January 2017

Issue 1, Volume

6

Foster/Adoptive Caregiver Connection

Inside this issue:

Second Chances—for

all of us 1

Calendar 2

Mary Kay’s Corner 3

Aging Out 4

The Center for Youth and Family Solutions

Achieving Solutions Together

Many thanks for all

you do, every day,

for the children and

their families!

Why are you a foster caregiver? Or how did you decide to adopt someone else’s child or youth?

This is the essence of second chances, that moment to give a child the opportunity to experience

living in family, to be loved and accepted unconditionally no matter what their story or journey has

been, no matter what disappointments, traumas, or losses have been hurled upon them, bringing

them, ultimately, to you.

We understand, children do not choose to be in foster care. They do not choose to lose their par-

ents or siblings or extended family or home or pet dog or neighborhood or familiar school or favorite

doctor...but that is the experience for a foster child or youth. And while their losses can take a long

time to process and grieve—and they should, after all—we calmly, quietly, steadily, offer a second

chance for connections that help heal the heart, promote growth, and pave the way for their futures.

Likewise, many foster caregivers quickly find themselves in the role of mentor for the birth parents

of these same children...especially since, many times the challenges that brought these children into

care began a long time ago, even several generations past. Second chances apply to their parents,

too.

What an incredible opportunity, to offer these second chances in ways that promote healthier fami-

lies, children feeling valued, safe, and loved, and parents feeling capable, determined, and open to

new ways of thinking and doing, ideas which spring from decades and more of solid early childhood

research, family dynamics and psychology studies, and in-depth examination of child welfare prac-

tices and policy. This is made more significant when a parent and child successfully reunifies, and

through the process, the foster family has become extended family, so everyone, birth and foster

members, have become a new community connected each to the other as new relationships have

formed and evolved, with an eye to the future and acknowledgment of today. And if you have yet to

experience this transformation, may it be somewhere in your own future. It’s not a pipe dream—it’s

a possibility that has become real for many.

Through modeling, a birth family may witness what “family” can mean, or how they might function

with their child in its design. Birth parents have a second chance at parenting responsively, with

understanding of what a child needs and is trying to communicate, and a second chance of being

actively involved in his or her child’s life at home and in the community. One more second chance

for our birth parents is—seeing the world through the eyes of his or her child. Sheer magic, and

maybe a reminder that there’s wonder all around us, if we’re open to it, if we are simply aware.

Lastly, as foster and adoptive caregivers, we too are given second chances in the roles we play.

We’re all human—pretty much. And we can make mistakes like the next person. But most of us

have a different perspective for making a mistake—recognizing there are definite lines never to be

crossed, that living in family means sometimes people become careless or callous...so part of our

own growth is looking for the lessons provided by mistakes, by failures, by poor choices. Those are

powerful opportunities for us individually—”if this happens again, I think I’ll do —- instead”. Or

“what triggered me, why did I react so strongly?” But most important to remember—“I need to own

this garbage in me, and see how my child is feeling right now. If I’ve damaged our relationship, I

need to respond with humility and love. And a commitment not to repeat this behavior.”

We have each been gifted with a new year in 2017. May this time be filled with positive second

chances, as many as you need, for every day you reach out to a child or their family. With each

second chance, may you also discover exactly what was needed for that moment, with that relation-

ship, for healing, growth, possibilities, change, and wholeness.

In the words of Garrison Keillor—”Nothing you do for children is ever wasted. They seem not to no-

tice us, averting our eyes, and they seldom offer thanks, but what we do for them is never wasted.”

Second Chances—for all of us

The Calendar

Page 2

Foster/Adoptive Caregiver

Bloomington

Foster Caregiver Support Group, Tuesdays, January 31,

February 28, March 28, 5:30 to 7:30 pm. No childcare

provided, but 2 hrs. training earned for each session.

Bloomington CYFS Office, 502 S. Morris Ave.

Champaign

Foster Caregiver Support Group, Wednesday, January

18, 5:30 to 7:30 pm. 2 hrs. training on “Supporting

Traumatized Children”, at the Champaign CYFS Office.

Updated PST Training, Mondays, 10 am to noon. All

sessions must be completed in order to successfully complete

the training. Dates include January 23, 30, February 6, 13,

20, 27, March 6, 13, and 20, at the Champaign CYFS Office.

Galesburg

Foster Caregiver Support Group, Monday, January 16, 5

to 7 pm. 2 hrs. training on Foster Parenting 101, presented

by Amanda Troyer, at Community Bible Fellowship, 1109 SE

3rd St., Aledo, IL No child care provided.

Foster Caregiver Support Group, Tuesday, January 31,

5 to 7 pm. 2 hrs. training on Fostering Connections,

presented by Carol Bennett-Barker, at First Christian Church,

301 N. Broad St., Galesburg, IL. Child care will be

provided.

Foster Caregiver Support Group, Wednesday, February

8, 5 to 7 pm. 2 hrs. training on Foster Parenting 101,

presented by Amanda Troyer, at Maple Avenue Christian

Church, 1300 Maple Avenue, Macomb, IL. Child care will be

provided.

Foster Caregiver Support Group, Tuesday, March 14, 5

to 7. 2 hrs. training on Foster Parenting 101, presented by

Amanda Troyer, at First Christian Church, 301 N. Broad St.,

Galesburg, IL. Child care will be provided.

LaSalle

Updated PST Training, Sundays, January 15, 22, 29,

February 5, 9 am to 4 pm (break for lunch). February

12 is 9 am to noon for all participants, and a make-up

session option in the afternoon. Call Brittany Shannon at

the LaSalle CYFS Office to register. This is also the location

for all of the classes.

