Color Me Blue for Foster Care Awareness
May is National Foster Care Month. This year we again partner with CT hair and nail salons to offer a one –time complimentary service.
The blue hair or blue nails serve as a visual reminder of the over 4, 000 children in CT who reside in foster care.
Every child deserves a home. Go BLUE and help us spread our message! Please call or visit one of the participating businesses during the month of May.
Each salon may offer a different BLUE service, check for details while supplies last. For best viewing
Alex and Ani (+) ENERGY Charity Event to Benefit CAFAP
You’re invited to a Charmed By Charity event to benefit the Children’s Hope Fund of the Connecticut Association of Foster and Adoptive Parents.
When: Thursday, May 23rd from 6 – 8 p.m.
Where: Alex and Ani, 284 York Street, New Haven
Hosted by: DCF Office of Foster Care and Adoption
RSVP: jacqueline.ford@ct.gov
Teen Skills Support Group
Designed to assist maturing youth in becoming self-sufficient
The Teen Skills Support Group will take place the 3rd Saturday of every month. The group will be facilitated by Jason Spann, LCSW and Claudia Fidalgo. The Teen Skills Support Group will be a 12 session group setting. The focus will be on Self awareness, Self motivation, Social Skills and becoming self-sufficient.
We will have six roundtable group sessions, four guest speakers and two outings.
The topics are:
Friendship
Anger
Fear
Trust
Hope
Realistic Goals and Empowerment
For more details, contact Selina Daniels 203-583-9374 or by email: selina.coordinator@yahoo.com
FAMily Race Day 2013
Join us on June 22 for our 5th Annual FAMily Race Day. Event begins at 11 a.m.
Foster and adoptive families will receive their invitations through their foster care agencies. FAM will provide a boxed lunch.
See below for pics from prior years’ events.
This is a rain or shine event. Click here for directions
Looking for Legos
Can you help? We need Lego donations.
Announcing the formation of a “Lego Club” in northwestern CT!
On a date, soon-to- be announced, FAM will be offering families the opportunity to participate in a monthly get-together for kids of all ages. Each month kids will get to play with Legos and have their finished creations displayed in various locations in and around Waterbury, Torrington and New Britain. A theme will be introduced every month (e.g. Skyscrapers, Desserts, Pets, Dinosaurs, etc), however, kids will be able to choose not to follow the theme and simply be creative!
We need folks to donate Legos, lots and lots of Legos, in order to make this happen. We will be collecting gently used (or new!) Legos at the following locations:
- Torrington DCF office – ask for Jennifer Bellamy
- Waterbury DCF office – ask for Jackie Vidal
- New Britain DCF office – ask for Dina Kelly
- Community Residences Inc. (Southington) – ask for Jennifer Kay
- Wheeler Clinic, Plainville, – ask for Penny Kobles
- call for additional locations/information 203.706.0101
Relatives As Parents Support Group, Waterbury and Litchfield
Are you parenting a child(ren) for a relative or friend?
Join us for an opportunity to connect with others experiencing similar situations. Share your thoughts and feelings. Learn more about resources.
Future topics to include: conflict resolution, managing boundaries, obtaining assistance, social media and the internet, managing loss and feelings of guilt.
Beginning in March 2013, we will be offering a 2nd support group out of Litchfield. Click here to download the Litchfield flyer: Relatives As Parents Support Group Flyer – Litchfield 2013
When:
- 2nd Monday of the month at The Touchstone Program,
11 Country Pl., Litchfield, CT
- 4th Monday of the month at Girls Inc. of SW CT,
35 Park Place, Waterbury, CT 06702
Time:
10 a.m. – 12 noon (coffee and snacks provided)
Adults only ~ No childcare available
For more information, call Foster Adoptive Mission at 203.706.0101
Please note: The Waterbury support group will be conducted by two facilitators speaking both Spanish and English.
Click here to download a copy of the Waterbury Support Group flyer in both Spanish and English: Relatives As Parents Support Group Flyer English and Spanish 2012
Everyone Needs a Nest Service Project
“It takes a village to raise a child ” (African proverb). Connecticut has over 3,200 kids in foster care. Another 1400 kids are without a family nest. Some are in shelters, some are in residential treatment centers, some are in hospitals, etc. All of these kids need everyone’s support in order to spread their wings and fly.
This statewide project was begun to support children in foster care and raise awareness about the continued need for foster “nests”. Hand-painted birdhouses from this initiative will be available across the state at fairs and agency events for a goodwill donation.
How can you help?
- Host a painting party as a service project, birthday party project, etc. (materials can be provided).
- Display finished Bird Houses & Literature about Foster Care.
- Invite the “Everyone Needs a Nest” Project to your fair, festival, tag sale, meeting or coffee hour.
- Make a donation to “Everyone Needs a Nest.”
- Donate arts and crafts supplies such as paints, brushes or wooden bird houses.
- Build and donate bird houses.
By participating in this project, you become part of the village. Contact us for more information.
Email: deb.kelleher@fosteradoptivemission.org
Or call 203.706.0101 to be referred to the regional facilitator in your area.
Click here for a downloadable copy of our brochure.
Check out our photo gallery. Click here.
Ring of Hope Support Group
Please join us on the third Wednesday of the month at our next support group meeting. All adoptive families (post-adopt) and legal guardians of children/young adults are welcome to join us for education, support, fellowship and fun!
For more information regarding our support group or to receive email updates and reminders for the support group, please call Deb Kelleher at 203.706.0101 or email deb.kelleher@fosteradoptivemission.org.
