51564 Voice Mag 1/27/05 2:06 PM Page 1
A publication sharing ideas and insights
VoicWinter 2005 Volumee Six Issue One Champions for Children
Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children’s Zone Maine State Senator Michael Brennan: Change Agent for Children and Families Community Survey Spotlights Opinions about Fostering 51564 Voice Mag 1/25/05 10:57 AM Page 2
Raymond L. Torres
From the Executive Director’s Desk
At the close of 2004, I had several opportunities to reflect on the year with many of the families and children we serve. I was struck then and continue to be moved today by the courage and resilience of these vulnerable, yet hopeful, families and by the dedication of the professionals who work with them.
Although there were dozens of demonstrations of human caring, compassion and connection in the past year, one in particular caught the imagination of the nation. Just before Thanksgiving, in more than 200 communities across the country, National Adoption Day brought together parents with love to give and foster children in need of families. The result: More foster children were adopted on this one Saturday than ever before on a single day. The remarkable day was made possible through the selflessness of scores of volunteer attorneys, judgesVoice and social workers across the country. Because of them, more than 3,400 additional children now have a “forever family” to call their own.
Looking ahead, there are other challenges to face.
We must move quickly and with great determination to overcome the daunting obstacles that continue to plague families and prevent them from providing stable, safe and nurturing homes for their kids. Despite growing needs among poor and working poor families everywhere, I am nonetheless encouraged. The growth of private involvement in endeavors such as School-to-Career, which gives jobs and job mentoring to transitioning foster youth, is a promising indicator of change. The recent announcement of Capital One’s scholarship program for foster youth is still another sign of hope, and it heralds the limitless potential of public-private partnerships on behalf of children.
In this issue of Voice, you will meet many truly outstanding people, each championing children in different ways: Geoffrey Canada, founder and president of the widely respected Harlem Children’s Zone; Anita and Wayne Adams of Chester, Vermont, who have adopted a foster child who recently returned safely from a tour of duty in Iraq; and Bob Kline, a seasoned social worker in our Vermont Division. We salute them, along with social workers everywhere, especially during March, National Professional Social Work Month.
Raymond L. Torres
Casey Family Services i 51564 Voice Mag 1/25/05 10:57 AM Page 3
Raymond L. Torres
Victoria Rowell, representante nacional de Casey Family Services, y el Director Ejecutivo Raymond L. Torres en California dando reconocimiento a los activistas que velan por los derechos de los niños.
Del Escritorio del Director Ejecutivo
Al fin del año 2004, tuve varias oportunidades de reflexionar con muchas de las familias y niños que servimos. Me impresionó mucho el valor y la esperanza de estas familias y también la dedicación de los profesionales que trabajan con ellos.
Aunque hubieron muchas expresiones de cariño, compasión y relación este año, una en particular llamó la atención de todo el país. Esto fue el Día Nacional de Adopción que ocurrió justo antes del día de Acción de Gracias. En este día, en más de 200 comunidades de todo el país, se reunieron padres deseosos de compartir su amor y niños adoptivos que necesitan una familia. El resultado: en solo ese sábado hubieron más adopciones de niños bajo el cuidado del estado que en cualquier otro día. Ese día tan notable fue posible mediante la compasión de muchos abogados voluntarios, jueces, y trabajadores sociales de todo el país. Gracias a ellos, más de 3,400 niños ahora tienen una “familia para siempre.”
Mirando al futuro, hay otros desafíos que enfrentar. Debemos responder con mucha determinación para superar los obstaculos que agobian a familias y ayudarles a proveer estabilidad y segurdidad en sus hogares.
A pesar de las crecientes necesidades de las familias pobres, me animan los indicios de que los estadounidenses han empezado a reconocer la importancia de ayudar a los niños adoptivos, quienes se cuentan entre los niños más frágiles de todos. La participación del sector privado ha aumentado en proyectos como el “School-to-Career,” que dan trabajo y apoyo en el trabajo a la transición de los jóvenes en cuidado de hogares de crianza. Esto indica un cambio positivo. El anuncio reciente de la beca de Capital One para niños en hogares de crianza es otra señal de esperanza y demuestra el potencial sin límites de la cooperación entre organizaciones públicas y privadas por el bien estar de los niños.
En esta edición de La Voz, conocerán a personas verdaderamente increíbles; cada una está apoyallando a los niños de una manera distinta: Geoffrey Canada, el director ejecutivo de la respetada Harlem Children’s Zone (Zona de Niños de Harlem); Anita y Wayne Adams, de Chester, Vermont, quienes adoptaron a un joven que regresó recientemente sano y salvo del servicio militar en Irak; y Bob Kline, un trabajador social experimentado de nuestra división de Vermont.
Les damos reconocimiento, juntos con trabajadores sociales de todas partes, especialmente durante el mes de marzo, el Mes Nacional de Trabajadores Sociales Profesionales.
Raymond L. Torres
1Voice Magazine 51564 Voice Mag 1/27/05 2:07 PM Page 4
Exchange FOSTER PARENT CONFERENCE: TOOLS FOR A LIFETIME OF CONNECTION
Offering children strong, sincere and life- effort that engages children, foster parents, It’s easy to see the importance of permanen- long family connections is at the heart of all birth families, communities, social workers cy for children and youth. In your 20s, that we do at Casey Family Services. Each and organizations simultaneously. did you lean on your parents for support? day, we’re helping youth build strong foun- Did a favorite aunt or grandparent talk you dations that are based on warmth, security This spring, Casey Family Services will through a difficult experience? Did you and resiliency. As our children become ado- advance this important work with its bi- enter the world secure in the knowledge lescents and our teens become adults, they annual Foster Parent Conference, set for that you would always have a place to call continue to share a common need for love, April 2 and 3, 2005, at the Marriott Copley home? Imagine if you didn’t have someone support and connection. By forging bonds Place in Boston, Massachusetts. “Children, to call when celebrating an accomplishment that last a lifetime with children, we Families and Communities: Connections or seeking solace when things fell apart. increase their chances for a happy and safe Count for a Lifetime” promises to be a adulthood. More important, we strengthen highlight of our year. This special event will This year, more than 30 conference work- our families through love. bring together more than 500 foster par- shops will aim to enhance permanency for ents, Casey alumni, adoptive parents, Casey youth. These informative sessions will focus Building strong and permanent family con- staff and leading experts for a free exchange on reducing barriers to adoption, helping nections is rewarding work, and often it’s an of ideas, information and strategies that children maintain connections with their improve the lives of children. birth families and developing strategies that
Casey Family Services 2 51564 Voice Mag 1/27/05 2:07 PM Page 5
Exchange
“We appreciate our foster parents. We respect what they do and hope that it’s rewarding to hear from leaders in the field and that they feel bolstered by the workshops and activities.”
blend permanency and preparation for As always, this year’s workshops will offer adulthood to teens transitioning out of the concrete tools that will help foster parents. system. As always, these workshops are pre- sented by staff, foster parents and Casey “I’ve worked with other organizations, and alumni so expect honest talk from people Casey’s the only one that puts on a conference who deal with these issues every day. like this,” says Cameron. “I’m really looking forward to hearing the guest speakers.” Despite the seriousness of the work, the Casey Family Services Foster Parent The 2005 slate of key speakers promises Conference remains a celebration of every- something for both new and experienced one’s accomplishments and contributions. foster and adoptive parents: Rikki and Craig Carpenter, foster parents in “Foster parents are a lifeline in the organiza- Casey’s Hartford Division, talk with others about • Geoffrey Canada, president/CEO, The tion,” says Raymond L. Torres, Casey the experience of fostering. Harlem Children’s Zone (see article on Family Services executive director. “This page five) conference is an opportunity for us to reach with Casey. After so many years, the faces • Victoria Rowell, Casey Family Services out, acknowledge, thank and, we hope, start to look familiar, and you begin to con- national spokesperson rejuvenate our dedicated foster parents. It’s a nect with people from the different divi- small token of our appreciation.” sions. The social atmosphere allows us to • Bob Danzig, former CEO, The Hearst share knowledge and experiences easily. My Newspaper Group and former foster Casey hopes that foster parents will use the husband, Dennis, and I get teased because youth (see article on page four) conference for respite, enjoying the hotel’s we’re literally on a farm with our three fos- More than 100 foster parents, Casey staff accommodations, good food, entertainment ter children, and it’s such a different per- and the backdrop provided by the city of members and alumni will lead 30-plus spective from that of families living in the workshops and discussions. A sampling of Boston. This year, participants can look for- more inner-city areas.” ward to country line dancing and an up- planned topics includes: nurturing connec- and-coming jazz singer to help them Despite different environments, foster par- tions between birth and foster families, unwind in the evening. ents share common goals and stories, growing up adopted, understanding father- according to Jim Cameron, a foster parent hood, parenting young mothers, transition- “We appreciate our foster parents,” says to two teenage girls in Casey’s Massachu- ing to adoption, dealing with disruption Mary Anne Judge, Casey Family Services setts Division. “It’s nice to share ideas with and utilizing martial arts. staff development and training manager. the other foster parents,” he says. “It’s bene- “We respect what they do and hope that it’s “Casey alumni are the most popular part of ficial to spend time with people who are in the conference,” Judge recalls from surveys rewarding to hear from leaders in the field the same circle as you.” and that they feel bolstered by the work- that gave the previous conference a 90 per- shops and activities.” Just as foster parents are helping build com- cent satisfaction rate. “Kids are honest. munity in their hometowns, the Casey They offer a perspective to parents that The dialogues make this conference special, Foster Parent Conference creates a broader things are going to turn out all right, whether it’s with a keynote speaker, with sense of unity for participants. “It’s easy to regardless of the conflicts today.” Casey alumni in a workshop or in the eleva- see at the end of the first day,” says Judge. tor with a new friend. Despite all the knowledge, speakers and “People don’t feel so alone in doing this resources available, however, the highlight “This will be our third conference,” says important work. The conference offers a of any conference might be the chance to Renee Burns, a foster parent from West broader perspective on what it means to be somewhere new, away from the 24/7 job Baldwin, Maine. “It’s great getting together raise children who are not born to you.” of parenting, even for a little while.
