The 2015-2016 State 4-H Service Learning focus is: Child Development/Foster Children.

This past summer at 4-H U, 4-H members from across the state voted to make child development/ foster children our state service learning focus. The early years of a child's life are very important for his or her health and development. Child development refers to the physical, intellectual, emotional, and social development of a child from birth until adolescence. During this phase it is vital children receive support for positive development. That’s where 4-H can help be the change in a child’s life. In Louisiana, foster children need our support and attention. Why? Foster children frequently move between homes, making it very hard for them to find and keep friends, and participate in sports or other extra-curricular activities. Many foster children admit they do not feel like normal kids, and the inconsistency of their lives can lead to things like poor grades, low self-esteem and depression, among other things. The effects can last well into adulthood. Through this year’s service learning focus, 4-H members have an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of Louisiana’s children. Use this packet as a resource when planning your project. Together, we can Be The Change for Louisiana’s children!

Service-Learning Information

General Information about Child Development/Foster Care

Facts/Statistics about Foster Care

Foster Care Agency Contact Information

Foster Care Curriculum

Requirements of Foster/Adoptive Parents

Brave Heart

CASA

Foster Care Videos

Quotes

Famous Foster Children

Adoption Information

4-H Day of Service

Service-Learning Project Calendar

Life Book Cover Contest

Resource QR Code Sheet

References

Planning Setting SMART Goals As you get started with your service-learning project, developing a plan is critical. First and foremost, take your plan, one step at a time. There’s a lot of work that will have to be done but if you do a little bit each time you meet, you will be surprised at how much you can accomplish. It’s important that the plan is easy to understand. Having concise planning sheets in outline format can save you lots of time. As you learn more about your issue, your service-learning plan will change. It’s important to adjust your project goals, tasks, or timelines. Making adjustments along the way will help you accomplish your service-learning goals. Finally, make sure that you get feedback about your plan. Have others read it to make sure that it’s complete and clear.

Idea Generator After you have identified potential needs in the area of child development/foster care, it’s important to answer the following questions: Which of the “outside” themes are you most interested in? Which “outside” theme can you do something about? Where can you go to find out more about the theme you are most interested in?

DEVLOPING SMART GOALS Specific – This means the goal is clear without

vagueness.

Measureable- The need for concrete criteria should

be part of measuring progress toward the attainment of the goal.

Attainable - Goals that are realistic and attainable

may stretch a team in order to achieve it but the goal is not extreme.

Relevant - A relevant goal must represent an

objective that the goal-setter is willing and able to work towards.

Timely - Goals should be grounded within a time

frame; giving them a target date.

When you think child development-think PIES.. The acronym PIES stands for the areas of child development. Just as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division are the foundation for math and the alphabet is the foundation for reading, the PIES are the framework for child development. A child’s development is like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle…each piece is important to the whole puzzle just as each area of development is important to the whole child. When talking about the development of children, it is difficult to discuss the concepts that relate to the whole child without knowledge of the basics. Knowing the PIES helps you to understand the various ways that children grow and develop.

Think PIES P=Physical I=Intellectual E=Emotional S=Social

Theoretical Framework

There are many theories on child development. When put together, they give us a good overall understanding of how children develop as they age. Some key theorists in child development are: • Sigmund Freud-The Mind/Personality • Erik Erickson-Personality • Arnold Gesell-Growth & Development • Urie Borfenbrenner-Ecological Systems • Jean Piaget-Intellectual Development • Maria Montessori-Intellectual

Development • Howard Gardner-Multiple Intelligences • Lev Vygotsky: Social Learning • B.F. Skinner: Social Learning • Albert Bandura: Social Learning • Lawrence Kohlberg: Moral Reasoning • Robert Coles: Moral Reasoning • Carol Gilligan: Moral Reasoning Investigate these to become more informed.

PIES EXERCISE: Call Me Maybe-Baby Parody https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rh3eNb16uC0 Need an activity for your club meeting or Jr. Leader event? Draw a quadrant & label each square with a letter of “PIES”. Watch the Call Me Maybe – Baby Parody YouTube clip and write down examples of the PIES being represented in the clip. Youth then share their examples.

Foster care is a protective service for children and their parents who must live apart because of child abuse, neglect or special family circumstances requiring the need for out-of-home care. Foster care is intended to provide temporary/short-term care for a child. The goal of the foster care program is to maintain the child in a safe and nurturing environment, which is supportive of his development while assisting his parents in resuming responsibility and custody or until an alternative permanent placement for the child is found. The first goal of foster care is to reunite the child with his or her biological family.

Who? Who can enter foster care in Louisiana? Any child from birth through age 17 currently in the state or who is considered a citizen of the state.

