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Hello Foster Parents and Relative Caregivers,
I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to each of you. Every day you open you homes and give of yourselves, your time and your true desire to care and advocate for our children and young adults. Over the holidays you embraced our children and young adults and made it a special time for them. Your compassion is overwhelming.
As we look forward to the new year I am committed to strengthening our partnerships with respect and kindness. Thank you for walking alongside of us.
With appreciation,
Marilyn
Legislation News
We are excited to share that we have received new funding resources dedicated to foster and relative caregiver support and retention. During the 2018 legislative session, HB 5201 requested, and the Emergency Board authorized, limited funds to assist foster parents and relative caregivers with tangible expenses and immediate needs, (such as a car seat, diapers, special supplies). Funding also provides limited respite care reimbursement—$55.00 per day and up to 3 days a month for each child in substitute care.
These are resources for you. Talk to your certifier if you have an immediate need for a tangible good and about getting support for respite care. Your certifier will staff your need on a case by case basis with their management and will develop a plan with you to help. Whether you need a few days or a few hours of respite to help you recharge and maintain the stability of a child’s placement in your home—or if the youth who arrived is a different size than what you have on hand—the caseworker and your certifier will help make a plan.
As a foster parent or relative caregiver, you can be involved in stakeholder meetings that impact you as a caregiver this legislative session! To learn more, please visit the Oregon Legislature website.
The Governor’s Advocacy Office
A team at the Department of Human Services (DHS) is ready to hear your questions, concerns, or complaints, and any foster parent can call them. They are the Governor’s Advocacy Office (GAO), go by the title “ombudsman,” (“ombuds” for short), and have a couple of big things in common: they’re good listeners and avid problem-solvers.
“Any ombudsman can assist and provide information to someone affected by DHS policies or action,” noted Zachary Gehringer, who heads the GAO.
One ombudsman—Darin Mancuso, the Foster Care Ombudsman—may be more familiar to foster parents. His phone number is on the Oregon Foster Children’s Bill of Rights that hangs in your home. This document, along with Darin’s position, was created five years ago. But years before that, the state legislature created The Foster Parent Bill of Rights (ORS 418.648) which similarly recognized the rights of foster parents. Recently, the contact information for the GAO and its six additional ombuds were added to the Foster Parent Bill of Rights to let you know they can discuss and investigate your concerns.
The ombuds of the GAO, including the Foster Care Ombudsman, assist hundreds of foster parents per year and are available to look into your concerns: 503-945-6904 .
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Accessing Chafee Education and Training Grant for current and former foster youth
New developments coming February 2019
Oregon’s Independent Living Program (ILP) receives Chafee Education and Training Grant funding from the federal government. These funds are used to support current and former foster youth attending post-secondary education and training programs through financial awards.
Beginning in academic year 2019-20, the ILP will expand eligibility to serve more students. Federal changes also add conditions to eligibility.
Who is eligible to receive the grant?
- Current foster youth involved in Child Welfare.
- Former foster youth who exited a child welfare foster care program on or after their 16th birthday.
- The child must have spent at least 180 days (6 months) in foster care after their 14th birthday.
- Former foster youth who had a guardianship or adoption finalized in Oregon at age 13 or older.
- The finalization date must have occurred on or after September 1, 2015.
- Students are eligible to receive the grant for a maximum of 5 years or until the month they turn 26, whichever comes first. The Office of Student Access and Completion determines what constitutes a year.
- Students must be enrolled and attending an accredited institution.
- Students must be in good standing and eligible to receive federal financial aid.
- This means an exception can no longer be granted for students on academic probation.
- It is no longer required that students begin using the grant by age 21.
Application Process
2019-2020 Award Amount
The maximum award amount will be $2,500 for the academic year. Specific award amounts are determined by the institution’s financial aid office and are based on unmet need.
For questions, please send an email to ILP.Central@dhsoha.state.or.us
Foster Parent Lending Library
Did you know you can access free books and media sources through the Oregon DHS Child Welfare Foster Parent Lending Library? You can pursue and order materials online! We are looking to update our lending library – can you help us in identifying new materials for our wish list? If you have ideas, please email us at FosterFamily.Supports@dhsoha.state.or.us
National Healthy Lifestyle Campaign
Oregon Foster Youth Connection
Oregon Foster Youth Connection (OFYC) is a statewide, youth-led advocacy group of current and former foster youth between 14 and 24 years of age. With support and training from OFYC, members are empowered to actively participate in the development of policies, programs, and practices that improve the lives of children and youth in Oregon’s foster care system.
If a young person in your home may be interested in participating, please have them visit the OFYC Get Involved page.
Jennifer Scholes bids adieu
Imagine moving to Oregon with a passion for training caregivers, having only ever been partway down the coast and down the Gorge as far as Biggs. Then imagine that you’ve had the good fortune to get to do the work you love with some of the most extraordinary people in the world – foster, relative and adoptive parents. Top that with a job that will take you to possibly every highway and byway in this most beautiful state, and you’ll start to understand what an amazing ten years this has been.
In my first caregiver training as in my last, I have been privileged to learn with, laugh with, and sometimes cry with you. Your challenges and dilemmas are huge. Maybe you were already caring for a sibling group of three or five, and a new sibling was born. Could you, would you, take that baby in order to keep the siblings together? For some of you, it was wondering if you could go on any longer with a child who had tested you to your limits and beyond. For grandparents, you had made the decision to raise the next generation of your family, meaning that you would never be able to retire, or that you would be delaying your dreams in order to be available as relative caregivers as long as was needed.