3Voice Magazine 51564 Voice Mag 1/25/05 10:57 AM Page 6
Exchange
BOB DANZIG: A Champion for Every Child
The audience may number several hun- viduals” who made all the difference, as he dred … or a half dozen. It doesn’t seem to explains in Every Child Deserves a matter. The effect is the same when Bob Champion. Drawing from the gifts of Danzig has the microphone. He is talking encouragement he received from these indi- only to you, making you feel like the only vidual “angels,” Danzig’s goal is to be an person in the room. A honed skill? Perhaps. instrument for renewed affirmation that But more likely, it’s his passion for people every single person is worthwhile. and his absolute conviction that “you are worthwhile.” He is achieving that goal through his writ- ing, speaking and personal involvement as a That was the mantra trumpeted over and champion for children (particularly foster over by one of Bob’s social workers, the one children) and adults alike, helping them to who supervised the move from his fourth realize their potential. In addition to Every foster home to his fifth. “I can still hear her Child Deserves a Champion, he has authored quiet whisper,” he wrote in his book, Every The Leader within You, Vitamins for the Child Deserves a Champion: Including the Author, mentor, publisher and former foster child Spirit, Angel Threads and There Is Only One Child within You, “never forget, you are Bob Danzig will present at the 2005 Foster You: You Are Unique in the Universe. As one worthwhile.” Parent Conference. of the country’s most popular motivational speakers, his featured topics – “The Spirit The simple but powerful statement stuck. Driven Organization,” “Discovering the Bob Danzig barely graduated from high CASEY FAMILY SERVICES WILL Leader within You,” “The Confidence school, and, like so many of the 20,000 WELCOME BOB DANZIG AS A Academy” and “The Softer Side of Success,” kids who “age out” of foster care in the among others – inspire people to discover United States every year, he had no family KEYNOTE SPEAKER AND WORK- their leadership qualities, enhance the support, no money and no specific plan for SHOP PRESENTER AT ITS 2005 power of self-confidence, and open their his life. But, through a friend, he landed a hearts and minds to the light of higher pur- job as an office assistant at his local newspa- FOSTER PARENT CONFERENCE, pose. per,Albany’s Times Union. Nineteen years later, after graduating magna cum laude APRIL 2 AND 3 IN BOSTON. Casey Family Services will welcome Bob from Siena College in New York State, he Danzig as a keynote speaker and workshop became publisher of that paper and eventu- presenter at its Foster Parent Conference, ally went on to become vice president of The Hearst Newspaper Group. A member April 2 and 3, 2005, in Boston. All of his The Hearst Corporation and CEO of The of numerous boards of directors, including speaking and author fees are donated to fos- Hearst Newspaper Group. his alma mater, St. Peter’s Hospital, Russell ter children and to gifted young musicians, Sage College, Albany Institute of History in honor of his wife’s talent for and love of Today, he is an award-winning author and and Art, and others, his impressive profes- music. popular motivational speaker, a member of sional and philanthropic involvements bear the faculty at the New School University in testimony to his belief that every life has New York City and the guiding hand of promise, no matter how rough or humble its beginnings. Danzig credits his successful journey from office helper to CEO to the “champions” in his life – to the “applause of a few key indi-
Casey Family Services 4 51564 Voice Mag 1/27/05 2:07 PM Page 7
Close-up
GEOFFREY CANADA Close-up Geoffrey Canada is the founder and president/CEO of the Harlem Children’s Zone (HCZ), a program that combines educational, social and medical services to provide children a web of support from birth to college and extends that web out to surround entire neighbor- hoods. According to The New York Times Magazine (June 20, 2004), “The program operates on the principle that each child will do better if all the children around him are doing better.” Established in 2001, HCZ employs more than 650 people in 20 programs that reach about 80 percent of the 3,400 children under the age of 18 living in a 60-block area. Those programs include Harlem Gems, a head start program for pre-kindergarten children, as well as Promise Academy, a new charter school that opened last fall. Programs also include a family-counseling component that aims to keep families intact and in their homes and Baby College, teaching better parenting.
A native of the South Bronx, Canada and cate this work. We will be looking to assist his three brothers were raised by their mother folks who are interested and who have the and experienced many of the obstacles he says skills and resources to carry out the compli- are a part of every poor family’s life. He is the cated work involved. author of Fist Stick Knife Gun: A Personal History of Violence in America, in which VOICE: How will you decide which organi- he describes the rituals and codes of violence zations you will assist? that governed life in the inner city as he was GEOFFREY CANADA: We’re using a score- growing up. He is a graduate of Bowdoin card, establishing quadrants of high need, College and Harvard University Graduate high capacity and low need, low capacity. School of Education. We’ll ask people a number of questions to Canada will be a keynote speaker at Casey’s determine where they fit into the quadrants. 2005 Foster Parent Conference. We’re hoping to share what’s best practice in VOICE: Your work was the subject of a using the arts with middle and high school recent New York Times Magazine cover students; for example, what’s best practice story. How did that affect your programs? in fostering early childhood development; in setting up evaluation models; and in GEOFFREY CANADA: People have been call- opening charter schools. ing every day from all over the country to The New York Times Magazine recognized the We think there are organizations that will try to learn more about what we’re doing Harlem Children’s Zone for its innovative work. and how we’re doing it. All of us have been be interested in any number of these small slices of our work and others that will be kind of stunned by the level of interest and we’ve heard from the Gates and Annenberg interested in replicating the whole thing. by the range of organizations and institu- foundations. tions represented. We’ve received inquiries VOICE: In some ways, this is similar to our VOICE: How are you responding? from the cities of Chicago, Los Angeles, San own Casey Center for Effective Child Francisco and Seattle. We also got a call GEOFFREY CANADA: I’ve just come from a Welfare Practice, which evolved out of our from a church-led group in Hartford, meeting with people who are helping us work in post-adoption services and foster Connecticut that already has named its develop a business plan for creating a care. How have the Harlem Children’s area the Asylum Hill Children’s Zone, and Practitioners Institute to help others repli- Zone and now the Practitioners Institute evolved from your early work in housing?
5Voice Magazine 51564 Voice Mag 1/25/05 10:57 AM Page 8
Close-up
“The real challenge for young people today is to figure out a
way they can be safe, they can be known and respected, and
they can find real care and affection from significant people –
adults, teachers, community-based organizations.”
GEOFFREY CANADA: We expect to be work- what to do, so they’ll listen to practically ing with our first group by mid-February. anything about what it would take to make them feel safe. Too often, what they hear is VOICE: How will you accomplish such an dangerous and counterproductive. important task so quickly? One of the reasons so many young people GEOFFREY CANADA: We’re looking at a use drugs and alcohol is that these sub- model that works off of a set of decision stances give a sense of safety and security. points. We think we’ll get a couple hundred They lessen anxiety and fear. You magnify requests. We’ll use the scorecard to deter- the problem threefold to fourfold when you mine who will really be able to do this add into the equation the children and Geoffrey Canada works with a student at the work. We’ll invite those people to site visits, Harlem Children’s Zone. youth who are really vulnerable because and from that group, we’ll decide who will they don’t have a family support structure. come into our three-day workshops. The GEOFFREY CANADA: At one time, I worked visits and workshops will be structured to Everybody needs someone or something to with Sarah Greenblatt before she joined help organizations understand not only the belong to, and if there is a series of transient Casey Family Services as the director of the program but also the infrastructure, admin- relationships, your ability to feel part of a Casey Center for Effective Child Welfare istrative, evaluation and fiscal aspects of the community is greatly diminished. And Practice. With the support of the Edna operation. when you don’t feel part of a community, McConnell Clark Foundation, we were it’s very easy to get caught up in a lifestyle looking at whether intensive case manage- We will use our own faculty and program that’s destructive. What stopped most of us ment would help families stay in their apart- directors for the institute. I expect that as teens from getting involved in destructive ments. To better understand the impact when it’s fully operational, the institute will behaviors was that sense of community. environment has on stability, we looked at be working with about 10 groups each year. What would our mothers say, what would whether drugs were being sold in a particu- VOICE: You were eloquent in your presen- our teachers or our pastors say? Without lar building and how safe the building was. tation at the 2004 release of KIDS that filter, kids are particularly susceptible to We discovered that safety was really more COUNT, the Annie E. Casey Foundation trying high-risk actions that often come at a important to a family’s decision to stay or to report that examined the growing problem staggering cost in terms of their health and move from their home or neighborhood of disconnected youth in this country. safety. I don’t think that people really than whether or not they held a certain set What do you see as the overarching chal- understand how critical this is. of living, social or budgeting skills. lenge in meeting the needs of today’s youth? VOICE: Is that a problem limited to inner This got us to look at whether or not we GEOFFREY CANADA: The real challenge for cities? could change the conditions of the building. young people today is to figure out a way GEOFFREY CANADA: No. It’s pervasive. And once we had done that, we looked at a they can be safe, they can be known and block and then a community. It led to an There are many rural communities that respected, and they can find real care and have issues at least as serious as those in understanding that there are a lot of factors affection from significant people – adults, in an environment that impact how people cities like New York. For example, there are teachers, community-based organizations. places where methamphetamine or crack respond, relate to one another and get a The safe part is absolutely critical. chance to enjoy life or feel victimized. And cocaine has destroyed whole communities. I that’s what ultimately led us to this work. If kids don’t feel safe, they will go and do go to upstate New York and people tell me, almost anything to increase their sense of “You have no idea: Things are worse here VOICE: How soon do you expect to be able safety. Most of the time, they don’t know than in New York City,” and they honestly to share your work with others? mean that.