How? How do children enter Foster Care in Louisiana? -Voluntary Placement -Safe Haven -Involuntary Abandonment -Caregiver Abuse/Neglect

Where? Where do children in Foster Care live? -Family -Friends -Foster Homes -Own Apartment -Residential Care Decisions are made that are most appropriate and least restrictive.

Support System During a Foster Care case, who is involved? -Mom/Dad (Biological Parents) -Foster Parents -Support Group -Caseworker -Judge -CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) -Parent Attorney -County Attorney

Challenges Faced Some challenges faced by foster youth: -Medical Needs -Instability -Behind educationally -Lack of caring adult role models -Parents with substance abuse problems -Parents who are incarcerated -Difficulties developing trusting personal relationships

Worldwide Statistics: 153 million orphans.

National Statistics: Over 510,000 American children are in foster care

If nothing changes before 2020 75,000former foster youth, who aged out of the system will experience homelessness

Louisiana Statistics (as of June 2014):

7,870

Foster Care in Louisiana receives 66% federal funding and 34% state

funding.

30% of children in foster care are between the ages of 0-2 years as of July 2013-June 2014. 50% of children in foster care in Louisiana are 5 years or younger from July 2013-June 2014.

49% of children in foster care in Louisiana

were girls and 51% were boys in June 2014.

Louisiana Statistics continued (as of June 2014):

1,990 foster homes .

2,736 children exiting foster care were reunified with their birth parent(s), primary caregiver(s), relatives, or others known to the family as of June 2014.

In June 2014, the median length of stay in foster care

for children who were reunified with their family was 7.18 months. 732 adopted.

Foster Home Rates: $15.20/day, $456.08 monthly average-which

includes food, room, and board as of June 2014.

99% of foster children have medical services covered under Medicaid in June 2014.

Louisiana #1 adoptions

A service-learning project is not complete without community partners. Below is a list of agencies that deal directly or indirectly with foster care. Also, your local school boards and principals can be used as resources as well. Louisiana State Department of Child and Family Services:

http://www.dcfs.louisiana.gov/index.cfm?md=pagebuilder&tmp=home&pid=374 CASA: www.casaforchildren.org/site/c.mtJSJ7MPIsE/b.5301295/k.BE9A/Home.htm

Louisiana CASA: www.louisianacasa.org/

Children’s Advocacy Centers of Louisiana: http://cacla.com/

Louisianachildrens.org: http://louisianachildren.org/

Child Welfare Information Gateway: www.childwelfare.gov/topics/outofhome/foster-care/fam-

foster/promising-practices-family/ OPRE-Office of Planning, Research, & Evaluation:

www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/research/topic/overview/abuse-neglect-adoption-foster-care Meeting the Challenges of Contemporary Foster Care:

www.princeton.edu/futureofchildren/publications/journals/article/index.xml?journalid=40&articleid=135&sectionid=888 Foster Club: www.fosterclub.com

National Foster Parent Association: www.nfpaonline.org

Braveheart Children In Need, Inc.: www.braveheartchildren.org/

Geaux Bags: www.facebook.com/pages/Geaux-Bags/703346093085571

Love Acadiana: www.loveacadiana.org/loveone-foster-care

Together We Rise: www.togetherwerise.org

The Purple Project: www.thepurpleproject.com/

A learning component is necessary when conducting a service-learning project. Below are some sample lesson plans that may be useful for presentations and learning opportunities. The Developing Child Lesson Plan: www.pbs.org/wnet/humanspark/lessons/the-developing-child/lesson-overview/?p=468 Foster Care for Children: Information for Teachers: www.nasponline.org/publications/cq/mocq364fostercare_ho.aspx

Developing Empathy Lesson Plans: www.tolerance.org/lesson/developing-empathy FACS: Changes in the Family Lesson Plan: www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=598 FACS: Emotions Lesson Plan: www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=25646 FACS: Developing Family Unity Lesson Plan: www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=27915 FACA: Child Care-Abuse and Safety Lesson Plan: www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=594

WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS TO BECOME A FOSTER/ADOPTIVE PARENT? Anyone interested in being a Foster/Adoptive parent is welcome to call for more information and to attend an orientation session. Applicants must be at least 21 years of age, have sufficient income to meet their own basic needs, and be in good physical, emotional and mental health. A Foster/Adoptive parent can be single, married, divorced, or widowed. Foster/Adoptive parent applicants must be committed to provide the child with positive forms of discipline and cannot use physical punishment of any kind.

