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Volume #, No. # |
NEWSLETTER | February 2007 |
Watch your mouth!
If you answered, B) Dental Decay, move to the head of the class! Dental decay is the most common childhood disease in America– five times more common than asthma. In fact, nearly half of 3rd grade students in Maine have had dental disease, and more than one in four have not received care. The health of children's teeth and mouths is as important as any other part of their bodies, and affects how they feel, learn, and behave. Kids who suffer from tooth decay and other oral diseases have difficulty eating, speaking and learning, and because dental disease is a bacterial infection, it can leave children vulnerable to other illnesses that last throughout life. The "Watch Your Mouth" campaign is promoting the importance of children's oral health among parents, We can overcome the problems that affect our children's oral health, because oral diseases are largely preventable. We can make sure that we provide care for our children's teeth as we do for the rest of their bodies. We can prevent oral disease by providing fluoride (through supplement and water fluoridation) and sealants (plastic coatings that seal the pits and grooves of molar teeth ) through school-based and community based clinics. We can use our voices to speak up for children's oral health with our elected officials. For more information, please contact Kate Perkins at (207)622-7566 ext 225, or go to www.watchyourmouth.com. February is National Childrens Dental Health Month, and Adoptive and Foster Families of Maine would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that children should visit a dentist twice a year for cleanings and exams. For help locating a dentist in your area, visit http://www.dentists.com/maine_dentists.php, or visit our website at www.AFFM.net and click on the dental link. |
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The following is an excerpt of writings from 15 year old Amanda Dale. Amanda is a youth in care in Maine, and aspires to be a writer. Keep up the good work, Amanda, and thanks for sharing your talents with us!
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The Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS) is working closely with the Maine State Police to establish a system to complete the required fingerprint checks for prospective foster, adoptive and kinship families. It is important to note that the critical word here is "prospective" which is interpreted by the Federal Administration for Children and Families (ACF) to mean all new applicants, not existing, already licensed families and individuals, nor families or individuals in good standing who are renewing their license. After an individual has signed their application to foster or adopt they will be provided a fingerprint card. It should also be clear that if another state is asking Maine to do a study on a family in Maine for a placement from another state through the Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) fingerprints will be required in that situation as well. Currently, OCFS is considering a few methods to accomplish the distribution of the cards (they are currently on order) as they should be handled by only one person designated in each District office. A possible method is to have them provided to the applicant when they come to training. Once an applicant receives their cards they would take it to their local police, sheriff or to the Maine State Police. There will be training for each District representative so that the applicants will have the proper instructions. The federal background check reports will come back to a central location at OCFS and will be kept in a locked and secure place. We will also be exploring the possibility of combining with school departments when they have fingerprint sessions. A significant concern to all is that there will be a cost associated. The Office of Child and Family Services will not be able to absorb this cost, and it will be the responsibility of the applicant – we expect it to be about $75.00 per person. (This is currently the case for adoptive parents). Hopefully this will not be a deterrent to families, as there are no other costs associated with the application, training and home studies. This is not the situations in most other states, where the associated costs is the applicants responsibility. While this is an additional step to the process, our hope is that everyone will keep in mind the intended outcome is to assure the safety of our vulnerable children. Full implementation is expected to begin in March 2007. Virginia S. Marriner |
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Anyone interested in any of these items should contact AFFM. |
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The number of businesses offering discounts to card holders continues to grow! Here is another new participant: Little Junkers Resale Shop |
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NFPA 2007 Conference
Among the many seminars, trainings and workshops that will be offered during the NFPA's 37th annual conference, a definite highlight of the week is sure to be "Hill Day", which is scheduled for May 24th. "Hill Day" is an amazing opportunity for youth and foster parents to visit legislators in the House of Representatives and the Senate. The week will also feature a "Youth Track" event, for fostered and adopted youth between the ages of 14-18. Scholarships to attend this year's conference are available. To qualify, you have to be a member of NFPA |