The Incredible Years, Part 1 & 2, Saturday, March 11, 9

am to 4 pm (break for lunch). Call Brittany Shannon to

register at the LaSalle CYFS Office.

Peoria

Foster Caregiver Support Group, Tuesday, January 17,

6 to 8 pm. 2 hrs. training on Court and ACR, presented by

CYFS Lead Caseworker Shannon Doubet, in Room 144, Peoria

CYFS Office.

Updated PST Training, Thursday, February 2, 9, 16, 23,

March 2, 9, 16, 30, April 6. 5:30 to 8:30 pm, Peoria CYFS

Office. Trainer is Carol Bennett-Barker.

FCAB Rivermen Night at the Peoria Civic Center, Friday,

February 3rd. Game starts at 7:05 pm—call Kaytlin at the

Peoria CYFS Office, 309.323.6600, for tickets.

Foster Caregiver Support Group, Tuesday, February 21,

6 to 8 pm. 2 hrs. training, in Room 144, Peoria CYFS Office.

Foster Caregiver Support Group, Tuesday, March 21, 6

to 8 pm. 2 hrs. training on The Peoria County Child

Advocacy Center, presented by Sharon Watson, in Room 144,

Peoria CYFS Office.

Rock Island

PM Updated PST Training planned to begin in March—

stay tuned for details! Or contact Jennipher Estes at

the Rock Island CYFS Office for further information.

Springfield

Foster Caregiver Support Groups, Tuesdays, January

17, February 21, March 21, 5:30 to 7:30 pm. RSVP is

required—pizza and childcare are provided for those who

RSVP by calling the Springfield CYFS Office.

DCFS is offering several trainings across the region this winter and

spring. Please call your licensing worker for information regarding

training topics, dates/times, and locations, as well as information on how

to register. This information can also be found online

at www.DCFSTraining.org.

Things to Do on a Snowy Day!

Bake or cook

Play dress up with old clothes or Halloween cos-

tumes

Arts and crafts—paint a masterpiece, make a

birdfeeder, or mix some homemade playdough

Box up the toys that are seldom used and either

store away for another day or decide where to

donate

Play favorite board or card

games, puzzles

Play in the snow

Dance contest in the basement or wherever

might be the largest open area in your house

Build an indoor fort—blankets, boxes, chairs,

etc.

Drink hot chocolate, and story time

Mary Kay’s Corner

Issue 1, Volume 6

Important Phone Numbers

Child Abuse Hotline

800.252.2873

Missing Child Helpline

866.503.0184

Advocacy Office

800.232.3798/217.524.2029

Foster Parent Hotline

800.624.KIDS/800.624.5437

Adoption Hotline

800.572.2390

Inspector General

800.722.9124

Daycare Information

877.746.0829/312.328.2779

Youth Hotline

800.232.3798

Happy New Year!

Thanks to the input from our foster parents, this year we are going to use this section of

the newsletter to help our caregivers remember the importance of some of the licensing

standards. We begin this year by reminding you of the importance of following the law

with regards to smoking.

As many of you are aware, Public Act 095-007 was passed in 2008 prohibiting smoking

in public places. In Illinois, those who smoke are now required to smoke “a minimum of

15 feet away from entrances, exits, windows that open, and ventilation that serve an

enclosed area where smoking is prohibited.”

The Public Act further states that “a ‘public place’ does not include a private residence

unless the private residence is used to provide licensed child care, foster care or other

similar social service care on the premises.” Therefore, smoking is not permitted in the

any home that is caring for foster children.

According to the Act, a person who smokes in an area where smoking is prohibited can

be fined $100.00 or more and someone “who owns, operates or otherwise controls a

public place who violates this Act” can be fined $250.00 or more for the first violation.

The Child Care Act of 1969 required the State to put in place Rule 402, Licensing

Standards for Foster Family Homes which state, Rule 402.12 c), “foster parents shall be

stable, law abiding, responsible, mature individuals at least 21 years of age.” A foster

family who violates this Public Act and the Licensing Standard may be risking a

licensing complaint investigation.

Keeping children healthy and safe is at the heart of the service we all provide for children

in foster care. Even second and third hand smoke has been found to significant

dangerous to children. Third hand smoke includes residue that remains on the skin,

clothing and furniture of smokers even if smokers smoke outside of the home. If you

smoke outside of the home, please take every precaution to ensure children in your care

are not exposed to the residual smoking. You can do this by washing your hands after

smoking outside, wearing clothing that is not brought into the home

such as a smoking jacket and wiping down furniture often to remove

any residue transferred from the smoker.

If you need help to quit smoking or have any questions about this

correspondence, please contact your foster care licensing worker. For

more information regarding the Public Act visit http:\\www.smoke-

free.illinois.gov.

2610 W. Richwoods Blvd.

Peoria, IL 61604

Branch offices in Bloomington, Champaign, Danville, Galesburg,

LaSalle, Lincoln, Macomb, Rock Island, and Springfield

Phone: 309.323.6600

Website: www.cyfsolutions.org

Branch Offices

Bloomington—Center 309.829.6307

Bloomington—Morris 309.820.7616

Champaign 217.352.5179

Danville 217.443.1772

Galesburg 309.342.1136

LaSalle 815.223.4007

Lincoln 217.732.3771

Macomb 309.833.1791

Peoria 309.323.6600

Rock Island 309.786.0770

Springfield 217.528.3694

T h e C e n t e r f o r Y o u t h

a n d F a m i l y S o l u t i o n s

A c h i e v i n g S o l u t i o n s

T o g e t h e r

*On December 31, 2016, The Center for Youth and Family Solutions served 1,041 children and youth for the state of Illinois, with the help of

more than 602 CYFS foster homes that provided for their placement. Many thanks to everyone for all you do, every day!

We can change this. We must change this.