Casey Family Services 6 51564 Voice Mag 1/25/05 10:57 AM Page 9
Close-up
I think that part of the reason we as a important for child welfare organizations to down. There hasn’t been a parallel drop in nation have allowed our children to live so know that there are families who can step communities around us, so I have to think poorly is that people have always thought of forward to help children who must be that what we’re doing is working. this as a problem impacting minorities. We removed from their homes. What has been have not accepted the fact that these are missing is a real community-based strategy We said early on that if we did certain issues impacting all of America. for supporting families in a different way. things, the number of children going into We’ve started down that path in Harlem, care would drop. We did those things, and We’ve still got some work to do in helping and I think we have very positive results. the numbers went down. I’m very encour- people understand that the face of teenage aged by that, and we need to continue to pregnancy, substance abuse, child abuse and track the results. neglect, domestic violence and incarceration is not necessarily a black or brown face. WE NEED REAL LEADERSHIP VOICE: What were those things? AROUND THIS ISSUE AT GEOFFREY CANADA: VOICE: What can be done? They included: THE CABINET LEVEL, AT THE GEOFFREY CANADA: I think we have to be • Focusing on schools. very intentional about letting folks know LEGISLATIVE LEVEL AND AT • Getting data on the number of kids. • Getting data on where the kids were on a where the problems are in America. We THE STATE LEVEL. WE REALLY need real leadership around this issue at the monthly basis. Cabinet level, at the legislative level and at NEED A NATIONAL AGENDA • Identifying the hot spots (where most kids were going into care). the state level. We really need a national FOR HOW WE CAN PROVIDE agenda for how we can provide for the safe- • Going to the hot spots (we had groups of ty of children. That agenda is long overdue. FOR THE SAFETY OF CHILDREN. people who walked the hot spots and began to talk with people about what was VOICE: How can we address the issue of the happening in those communities and how disproportionately high number of children they felt about children going into care). of color in our foster care system? VOICE: What is your approach? • Going to homeless shelters. • Inviting groups of providers (both foster GEOFFREY CANADA: GEOFFREY CANADA: We’re trying to deal Here, our first priority care and preventive services) to meet on a with some of those issues right here. I is to try to prevent children from going into regular basis to talk about strategies to believe there is a real community-based the system. prevent kids from unnecessarily going response to child protection in minority If they must, then we try to keep them with into care. neighborhoods particularly. I say, for • Designating an HCZ staff member to instance, that we ought to be demanding family members in the community, and we try to keep the families in the community. attend every conference so we could offer that Harlem children stay in Harlem. That services where needed. could be said for any community and espe- We try to keep other parts of the child’s cially communities of color. civic life together while the parents are try- The issue is that we’ve got to be able to give ing to get their lives together. Children parents the help they need. We’ve got to We know that we have a network of sup- shouldn’t have to lose everything. help the whole family. This is the best port for families. It’s important to recognize investment we can make. and support these networks and ensure that VOICE: What results have you seen? families know where help is. It’s just as GEOFFREY CANADA: We put this process into place in Harlem, and, for the first time, the negative child indicators have gone
7Voice Magazine 51564 Voice Mag 1/27/05 2:07 PM Page 10
Exchange FAMILY CONNECTIONS: PERMANENCY IN THE FACE OF AIDS
Raquel eventually improved, and, a few Permanency planning – one part creative years later, the family contacted Casey thinking and another part legal wrangling – Family Services and its Family Connections is truly a process, particularly for smaller program in Bridgeport, Connecticut. families without many resources. Founded in 1993, this initiative supports families affected by HIV/AIDS in planning “In trying to find a potential caregiver or to transition children to alternative care- support, we identify a family’s formal and givers if and when needed. Family informal support networks, including Connections also helps children and their friends, family members, extended family, parents deal with the stigma and social clergy or parishioners,” says Diana Cruz, a Patricia shares news about a recent success with problems presented by HIV/AIDS. family support worker in Family social worker Hans Sherrod. Connections. Patricia’s first attempt to make permanency The day before Thanksgiving, Casey Family plans for her child was not a success. “I was In the end, Patricia worked with Casey to Services social worker Hans Sherrod visits using drugs to numb myself,” Patricia says. name the sister of Raquel’s father as co- with Patricia, a former Family Connections “Casey still tried to reach me, to get me the guardian, which was a difficult decision. As client just home from the hospital. The 33- help I really, truly needed. I wasn’t having part of this plan, her guardian will be aware year-old mom, who had suffered a stroke- it. I was dying, so who cared?” of Raquel’s needs and can be an important like attack, is with her daughter Raquel, 11, part of their family, building a strong bond surrounded by cookie cutters, flour, sugar The door at Casey and the hope it offered, with the child. and smiles. It’s a moment no child should however, never closed. Recognizing Patricia’s While permanency is the ultimate goal of be denied: quality time with a loving par- struggles, the organization committed to Family Connections, it often is the final ent. This domestic scene, however, repre- being there for her. “Once a Casey connec- step in a long process. sents a victory for a household besieged by tion, always a Casey connection,” explains chronic illness. Audra Holmes-Greene, a team leader in the “When a family comes to us, they might program, which served 25 families and 51 not be aware of permanency issues,” Audra At 21 years old, Patricia gave birth to a children in 2004. says. “We’re also dealing with the nuts-and- beautiful daughter. But Patricia soon bolts issues of substance abuse, mental learned that her significant other, the father, It took a few more years, and another health and poverty. It’s difficult to start with was HIV-positive. Patricia was tested and, episode of illness for Raquel, before Patricia permanency because there are other equally on her birthday, discovered that she had the decided to turn her life around. Off drugs, important and immediate issues involved. disease as well. Tests also confirmed that she returned to Casey, where she was paired When you talk about the future, the par- Raquel was positive. The trauma continued with Hans, who would be her social worker. ents’ illness and their eventual death, it when the father, Patricia’s first love, died “At Casey, I knew I could get the compas- brings up difficult emotions.” from AIDS just three months later, leaving sion and help that I needed,” she says. his young family alone. One of the less publicized tragedies of the A family’s emotional issues are not resolved when permanency is secured. The realities “My life was over,” Patricia recalls. “Life AIDS epidemic is children left parentless by of HIV can have devastating effects on chil- wasn’t worth living anymore.” Patricia also the disease. The challenge of finding new dren and the family. was overcome with intense guilt about pass- families for these children is intensified ing her infection to her baby. “It was so when the children are infected and require “Because there’s medication now, people hard to look at her, knowing what I’d done. more care. “I needed to face my reality, that think it is okay,” Patricia explains. “But It’s hard to come to terms with saying, ‘I I could die,” Patricia explains. “I was not these drugs have horrific side effects. We’re love you,’ and feeling like a murderer.” going to leave my child alone.” living longer, but we’re living a lot harder.”
Casey Family Services 8 51564 Voice Mag 1/25/05 10:58 AM Page 11
Exchange
“Seeing the compassion and love that Casey Family Services has
for me, and the empowerment they give, inspired me to do
what I do for others. Life gave me lemons, but I have learned AIDSwith Casey to make lemonade and share it with the world.”
These regimens present obstacles to parent- Clearly, Raquel is a little girl with a very Currently, Patricia works as a housing coor- ing, particularly for a single mother. “When adult disease. “Hans has done a lot to help dinator for St. Luke’s LifeWorks/Bread & I started a new medication, I had night- my daughter maintain her childhood,” Roses, a program for those living with HIV. mares, loss of memory and hallucinations,” Patricia says. “She was in the performing In addition, she has traveled to Washington, Patricia recalls. “I couldn’t get out of my arts group at Casey, and she got tutoring D.C., to be certified as a trainer on HIV- bed. It felt like somebody was stabbing me there. Not only did I get the services I need- related issues. She inspires her clients to and my legs locked up.” ed, I got the support my child needed.” advocate for themselves, both with their doctors and politicians. She works to instill Motivated by her child, Patricia learned to Patricia has since left Casey as a client, but empathy in young students, volunteering to work past her pain. However, when she she remains an advocate and a resource for speak to group after group at no cost. She needed support, Casey was there. those served by Family Connections. also is helping Casey staff in understanding Spreading the word about HIV-related the changing face of HIV. For example, the director of Raquel’s after- issues is a passion, one shared by Raquel, school program wanted to exclude her from who joined her mother in talking about “Seeing the compassion and love that Casey attending due to her HIV status. He even World AIDS Day to local students. Family Services has for me, and the empow- told staff and parents about her condition. erment they give, inspired me to do what I Frantic, Patricia called Hans, who went “My daughter is my inspiration, the reason do for others,” Patricia proudly says. “Life with Patricia to meet with the director the I get up in the morning,” Patricia says. “I gave me lemons, but I have learned with next day, advocating for the child’s rights. want her to feel at peace saying, ‘I’m posi- Casey to make lemonade and share it with tive and living in this world.’” the world.”
9Voice Magazine 51564 Voice Mag 1/25/05 10:58 AM Page 12
Exchange BUILDING A FAMILY THROUGH FOSTER CARE
Haley, Jon, Wayne, Anita and Derek Adams of Building their family has been a growing two years and it just wasn’t happening. He Chester, Vermont, are together after Jon’s tour of experience for everyone. “Derek and Haley ended up coming to our house every week- duty in Iraq. are two fantastic, wonderful kids,” says end.” When Scott became available for care, Anita. “Even when they get mad at Tess, the Adams took him in. “I was pregnant The Adams household in Chester, Vermont, they understand what we are doing. Now, with our second child, and Derek was is a happy, busy place. Parents Anita and Jon and Haley are very close, and Derek about two-and-a-half,” recalls Anita. “Scott Wayne and their children – Jon, 22; Derek, and Tess are starting to make that connec- lived with us for two years until he went 15; Haley, 12; and 10-year-old Tess – are a tion, too.” back to his dad’s house. He’s married now loving team. Like most American families, and has two children. His kids call us they are busy with school, work and other Getting Involved in Foster Care grandma and grandpa. I was a grandma by activities. Anita always wanted to do something for age 30!” children. She even looked into being a Big What makes this family a bit different is Sister when she was just in high school. When they met Jon in 1994, the Adams that Jon and Tess came to the Adams as fos- After she and Wayne got married, she read immediately felt a connection, but there ter children: Jon at 11 and Tess at nine. Jon an article about therapeutic foster care. She were significant challenges. “He was very and Tess have been as much a part of the called the organization that was launching confrontational and streetwise when he Adams family as their biological children. the program and decided to start with came to us,” remembers Anita. “But there “You know it’s working when you forget respite care. was something about him that I just loved they’re not your own children,” laughs from the beginning.” She remembers that Anita. “Sometimes Wayne or I will say, With training, Anita and Wayne began Jon always was very ambitious and focused. ‘That must come from your side of the working with a 12-year-old named Scott. family,’ and then we remember.” “The state had been trying to place him for
Casey Family Services 10 51564 Voice Mag 1/25/05 10:58 AM Page 13
Exchange
From left: Haley, Jon and Derek walk the wintry woods of Vermont, reunited for the holiday.
“I knew he would be fine,” she recalls, “but I didn’t know exactly what he would do.” As predicted, he has done great. After grad- uating from high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in Afghanistan for six months and Iraq for eight. Since returning home, Jon has been working with Wayne in his masonry business. At the same time, he Adams family is an example of how well went to law enforcement school and gradu- adoption can work for foster children and ated in October. Now he’s working full- “ANY PARENT WILL TELL YOU their families. We need to find ways to time as a mason and part-time as a police THAT THE TEEN YEARS ARE encourage families to consider taking that officer in nearby New Hampshire. WHEN CHILDREN NEED THE step.” Ready to Adopt MOST HELP AND DIRECTION As part of last year’s National Adoption Day Anita and Wayne waited to adopt Jon until celebration, Casey Family Services and he was 18 to spare him the trauma of hav- – EVEN IF THAT’S JUST other members of the National Adoption ing to sever his mother’s parental rights. THE TIME WHEN THEY SEEM Day Coalition sponsored a study identify- The adoption of older teens and foster chil- ing barriers to adopting foster children and dren is very important because the system is TO RESENT IT MOST.” promising approaches to encouraging these winding down its support just when chil- adoptions. The report, “Foster Care dren need it most. “Any parent will tell you Adoption in the United States,” was con- that the teen years are when children need Last year, the family agreed to do weekend ducted by the Urban Institute’s Child the most help and direction – even if that’s respite for nine-year-old Tess. “Since Haley Welfare Research Program. just the time when they seem to resent it was five, she has wanted a younger sister,” most,” says Casey Family Services Executive In Vermont, where the Adams family lives, says Anita. “After Jon moved out, we had Director Raymond L. Torres. “This is even the study found that families praised the room and Casey Family Services knew Tess truer for foster children who have faced so statewide consortium that provides post- was just what we were looking for. It’s much uncertainty throughout their lives.” adoption services. This coordinated smoothing out. Now we’re dealing with just Each year, approximately 20,000 children approach has helped the Adams. “We regular sibling rivalry.” in foster care will age out of the system always have felt supported,” says Anita. without ever being placed with a permanent The Adams also are adopting Tess. They “Casey Family Services has helped us a lot. family. had been waiting until Jon got back from And we have wonderful friends and family Iraq so the whole family could share in the who help us in so many ways. They have In fact, the Adams were surprised by the joyful day. The adoption is set for early been phenomenal.” impact that Jon’s adoption had on him. 2005. “We thought he knew how much we loved “We believe every child has the right to a him. For us, it was just a paperwork change. The National Picture caring family,” says Torres. “We are privi- He was already our son,” says Anita. “But “There are about 523,000 foster care chil- leged to provide the training and other help for him, it was more than that. It really dren in our country and 118,000 of them families like the Adams need to make this seemed to make a big difference.” are available for adoption,” says Torres, dream a reality.” referring to recent federal estimates. “The
11 Voice Magazine 51564 Voice Mag 1/25/05 10:58 AM Page 14
Exchange NATIONAL ADOPTION DAY COALITION & THE URBAN INSTITUTE
FINDINGS INDICATE ADOPTION PROCESS STILL NEEDS IMPROVEMENT
riers to adoption and a number of promis- The National Adoption Day Coalition ing new approaches in all 50 states and the works to draw attention to the waiting chil- District of Columbia. dren and to celebrate the parents who adopt them. According to Rita Sorenson, who is There has been an increase in the number the executive director of the Dave Thomas of children adopted from foster care as a Foundation for Adoption and a coalition result of the Adoption and Safe Families Act member, the group commissioned the of 1997. In fact, 49,000 adoptions took Urban Institute to conduct a state-by-state place in 2003, according to federal reports. analysis in order to identify common barri- However, there is concern among child wel- ers and effective approaches that exist in the fare experts that even when children are U.S. Senator Mary L. Landrieu (D. Louisiana), foster care to adoption process. co-chair of the Congressional Coalition on freed for adoption, the adoption process Adoption, speaks about the Urban Institute study. takes too long. For the 118,000 children “We commissioned this study because we waiting for permanent families, it can take, learned from our colleagues at the In the first analysis of data from the on average, two years to legalize an adop- Congressional Coalition on Adoption Congressionally-mandated Child and tion after the termination of parental rights, Institute that legislators and their staff Family Services Reviews, the National according to the Adoption and Foster Care members needed this information in a con- Adoption Day Coalition and the Urban Analysis and Reporting System developed cise and focused format,” explains Institute identified the most significant bar- by the U.S. Department of Health and Sorenson. “We hope this study will enable Human Services.