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Tamarack VacationThe Wilhelm Reich Museum is owned and operated by The Wilhelm Reich Infant Trust. This Trust was Tamarack is a large, charming, 3 bedroom, 1 bath cabin with a comfortable interior. Tamarack has a complete kitchen with a full size refrigerator and gas stove, and a beautiful living room with a stone fireplace. The camp does not have a phone or television. Families need to provide their own food and bedding. The Tamarack vacation opportunity is designed for the families who otherwise might not be able to afford a vacation, so there are certain eligibility requirements that apply. To be eligible, you must not own or have access to a summer camp, time-share, or RV. Also, if you have been a Tamarack winner in 2005 or 2006, we ask that you not apply. The drawing will be held March 24th and winners will be notified by phone or email by March 28th. » Register Now
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Thank you to Kim and Larry for sharing their story:
We have three biological children ranging in age from 32 to 27 all grown and on their own, a niece who is over 40 and we raised since the age of 14. Most children when young bring home animals asking "can we keep them?" Well our children brought home children asking that same question. It seemed that at least every few months a friend would appear at our home and would live with our family for perhaps a few days, some a few weeks and others just stayed on. As a family of ever changing size it was always easy to add one more plate or one more blanket rather then turning away the wounded and hurt child. Well as you, know time waits for no man, and the children grew and moved on into adulthood, but always remembered to come back "home." Family's of all sizes face many joys and sorrows over the years and our greatest sorrow happened in May 2000. We lost our son Joshua in a canoeing accident on the Little Ossipee River. During this great sorrow, our family was consoled by our church family, friends, and some people we had never met before May 2000. Needless to say we learned quickly what "walking through the valley of the shadow of death" meant. Each family member took on the task of trying to mourn the passing of Joshua as best we could. The mourning of a loved one, especially a child, is unlike anything I can describe. For myself, it took several months to realize that I had two choices:
We have been foster parents for 3 years doing respite for about a year and recently had 2 children return home to their parents after 16 months at our home. We are in the reunification program with Casey Families because we think children need to stay with their families, provided it is safe. Helping to maintain positive, meaningful relationships with parents of our foster children is also key to reuniting the family and therefore making a life long connection for all of us. ~Kim Warren If your family would like to be featured in Family Focus, please contact Barbara@affm.net. AFFM regrets that not all Family Focus submissions can be published. |
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To the world, you may be one person, but to one person, you may be the world!
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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
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What is the most common childhood disease in America?
States must have procedures for conducting fingerprint-based checks of the NCID for all prospective foster and adoptive parents (Section 471(a)(20)(A) of the Act as amended)
Adoptive and Foster Families of Maine currently has the following items available:
Just a reminder: Any discount card member who has not updated their card can do so by calling the AFFM offices at 800-833-7986, or 827-2331. You can also get an updated sticker by emailing your name, current address and phone number to Connie@AFFM.net. In the subject line, please put "discount card update". If you do not already have a card and are an adoptive/foster or kinship family, please contact the office and we will be sure to
get one for you.
May 23rd-27th :
Washington, DC
The cabin is located on the grounds of Orgonon, formerly the home, laboratory, and research center of Wilhelm Reich. Orgonon is located just off of the Dodge Pond Road in Rangeley. Tamarack is about 75 yards away from Dodge Pond. Because the pond is a natural nesting place for loons, power boats, jet skis, and recreational vehicles (i.e. four wheelers) are all strictly prohibited. Rowboats and canoes are permitted. At the foot of the path leading to the pond is a floating platform, a great spot for shore fishing, sunbathing, and jumping in the water. The water is deep and the area is quite rocky. Children will require careful
supervision and non-swimmers will require life jackets.
Kim and Larry Warren became a foster family about 3 years ago. Kim has a special understanding of the need for good, stable, loving homes, as she was in foster care for 7 years as a child.
People ask Larry and I why we do foster care now that we could be enjoying your empty nest? Well, here is the story about our immediate response to that question: 
Meet Aurel …
"And Some Rise Above It"