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Volume #10, No. # 9 |
NEWSLETTER |
October 2007 |
I Love a Parade!
On Saturday, August 19th, AFFM won 2nd prize in the performance category at the Hampden Children’s Day Celebration!
A very special thanks to Hannah Tapley and her family, as well as to Mandy Seger and Sami Ross, for all their help with the bike decorating contest! Despite the less than perfect weather, the children had a wonderful time! (And so did the on-lookers!)
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Looking ahead…. November is National Adoption Awareness month, and several agencies and organizations are collaborating to provide what will surely be one of the most active months yet! Some of the events being planned are candle light vigils, radio spots, tea at the Blaine house, and more! Inside this edition of Family Ties, please find a calendar of events that are being planned, as well as suggestions for you and your family on ways to celebrate adoption. If you are part of an organization that is holding an adoption awareness event in the month of November and would like to see it listed in the Family Ties newsletter, or if your family has a special tradition used to celebrate Adoption that you would like to share, please forward the information to Barbara@affm.net. |
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A Family For ME, This event is a successful means to celebrate adoption and a way to expand families. This event provides a unique opportunity for adoptive, foster, potential adoptive families and Maine’s children who are available for adoption through the Maine Department of Health & Human Services. This Teen Meet & Greet is geared for children ages 11 to 17 years. If you would like to attend this event, please contact Jennifer Giandrea at 1-877-505-0545, for an invitational packet. Please note, this event is a first come first serve event in order for fairness to all families. It is the hope and belief of the staff of A Family For ME and DHHS that everyone will have a pleasant, educational and exciting day. |
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Congratulations and Farewell AFFM is extending a sincere thank you to Bobbie Deschambeault who has retired from foster care after 28 years. Bobbie, who resides in Portland, has provided foster care to over 480 children during her 28 years as a licensed foster parent for the State Of Maine. Although Bobbie will no longer provide foster care, her home will still be a haven for many children. Bobbie is an adoptive parent as well as a kinship provider. In addition to the many foster children Bobbie has parented, she is also the mother of five children, grandmother to four children and great grandmother to one child. Thank you, Bobbie, for the many ways you have cared for and encouraged children and families over the years.
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Gene and Heidi Bathalon-Barker are delighted to announce that on July 10th, Katie (13) and Keith (9) officially became members of the Barker family in Sanford. and sisters Megan(27) and Bethany(23) along with their "big brothers" Cory (17) and Chris(19).
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| Meet Nick………………… Nick is a charming young man (DOB 2/96) with a lot of strengths. He is passionate about his love for cars and trucks. Nick is an amazing artist and is very creative. He has a wonderful sense of humor and is absolutely adorable! He has a great personality and is comfortable in new situations. He is very animated when he talks and would be great in a drama or acting class! Nick is an active child who has many interests. He likes to swim, play at the park, play with his toy cars and trucks and go to the waterslides. His favorite car is a “blue Lincoln”. He would like to be able to drive one someday. When riding in a car, Nick is quick to tell the driver what types of cars are passing by, and his personal opinion of each of them! Nick says he likes school “so-so”. He says his favorite subjects are gym and science. He said he was learning about plants in science class last year. In gym, Nick says he likes everything they do! Nick is very anxious to have a forever family. It would be great for Nick to be in a home with animals; however he would need guidance on proper ways to interact with them. It would also be best for Nick to either be the youngest child, or only child in his forever family. The best family for Nick would be one where he is given lots of attention, affection and positive discipline. He will need a patient and loving family to accept him, and give him guidance and structure. He would be a fantastic addition to the right family!
Nick has two biological siblings who are in separate homes. Although there contact is somewhat irregular, it would beimportant to Nick to maintain that connection. Nick likes the time he spends with his sisters and says he wishes he could see them more often. Adoption subsidy is available. Interested families should contact Tara Saindon at tara-lynn.saindon@maine.gov or by calling the Biddeford Maine Department of Health and Human Services office at (207)286-2443. To view other children who are available for adoption in Maine, please visit www.afamilyforme.org and click on the heart gallery link. |
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Welcome Home, Sue! Sue Pollard author of “The Alternate Survivor”, is back home in Maine after coordinating and riding in the first ever “Dare to Dream 4 Kids” motorcycle ride to New York City! Sue, along with 25 women, were joined by Stephanie and Big Tom (from the television show “Survivor”) on September 9th to celebrate a kick off at the Kittery Trading Post. From there, the riders hopped on their bikes, braved the inclement weather, and arrived in the Big Apple that evening. This ride, the first of what is anticipated to become a yearly event, is dedicated to raising donations and awareness for Adoptive and Foster Families of Maine and the Kinship program. Bette Hoxie, Director of AFFM states, “We are so pleased with all the people who are coming together to help support our association and help our cause. We are truly blessed for people like Sue and all the sponsors who are helping to raise funds.” Sue will also donate all proceeds from the sale of her book “The Alternate Survivor” to AFFM. To order Sue’s book, please visit www.thealternatesurvivor.com. Thank you for your prayers and financial contributions. Maine can be proud to have such strong and caring child and family advocates. Thank you, Sue, for taking on this huge job and helping so many adoptive and foster families, and the children in their care!
