 March 18, 2022 Vol 2, Issue 6
Foster Care Ambassadors as Mentors
Do you need a helping hand or a listening ear? Just like anything else, being a foster parent has challenges, but you are not alone.
Foster Care Ambassadors are seasoned foster parents willing to be a mentor to other foster families. If you are interested in talking with a Foster Care Ambassador, please email FosterCare@dss.mo.gov, and we will put you in contact with an ambassador. Whether you are new or a seasoned foster parent, this resource is available to all families (traditional, relative, emergency, respite, and/or elevated needs).
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Paving the Way
Live 2 Give Hope is a not-for-profit organization in Laclede County, Missouri. Their mission is to give hope to those who have slipped through the cracks of traditional community assistance programs. Their programs provide financial and material assistance to those who need temporary help but aren't sure where to turn.
One of the older-youth (15+) programs through the organization, 'Paving the Way,' provides education, resources, and life skills including home management, financial fundamentals, and driver's education. This Program also assists these youth with obtaining their birth certificates, driver's permits, and driver's licenses.
While Live 2 Give Hope primarily serves the 26th circuit, which includes Laclede, Camden, Miller, Morgan, and Moniteau counties, they do serve clients from other Missouri counties, as well.
For more information, please email pavingtheway@live2givehope.org.
Virtual Trainings
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Level-A Virtual Training will be held on April 9th, 12th, 14th, and 19th from 5:30 to 8:30 PM. Attendance for all sessions is required. To register, call 573-616-5753.
- MPACT will present Transitions – Elementary to Middle School on Monday, March 21 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. This training discusses tips on the transition from elementary school to middle school and information surrounding IEP components. You can register for the virtual training on the MPACT website.
- Washington University’s Brown School of Social Work will present Loss & Grief during COVID-19: Navigating the Grief Process on Tuesday, March 22 from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. COVID-19 can be considered both a collective crisis and a time of collective grief because almost everyone has lost someone or something they value. Many individuals have suffered multiple losses - loved ones, jobs, annual rituals, daily routines, and their basic sense of safety. This webinar will review:
- Ranges of losses people may be experiencing
- Different types of grief
- Strategies for navigating the grief process
- Common reactions to loss that might disrupt the grief process
To enroll in the webinar, visit the Brown School Open Classroom, fill out the survey and then select the training you would like to attend.
- FamilyForward will be presenting Collaborative and Proactive Solutions on Monday, March 21 from 6:00 -9:00 p.m. This class explores Dr. Ross Greene's book, The Explosive Child. Greene believes challenging behavior is the result of a child's skills being exceeded by adult demands and expectations. His mantra, ‘kids do well if they can,’ is the basis of his approach: The adult should collaborate with the child to find solutions to their unsolved problems. Greene's step-by-step process explores empathy, defining the problem, and generating solutions all to help children develop the executive skills they need. To register, call 314-534-9350, and ask for Intake, or email intake.dept@familyforwardmo.org.
Raise the Future Classes
You can access a range of great classes from Raise the Future. The site is geared toward adoption, but there are a lot of resources on trauma and issues many kids face. You can check out the different classes on Raise the Future's website.
Friday Refuel Sessions
Join us every Friday from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. for virtual connection and encouragement. Each session will start with a short devotional, and then we will have a strategy session to discuss challenging situations with a child or our own skill building. To register, email Caroline Charlton at Caroline.Charlton@mbch.org. If you have a topic suggestion you think would be beneficial for group discussion, you can send them to Caroline, also.
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What is Access Crisis Intervention?
Access Crisis Intervention (ACI) provides access to services for individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis. ACI offers an opportunity for individuals to receive necessary behavioral health crisis services to help reduce unnecessary interventions, such as hospitalization or detentions. By calling the ACI hotline, individuals have access to behavioral health crisis services that are free and available to both youth and adults.
- All calls are strictly confidential.
- ACI hotlines are staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week by behavioral health professionals.
- Assistance may include phone contact, referrals to resources in the community, next day behavioral health appointments, or a mobile response. Mobile is defined as either going to the location of the crisis, or to another secure community location.
Visit the ACI Hotline Numbers by County Map to learn more about ACI and find your local number.
There have been no new Memos or Practice Alerts since the last issue of the newsletter.
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