Our second winner is here!
Congratulations to Chelsea Freund for finding the penny and receiving a prize! Thank you to everyone who participated. If you find the hidden penny, email audrey@fosterchangecc.org, with a screenshot of the penny or a detailed description of its location to be entered into a raffle to win a gift card. We are back to just one penny this month. Happy Hunting!
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St. Patrick's Day: A History |
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Saint Patrick's Day is, as you could probably guess, is another holiday that started because of a Saint. In this case, the saint that this holiday was named for was the patron saint on Ireland, and the celebration falls on the anniversary of his death; March 17. |
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St. Patrick's Day has been celebrated in Ireland as a religious holiday for over 1000 years. The holiday itself falls during the season of Lent, and because of that, Christian observers of this holiday will attend a church service on the morning of March 17, and then use the rest of the day for celebrations and feasting. |
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The first St Patrick's Day Parade was actually held in America rather than Ireland. The first recorded parade as we think of today was recorded to be on March 17, 1601, in a Spanish Colony that is now St Augustine, Florida. The celebration was organized by Irish vicar Ricardo Artur. |
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As St Patrick's Day celebrations grew, the cultural climate of the Irish people changed. As more Irish immigrants came to America to escape the Great Potato Famine, the attitude towards Irish culture changed to reflect the politically advantageous view that all Irish immigrants were mean old drunks. |
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Modern day St. Patrick's Day |
That view was not accurate though, and as Irish immigrants saw that American citizens were celebrating their culture while demeaning them at the same time, the Irish decided to take their power back. With a large population of Irish immigrants now in the US, they were able to change the celebrations to reflect the power of Irish heritage. St Patrick's Day today involves both private celebrations and city-wide parades that can last over 5 hours! |
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Hope for the Journey Conference |
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The Hope for the Journey Conference (formerly the Empowered to Connect Conference) is being offered with both in-person and an online viewing options. |
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Cost: $20 for regular attender - in person or online option
- Scholarships available for Foster & Adoptive Parents, Canyon Ridge Childcare Workers/Youth & Student Workers, DFS Workers
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In Person Option:
Friday, April 23, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Lone Mountain Campus: Chapel
- Lunch will be provided
- Registration with childcare for ages 0-5th grade will be open until April 2
Online Option:
Friday, April 23 - May 31 viewing option
- code/link will be sent prior to April 23
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The Hope for the Journey Conference is a one-day conference not only for adoptive and foster parents, ministry leaders, and professionals, but also parents and educators who deal with any children who come from hard places and is designed to help them connect with the children in order to help them heal and become all that God desires for them to be.
Led by the TCU Institute of Child Development, this conference is ideal for adoptive and foster parents, those considering adoption or foster care and those who are serving and supporting others, including social workers, agency professionals, church staff and ministry leaders, counselors, therapists, and others all involved in adoption and foster care ministries or services. It is also designed for parents and educators who work with children from hard places, not only adoption and fostering.
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Registration with childcare closes Friday, April 2
Registration for the event closes Sunday April 18
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Kinship Corner
Support for Kinship Caregivers
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We know that when kiddos come into our home, they are most likely going to be very uncomfortable, and this does not necessarily have to do with us as parents or people. They are walking into the home of strangers they are expected to live with. Even if they do know you and your family, the home is still unfamiliar. It is not their home.
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This discomfort will follow them into the bedroom they are expected to call their own. To the bed that is foreign to them. Our kiddos are unfamiliar with this new environment, and we need to understand that sleep may become a sour point in their young lives. That new bed might become associated with nightmares, or altogether sleepless nights spent tossing and turning to avoid becoming vulnerable in sleep. |
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Because of this, you may have children in your home who are spending their nights wide awake, terrified to sleep, then presenting behavioral difficulties during the day, or falling behind in school, throwing temper tantrums more appropriate to a toddler or refusing to eat proper meals. Countless problems can originate at the inability to get a good, restful night of sleep. |
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The most important thing to remember when struggling through sleeping problems with your kiddos is to be patient and start small. No issues can be resolved in one night, so take a breath and know that if nothing else, time will help.
Help your kiddos feel safe. Encourage them in feeling secure in your home, and safe from whatever is causing them to feel too vulnerable to sleep. Allow them to decide when they are ready to share with you what is keeping them up at night. Our kiddos are more likely to have real fears lurking in their past, so be there when they are ready to open up.
Create a bedtime routine. Having a reliable, step-by-step process that you go through together every night will help to quiet fears and calm their minds.
Have a morning routine. Just like bedtime routines of bath time, brushing teeth, stories, and songs, morning routines of waking up at 7am, eating cereal for breakfast, watching a cartoon, and playing with toys can help to quiet fears. Knowing what will happen when they wake up could do wonders for going to sleep.
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Lastly, just be there. If that means sitting with them until they fall asleep, just be there for them. You may have to disrupt one small part of your life to make a huge difference in theirs, but building that trust is everything. After all, this is why we became foster parents in the first place; to make a difference in the lives of children who need support. |
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If you are struggling with sleep right now, I encourage you to do your own research and find what will work best for you family. I started HERE, and branched out from their information. If nothing else, find other foster parents to walk with. Support for you means support for your kiddos.
Want to read about a specific topic? Let me know HERE and I will focus my attention on your needs with your kiddos.
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Webinars from Raise the Future |
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Time to Talk! - A Stories and Questions Workshop
March 25th, 10:00am PST
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This two hour webinar is a "follow up connection" discussing "stories and questions" among those who participated in the December 2020 training entitled "Helping Youth Better Communicate Their Needs Within Their Biological and Foster/Adoptive Family Triads" . New and previous participants are welcomed to join in this webinar workshop.