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| The DD Council is looking for new members from across the state. They need parents or family members raising children with a developmental disability and under the age of 18. They are particularly interested in parents of young children. The Council meets quarterly in Augusta. If you are interested please contact Irene Mailhot at 287-4213. Mileage reimbursement and child care stipend is available. |
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Shaw’s Supermarkets has agreed to donate 1% of receipt totals collected by AFFM. Unfortunately, receipts cannot be returned.
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Congratulations to Us! Adoptive and Foster Families of Maine was recently recognized by the National Foster Parent Association as the winner of the “Name the Walk” contest! The first annual “Walk Me Home” foster care awareness walk will occur nationally in May of 2008. AFFM is honored to be a part of this event.
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Coastal NH Adoptive Families WE ARE…adoptive and foster families living in the Seacoast Area of New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Maine… and also welcome families considering adoption or fostering. We reach families from Portland ME to Boston MA! WE ARE… a parent organized, and family supported site, created with the purpose of bringing families together to share info, activities and friendship. TOGETHER WE… support one another, share information and stories, vent, celebrate and brainstorm the many questions and experiences we face as parents and families raising adopted children, of multiracial, multicultural backgrounds, blended families and more. WE HOST… Visit us at
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It is with heavy hearts that we report the passing of Audrey Call, 13, adopted daughter of Nancy and Andrew Call, who passed away Thurs. Sept. 6th, at Hall-Dale Middle School. Audrey was a five time equestrian Special Olympian, and was training at Friendship Stables with her horse, Smokey, for the Sept. 29th event in Skowhegan. She was Silverspur riding club’s 2006 class champion and 2004 reserve champion.
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It’s that time of year (again)! It’s hard to believe, but we are getting ready for the Holiday Gift Giving Program again! Again this year, this program is open to KINSHIP families only. We ask that families who would like make a request call the AFFM office at 1-80-833-9786, or 827-2331. Please have the following information available when calling: Children’s names and ages, Clothing size (pants and shirts) special considerations ( ie: favorite characters, hobbies, taste in music, etc) and a few suggestions for gifts. Please keep gift values around $20.00 each. AFFM and the Spirit of Giving Committee would love to be able to provide every child with everything they would like, but that is not a reality. Requests will be handled on a first come, first served basis. |
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  Announcing Openingsfor Post-Adoption Services at the Bangor and Portland Offices Casey Family Services Casey Family Services Adoption Support Services are currently available to families who are in the process or who have adopted children through a state child welfare system and who live within 65 miles of Bangor or Portland. Adoption is a big step for a child and a family. The journey of becoming a family is full of joys and challenges that ebb and flow over time. It isn’t uncommon for parents or children to need some support along the way. At Casey Family Services, you choose what type and amount of services would work best for your family. Types of services available include: ~Counseling, Education and Advocacy for children with special needs ~Parent Support Groups and Targeted Case Management Services ~Recreational and Therapeutic and Educational Groups for youth and families |
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Congress Passes Education Legislation For Adopted Youth The Fostering Adoption to Further Student Achievement Act, introduced by Senators Norm Coleman (R-MN) and Mary Landrieu (D-LA) as an amendment to the Higher Education Access Act, has now passed both houses of Congress and awaits President Bush’s signature. |
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CWTI has a Toll Free Number The Child Welfare Training Institute, located in Augusta, has a toll free number. Training Advertised on Websites this year The DHHS Staff Education and Training Unit website, http://www.maine.gov/dhhs/setu/setu.htm provides information about a variety of general programs and many of interest to those caring for children. The SETU website manages the registrations for CWTI Core Training and Toolbox programs sponsored or provided by CWTI. Similar information can be found on the CWTI website, http://www.cwti.org/. Those who do not have access to the Internet may request information about training from their caseworker and/or licensing worker. The caseworker/licensing worker, with input from the foster parents, completes a District Allocation and Authorization