KEY FACTS ABOUT ADOPTION
1) There were an estimated 523,000 4) In 2001, approximately 19,000 children 7) Children in foster care were adopted by children in American foster care, according in foster care aged out of the system with- four types of families in 2001. During the to 2003 estimates published by U.S. out being placed with a permanent family. available reporting period: 59 percent of the Department of Health and Human adoptions of children in care were by their Services. Of these children, 118,000 were 5) Of the children adopted from foster care foster parents; 23.3 percent were by rela- waiting to be adopted. in 2001, 35 percent were black; 38 percent, tives; 17.4 percent by families to whom the white; 16 percent, Hispanic; one percent, children were not related; and 0.3 percent 2) Four in 10 Americans have considered American Indian/Alaskan Native; two per- by a stepparent. adoption, according to a 2002 survey con- cent, Asian/Pacific Islander; three percent, ducted by the Dave Thomas Foundation for two or more non-Hispanic races; and five To find out more about adopting a child Adoption. That translates into more than percent, not determined. from foster care in the United States, please 80 million Americans. check out www.nationaladoptionday.org 6) The adoptive family structure in fiscal or www.davethomasfoundation.org or call 3) Since 1987, the number of children in year 2001 was: married couples, 67 percent; 1-800-TO-ADOPT. foster care nearly doubled by 2001, and the single females, 30 percent; single males, average time a child remains in foster care two percent; and unmarried couples, one Statistics were provided by the U.S. Department has lengthened to nearly three years (33 percent. of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families,using preliminary months). AFCARS data for fiscal year 2001, released in 2003.
Casey Family Services 12 51564 Voice Mag 1/27/05 2:07 PM Page 15
Exchange
Inadequate information systems, crowded court dockets,
staff turnover and heavy social worker caseloads are
the primary obstacles to finding permanent homes for
foster youth.
legislators to develop more effective and U.S. Senator Mary L. Landrieu, the are finding success by reorganizing staff and uniform policies to support permanency for Louisiana Democrat who is co-chair of the developing specially trained adoption units children through adoption.” Congressional Coalition on Adoption, or task forces while others are working to acknowledged that much work remains. have courts and state agencies employ the While previous research looked at state- “My colleagues and I will work to do every- same information technology so caseloads specific barriers to adoption and the influ- thing possible to overcome these barriers can be tracked more accurately. ence of various policies and programs to [cited in the Urban Institute’s study],” she address them, this study looked at how all said. The senator spoke to the need for The complete Urban Institute study can be states are faring after the Adoption and Safe improving the funding stream to states that found at www.nationaladoptionday.org. Families Act was enacted, according to focuses on permanency and finding safe Jennifer Macomber, Urban Institute research The founding members of the National Adoption families for children. Day Coalition include the Alliance for Children’s associate and the study’s project director. Rights, Casey Family Services, the Children’s Action Based on the findings identified in the Network, the Congressional Coalition on Adoption As evidenced by the report, states continue report, the National Adoption Day Institute, the Dave Thomas Foundation for to be challenged by three barriers of particu- Coalition recommends more attention to Adoption, Freddie Mac Foundation and Target lar note to adoption: finding adoptive fami- areas of inter-agency coordination and Corporation. lies, streamlining bureaucratic case manage- workforce issues affecting the permanency ment and addressing the complex process planning and adoption process. Some states around termination of parental rights.
NATIONAL ADOPTION DAY COALITION RECOMMENDATIONS
Based on the research in this report, the and could be used as a repository for infor- Case management issues in both the courts National Adoption Day Coalition recom- mation on promising approaches. and child welfare agencies were among the mends the following: most cited barriers in the adoption process. 3) Focus attention on coordination between A greater focus and higher priority on 1) Direct future adoption opportunities courts and child welfare agencies. staffing issues, organizational culture and grants toward addressing identified barriers. Two of the five most reported barriers information systems must be part of the This funding stream may continue to direct (terminating parental rights and establish- national and state agendas to improve the resources to explore strategies for addressing ing/changing permanency goals) reflect the foster child adoption process. the barriers identified in this study as the complex and difficult interplay between 5) Encourage peer-to-peer learning. most common and persistent or those not courts and child welfare agencies at several yet addressed by many states. stages in the adoption process. Heightened Child welfare administrators, policymakers attention needs to be given to the role of and legislators can use the state-level infor- 2) Use National Child Welfare Resource the courts in the adoption process and the mation provided in the report as a spring- Centers to provide technical assistance. vital importance of ensuring coordination board for sharing ideas about promising The National Child Welfare Resource between courts and child welfare agencies. approaches. While the report is not able to provide detailed information on the particu- Centers could garner resources and expertise 4) Ensure that the improvement of work- to continue providing technical assistance lar approaches, the hope is that states will force issues has a place on the agenda for contact each other to learn more. around the barriers identified in this study, reform.
13 Voice Magazine 51564 Voice Mag 1/27/05 2:07 PM Page 16
Exchange SCENES FROM NATIONAL ADOPTION DAY 2004
A couple in Connecticut adopts a seven- On that day, judges opened their court- at the side of these families as they complete year-old, giving their son the little sister he houses in more than 200 cities and 37 states their adoptions, true heroes who have saved always wanted. A loving uncle in Los to process adoptions of children from the the lives of children who otherwise would Angeles adopts his two nephews and a niece foster care system. Cynthia Billey, an attor- grow up in foster care without the warmth, when his sister is unable to care for her chil- ney with The Alliance for Children’s Rights love and guiding hands of parents. 2004dren. A husband and wife in Massachusetts in Los Angeles, is a founding member of become instant parents of three preschool- the National Adoption Day Coalition. She “The Alliance and many other state and ers, adopting a sibling group. hopes the events held across the country private organizations are working to make will help more of the 118,000 foster chil- the adoption process easier to navigate and These are just a few of the more than 3,400 dren currently waiting for adoption to find to ensure that parents will receive the finan- adoption stories created on November 20, loving, permanent families. cial, educational and medical supports they 2004 – National Adoption Day. need to care for the children they adopt,” “We need more people to understand that Billey says. there are many wonderful children in this country hoping to find caring parents to adopt them,” says Billey. “As an attorney, I have had no greater privilege than to stand
During a National Adoption Day Ailin, an adopted eight year old Emmy Award-winning actress Actor Henry Winkler assists in the adop- event in New Haven, Connecticut, from West Hartford, Connecticut, Patricia Heaton, star of the CBS tion of Juan, Arthur and Emily more than 200 people gathered to cel- works on a craft project with television hit “Everybody Loves Gutierrez, who were adopted by their ebrate adoption. From left: Diamond, Raymond L. Torres, Casey Family Raymond,” hosted the National uncle Tony and his wife Jackie Gutierrez Judge Frank Forgione, Daniel, Services executive director, during Adoption Day celebration in her at the Los Angeles National Adoption Doshia Bowling and T’najia. the New Haven National Adop- hometown of Cleveland, Ohio. Day event. Forgione, who is a judge for the New tion Day celebration. Organizers displayed 6,000 pairs Haven Regional Probate Court for of shoes in front of the courthouse, Children’s Matters, presided over the each representing a child in the fos- adoption of T’najia that morning. ter care system of Ohio who is eligi- Bowling, of New Haven, has adopted ble for adoption. all three children.
Casey Family Services 14 51564 Voice Mag 1/25/05 10:58 AM Page 17
Exchange OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILD WELFARE REFORM
ROUNDTABLE ON THE PEW REPORT
Casey Family Services and the New to stop piloting what we know is good prac- England Association of Child Welfare tice for kids.” Commissioners and Directors brought together more than 90 regional leaders to Casey Family Services Director of Policy discuss the recent report by the Pew Sania Metzger, Esq., says, “The Pew Commission on Foster Care. The one-day Commission’s report and recommendations roundtable discussion focused on “Fostering for improving foster care is just the kind of the Future: Safety, Permanence and Well- analysis we need. The guiding compass for Being for Children in Foster Care” and the the commission’s work was that all children issues raised by this groundbreaking report. need safe, permanent families that love, nurture, protect and guide them.” Sania Metzger, Esq., Casey Family Services direc- The commission was launched in May tor of policy; Helen Jones-Kelley, Pew commission- The group then took a closer look at mat- 2003. Supported by a grant from The Pew er; Raymond L. Torres, Casey Family Services Charitable Trusts, the panel includes some executive director; and Julie Springwater, director ters such as federal legislation, fiscal issues, of the nation’s leading child welfare experts of the New England Association of Child Welfare judicial recommendations, subsidized who were charged with developing recom- Commissioners and Directors. guardianship, and preventive and treatment mendations related to federal financing and services. For the final session, participants court oversight of child welfare to improve Honorable Maura Corrigan, chief justice, divided into seven state caucuses for further outcomes for children in foster care. In Michigan Supreme Court; Helen Jones- lively discussions. 2004, the group proposed a restructuring of Kelley, Esq., executive director of Montgomery County, Ohio Children The roundtable was informative and existing child welfare resources, as well as thought provoking for all the participants. targeted new investments. The panel also Services; and Gary Stangler, executive direc- tor of the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Chief Justice Maura Corrigan of Michigan recommended that children receive a much summed it up when she said, “The Pew higher priority in state courts. Initiative – traveled to Mystic, Connecticut, to participate in the roundtable. Jones- Commission was my most exciting adven- Three of the Pew commissioners – the Kelley set the tone when she said, “It is time ture in 32 years of government service.”
CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED TO FIND FOSTER PARENTS IN CONNECTICUT
The campaign to find foster parents for a providing support services that are ongoing special treatment foster care project shared and uniquely comprehensive. by Casey Family Services and the Yale Child Study Center is under way, and the initial The campaign, “One Ordinary Family for response is encouraging. One Extraordinary Kid,” is using multi- media and targeted outreach to identify Casey and Yale are working together to find prospective families. committed, caring families who can help foster children make a successful life-chang- Reimagining foster care: ing transition back to family settings in 1-888-799-KIDS Meridan, Middletown and New Haven, www.OnekidOnefamily.org Connecticut. To help, Casey and Yale are
11 Voice Magazine 51564 Voice Mag 1/27/05 2:08 PM Page 18
Exchange
MICHAEL BRENNAN: From Social Worker to Policymaker
In statehouses across the nation, lawmakers Brennan is the new leader of the Demo- Family Services are providing a vehicle to are grappling with initiatives to improve cratic caucus, which holds a one-person change systems across the nation. their communities, often without a deep majority in the 35-member senate. From understanding of the challenges faced by his new position, this clinical social worker “Casey Family Services truly is innovative in children and families, particularly those at is making an informed and impassioned the area of child welfare, developing new risk. In Maine, however, legislators on both contribution to the debates involving child programs and looking at new ways to pro- sides of the aisle are benefiting from the welfare and the state’s system of care. mote best practices,” he says. “It’s very unique to have a national foundation, the “On a fairly regular basis, there is a gap Annie E. Casey Foundation, that has a between policymakers who don’t under- direct service arm. Casey Family Services stand clinical practice and clinicians who offers a rare opportunity to really look at don’t articulate their issues and needs very best practices, perform evaluations and do well,” according to Brennan. “There can be research to determine program effectiveness. a mismatch between those making policy We are then able to use these experiences to and the people working with children and influence public policy in Maine.” families. I really believe that best practices on a clinical level should be reflected in Befitting his background, he currently statutes, and I hope that I’m able to facili- chairs the Board of Advisors’ policy sub- tate that connection.” committee. “We have been working with From left: Nita Lescher, Casey Family Services’ senior management staff to support Casey Vermont Division director; Executive Director He put his skills to the test effectively in the Family Services in developing more policy- Raymond L. Torres; and Maine State Senator Michael Brennan talk at the Pew Commission last session, when he chaired the state’s related activities and to engage other child Roundtable in Mystic, Connecticut. Health and Human Services Committee. welfare leaders in the debate.” Responding to community feedback that the state’s system of care was uncoordinated Brennan has worked hard to speak with experiences of their new Senate Majority and disjointed, lawmakers – under authority on the issues that matter to his Leader: a social worker looking to connect Brennan’s leadership – restructured the community. First, he earned a Master’s in effective practice with sound policy. Department of Human Services and the Public Policy from the Muskie School. This experience, coupled with his new role in the For Michael Brennan, the intersections Department of Behavioral and Develop- mental Services into one mega-agency. state legislature, motivated him to earn his between policy and social work have Master’s in Social Work in 1994 from the defined his career. Professionally, he is a pol- He also chaired the Joint Select Committee University of New England. icy associate with the Edmund S. Muskie on Health Care Reform, which, with the School of Public Service at the University of endorsement of Governor John Baldacci, “I really wanted to understand clinical prac- Southern Maine. Personally, he has volun- championed the creation of the Dirigo tice as it relates to policy,” Brennan says. teered on the Board of Advisors for Casey Health Program, a state-subsidized health “For example, deinstitutionalization is a Family Services since 1991 and recently was insurance initiative. “Maine is one of the great policy that returned people to the named a co-chairperson. Politically, he has first states in the country to have a plan to community from mental institutions. served in the Maine legislature since 1992, reach universal health care in the next five However, we were not very successful in first in the House of Representatives and years,” Brennan says. implementing it because people didn’t now in his third senate term. understand the clinical implications of mov- While his elected position keeps him work- ing to improve conditions in the “Pine Tree State,” his long-standing ties to Casey
Casey Family Services 16 51564 Voice Mag 1/25/05 10:58 AM Page 19
Exchange
MICHAEL BRENNAN: “Casey Family Services offers a rare opportunity to really
look at best practices, perform evaluations and do research
to determine program effectiveness. We are then able to use
these experiences to influence public policy in Maine.”
ing people who had lived for 20 years in a then worked for a year in a substance abuse ate,” he explains. “We want to reduce child facility into an apartment in Portland. unit at a juvenile correctional facility. When abuse and neglect, which means more fami- When we do child welfare, it’s hard to you see the benefits of treatment for these ly preservation and reunification programs.” understand what is useful unless you’ve kids, you know this work is meaningful and worked with addicted parents or abused important. You make an impact on the rest What keeps this public servant so dedicat- children. People are not abstract concepts.” of their lives.” ed? For Brennan, it stems from an apprecia- tion of the opportunities that he’s been pre- The lack of hands-on experience with In the newly launched session, he will con- sented in his own life. vulnerable populations is one of the reasons tinue his work to reform Maine’s child wel- that good policies sometimes fail, Brennan fare system. Since 2001, when a child in the “In the legislature, I’ve spent more time on says. “That’s why being on the Board of foster care system died tragically, the Annie education issues than child welfare. Advisors is so exciting. Every day at Casey E. Casey Foundation has been providing Education made a huge difference in my Family Services, we’re trying to translate systems reform consultation and technical life. My life is very different from what it what we’ve learned in the field into the best assistance to the state. The legislature will could have been simply because I went to policies for state and federal governments.” work to implement the changes recom- college. So I’ve always believed strongly in mended by the Foundation this year. providing educational opportunities for For Brennan, the experience of a second people and trying to address some of the graduate degree wasn’t about the credential “The reforms may lead the new Depart- barriers that people have in making the but about the experience of working with ment of Health and Human Services to most of educational and work opportuni- those in need. “For my first rotation, I focus more on kinship care, do a better job ties. Child welfare, at its best, can reduce worked in a homeless shelter with adults. I at permanency and move children more those barriers and change lives.” quickly through the system. In addition, we need to promote adoption when appropri-
17 Voice Magazine 51564 Voice Mag 1/25/05 10:58 AM Page 20
News & Highlights
“Everybody Is Kung-Fu Fighting …”
principles include self-control, perseverance, Kline and his wife, Mary, began martial arts Nintegrity, courtesy and indomitableews spirit. training while living in Kansas and looking Since the martial arts are “a mixture of for recreational outlets. Their commitment Eastern philosophy, military discipline and continued through moves to Washington courtesy woven together,” respect for one’s and Vermont. Mary is a Tae Kwon Do red country, friends and parents is important. belt, the level just below black, and also has studied Kung Fu. Rounding out his train- Since 1998, Kline’s venue for teaching mar- ing in Eastern philosophy, Kline is certified tial arts has been the Blue Wave gym in in Reiki, a Japanese healing art, and, since Bradford, Vermont, which he owns. Along 1970, has belonged to a yoga organization. with nine other black belts from the Blue He also enjoys watching martial arts Wave Tae Kwon Do Association, he movies, especially those of actor Jet Li. instructs dozens of students from ages five to 55. Keeping in shape for martial arts is ongoing and involves lots of skipping, hopping, Perhaps it’s the social worker in Kline that kicking, running and competing. In prepa- feels it’s important to offer a free scholarship ration for tournaments, Kline drives to to a child from every school in the area, Burlington on weekends to practice at a covering instruction, testing, fees and uni- gym owned by his association president. forms. He specifically looks for students “Something on me always hurts or is Vermont Social Worker Bob Kline will offer his struggling at home and school who need expertise at the 2005 Foster Parent Conference. bruised, torn, pulled or sprained,” he structure. “I let the kids know how it reports matter of factly. works,” he says. “It’s about fun, discipline by Gregory Simpson, CIS Administrator, and time. Martial arts are built on respect In addition to the physical costs, competing Casey Family Services in relationships. If the kids can bond with at his level hits his wallet. “It’s an incredible the instructors, they generally stay and expense to fly to a city for a four- to five- One can’t tell by looking, but Bob Kline, a advance.” night tournament,” he says. “If you lose Casey Family Services social worker in the your first fight, you’re done.” Tournaments Vermont Division, can break six boards “I’ve never asked a student to leave my focus on three categories of competition: with one hand or even two boards with his gym,” Kline states. “Pushups are my reward fighting, form and breaking. fingertips alone. Likewise, one can’t tell that for misbehaving in class.” Teaching self-con- he is a nationally-ranked martial arts expert, trol is essential, since “martial arts are about The benefits of martial arts, of course, out- having won the Amateur Athletic Union trying to find the will power and the weigh the pain and expense for Kline. “I Senior Black Belt’s sparring championship strength of spirit so that the physical instru- love it all: the teaching, the kids and the and the U.S. Tae Kwon Do Union’s ultra- ment doesn’t take over.” competing,” he says. “It’s a great communi- senior light heavyweight champion. Despite ty and my gym is family-oriented. Some of appearances, all are true. Kline kicked off his martial arts career in the people in the association are my best his late 20s, acquiring his first-degree black friends.” “The martial arts are about people bettering belt in Tae Kwon Do in just four years. themselves through the sport’s basic tenets,” He also studied Jujitsu and Filipino stick Kline says. For Korean Tae Kwon Do, these fighting. Now a third-degree black belt, he will be eligible to advance this summer. By the time he retires from Casey, he hopes to achieve master’s level, the next step.
Casey Family Services 18 51564 Voice Mag 1/27/05 2:08 PM Page 21
News & Highlights Casey Honors Champions for Children in Los Angeles
CASEY HONORS TELEVISION PRODUCER AT VICTORIA ROWELL’S ANNUAL HOLIDAY PARTY
Actress and Casey Family Services National Spokesperson Victoria Rowell hosted her foundation’s annual holiday party on December 5, 2004, for foster children at the famed House of Blues club on Hollywood’s Sunset Boulevard. The day included a luncheon buffet, musical enter- tainment and holiday gifts for more than 100 foster children served by the Rowell Foster Care Positive Plan Foundation in Los Angeles. Executive Director Raymond L. Torres attended the event and took the opportuni- ty to present the Casey Family Services JAMIE FOXX HOSTS NATIONAL Above: Victoria Rowell, actress and Casey Family Distinguished Service Award to Jack F. SPOTLIGHT ON ADOPTION Services national spokesperson, and Executive Director Raymond L. Torres at the star’s holiday Smith, the co-executive producer and co- For the past six years, Children’s Action party for foster youth. Below: Raymond L. Torres head writer for “The Young and the Network has partnered with CBS television with Jack F. Smith, co-executive producer of “The Restless,” an award-winning daytime drama Young and the Restless,” in Los Angeles. and the Dave Thomas Foundation for series on CBS television. Adoption to produce “A Home for the “Casey Family Services honors ‘The Young Holidays,” a musical entertainment pro- was excellent as the master of ceremonies. He talked about his own experience of and the Restless’ for building understanding gram that profiles families who have adopt- and support for America’s children in foster ed kids from the foster care system. being adopted as a ‘triumphant day,’ and he encouraged the audience to get involved in care with its recent storyline,” Torres Actor, musician and comedian Jamie Foxx changing kids’ lives,” he said. “The event announced to attendees. “I am confident hosted and performed during the broadcast, was an outstanding occasion to help focus that your compelling stories will advance which aired nationally on December 22, national attention on the many children foster care among the show’s millions of 2004, on CBS stations. Black Eyed Peas, who are eligible for adoption,” Torres says. viewers.” Kenny G., Chaka Khan, Ashlee Simpson, Consulting with Rowell and Casey Family Rod Stewart and Train were among the Services, Smith developed the foster care artists who performed, and actors Jamie Lee storyline. On the show, Drucilla Winters, Curtis, Dennis Quaid, Rene Russo and played by Rowell, is a high-powered career Bruce Willis presented inspirational stories woman and a former foster child. Because about adoption. of her own childhood experiences, Drucilla Casey Family Services Executive Director pleads with her husband to let her take care Raymond L. Torres attended the show’s tap- of Devon, a foster teen, to keep him in the ing as a special guest with his family on community where he belongs, in a family December 4 in Hollywood: “Jamie Foxx instead of a group home.