This specialized training and discussion will explore how and why a parent/caregiver or caseworker should talk with young people about the many tough topics that need to be discussed.
Lets share positive feedback/challenges/stories and questions as our presenter guides through instruction and discussion. You will learn the skills necessary to help youth better communicate needs within their family triads that surround he/she/them.
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Presented by Chris Cannon
March 24th and March 31st, 2021 10:00am PST
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Do you ever wonder why certain kids (and adults for that matter) react so differently to relationships? Why one kid might go silent when another one screams? Or why one plays in the corner alone while another one needs constant attention? These are examples of attachment styles in action. And understanding them is essential to raising emotionally healthy kiddos.
Part 1 of this series will explore the origin of our attachment system and the four styles of relating that develop.
In the second session of this two-part training we will come to understand why attachment styles are so relevant to adoption, and how to tend to the different types in children.
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Presented by Allison Cooke Douglas
March 18th 10:00am PST
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Could Sensory Integration issues explain some of your child’s odd behaviors?
Learn about the body’s sensory system, causes of sensory dysfunction and how your child’s daily life may be impacted by SI issues. Then fill your parenting toolbox with accessible sensory hacks that are fun, calming and connected.
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St. Patrick's Day Crafts! |
Click on the video =============>
to see how to do some St. Patrick's Day themed crafts with your kiddos! Fun includes shamrock decorations, headbands, bookmarks and more! Some basic supplies needed are listed below. Happy Crafting!
- Multi-Colored Construction Paper
- Scissors
- Glue
- Markers
- Ribbon
- Yarn
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Game. Night. Marathon.
Whether you play board games, video games, or charades and Pictionary, finding ways to have fun with all of the kiddos in your home, especially when you have a wide range of age, is not always easy, but it is important. So this month, try to find special ways to interact with your older kiddos, even if you have to put the littles to bed and stay up late.
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Have you told us about your family yet? |
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By becoming a member of Foster Change, you have joined a community of support, and we would love to learn more about you and your family. Please click HERE, and answer the questions so that we know how we can support you.
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Vegas Strong Academy with Parks and Recreation
- Accepts Urban League- Library locations only
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Community centers- have a separate application for financial aide https://registration.lasvegasnevada.gov/NV/las-vegas-nv/catalog
- Bring financial request to the community center directly
- Call for openings
- Yes, for children with special needs, have to toilet and feed themselves.
- Dula community center, 702-229-6307 assist with the financial assistance process and criteria to qualify
SMUNA- Southern Nevada Urban Micro Academy
Boys and Girls Club
YMCA
- https://www.lasvegasymca.org/y-cares/
- Enrolling Full/Half Day preschool ages 3-5
- Preschool accepts Urban League assistance
- Enrichment Program
- Open M-F Full Day ages 5-15
- Financial Assistance available
- Accepts children with special needs. Must toilet on their own and able to self-feed
Battle Born Las Vegas Kids and Teens
Lifetime
- https://my.lifetime.life/lp/distance-learning-camp.html
- Learning camps
- 2 locations:
- Life Time Athletic Green Valley
- 121 Carnegie St, Henderson, NV 89074
- Life Time Summerlin
- 10721 W Charleston Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89135
- Ages 5-12
- Call for financial information and acceptance of children with special needs
Boys Town
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Food Banks
There are many locations in Nevada where families can get free and reduced food.
Clark County Food Resources
Three Square offers an interactive website which matches your zip code to food banks and provides the food bank’s days and times of operation.
Phone: (702) 644-3663
Just One Project offers free groceries for individuals and groups. Below is a quick snapshot of what they offer and a link to their site.
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The Mobile Food Market is: A mobile community market in Southern Nevada called Pop Up & Give at various locations. There are no requirements to be served.
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The Senior Food Market is: Open weekly on Monday's and Friday's BY APPOINTMENT ONLY to serve seniors 60+ in need of food. To make an appointment call the office. The pantry is stocked with specialized foods for proper senior nutrition. The Just One Project welcomes all senior individuals and groups. There are no requirements to receive groceries and no lines to wait in. Seniors are welcome to attend the pantry once a month for grocery needs.
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The Senior Grocery Delivery is: Grocery delivery made available for seniors Monday through Friday. Schedule BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.
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Emergency Assistance is: FREE Groceries for Families. The Just One Project pantry is open weekly BY APPOINTMENT ONLY to serve families in need of emergency food assistance. To make an appointment call the office. They welcome all individuals and families in need. There are no requirements to receive groceries and no lines to wait in.
Phone: 702-462-2253
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Hannah's Closet is a free clothing resource for foster families in the Las Vegas Valley. It offers clothes and shoes for ages 0-17, toys, and limited hygiene items, depending on availability. To shop, you will need to bring your placement letter, guardianship papers, or adoption decree. There are two locations, one north and one south, and both are available for once monthly visits as needed. For more information and hours of operation, visit their Facebook pages, Hannah's Closet North and Hannah's Closet South. Business hours vary, as this is a volunteer-run resource.
Phone: (702) 546-8849
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Crisis Support Resources Through Clark County School District
Safe-Voice: 1-833-216-SAFE (7233) for anonymous reporting
CCSD Police: 702-799-5411
Mobile Crisis Response Team: 702-486-7865
National Suicide Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
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Nevada Crisis Line: 775-784-8090
If someone is having thoughts of self-harm, please call 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Please call 911 for an immediate emergency situation.
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Click to Learn More About Us! |
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