announcement!

Thank You To All Who Donated Items For Auction or
Give-A-Ways At the 2006 AFFM Conference,
Passionate For Permanency, A Family For Every Child.

DiMillo's Restaurant in Portland
Don Joslyn of Bangor
Tricia Forsman
Denise Card
Jiffy Lube in Portland
Mad Horse Theatre Co. in Portland
Chili's in Bangor
Treehouse Toys in Portland
Pauline Clement
Portland Museum of Art
Ramada Inn in Bangor
Bangor Y
Shawn Yardley
Barbara Ford
Shania Twain
Ginny Marriner
Southern Maine Recruitment Team
Fran Doonan
Janice Brown
Applebee's in Portland

Penobscot Theatre Co. in Bangor
ERA Dawson Bradford in Bangor
US Cellular in Bangor
Wal-Mart in Falmouth
Longfellow Books in Portland
Pat Locke
Comfort Inn Airport in Portland
Darling's Ford Volkswagen Audi in Bangor
Bangor Motor Inn
Boston Red Sox
Schacht's in Hampden
Shane Yardley
Darling's Honda Nissan in Bangor
Dave & Singrid Marden
Portland Seadogs
Howard Johnson's in Portland
Sugarloaf
Gary's Discount in Old Town
Taylor Drug Store in Madison
Winterport Discount Mattress & Furniture

Promote Homes and Hope for Youth

In Maine 230 youth each year age out of the foster care system without a family. They are at increased risk for homelessness, substance abuse, incarceration, and having their own children enter foster care. Nationwide approximately 50% of the homeless have spent time in foster care. Children leave foster care with a goal of Independent Living between the ages of 18 and 21. The average age your child will leave home is 26!

Right now 40% of Maine children in foster care are age 14 and older. Teenagers need first and foremost at least one adult who will unconditionally commit to and claim the youth as their own. Anything less is an artificial relationship. Teenagers need unconditional commitment before anything else constructive can happen.

To learn more about what you can do to Promote Homes and Hope for Youth, please join us at UMPI in the auditorium on June 27th from 9:30 to 12:30 to hear nationally acclaimed speaker Pat O'Brien, Executive Director of You Gotta Believe! The Older Child Adoption & Permanency Movement, Inc. in New York.

For More Information contact Ann McCarthy at the Department of Health and Human Services at 532-5108. You may also visit these websites for information and to see waiting children:

This conference is being offered at no cost to the public, please come and learn what you can do for the youth in your community.

Support Group Listings

Save Your Space NOW for the 23rd Annual
Peer Leadership Conference!
At the Sheraton South Portland, near the Maine Mall.
Thursday, November 30th and Friday, December 1st.

The Annual Peer Leadership Conference is an inspiring two days of workshops, activities, training and team building planned in partnership with Maine Youth Action Network youth across the state. Kick off the school year by learning new skills, networking with other groups, and learning about local and statewide initiatives and resources that can support your peer programs' efforts through the year. Of course there is lots of fun for all with evening activities that include a dance, pool time and more. Come join up to 400 7th -12th grade youth and advisors working to make a difference in their community. You'll leave feeling inspired and informed, ready to take action back home!

Want to reserve your group's spaces now?

The deadline for advance registration is June 30, 2006. Visit www.mayan.org for more information and the advance registration form, or call Beth at 874-0060 ext. 201.

Estimated 2006 Registration Costs

Registration rates are per person and include meals, lodging, workshops and activities for this exciting 2-day event.

Commuter $90
Quad Room $110
Triple Room $120
Double Room $130
Single Room $150

Maximum Number of Attendees per group: 18

Ratio of Students to Advisor required: High School: 8 to 1, Middle School: 6 to 1

Want to present a workshop at the Conference?

We are looking for workshops on a variety of topics for youth and adult audiences, including: advocacy and organizing for change, adolescent health topics, bullying prevention, physical activity, nutrition and anti-tobacco advocacy, youth leadership group skill development and more. Youth and adult presenters are welcome! Contact Beth at 874-0060 x201 or byvonne@propeople.org.

Want to join the YOUTH PLANNING TEAM?

We're looking for young people to help us plan and host the event. For more information or to sign up, contact Deb at 874-0060 x206 or deb@propeople.org.

Want to volunteer?

We're looking for adults and youth to help us before and at the event. Contact Beth at 874-0060 x201 or byvonne@propeople.org for more information.

Kinship Corner

Grandfamilies Summit

Families and Children Together (FACT) is sponsoring an all day support program at the University of Maine on May 31. Together, the event will provide grandfamilies and the community professionals who support them with information and insight on the effects on children of substance abuse and mental health problems.

The morning session, which is open to family caregivers, will feature panelists who will talk about obtaining counseling and other services for the young children in their charge. There will be an opportunity for grandfamily members to ask questions and share personal experiences. The discussion will be led by Dr. Joseph Crumbley, a consultant and family therapist from Philadelphia.

In the afternoon, Crumbley will discuss helping parents, once they're stable in their treatment or recovery, resume the care of their children. The afternoon session is for social workers and other professionals who work with families and children.
The Summit will take place from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM on May 31 at the Jewett Hall at the University of Maine in Orono. The program is free for students and grandfamily professionals, and $25 for professionals. To learn more or register for this event, please call Doug McGraw at FACT at 941-2347.

To learn more about featured speaker Dr. Joseph Crumbley, visit his website at www.drcrumbley.com.

There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One is roots; the other, wings.

-Hodding Carter

Now's Your Chance!

Camp to Belong is a summer camping experience designed for children
separated by foster care, kinship care or adoption. One or more children may
reside with the birth family but be apart from brothers and or sisters and at least one child must be in DHHS custody or a subsidized adoptive placement.

The camp provides an opportunity for siblings to get together in a unique environment with skilled staff on hand to assist with supervision and any counseling needs that may develop. To apply please contact your child's caseworker who will handle the application process.

Camp to Belong offers all the usual summer camp activities; swimming hiking, boating, picnics, campfires etc. Also included however, is a special birthday celebration. The birthday party provides a great opportunity for siblings to celebrate in a traditional way. Due to the separate living situations shared birthdays may not have been possible.
Gifts are donated by organizations, foster/adoptive parents, social workers, businesses, etc. If you would like to make a donation to Camp to Belongs birthday party items valued up to $15 per item are greatly appreciated. You can drop gifts off to your local DHHS office or call Nancy Price at the Bangor office of DHHS 561-4204.

For more information about A Camp to Belong, see the website www.camptobelongmaine.org or call Penthea Burns at 780-5861.

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.

Special Crafts for Father's Day!

Nuts and Bolts Paper Weight

In a large mixing bowl, mix together plaster of Paris and water (two parts plaster to one part water). Stir until the mixture is smooth. Give each child a handful of plaster and let them mold the plaster into a mound, about 3" in diameter. Decorate by pressing with a variety of nuts, bolts, nails, and screws into the surfaces. Set the paperweights on old newspapers to dry for two or three days. Spray paint them silver after they dry. Trace paperweight onto a piece of felt and cut out. Trim edges and glue to bottom of paperweight for protective covering for bottom.

Special Tie Card

To start, you will need tagboard, tie patterns to trace (or the ability to draw a tie
without tracing), markers, scissors, pencils, and anything else you would like to decorate with. Look at examples of real ties – compare patterns, sizes, etc. Then trace the pattern on the tagboard and cut it out. Write a special message and/or decorate the tie for a special man in your life!

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