19 Voice Magazine 51564 Voice Mag 1/25/05 10:59 AM Page 22
News & Highlights FINDING COMMON GROUND: EXPLORING DIVERSITY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
On November 16, 2004, Casey Family Services’ New Hampshire Division, Child & Family Services and Lutheran Social Services of Northern New England hosted “The Diversity Journey: Finding Common Ground from a Patchwork of Experience.” The conference brought more than 200 participants together from a variety of New Hampshire agencies and professional back- grounds to participate in 17 workshops focusing on the diverse needs and experi- The Right Reverend V. Gene Robinson, Episcopal Participants in the 2004 Diversity Conference ences of the state’s population. bishop of New Hampshire, served as keynote listened to the sounds of Nzinga’s Daughters. speaker at the diversity conference. The Right Reverend V. Gene Robinson, the Episcopalian bishop of New Hampshire, provided a thought-provoking and encour- entertained after lunch by Nzinga’s The Faith Quilts Project offered a workshop aging keynote address. Participants were Daughters, a troupe that teaches about the that not only taught participants about their Underground Railroad through song and work, facilitating dialogues on faith through dance. collaborative quilt-making, but also provid- ed participants an opportunity to create The array of workshops offered at this year’s their own quilt square. conference reflected the depth and breadth of the services provided by the three hosting agencies. Workshop topics included issues of faith, the effective use of interpreters, the refugee experience, bilingual parenting and spirituality in mental health practice.
Casey Family Services 20 51564 Voice Mag 1/25/05 10:59 AM Page 23
Perspectives Natural Connections Stand the Test of Time
View from
Wby Robin Nixon, ashingtonWe all can play a part in helping foster chil- Policies and funding must promote oppor- Director, National Foster dren and youth develop the same kinds of tunities and environments that support a Care Coalition lasting, positive relationships. sense of community and belonging as much as support the connections themselves. I am sitting here, cozy and I spend much of my working life thinking Policies must support strong case manage- comfortable in front of the about and trying to have an impact on the ment and high levels of child-social worker fireplace, looking at a beau- policies, funding and legislation that affect interaction. Funding must support respite tiful New England landscape and feeling the lives of children, youth and families in care, high-quality caregiver training and right at home. I’m not in my own home, the child welfare system. When we think ongoing support that encourage caregivers but am visiting the home of a good friend – to keep going even when the going gets my very oldest friend, in fact. She lives in tough with a child or youth. They must Exeter, New Hampshire, which I consider “I BELIEVE THAT STRONG support strong policies, minimizing the to be my hometown – the place I lived the PROGRAMS AND SERVICES DO number of placements, placement change longest during a very mobile childhood that and school changes that children and youth included about 15 moves. She and I have MUCH TO ENSURE SAFETY, experience. They must continue a strong been friends since the fourth grade. I come focus on timely permanency. back to Exeter as often as I can to see both PERMANENCY AND WELL- my friend and another important connec- BEING FOR CHILDREN AND At the most basic level, policies and funding tion in my life, my 10th grade world histo- must support significant levels of communi- ry teacher. Almost 30 years ago, he redirect- YOUTH.” ty-based and family-centered prevention ed my teenage energy from trouble making that will allow families to stay together and into a passionate interest in learning, and I prevent children’s placement in foster care consider him a treasured friend and mentor. about promoting lasting relationships for in the first place. foster children and youth, how do we link For most people, their sense of home, com- the needs of kids to policies, funding and There is a place for structured programs to fort and belonging come from family. legislation? Is this an issue on which legisla- create connections – such as mentoring pro- However, we also get that sense of connec- tion and funding can really have an impact? grams – in addition to helping kids achieve tion from people and places that make a How important are opportunities created permanency. It has been my experience, difference at some particular point in our through programs and services? however, that the strongest and most lasting lives, and, sometimes, these connections mentoring relationships are not from struc- sustain us for a lifetime. I believe that strong programs and services tured programs, but they start and grow do much to ensure safety, permanency and naturally out of relationships that have a For me, thinking about these nurturing well-being for children and youth. I also chance to develop in schools, communities, relationships and their longevity gives me believe that we must look at how services places of worship, neighborhoods and play- reasons to believe in connections that last. can create opportunities for kids to find grounds. We just need to make sure that lasting connections that develop naturally. foster kids have the same chance as other Unless our programs can contribute to the kids to plant those seeds and see them grow. stability and connectivity of foster children’s lives, we are denying them the opportunity to experience the diverse kinds of connec- tions that sustain us throughout our lives.
21 Voice Magazine 51564 Voice Mag 1/25/05 10:59 AM Page 24
Perspectives
AN ALUMNA PERSPECTIVE:
P-A-R-E-N-T-S: PROMOTING SUCCESS IN A FOSTER CHILD
by Ginny Stephan
Foster parenting is a price- N: Never give up. less journey. Foster parents take on the responsibility of Never quit on a foster child. These children raising a child so they can already have experienced more rejection make a difference. They than the average adult. Use all your read every book about chil- resources and do not expect perfection. dren at risk. They read all the success stories When you feel lost and isolated, this is when you should tap your network of and vow that the foster child they take into A: Accept them. their homes will be a successful adult. friends and support staff. Your tenacity will It’s normal for foster parents to have dreams speak loud and clear to the children. However, when their foster child actually and visions for the children they take into Unconditional love is something they rarely arrives, usually within 48 hours, the new their homes. But it’s very important to have experienced. Teach them to receive foster parents quickly realize that it will not remember to give children choices and then and give love, and you will give them the be easy. To help make the challenge a bit let them make mistakes. It is important to necessary tools to live their lives well. easier, here are a few things to keep in mind help them turn failures into learning experi- T: Treat foster children like your own. when going through the trials and tribula- ences. Failures forge character. tions of raising foster children: Now this is difficult. Just try to do the best R: Recognize their personality. P: Prepare them for the future. you can. Foster children want to be per- According to accepted literature, there are ceived as “normal,” and they will appreciate Many times, foster children do not stay four different personality types: fun-loving, anything you can do to help this process. with their foster families forever. introverted, the “organized whiz” and the S: Set foster children up for success. Encouraging these children to map out a “sentimental genius.” Learning the person- plan for their future will help focus them on ality types in your family helps in commu- “Think outside the box.” This expression what they need to accomplish. Younger nicating with each member. By understand- works well when parenting foster children. children need help building friendships. In ing each child’s strengths and weaknesses, framing relationships, children learn life you will grasp how he or she will receive Orchestrating another’s success is almost skills by experiencing different personalities, your discipline and love. impossible. Ultimately, we know a person’s and it is important for your children to success comes from the choices he or she embrace differences. Teenagers need guid- E: Educate them. makes. A foster parent’s main goal should ance and information about life after high be helping foster children see all the oppor- school. They need help in choosing a career Educate your foster child about his or her tunities the world holds. The important path. That may mean looking at the local family heritage, relationships and financial thing is to love your foster children along community college, tech school, liberal arts responsibility. For example, help set up a their journey, believe in their possibilities college or a full-time job. Helping teens not savings or checking account and teach your and embrace their differences. only to discover their gifts and talents, but child how to budget money. By teaching also to fully realize what it will take to about money and the basics of finance, you For more information, please contact become financially independent is crucial. are imparting skills that many children, Ginny Stephan, board vice president, even in traditional families, do not possess. Foster Care Alumni of America, at Many times, we can expose foster children [email protected]. to enriching life experiences they would not otherwise have.
Casey Family Services 22 51564 Voice Mag 1/25/05 10:59 AM Page 25
Perspectives
WHAT IS …
DISPROPORTIONALITY?
