VTR
A Ray of Hope for Children, Youth, Young Adults and Families
June 2019
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June is National Reunification Month
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Partnering With Birth Parents to Promote Reunification
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Last month we celebrated National Foster Care Month. This month is
National Reunification Month
. It recognizes the people and efforts around the country that help families stay together.
Did you know that Resource Families partner with the birth parents to help the children and youth reunify with their families? The most successful foster caregivers understand their role goes beyond supporting the children in their care to supporting the children’s families as a whole.
Many factors influence how Resource Families interact with a birth family. VTR provides training and support to the caregiver to benefit these families, children, and youth. Our Family Foster Agency (FFA) social workers create a case plan to actively partner with Resource Families and birth families toward reunification by guiding and building positive relationships.
Why do we work towards reunification when possible? The children are with us because their parents or primary caregivers are struggling with a specific problem or need. Often times, parents or primary caregivers can successfully reunify with their children with
support, treatment, and encouragement.
Reunification is successful when everyone on the team works together towards this common goal and this would not be possible without the Resource Parents! Thank you to all the Resource Parents who work as a part of a complex team; this job is not always easy.
Alicia Longcor AbiRached, FFA Director had the privilege in the past year to sit in on two final Teaming Meetings where the birth mother was not only thanking the Resource Parent for caring for her children, but also thanking them for mentoring her as a mother. There was not a dry eye in the room!
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Immediate Needs
Please bring to our
Administration Office at
2610 W. Shaw Lane, Ste. 105
Fresno CA 93711
Shampoo
Conditioner
Body Soap
Deodorant
Toilet paper
Hand Soap
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Gift Cards
Target
Walmart
Starbucks or Dutch Bros. Coffee
(For meetings with Foster youth)
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We would love to present to your church or charitable group!
Please contact
at 559-437-1144
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2019
Annual Celebration
Please mark your Calendars for
September 20, 2019
at Wolf Lakes Park
Invitations will go out in a couple of weeks. If you need any assistance to attend our event, please contact
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Congratulations to the Castillo Family!
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The Castillos were nominated and recognized for their Excellence in Teaming at Fresno County's Annual Let's Talk Event on Tuesday, May 28th! A Celebration in Honor of our Fresno County Resource Family Providers.
Lisa and Miguel have been with Valley Teen Ranch since 2017 and have been open to both foster and adoption placements. They took in their first foster placement in June 2017. During this time, they mentored the birth parents and worked as a part of a team to work towards reunification. The minor successfully reunified with his mother in September 2018. Also during this time, they also took in a newborn foster child whose case transitioned to permanency. They finalized the adoption of their son, Jude, at Fresno County Adoption day in November of 2018. Once their first foster youth reunified, they continued to have a relationship with him and his mother. They are an active part of her support system and have ongoing contact. The Castillos have also provided respite to other families within Valley Teen Ranch and are always ready to step up and help when needed. In January, the Castillos took placement of a two-year-old foster youth and looked forward to increasing their family of three to four, permanently. The Castillos are a true asset to not only Valley Teen Ranch, but to other Resource Parents, birth families and their children.
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Congratulations to Amy and the
Whole Galyan Family!
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May was a busy month for the Galyan family. Not only did they finalize the adoption of Gabriella, but Amy was also recognized as one of five nominees for the 2019 Fresno County Mother of the Year!
David and Amy, along with their three biological children: Taylor 19, Brandon 14, and Blake 12, have been with Valley Teen Ranch since 2015 as a family open to taking in foster youth with a plan of reunification. They took in their first placement of siblings, Cassandra and Miracle, in June 2015. After following the case plan, working as a part of a team, and supporting reunification, Cassandra and Miracle needed a permanent home. David and Amy did not hesitate and officially adopted Cassandra and Miracle (now 18 and 13) in May 2017. They also took in a short-term emergency placement for three days before being placed with a newborn baby girl in October 2017. This little girl, Gabriella, became a permanent member of the Galyan family in May 2019. In January of 2019, David and Amy learned of a fourteen year old girl who attended their children's school that may be in need of a foster home. When the need arose, they stepped in and took placement of her in March and are supporting and working through her first time in foster care. This family is always ready and willing to care for children in need regardless of a busy schedule and active household.
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Thank you to
In-N-Out Burger Foundation!
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We received a $10,000 grant from
In-N-Out
and partnered with
Executive Business Products
to purchase two new training rooms for staff and clients in the Administration Office and on the Ranch. Many children will benefit from the training provided to Resource Families from the Foster Family Agency, and Adoption Agency as families go through training in trauma-informed care and intervention, Family education, and Certification.
Over 40 hours of training is provided to staff in our Residential Program and Family Foster Care and Adoption on an ongoing basis to include trauma-informed care and interventions, CPR, and more. Our youth residents are benefiting through the room being used for group therapy sessions, developing social skills, life skills, and independent living skills. When not in use for training, we now have a nice meeting space for professional business meetings, committee meetings, and Board of Director meetings.
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Are you coming to the 2019 Annual Celebration?
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LOCATION
Wolf Lakes Park
DATE AND TIME
09/20/19
5:30pm -
09/20/19
9:30pm
Please join us for our Annual Celebration! This year we have a casual theme, boat rides, silent auction, and beer and wine bar.
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2019
Annual Celebration
Please mark your Calendars for
September 20, 2019
at Wolf Lakes Park
Help us through your attendance and support for VTR Ranch
and Transitional Housing
Invitations will go out in a couple of weeks. If you need any assistance to attend our event, please contact
Charise Hansen
by email (through the link) or at 559-437-1144.
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