form (with the training flyer/registration form attached), and gives it to the Program Administrator (or his/her designee) for review and signature. The Program Administrator (or his/her designee) decides whether to authorize the use of allocation funds, as well as reimbursement for other expenses such as mileage, childcare, lodging and meals. OCFS staff sends the completed form, at least two weeks before the training date, to CWTI (Jeannine Bouchard). If a foster parent seeks reimbursement of training-related expenses, the foster parent must submit a separate Travel Expense Voucher for any training that had registration fees paid through a district office. Additionally, the foster parent needs to attach a copy of the ‘certificate of completion’ for the training for which district allocation funds were paid through a district office. A copy of the District Allocation and Authorization form (for foster parent training) can soon be found on the CWTI website, www.cwti.org, or call CWTI for more information. No Refreshments Provided at CWTI Training CWTI Training Listserv If you wish to sign up, or if you have information about a program you would like posted, please contact Lisa Hinckley at lhinckley@usm.maine.edu, 1-866-354-0084 or 626-5202. |
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Kinship Support Groups: Augusta Bangor Group Meeting – Tuesday, Oct. 16th, at 6:30 p.m. meeting at Families And Children Together office, 304 Hancock Street. Please call in advance for childcare. Bath Group Meeting- Wednesday, Oct. 17th, at 5:30 pm, at Midcoast Maine Community Action (formerly CED), 34 Wind Farm Parkway. For more info or to reserve childcare, please call Marie Arnold at 442-7963. Belfast Dover-Foxcroft Farmington: Support Group: 3rd Thurs. of the Month, Henderson Memorial Baptist Church, 110 Academy Street, Alisa Everett, 778-4673. Kittery Lewiston Oct. 3rd,, at 6:30 pm, at the D’Youville Pavilion, across from the hospital. Enter in the doors under the awning and go to the conference room. Lincoln Portland Presque Isle Waterboro Wednesday, October 3rd, 2007, from 9-11 am at the former Massabesic Jr. High School (next to the Adult Education Building). For more information, please contact Ann O’Sullivan at 651-7445 or 324-7445 For further information on any kinship group, please contact FACT, Maine Kids-Kin at 1-866-298-0896. |
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Support Groups Through Maine Androscoggin and Oxford County: Post Adoption. Christine Fournier or Ursula Hanson, 772-4110. Bangor: Parent Support. Kristen Hirch - ME Adoptive Placement Services, 478-9141. Biddeford: Foster/Adoptive Support. Meets from 9:00 to 11:00 am, the first Thursday of every month. For more information please contact Meredith Crain at 283-4314 or Susan Young at 284-4424; please call before you come. Brunswick: Mid-Coast Adoptive Families. Robin , 737-8450. Caribou: Adoption Support. Jan Pelletier, DHHS, 834-7730 or 1-800-432-7366. Farmington: Foster/Adoptive/Kin: 3rd Thursday of every month, Henderson Memorial Baptist Church,110 Academy Street. Alisa Everett 778-4673 Harmony: Foster/Adoptive Support. Steve or Sandi Ephrussi, 683-6942. Houlton: Adoptive Support. 1st Wednesday of every month, 9:30-11:30am, 7 Cow Team Road, Sherman. Pot luck. Call Debbie Irish 365-7133. Knox County: Foster/Adoption Support. Last Thursday of every month, 7-9pm. Fellowship Hall, Littlefield Memorial Baptist Church. Laurie Pierce, 594-2042 Lewiston: Tri-County Foster/Adoption. Meeting at Lewiston DHHS fourth Tuesday of month, 7:00-9:00 pm. Donna Warren, 336-2776. Lewiston: Adoptive Parents of Challenging Children. Christine Fournier - Casey Family Services, Call Wednesdays, 772-4110. Portland: Adoptive Parents of Challenging Children. Karen Repasky - Casey Family Services, Portland: District 2 DHHS Office, 161 Marginal Way. 2nd and 4th Wed. 5:30-7:00. 2nd Wed./training component, 4th Wed. open discussion/support group. Pizza and childcare avail. on a limited basis. Call Susan Hughes 822-2191. Presque Isle: Adoption Support. Lois Goodrich - CHCS, 532-5510. Skowhegan: Family Issues. Katie, 1-800-437-9227. Waterville: Waterville Region Support Group for Foster/Adoptive Parents Call Kathy Tisdale, 873-3525 for more information. York County: Southern Maine Support for Foster/Adoptive Parents. Pam Thurlow, 490-0052 or Tish Dennis, 324-2522. York County: Foster/Adoptive Support. Meets from 9:00 to 11:00 am, the first Thursday of every month. For more information please contact Meredith Crain at 283-4314 or Susan Young at 284-4424. Please call before you come. Anyone interested in starting a support group, please call the AFFM office at 1-800-833-9786 |
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People will forget what you said. - Anonymous |
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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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To the world, you may be one person, but to one person, you may be the world!
Save Your Receipts!
Everyone at AFFM would like to extend our heartfelt sympathies to Audrey’s family and community. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.