PERSPECTIVESby Kristin Mattocks, Ph.D., Senior Research Associate, and Sania Metzger, Esq., Director of Policy
Background What are the causes of racial disproportion- ily Services, Casey Family Programs, the Jim In the child welfare system, disproportional- ality? Research suggests that incidences of Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative and ity refers to a situation in which a particular child abuse and neglect are more than 26 the Marguerite Casey Foundation – gath- group of children is represented at a higher times higher in families earning less than ered for two days of discussion. Attendees percentage than other racial/ethnic groups. $15,000 per year when compared with shared organizational perspectives, strategies those with incomes above $30,000 (Sedlak and current efforts on how to promote Disproportionality is apparent when com- & Broadhurst, 1996). Since African equitable child welfare policy and practice. paring the proportion of African American American, Latino and Native American The group also explored ways to maximize children in the foster care system with their families are more likely to be living in its impact and influence to eliminate dis- representation in the overall U.S. popula- poverty than whites, it is not surprising that proportionality and disparate outcomes for tion. Although African American children these families often have greater involve- children and families of color involved with compose 40 percent of the nation’s foster ment with the child welfare system (U.S. child welfare. care population, they represent less than 20 Census Bureau, 2004). percent of all children. Similarly, Native As a result of this session, the organizations American children are just one percent of Data clearly show that elements of the sys- committed to developing a business plan the nation’s child populace, yet they consti- tem exhibit signs of differential treatment that coordinated efforts to end dispropor- tute two percent of the foster care system. toward certain groups of children. Although tionality. The strategy will focus on: Furthermore, in states with large Native research indicates that African American • building public will and communication; American populations, these children repre- children are no more likely to be victims of • promoting public policies to eliminate dis- sent 15 to 65 percent of those in care. In abuse or neglect than white children, proportionality; sharp contrast to these groups, white chil- African American families are more likely to • deepening the research and data about dren are 64 percent of the country’s chil- be reported to state authorities (Sedlak & disparities; and dren, but only 31 percent of the foster care Schultz, 2001; AECF, 2002). Once a child • working with sites to show that disparities population (AECF, 2002). of color enters the system, he or she often can be reduced. remains much longer than a white child. In Disproportionality is most apparent in large addition, African American children are Conclusion cities with significant African American and more likely to be placed in foster care and Racial and ethnic disproportionality is a foster care populations. In San Francisco, less likely to be reunified with their families serious problem. Further research needs to for example, African Americans compose than children of any other group (U.S. highlight the causes and consequences of 11 percent of all children, but represent 70 DHHS, 2001; Courtney & Wong, 1996). this phenomenon. Successful partnerships percent of the city’s foster care system between practitioners, researchers and poli- (Bowser and Jones, 2004). Disproportion- Disproportionality is a serious problem cymakers must stress the importance of ality is equally problematic on the East within the child welfare system. What can addressing, and eventually eliminating, dis- Coast. Of the 42,000 children in New York be done? proportionality in the child welfare system. City’s system, 40,700 were non-white in 1997 (AECF, 2002). Looking deeper, in The Disproportionality Initiative at Casey References central Harlem, where 86 percent of the Last year, the Annie E. Casey Foundation For a complete list of references, population is black, nearly 10 percent of all and the Center for the Study of Social please email co-author Kristin Mattocks at children and adolescents are in foster care Policy hosted retreats to address dispropor- [email protected]. (Center for an Urban Future, 1998). tionality and racial disparities. Representa- tives from the center, as well as members of the Casey Collaborative – which includes the Annie E. Casey Foundation/Casey Fam-
23 Voice Magazine 51564 Voice Mag 1/25/05 10:59 AM Page 26
Perspectives
LIFE SKILLS, LIFE SUCCESS “IT’S MY LIFE” CONFERENCE SHOWCASES BEST STRATEGIES FOR YOUTH IN TRANSITION
PERSPECTIVESBy David Johnston, Senior Program Associate, Life Skills
For the second year in a While the program empowers youth to and money management. More important, row, Casey Family Services make decisions about the business, it also people seemed to really like our presenta- helped sponsor the “It’s My earns them a profit if they are successful. tion. Most people don’t think that kids can Life” conference, held More important for the kids, the experience start their own business, but we showed October 12-14, 2004, in of running a business gives Casey staff them that we can. It felt good to talk about Sacramento, California. members a unique opportunity to assess what we accomplished. We heard that peo- This national transition conference was held their clients’ skills. For example, in this real- ple from Alaska and Ohio were taking the under the leadership of Casey Family world setting, we can determine who needs idea back to their states.” Programs and in cooperation with the Jim additional customer service training or how Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative and well they handle pressure. By watching As one of the older youth on the Casey’s the Annie E. Casey Foundation. youth at work, we can tailor our transition Tastey’s team, Brittany already had distin- efforts much more effectively. guished herself as a leader in the group, More than 600 child welfare professionals, assuming a natural supervisory role. caregivers, youth in care and foster care Therefore, it was no surprise that she rose alumni participated in the conference, to the occasion of presenting to an eager which focused on building life skills and WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF group of youth and professionals during the helping transition foster youth to indepen- YOUTH IN ATTENDANCE AT conference. She did a great job sharing the dence. The conference showcased state-of- benefits of involving youth in small business the-art approaches, sharing the best ideas THE CONFERENCE, IT WAS AN efforts that help them earn cash, develop and strategies from across the country. With INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY self-esteem and learn important life skills a large number of youth and former foster for adulthood. children in attendance, it was an incredible FOR PROFESSIONALS TO Today, Brittany is working part-time and opportunity for professionals to learn from LEARN FROM ADOLESCENTS adolescents on both sides of the “aging out” attending a local community college. This process. ON BOTH SIDES OF THE spring, she will be back helping Casey’s Tastey’s make delicious smoothies, as well as The conference also gave Casey Family “AGING OUT” PROCESS. a profit. Services the opportunity to highlight one of its innovative life skills programs and one of “The project has been very positive and the industrious co-founders of that effort, really prepared me for the job that I have Brittany brought this message of youth now, particularly dealing with people,” Brittany. For her, preparing for transition entrepreneurialism to California for the “It’s has been a sweet success. Brittany says. “It also taught me a lot of My Life” conference, joining with another leadership skills, and making some money Now 19, Brittany was one of four adoles- youth, Mookie, to talk about the role foster was nice.” cents who helped create a business through children can play in small business ventures. the Youth Entrepreneurial Business Program She was joined by Michalski as well as Alan Plans already are under way for the 2005 at Casey’s Hartford Division last year. MacKenzie from Hartford’s Street Smart conference to reach the East Coast. Set for Working with former life skills specialist, Ventures, which works with youth agencies Baltimore, Maryland, the goal is to include T.J. Michalski, this team of teens was to create businesses. more youth in conference planning and in workshop selections. For more information, responsible for every aspect of launching a “The conference was very beneficial,” small business – “Casey’s Tastey’s” – a busi- contact David Johnston at Brittany says about her experience. “I really [email protected]. ness that sells fruit smoothies at local events took in a lot of great information from the during the summer months. other workshops, particularly about housing
Casey Family Services 24 51564 Voice Mag 1/25/05 10:59 AM Page 27
Perspectives
SPOTLIGHT ON RECRUITMENT:
COMMUNITY SURVEY SPOTLIGHTS INTEREST AND OPINIONS ABOUT FOSTERING
by Lisa M. Jones, Ph.D., Research Assistant questions to find who in the community is Sixty-one percent of all respondents Professor, University of New Hampshire, and interested in parenting and how they learn described themselves as somewhat or very Ben Kerman, Ph.D., Director of Research, about fostering. These answers are needed familiar with foster care. Sources of this Casey Family Services to help recruiters understand how potential familiarity were varied (see Figure Two): parents can be moved to become active How do foster caregivers come to foster? It’s caregivers. a simple-sounding question that defies sim- Figure Two. ple answers. Research typically identifies the With questions in hand, the research team Sources of Familiarity with Foster Care
characteristics of people who foster. For surveyed households across New England, 100% example, they are described as religious and with an emphasis on several communities 80% altruistic. However, this information may with strong African American and Latino 60% not be adequate to benefit recruitment populations, as well as predominantly white 40% methods. Do these features distinguish fos- rural areas. In all, 932 respondents took 20% ter parents from other parents in the com- part in the telephone interviews. 0% munity? How do such findings help us understand how parents decide to foster? Summary of Findings: Results indicated that most New Englanders describe them- News Story Advertisement Foster Parent Licensed Parent or Foster Child Faced with a pronounced gap between the selves as fairly familiar with foster care and Relationship with a number of children needing families and the that more people think, at least briefly, Informal Foster Parent number of families providing care, the press about the idea of fostering than previously to understand how people feel and think assumed. African Americans and Latinos As expected, the most familiar sources were about fostering grows acute. This need for surveyed in four of the region’s cities identi- the news and mass media. However, more recruitment insight is even greater among fied high levels of interest in foster parent- than half noted learning about fostering communities of color from which children ing. These populations expressed more from someone they knew. More than 10 are often over-represented in foster care. openness to fostering infants and children percent also had informal experiences with with disabilities than their less urban foster parenting themselves. A Casey Response: Casey Family Services has counterparts. long recognized the challenges of finding Deciding to Be a Foster Parent: The majori- foster parents with the “right stuff” to suc- ty of respondents reported thinking a little Figure One. ceed in this challenging role. Dr. Lisa Jones, about becoming a foster parent (58 per- Stages of Foster Family Recruitment from the University of New Hampshire, cent). Eleven percent had thought about and Retention and Dr. Ben Kerman, from Casey’s fostering a lot. Three percent thought it Research Department, recently convened an Potential Pre-inquiry: Informa- Licensure very likely they would become a foster par- advisory board of practitioners to address Caregivers Interest tional in the Expressed Meetings/ ent in the future. The survey provided some the mysteries of recruitment. As Figure One Community but Not Training important information about those at dif- Acted On Enrollment illustrates, there is a narrowing path that ferent levels of decision making: potential caregivers follow on their way to fostering. There is a benefit – to both prac- • Females were more likely than males to titioners and researchers – in understanding think about fostering (67 percent), but 47 what occurs with families at each exit point. percent of males surveyed also described having thought about fostering. Focusing on the earliest stage of potential • Greater attendance at community events Inquiry Training foster parents – those at the pre-inquiry and volunteering were highly predictive of stage – the researchers developed survey having thought about fostering.
25 Voice Magazine 51564 Voice Mag 1/25/05 10:59 AM Page 28
Perspectives COMMUNITY SURVEY SPOTLIGHTS INTEREST AND OPINIONS ABOUT FOSTERING
• Having experience as an informal foster member’s child compared with the general the strengths these individuals could bring parent and knowing other foster parents sample (13 percent). as foster parents. were also highly predictive of thinking seriously about being a licensed foster par- Implications for Practice: The survey results 4) Address concerns about the cons of fos- ent. offer useful information for improving tering. For those debating the idea of foster • Increasing interest in foster parenting was recruitment. Implications include: parenting, the difficulties of fostering are particularly related to a decreasing concern front-and-center in their minds. Potential 1) Keep the decision-making process in caregivers may be over-emphasizing the about the cons or barriers to fostering. mind and target recruitment messages Some of the key concerns were the emo- degree of problems or may be underestimat- accordingly. One example would be to ing their family’s ability to handle such tional and behavioral problems of foster deliver an introductory message about fos- children and the difficulties that would problems. Recruitment programs could dis- tering through television to a wide audi- seminate messages from current foster par- cause one’s family. ence, hoping to get those who have never • While preferences for fostering an infant ents that acknowledge how hard their job is thought about foster parenting to think but also emphasize their family’s skills at were mixed, there was decidedly less of a about it. Another might target those likely preference to foster teenagers and children taking on these challenges, how positively to have already thought about fostering, the experience affected their family and how with disabilities and more of a preference such as those working as volunteers in their to adopt a child from foster care. proud they felt giving children a positive community, to get them to call an agency family experience. Communities of Color: From the survey and learn more about the licensing process. 5) Target the strong interest in fostering with African Americans and Latinos in the 2) Tap into the public’s experience with selected cities, responses indicted a high that can be found in urban African informal caregiving and their acquaintance American and Latino communities. degree of interest in fostering: with foster parents. For example, recruit- • For African American respondents, Recruitment programs targeted to these ment programs could draw from the idea communities can take advantage of infor- women were more likely than men to that the public already is experienced at have thought about fostering, and those mation that informal caregiving is frequent, caregiving and that becoming licensed is a that these groups are interested in being fos- with a college degree were less likely to great next step to continuing that commit- have thought about it. ter parents, and that interest in caring for ment. Likewise, recommendations in infants and adopting children is particularly • For Latino respondents, those younger recruitment literature to include foster par- than 40, those who volunteered with strong among those who have thought ents as much as possible (Cox, Buehler, & about fostering. community groups or agencies and those Orme, 2002; Lawton and Rhea Chiles who knew other foster parents were more Center for Healthy Mothers and Babies, Conclusion and Future Directions: The likely to have thought about fostering. 2000) are supported by the survey results. cross-sectional nature of the study means • Respondents in both racial groups had less There also is support for the movement that we don’t know much about what pre- of a preference for fostering a teenager, toward using pre-existing networks of care dicts individual movement toward becom- more of a preference for an infant and to find homes. ing a foster parent. More information more of a preference for a child with a dis- should be gathered from those who are ability than was found with respondents 3) Consider community service and reli- thinking very seriously about foster parent- from the markedly white New England gious organizations as possible keys to ing to understand what holds some back population. reaching those who have thought about fos- and what pushes others forward into initiat- • A greater percentage of both the African tering. Parent organizations, children’s ing the licensing process. Additionally, those American (33 percent) and Latino (22 groups such as Boys and Girls Clubs, and who do call foster care agencies could be percent) samples described being a care- other charitable organizations would offer followed through to understand some of the giver at one time for a friend or family ideal audiences for messages that emphasize later decision-making process.
