a
note from the Editor...
As always, if you have any good news or tips
to share, please contact me via email using the
webform or Call me 315-796-7559. We are always looking for information or
announcements for our newsletters.
Warmly,
Carol Babicz
The
next Support Group meeting - February 23rd.
We will be hosting an “Ask
It Basket” night. This is an adult only meeting. Bring your questions, large
or small and drop them in the basket for us to answer if we can. This is a great
way to get answers to your questions and get to know one another. Refreshments
will be served. We look forward to seeing old friends and getting to meet new
ones. Meeting starts Saturday at 1030 am at Dawn Corrigan’s home. 2 Lowell
Drive New Hartford
Call for directions and reservations. 724-2989 Spread
the word, if you attended training with another foster/adoptive parent or there
is one or more that you talk with still. Why not ask them if they are planning
on attending as well and make a date to attend together? We are really hoping
to increase the attendance at our home group meetings. Remember, they are for
YOU! FAFSS Dues….
If
you have not paid your yearly dues remember to do so. You can mail them to
Foster
&Adoptive Family Support Services
P.O Box 39 New Harford, NY 13413 Something
to share? If you have something to share with everyone and would like to see
it in the newsletter, please contact Carol Babicz at 796-7556. Why
are these children still waiting to be loved?
Below is the link to the
NYS Internet child photolisting album. Please visit often. Your child may be waiting
for you there.
Remember you can access the internet from your local library
or find more information by calling your county homefinding unit
http://www.ocfs.state.ny.us/adopt/disclaimer.asp Upcoming
Training Seminars
~The below training dates are tentative ~ Please
watch for reminder mailings in your children’s reimbursement checks and individual
mailings. This is just to give you an idea of what we are working on and to give
you some idea of what is forthcoming. Remember, training is mandatory for all
foster/adoptive families. - Feb. 23rd - AIDS/Universal Precautions
- March-Date
to follow-Insight house representative
- April 24th- Helping Children Deal
with Anger, Presented by: Ron Robinson
Do
You Wonder What We REALLY Do???? When you call with a problem or you’re
upset about something that has happened in court, etc., do you wonder if it all
ends when you vent and we go on about our business? Alas, it is not all in vain.
We do work behind the scenes to take your input to the “powers that be”
to try to make outcomes better for the children we care for and love. In
November I was privileged (thanks to Judge Griffith) to speak to 35 family court
judges. When all of you tell us, family court isn’t about the kids, no one
listens to the therapists, the child went home for the 4th, 6th time, when the
law guardian (now called, Attorney for the Child) doesn’t contact you or
care; when you sit at the court house waiting to be called and the attorneys and
caseworkers go in to talk to the judge, then come out and tell you, “You
can leave now;” WE DO REMEMBER. They heard it all. It created quite a “lively”
discussion. Last week, I met with Judge Tormey, the Administrative Judge
for our district, (again, thanks to Judge Griffith,) to discuss what I presented
in Nov. From that meeting, hopefully, there will be a video produced to help train
foster parents for court proceedings. (We are looking to present a similar, more
“hands on” training here in May.) We also discussed law guardian (attorney
for the child) training and I gave input for that.) Judge Tormey was extremely
receptive. I hope to meet with him again in the near future. What I’ve
learned and can pass along to you: - TAKE A PICTURE/S OF YOUR FOSTER
CHILD TO COURT! Make sure everyone sees it. Judges see one case after another,
as do attorneys; let them see the beautiful child they’re making life decisions
for.
- TALK TO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY. He/she needs to hear what you have to
say.
THE ATTORNEY FOR THE CHILD REPRESENTS THE CHILD’S WISHES.
We always talk about making sure the law guardian knows what’s happening.
Be sure the county attorney has your input. If the Attorney for the Child is representing
the child’s wishes, where’s the attorney for the child’s best interest?
Hopefully, the caseworker is doing his/her best at that. Hopefully, YOU ARE GOING
TO COURT. And, hopefully, you will give your input to the county attorney. -
Dawn Corrigan Something to think about… HOW
we speak during stressful times can be just as damaging as WHAT we take care NOT
to say.
Taking Responsibility for our Language:
Astrid Lindgren,
author; acceptance speech, Peace Prize, 1978
Level of Sound
- Eliminate the extra emphatic stresses on words and parts of
words that signal hostility
- Be careful not to speak so loudly that listening
to us can be painful
- Be careful to speak in a pitch and speed that is
comfortable for those listening.
Level of Vocabulary Choice
- Eliminate openly hostile items as curses, demeaning, abusive labels,
and insults
- Avoid using words that are unfamiliar to our listeners or
offensive to them
- Select words that match the sensory mode of those we’re
interacting with
- Use words we know will cause distress with great sensitivity
and care
Level of Sentence Choice - Eliminate
Blaming and Placating language. Utilize computing and leveling patterns in stressful
situations
- Not use open insults or smart cracks, sarcastic remarks or
put downs
- Discourage use of verbal attack patterns in our own language
and others
- Refuse to provide sentences that can feed hostility loops
- Take
care not to give others commands and criticisms when we can transmit the same
information in another way to not demoralize or cause the other person to lose
face.
Annual Holiday Celebration
FAFSS
hosted its annual Christmas Party in December. A great time was had by all. As
in years past, it was hosted at the Roselawn in Yorkville. Activities included
face painting, Holiday gymnast/dancers, Christmas tree bulb decorating, door prizes,
a DJ, dancing, and of course Santa Claus with pictures of everyone on his lap.
Each family was given a themed gift basket of their choice which encouraged family
together time. We all enjoyed pizza, chicken fingers, vegetables with dip, pepperoni
cheese and crackers, pizza, beverages and who could get out the door without those
cupcakes with that 2 inch high frosting? A wonderful time was had by children
of all ages and the adults as well. Please watch for your pictures that will be
in your mail boxes soon of your family with Santa. It provided a wonderful opportunity
to bring us all together to
Enjoy the festivities of the season. We hope the
rest of your holiday season that followed the party went just as nicely.
We
want to thank everyone who helped to make this years celebration another success.
All of your hard work and dedication did not go unnoticed. Without all of you,
we could not have pulled it off.
If anyone has any suggestions as to how we
an improve the next years celebration or would like to be involved in the planning
of it, please contact Carol Babicz, Becky Henkle or Dawn Corrigan. ALWAYS
LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS…
We at FAFSS are ALWAYS looking for volunteers
to be more involved and come to us with fresh ideas. If you would like to become
more involved in any way small or large please contact either Dawn Corrigan at
724-2989 or Carol Babicz at 796-7559.
Something
to share
If you have something to share with everyone and would like
to see it in the newsletter, please contact Carol at 797-9553. Congratulations!!!!!!
At
the end of 2005, Sean and Carol Babicz adopted their 6 year old son Jesse. Sean
and Carol would like to thank the employees of the Oneida County Dept. of Soc.
Services, with special acknowledgement to Vaughn Saunders and Mark Squire for
all of their expertise, hard work and for sharing in the families’ joy. Join
Our E-Group
Our e-mail group makes communication with all of us more
efficient. You can get answers to your questions from more than one person by
sending only one email! Also, if you have a question and you do not know who to
ask, just email the group. This is only for our foster & adoptive families.
If you are interested in becoming a member of our group, contact Dawn Corrigan,
Email Web form or call her at (315)724-2989
Archives: Fall
2005 Newsletter
Winter 2005 Newsletter
Spring
2006 Newsletter
Fall 2006 Newsletter
Winter
2007 Newsletter | 