Louisiana Parent Support Groups • Alexandria: Volunteers of America, Central Louisiana • Angie: Pride and Hope Ministry Adoptive Parent Support • Baton Rouge: Louisiana Foster and Adoptive Parent Association, St. Elizabeth

Foundation • Lafayette: Louisiana Adoptive Advisory Board, Love Acadiana • New Orleans: Volunteers of America, Greater New Orleans

CASA means “Court Appointed Special Advocate” for CHILDREN. A CASA is a volunteer, specially trained & supervised, that is appointed by a judge to speak up for a child in foster care. CASA volunteers help to secure safe and permeant homes for abused and monitoring cases involving children in foster care.

CASA in Louisiana: The first CASA program in Louisiana began in 1986 in Orleans Parish. Currently there are 18 programs serving 55 parishes in Louisiana. In 2012 1,789 dedicated volunteers served 3,480 children, donating service hours valued at $1.8 million.

Brave Heart- Children in Need, Inc. is a non-profit organization which was founded in July, 2004. We are focused on the cause of improving the quality of life for children who are experiencing the emotional trauma of being removed from their homes due to abuse and/or neglect. Brave Heart- Children in Need participates in many community projects and activities regarding the plight of abused children. We are inspired by the concept of tangible items that can be looked at and used on a daily basis to remind a child that they can face the unknown with hope. We have in place several programs which offer hope, encouragement, and comfort to children. Life Books are a great project that you can do for Brave Heart. Braveheart Serves the following parishes: For more information visit their website: http://www.braveheartchildren.org/index.html.

For more information, to locate offices in your parish/region, and to find ways to volunteer with CASA visit:

http://www.louisianacasa.org/

• What is Foster Care? : https://youtu.be/on8r5TXKfYY

• What Are The Misconceptions of Foster Care Children? :

https://youtu.be/Rd50Mvsyusc • Motels CASA PSA: http://youtu.be/wyFcBo5UHxc

• I Am for the Child Campaign : https://youtu.be/SzGXyzP_CBw

• CASA Volunteer Tomika M. Holmes : https://youtu.be/MXTlCPr3sPU

• Princess Night Service Idea : https://youtu.be/AX2hKbjLbvk

• 35 Faces of CASA for Children : https://youtu.be/5-Ug-CKN3VI

• Candace Kaimuloa’s Foster Care Story:

https://youtu.be/QajTIlbR2rQ • CNN Hero grants wishes for foster kids:

https://youtu.be/_OQTlzfYDS8 • CNN Hero: Danielle Gletow: https://youtu.be/DusBWefDkh8

• CNN Aging out of Foster Care OC Hero single mom takes kids:

https://youtu.be/BK_p3LJKq6A • One simple wish: Danielle Gletow at TEDxEncinitas:

https://youtu.be/qJXz8lu5iQo

“Families don’t have to match. You don’t have to look like someone else to love them.” -Leigh Anne Tuohy “People say ‘he’s so lucky to have you.’ The truth is I’m so lucky to have him.”–Anonymous “Every child deserves a champion, an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists that they become the best they can possibly be.” – Rita F. Pierson “There are no unwanted children. Just unfound families.” –Anonymous “Sometimes our work as caregivers is not for the faint of heart. But, you will never know what you are made of until you step into the fire. Step bravely!” ― Deborah A. Beasley “If you can help a child, you don’t have to spend years repairing an adult.” –Joyce Meyer “We live in a world in we need to share responsibility. It’s easy to say ‘It’s not my child, not my community, not my problem.’ Then there are those who see the need and respond. I consider those people my heroes.” -Fred Rogers "A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in , or the kind of car I drove...but the world may be different because I was important in the life of child." -Forest E. Witcraft

Bill Clinton: (42nd U. S. President) Bill’s father died before he was born, and his widowed mother left him in the care of his grandparents for much of his childhood.

Colin Kaepernick: (NFL Quarterback) Kaepernick began his pro-football career in 2012 and since then has set an NFL record for most rushing yards by a quarterback in a game, among numerous other records and achievements. Who would have known after being born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and being adopted as the youngest of three siblings, Kaepernick would go on to achieve such greatness?

Faith Hill:( (famous country singer) Placed into foster care as a one-week old infant, Faith was adopted. She began her singing career at age 7 when she sang at a 4-H event.

Steve Jobs:( (founder of Apple Computers) Born to a single mother, Steve spent part of his infancy in foster care until he was adopted.

Michael Oher: (NFL Offensive Player) Michael Oher was born on May 28, 1986, in Memphis, Tennessee. He came from a broken home and his estranged father was murdered while Oher was in high school. Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy became Oher's legal guardians and he developed into a college football star and a top NFL draft pick. Oher's story was told in Michael Lewis's book The Blind Side and the Sandra Bullock film of the same name.