Casey Family Services 26 51564 Voice Mag 1/25/05 10:59 AM Page 29
Resource Corner Resource
Reviews Corner
Foster Care Adoption in the United States: Represent: The Voice of Youth in Foster A State-by-State Analysis of Barriers and Care Promising Approaches Formerly Foster Care Youth United, this This study is the first nationwide analysis of award-winning magazine captures the spirit adoption information collected from the of the times as well as its mission to help Congressionally-mandated Child and foster youth across the country stand up, be Family Services Reviews conducted in all counted and be heard. Represent is the only 50 states and the District of Columbia. national magazine written by and for youth The National Adoption Day Coalition, in foster care. For teens, it is a useful guide composed of seven partners – The Alliance outcomes for children in out-of-home care to help plan their future, negotiate the pres- for Children’s Rights, Casey Family but also the continuity of their school expe- ent, and hear similar voices and experiences. Services, the Children’s Action Network, the riences and the connections between the For adults and professionals, the magazine’s Congressional Coalition on Adoption children and both of the organizations or authentic personality is helpful to better Institute, the Dave Thomas Foundation for institutions serving them. understand what teens are going through, Adoption, Freddie Mac Foundation and offering them the training they need to suc- To review the report, please visit Target Corporation – commissioned the ceed. www.chapinhall.org. Urban Institute to conduct a state-by-state For more information and resources, visit analysis to identify the common barriers Personal Reflections on Adoption and promising approaches that exist in the www.youthcomm.org. process of adopting children from the foster The documentary film “I Have Roots & Strengthening Families/Strengthening care system across the country. Branches” conveys a positive, encouraging Schools Toolkit and honest message about adoption and is To review the report, please visit most appropriate for a young audience. As The Annie E. Casey Foundation has www.nationaladoptionday.org. adopted children contemplate their personal launched a new web-based feature called the journey, seeing and hearing other children Educational Experiences of Children in Strengthening Families/Strengthening who are adopted validates their feelings Out-of-Home Care Schools Toolkit. The site features examples about adoption. A 2004 winner of the pres- of schools that work in partnership with Schools are shaping the development of tigious Film Advisory Board Award of families, practical ideas for work in schools children, and successful school experiences Excellence, which recognizes children’s and ideas for families about working with increase the likelihood of their successful entertainment, features those who have schools. transition to adulthood. For youth in out- been adopted, ranging from childhood to of-home care, the state serves in place of the adulthood, sharing their deepest thoughts The Strengthening Families, Strengthening parents, bearing responsibility for the edu- and emotions on the adoption experience Schools Toolkit was prepared for the Annie cational needs of children in care. This that has profoundly shaped their lives and E. Casey Foundation in collaboration with: report, published by the Chapin Hall those of their loved ones. California Tomorrow, Children and Family Center for Children at the University of Futures, Coalition for Community Schools To order this video, visit Chicago, presents the findings from a study Family Support America, Institute for www.adoptionvideo.com. assessing the educational experiences of Responsive Education and Interfaith Illinois youth in out-of-home care. The Education Fund. findings thus far suggest an increased need Browse the toolkit at to address educational achievement and www.aecf.org/mc/schooltoolkit.
27 Voice Magazine 51564 Voice Mag 1/25/05 10:59 AM Page 30
What the Media Say
What thethe MediaMedia SaySay
Capital One, the McLean, Virginia-based The Urban Institute, an economic and According to the (Urban Institute) study, credit card and financialMedia services company, social policy research organization, released the adoption process is complicated by the will give $450,000 to two national foster a report commissioned by the National constant coordination required between care organizations that will administer the Adoption Day Coalition, of which Casey child welfare agencies and family courts … (new) Fostering Our Future scholarship for Family Services is a founding member, that Senator Mary Landrieu, the Louisiana foster youth. Capital One, the Children’s examined barriers (to foster care adoption) Democrat who is co-chairwoman of the Action Network and the National Foster across the country. Those barriers included Congressional Coalition on Adoption, Care Fund, founded by actor Bruce Willis, difficulty finding adoptive homes. Accord- described the (foster care) system as “some- will set application criteria and select recipi- ing to the report, 47 states – including what broken.” Federal financing for foster ents. Raymond L. Torres, executive director Connecticut – have a hard time finding care should be funneled to the states in a of Casey Family Services, the division of the families to adopt these children. [Raymond] more focused way, she said, adding, “The Annie E. Casey Foundation that works Torres [Casey Family Services executive passion is there, the people’s support is directly with 500 foster children, said his director] said that there is a particular diffi- there, but the system itself needs a tremen- group and others are always looking for culty in recruiting homes for older children, dous amount of shoring up.” more private donors. “Having a national those with special needs and racial and eth- private organization like Capital One make nic minorities … “National Adoption Day The New York Times such a commitment is relatively rare,” is a way to bring more visibility to the November 18, 2004 Torres said. plight of these children,” he said. Casey Family Services and the Yale Child The Washington Post The Connecticut Post Study Center are working together to find December 7, 2004 November 24, 2004 committed foster families for special needs children through the “One Ordinary Family “For kids aging out of the (foster care) sys- In the first nationwide analysis of adoption for One Extraordinary Kid” campaign. We tem, a permanent connection with a family from foster care information collected from offer training for all foster families and 24/7 and a network of supports to help them all 50 states and the District of Columbia, a support, as well as other special services and make the transition into adulthood is just study by the Washington-based Urban support to help them create a safe home ... absolutely critical,” said Allen Casad, direc- Institute released this week points out that The children in this program have had diffi- tor of Casey Family Services’ Massachusetts despite the efforts of child welfare agencies cult childhoods and they have been in resi- Division. “Foster children who ‘age out’ of and courts, significant barriers impede the dential treatment for most of their lives. foster care without establishing that perma- adoption process … “The National They are now stable and are ready to be in a nency run a higher risk of becoming incar- Adoption Day Coalition in the report rec- family again … To help them, all a poten- cerated, a high school dropout and unem- ommends more attention to issues around tial foster parent needs is to be caring and ployed or working in a marginal job.” coordination. And with regard to case man- patient and able to offer a safe and loving agement barriers, the coalition recommends home. The Patriot Ledger more attention to workforce issues affecting Quincy, Massachusetts the adoption process. Some states are creat- Denise Creacy from Casey Family Services’ November 23, 2004 ing new adoption units within their agency Bridgeport Division, in a public affairs or identifying specialized staff to work on interview on WEZN (99.9 FM) and adoption issues, some are providing addi- WPLR (99.1 FM) tional training on adoption and some are December 26, 2004 creating task force committees. United Press International November 18, 2004
Casey Family Services 28 51564 Voice Mag 1/25/05 10:59 AM Page 31
Calendar
2005: Important Dates
February March February 11 March2005 1-31 March 6-8 “Children & Adolescents Who Witness National Professional Social Work Month BACW National Conference Violence: Clinical & Ethical Challenges” www.socialworkers.org “A New Covenant: Re-engineering Systems Community Program Innovations of Care for African American Children and Tyngsboro, Massachusetts Families” www.communityprograminnovations.com Black Administrators in Child Welfare, Inc. Arlington, Virginia www.blackadministrators.org MarchApril March 9-11 March 18 April 2-3 CWLA National Conference “Working with Children & Adolescents: Casey Family Services Foster Parent “Children 2005: Crossing the Cultural Nurturing Resilience & Managing Conference Divide” Resistance” “Children, Families and Communities: Child Welfare League of America Community Program Innovations Connections Count for a Lifetime” Washington, D.C. Tyngsboro, Massachusetts Boston, Massachusetts www.cwla.org www.communityprograminnovations.com www.caseyfamilyservices.org
April May April 16-19 April 18-23 May 1-31 National CASA Annual Conference National Conference on Child Abuse National Foster Care Month “Growing a Better Tomorrow for Every and Neglect Child” Boston, Massachusettes National CASA Association nccanch.acf.hhs.gov Atlanta, Georgia www.casanet.org/conference
May May 2-4 May 9-14 Casey 2005 Calendar available Finding Better Ways Conference National Foster Parent Conference “Addressing the Mental Health Needs of National Foster Parent Association Children, Youth and Families” Hyatt Regency Orange County Child Welfare League of America Garden Grove, California New Orleans, Louisiana www.nfpainc.org www.cwla.org
29 Voice Magazine 51564 Voice Mag 1/25/05 10:59 AM Page 32
Contents
127 Church Street New Haven, CT 06510 Telephone: 203 401 6900 Fax: 203 401 6901
888 799 KIDS www.caseyfamilyservices.org In This Issue Voicei Executive Director’s Message 2 Exchange: Foster Parent Conference: Tools for a Lifetime of Connection Bob Danzig: A Champion for Every Child
5 Close-up: Geoffrey Canada
8 Exchange: Family Connections: Permanency in the Face of AIDS Building a Family through Foster Care National Adoption Day Coalition & the Urban Institute Scenes from National Adoption Day 2004 Opportunities for Child Welfare Reform Michael Brennan: From Social Worker to Policymaker
18 News & Highlights
21 Perspectives: View from Washington P-A-R-E-N-T-S: Promoting Success in a Foster Child What is … Disproportionality? Life Skills, Life Success Spotlight on Recruitment
27 Resource Corner
28 What the Media Say
29 2005: Important Dates
Voice is published quarterly by Casey Family Services for child The Foundation is dedicated to helping build better futures for Executive Director: Raymond L. Torres welfare professionals, advocates, and the children and families disadvantaged children in the United States. Started in 1976, Director of Communications: Lee Mullane they serve. The opinions expressed within this publication do not Casey Family Services offers quality foster care, post-adoption necessarily reflect the views of Casey Family Services or the Annie services, family reunification, family preservation, family Public Affairs Manager/Managing Editor: E. Casey Foundation. Casey Family Services is the direct service advocacy and support, family resource centers, assistance to young Roye Anastasio-Bourke arm of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, a private charitable families and families affected by HIV/AIDS, and technical Writer/Editor: John Hodgins organization established in 1948 by United Parcel Service assistance through the Casey Center for Effective Child Welfare Contributing Editor: Greg Simpson Founder Jim Casey and his siblings in honor of their mother. Practice. The mission of Casey Family Services is to improve the lives of at-risk children and strengthen families and communities Design: Jack Hough Associates/Inergy Group by providing high-quality, cost-effective services that advance both positive practice and sound public policy.
Casey Family Services