I didn’t always remember your names, but I did remember that the last time I saw you were struggling with saying good-bye to a child who’d come into your home as a newborn and was leaving, 2 ½ years later. Or that you were desperately trying to keep a child in your care whose behaviors were wiping out your entire family. Or hysterically funny parenting moments. And the reward of working with birth parents – seeing their family being reunited, in part because of the help you gave them and their children.
I leave here remembering you, your families, your stories, your heartbreaks and your triumphs. Most of all, though, I remember your generosity of spirit.
Years ago I tried to explain to an acquaintance just what it is that caregivers do. “Who does that?” he asked. “Who risks their heart to love child after child only to have them leave?” “Who is that strong?” This is what I wish I’d said. In Oregon, there are 4,262 homes who do that. Yes, these caregivers deal with uncertainty, challenges beyond what we can possibly understand, and they keep doing it. Because that is who they are. And because you are, to borrow a motto, Caregiver Strong. Stay strong, stay vulnerable, and stay connected. I will miss you all.
Jennifer Scholes, of the Portland State University Child Welfare Partnership Caregiver Training Unit
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Oregon Foster Parent Association Corner
A message from OFPA President Jessica Lloyd-Rogers
I love January. It’s not the rain, cold weather or slush, although that’s a good excuse to snuggle up with a cozy blanket and a cup of cocoa. I love that everyone is looking forward to new beginnings. It’s a built-in time for a new start, for implementing new ideas, setting goals and looking forward to the possibilities of the future. With your help, the Oregon Foster Parent Association (OFPA) is building on the successes of last year. You’ve asked, and we listened to what you wanted. We have ambitious plans for 2019 and with your help, we will achieve them.
Last year, foster parents participated and ensured OFPA representation on nearly every DHS workgroup under the Unified Child Safety Implementation Plan as well as participating in numerous other meetings where the subject matter touched on the needs of children and foster parents. Foster parents made up an active and vocal presence at the Governor’s Foster Care Advisory Commission and supported a very successful Shoulder to Shoulder Conference. Because you wanted it, at OFPA we began the work of building a strong resource library on ofpa.com which should be finished by the end of the month. OFPA invested in leadership training and spent time refining our mission to better support all of you (foster parents) across the state. Your requests led to our most exciting 2018 project, investing in and launching a Peer Mentor program to support foster parents before a crisis hits.
This year, OFPA is continuing to deliver what you have asked for with many exciting projects designed to expand the impact of OFPA and educate the larger community on the importance of the work you do, as volunteers, every day, all year long. We know the powerful impact you have on the children and youth in your care. Imagine if, together, we can harness that power for education, outreach, legislative changes, and community awareness and support for foster parents across the state? At OFPA, we know that would be a game-changer.
Want to take an active role in helping implement massive positive change for Oregon foster parents in 2019? If your answer is Yes! please contact me at Jessica.Lloyd.Rogers@gmail.com or call 541-294-2899.
Here’s to changing the game in 2019,
Jessica L. Lloyd-Rogers President, Oregon Foster Parent Association
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Get Involved: Caregiver SPOTLIGHT
After our first edition of CHAT News, we received feedback to add a Caregiver Spotlight. We love the idea and need your help! Do you know of a stellar caregiver who you think should be spotlighted in our next edition?
Send us your ideas and we will connect with you: FosterFamily.Supports@dhsoha.state.or.us
Introducing the Vroom app
Oregon Early Learning Division brings Harvard science to your smartphone and tablet
The Philosophy of Vroom
Vroom empowers parents and caregivers to play a proactive role in their children’s early brain development by turning shared, everyday moments into brain-building moments.
Science shows that boosting children’s learning doesn’t require more time, money, or stuff. It is about making little changes in how we use our time with our children to have a big impact on their growing brains. By taking early brain science out of the lab and putting it in the hands of caregivers, Vroom empowers caregivers to see what they are already doing to support their child’s brain development. Vroom isn’t about perfect parenting.
Vroom not only shares tips with caregivers on what to do but empowers caregivers with the knowledge of why these little games and activities are important. Check it out on your Apple or Android device!
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Central Oregon KINnect Events 2018 – 2019
 In 2017, Kindred Matters began hosting KINnect Events to provide more regular spaces for siblings living separated to be together. KINnect Events are free and occur on Saturdays or Sundays for 3-4 hours. Events include an activity, (such as swimming, bowling, arts and crafts, outdoor adventures, skating), and a meal.
Check out the KINnect Event calendar for an event near you!
These activities are designed to provide separated siblings with regular, fun visitation. To register a group to participate, or for more information, please reach out to Elizabeth Parker at belongoregon@gmail.com or 503-550-9545. Activities are offered in Salem, Bend, Eugene and Portland.
14th Annual Native Caring Conference
A Conference to Learn, Connect & Share
April 23-24, 2019 The Mill Casino and Hotel North Bend, OR 97459
Please come and join other caregivers of native elders and relative caregivers of children from Northwest Indian communities in this two-day event, April 23-24 in North Bend at the Mill Casino and Hotel. You will have the opportunity to attend valuable workshops which will enhance your caregiving. Hosted by The Coquille Indian Tribe
If you are a Native American kinship caregiver over the age of 55 you may be eligible for reimbursement for the cost of the Native Caring Conference. Contact the Aging and Disability Resource Connection or (855) 673-2372 to see if you are eligible through the Relatives as Parents Program.
For more information call 541-888-9494 Lori Austin ext. 2214 or Savannah Gilkey ext. 2206
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