Jimmy Graham: (NFL Tight End) Born and raised in Greensboro, North Carolina, this NFL Pro-Bowler has scored big both on and off the field. Just imagine, at the age of 11, being put in a parent’s car and then being dropped off at an orphanage. He went from failing grades, to a basketball scholarship to a very prominent university (with a double major in marketing and management), finished in four years, then enrolled in graduate school so he could play one year of football, and then to excel on the professional level in the sport.

Foster and Adoption Agency Contact Information for potential partnerships: Beacon House Adoptive Services, Inc.

Phone: 225-272-3221; 888-987-6300 Address: 15254 Old Hammond Hwy Suite C-2, Baton Rouge, LA 70816 Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans

Phone: 504-885-1141; 866-566-1399; Fax: 504-885-1519 Address: 3019 North Arnoult Road, Metairie, LA 70002 Catholic Social Services of Houma – Thibodaux

Phone: 985-876-0490; Fax: 985-876-7751 Address: P.O. Box 3894 Houma, LA, 70361 Catholic Social Services of Lafayette

Phone: 337-261-5654; 800-256-7222 Address: 1408 Carmel Drive, Lafayette, LA, 70501 Jewish Family Services of Greater New Orleans (JFS)

Phone: 504-831-8475; Fax: 504-831-1130 Address: 3330 W Esplanade Avenue Suite 600 Metairie, LA 70002 LDS Social Service

Phone: 985-649-2774;Fax: 985-649-2738 Address: 480 Robert Boulevard Slidell, LA, 70458 Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home

Phone: 318-343-2244 Address: P. O. Box 4196, Monroe, LA 71211 St. Elizabeth Foundation

Phone: 225-769-8885; 800-738-5683;Fax: 225-769-6874 Address: 8054 Summa Avenue Suite A Baton Rouge, LA, 70809 Volunteers of America of Greater New Orleans Inc.

Phone: 504-836-8702; 800-535-9646; Fax: 504-835-0092 Address: 3839 N Causeway Boulevard Suite 101, Metairie, LA, 70002

For more information on foster care/parenting visit:

dcfs.louisiana.gov

Louisiana 4-H Day of Service

When: December 5, 2015

Why: One day of service can

make a major difference in the life of an individual, a community and a state! *Events around this day can be reported!

Who: 4-H Members and

Volunteers from across the Louisiana!

Share: Report your service

projects to your local 4-H agent(s) by sharing your success. Include a brief description and photos.

How to

Participate?

1-Identify a local

need.

2-Plan a project.

3- Carry it out!

4-Share Success!

Who doesn’t like a party? We want your parish to participate in the 2015 4-H Day of Service. We want it to be an easy experience that impacts local Children. Here’s a plan for you to implement in your parish on December 5th.

When: December 5th, 2015

Where: In YOUR Parish!

What: Christmas Toy Drive-Collect toys for needy children.

Make donations to: • DCFS for foster children or to family meeting rooms • Local CASA • Braveheart • Geaux Bags (K.C. Kilpatrick Stone) • Project Celebration (North Louisiana) • Toys for Tots • Angel Tree • Salvation Army

How: Plan a party for 4-Hers from your parish where members can

gather for food, games, and holiday fun, as well as make a toy donation for foster children. Perhaps include a Christmas Cookie Contest or a time of Christmas Carol Karaoke at your event. Or consider having a wrapping station for toy donations. The point is to have fun while serving others.

This Christmas, you can give a toy and make a difference.

Together, we can Be The Change!

September:

Hold a School supply drive. Volunteer to read at the local

library (great 4-H marketing tool too!)

Hold a healthy snacks drive to distribute to kids in need.

October:

Make Halloween treat bags. Visit sick children and bring small

toys/homemade gifts. Hold a “Trick or Treat” at a local

hospital or shelter complete with costumes.

November:

Hold a Canned food drive for a local food pantry.

Volunteer with children who are English Language Learners at local

schools.

December:

Organize a Toy Drive. (See Day of Service Flyer for more

ideas) Hold a book sale and donate the

money to a local organization. Organize a Giving Tree at school

for a local organization.

January:

Collect books or toys (or raise money for items) to be used in family meeting rooms at your

parish DCFS office. Hold a “seek and find” instrument

drive to supply kids in music education.

February:

Make Valentine treat bags. Create a running club for kids that promotes fitness and builds self-

esteem. Plan a Caring Cookie Day to distribute to kids in need.

March:

Make Easter baskets. Serve as a mentor or tutor.

Create storybooks and donate to local Head Start, Pre-K, or K

classrooms.

April:

Make Life Books for your local Braveheart office.

Contact Kim Jones at kyjones@agcenter.lsu.edu for

more information. Hold a Dr. Seuss Book Drive.

May:

Host a fun day at your local park. Collect supplies for a School-

Supply Kits. Take a Service Trip, where you

conduct service while traveling.

Life Book Cover Contest

What’s a Life Book? A Life Book is the record of a youth’s life in his or her own words using photos, artwork,

and mementos collected along the way. These journals allow

youth in foster care to document their history,

celebrate accomplishments, and let their talents shine.

The Contest: • Design a “cover” of a life book. • Open to any LA 4-Her • Entries should be single-sided,

one page only (electronic and hard copies will be accepted)

• Winners will receive recognition from the state 4-H Office.

• “BOY” cover designs and “GIRL” cover designs will be judged separately in two categories: • 4th-6th grade • 7th-12th grade

Goal: The front cover will be judged, but ideally you will make a complete life book and donate it to your local child services office.

When: Entries are due to Kim Jones at the State 4-H Office by February 26, 2016.

Materials Needed • 1 ½” binder (with clear pocket on front cover) • 24 clear heavyweight sheet protectors • Life Book Template pages, printed single-sided (available from Kim Jones in the State 4-H Office)

• Cardstock for the cover • Include 5-10 sheets of colored heavy paper or construction paper in

the back pocket. • Include a 1-inch spiral notebook in the front pocket.

To assemble the book: 1. Select a binder. 2. Place 24 clear heavyweight sheet protectors in the binder. 3. Insert printed Life Book Template pages into the sheet protectors so

that the pages appear two-sided. Continue until the entire template has been added.

4. Design a creative cover sheet and insert in the clear pocket on the outside front cover of the binder.

5. Place spiral notebook in the front pocket of the binder. 6. Place extra colored paper in the back pocket of the binder.

Life Books are a great project to collaborate with Braveheart, Children in Need, Inc.

Together, we can Be The Change!

Louisiana Department of Children & Families

CASA

Child Development CDC

Louisiana CASA

Brave Heart

Children's Advocacy Centers of Louisiana

Louisianachildrens.org

Child Welfare Information Gateway

CASA YouTube Channel

National Service Information

The following references were used to create this resource:

Louisiana State Department of Child and Family Services: http://www.dcfs.louisiana.gov/index.cfm?md=pagebuilder&tmp=home&pid=374 CASA: www.casaforchildren.org/site/c.mtJSJ7MPIsE/b.5301295/k.BE9A/Home.htm Louisiana CASA: www.louisianacasa.org/ Brave Heart: http://www.braveheartchildren.org/ Louisiana Foster & Adoptive Parent Association: www.lfapainc.org Louisiana Adoption Advisory Board, Inc.: www.laaboard.org Love Acadiana: www.loveacadiana.org 23 Famous People You Didn’t Know Were Adopted: www.buzzfeed.com/spenceralthouse/famous-people-you-didnt-know-were-adopted#. Beacon House Adoption Services: www.beaconhouseadoption.com Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans: www.ccano.org Diocese of Houma/Thibodeaux: www.htdiocese.org Diocese of Lafayette: http://diolaf.org/catholic-social-services Jewish Family Services of New Orleans: www.jfsneworleans.org Latter Day Saints Family Services: https://providentliving.lds.org/lds-family-services?lang=eng Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home and Family Ministries: www.lbch.org St. Elizabeth Foundation: www.stelizabethfoundation.org Volunteers of America Greater New Orleans: www.voagno.org Pride and Hope Ministry Family Support Services: www.prideandhopeministry.com Foster and Adoptive Family Services Blog: http://foster-adoptive-kinship-family-services-nj.org/foster-care-quotes Child Development Definition: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_development FACS: Child Care Activities (Child Dev): http://www.familyconsumersciences.com/2015/08/p-i-e-s-the-areas-of-development/ Child Development Theorists Acrostic Poem & Demonstration Activity: http://www.familyconsumersciences.com/2015/08/child-development-theorists-acrostic-poem-demonstration-activity/ The Dynamic Duo of Service-Learning A Guide By Dr. Janet Fox and Brittany Babineaux Doing Good Together: 101 Easy, Meaningful Service Projects for Families, Schools, and Communities by Jenny Friedman, Ph.D. & Jolene Roehlkepartain, 2010, ISBN-13978-1-57542-354-8.

Compiled by: Louisiana Citizenship Board Service-Learning Committee Members: Joel Thompson, Oliva Beauvais, Taylor Martin, and Taylor Prell and Citizenship Board Sponsors Laura Brumbaugh, Lauren Edwards, and Kim Jones.